Page 2 – AGC Education

4 Easy Christmas Sublimation Gift Ideas

Larry Girty on December 4, 2024

The holiday season is meant to be a time of good cheer, generosity, and gratitude. At its best, a gift can embody all of these values!

Yet, each year, a new, controversial gift-related hot take seems to “go viral”: that everyone’s too materialistic, that gifts for teachers from students are unethical, or, that somehow gift giving (and receiving!) has become a chore.

This year, why not go for a personable, affordable gift that’s actually fun to give and receive? Create a unique gift with custom designs through sublimation printing. What type of gift? We can think of a few neat ideas…

Why Make Sublimation Christmas Gifts?

Sublimation is a printing process that enables truly high-quality results. This lets your gifts showcase your unique sense of style, without appearing “cheap.”

Quick Review: What Is Sublimation?

Sublimation printing uses a sublimation printer to dye “blanks”: objects like drinkware or apparel, treated with a special substance that absorbs the dye, adhering the printed design to the object’s surface.

Unlike other types of printing, like vinyl pressing, the design becomes wholly suffused on the object’s surface, so it can be washed and used normally. In contrast to heat pressing, there’s no risk a sublimated design will peel or wear off with use.

4 Excellent Qualities of Sublimation Gifts

Sublimation products all share four traits that make them standout gifts. When you give a sublimation product as a gift, you can be confident it will be…

Unique

Sublimation empowers you to create original designs! You’re also free to put your own twist on a design that suits your style. Either way, you can be sure the recipient is the only person in the world with that exact piece.

Affordable

Sublimation blanks can be purchased wholesale, making them a cost-effective choice for a gift. Consider that a popular 20 oz stainless steel tumbler at Target is $29.99. Meanwhile, a stainless steel tumbler blank is only $12.00. That’s quite a savings!

Aesthetically Appealing

You can control all elements of the printed design to align with your fashion sense—or your intended gift recipient’s. And, if you don’t feel confident in your aesthetic sense, you can always download a print created by professional graphic designers that’s ready to go.

Useful

Sublimation can be used to print on canvases or posters. But, more often, it’s used to add artwork or creative flair to practical items we use every day. In this way, sublimation gifts balance beauty and utility.

4 Easy, Brilliant Gift Ideas (Simple Classroom Sublimation Projects)

Classroom sublimation projects can be an easy, fun way to get students invested in mastering design and problem-solving skills—all while getting creative!

Each of these projects utilizes a sublimation printer, a flat heat press, or a component that can be easily fitted to a heat press (like a tumbler-shaped attachment). The ideas’ simplicity stems from the templates, tutorials, and guide design options available for each.

At the same time, these sublimation projects can be altered and adapted, so they can suit students of varying skill levels. (If you need more detailed information on how to make sublimation gifts, check out our guide).

Sublimation Christmas Ornaments & Holiday Decor

Sublimation Christmas ornaments are festive and straightforward. Simply choose a sublimation ornament blank in an iconic shape—maybe a Christmas tree, a snowflake, or a star—then work with students to create an original design that fits the shape, or to work from a template. For younger students, a popular option is to use a blank that incorporates a frame into its design, like this bell. Then, as you create the digital design to print, use the student’s school photo (or, a family photo) as the design’s centerpiece.

Sublimation Fashion Accessories

Fashion accessories are fun, trendy, and useful. Patches, which gift recipients can stitch onto their bags or sashes, are a perennially popular punk look.

Backpacks and hats are practical while offering a large “canvas” for students’ creativity. They’re particularly popular among the athletes on your gift list.

When choosing blanks, consider how the curve or waviness of the accessory might affect your design. It might be best to choose bold, central images which read clearly across the room, or fun abstract patterns and prints.

DIY Home Decor Project With Sublimation

Home decor is a fun gift category for people who might otherwise be hard to buy for.

Maybe your thoughtful, studious cousin would appreciate a notebook printed with a one-of-a-kind design. Or, maybe your mom would appreciate a set of coasters to protect her end tables (and brighten them up!).

From clocks to keychains to refrigerator magnets, sublimation can spruce up almost anything in the house.

Sublimation Printed Tumblers & Drinkware

Drinkware is an S-tier sublimation Christmas gift. Not only is it useful—everyone needs to stay hydrated!—but it also helps your giftee save money on bottled drinks, helps protect the environment, and adds a bit of creative charm to every meal.

Drinkware like tumblers, mugs, and bottles can be sublimated in a process that is largely similar to typical sublimation projects. There is one extra step: using the curved heat press attachment to affix the print on your cylindrical blank. Other than that, though, the process is smooth sailing.

AGC Education: Equip Student Makers With Technology, Vision, and Support

Holiday breaks don’t mean taking a break from getting creative! That’s why AGC Education offers full-service technical support every day of the year.

Classroom edtech solutions can’t be one-size-fits-all. Our maker space products and resources are fully customizable, so you can craft a solution that fits your community’s unique needs. And, each and every client gets the undivided attention of our support service team—no matter when you call.

If sublimation projects are right for your classroom—or you have questions about maker space options—contact us at 1 (800) 535-7553. Or, reach out for more information at [email protected].

10 Cool Laser Engraving Projects for Students

Larry Girty on November 1, 2024

Laser engravers have gained traction in educational settings for their ability to transform digital designs into physical creations. It marries technology with hands-on learning across a variety of subjects, including art, design, engineering, and even history. These machines let students explore their creativity through technology, helping them build skills that are both fun and useful in the real world.

These machines use laser beams to create permanent, precise designs on various materials, including wood, glass, metal, and plastic. They’re incredibly precise, allowing you to create beautifully intricate designs for various uses.

Whether you’re a teacher looking for engaging classroom projects or a school administrator looking into laser engraving for various school-related projects, a laser engraver can be a fantastic addition to your collection. There’s no end to the creative potential, whether you want to revamp the school with new signs or create branded merch to sell at school events.

Here are a few cool laser engraving projects students may enjoy:

1. Personalized Name Tag

While personalized name tags aren’t the most exciting option on this list, they make a great starter project. It’s simple and relatively quick but gives your students the chance to tinker with the machine and familiarize themselves with how everything works.

Now, that said, the name tag doesn’t have to be boring. Let your students get creative with different fonts, graphics, and layouts, using vector-based design software to develop their tags. Once they’re done, use the tags for school events, science fairs, or even to just label items and belongings in the classroom. It’s the perfect starter project that is both approachable and practical.

2. Customized Key Chains

Custom keychains are similar to name tags in that they’re 100% beginner-friendly while leaving plenty of room for creativity. Let your students craft keychains with their favorite quotes, initials, or logos. Let them tinker with different materials, such as leather, wood, or acrylic, if you have the materials.

This project is both fun and easy, making it a great first project, especially for younger students new to laser engraving. Since the finished product is fairly small, they don’t take too long to produce.

If you want to take things to the next level, let your students create a custom keychain as a gift for a family or friend (this project is an excellent choice around the holidays).

3. Engraved Wooden Coasters

As your students become more familiar with the laser engraver and vector design software, work up to wooden coasters. These can be a bit challenging for newbies, especially if you go with more intricate patterns, but it’s a good fit for students with a bit more experience.

Since wooden coasters are bigger than name tags and keychains, there’s more room for more intricate patterns, logos, or even custom artwork. This project encourages your students to think about the balance between aesthetics and functionality. Plus, since the coasters will need sanding and sealing to become fully functional and durable, this is a great time to integrate a lesson about woodworking.

You could even tie this project into a lesson about material science or entrepreneurship, especially since the engraved coasters can be sold at school fundraisers.

4. Classroom Signage

While creating keychains, coasters, and other custom projects your students can take home is both fun and rewarding, you can also go a more functional and school-centric route. Have your students engrave classroom signs, or, if you’re feeling motivated, revamp the signs for the entire school.

Engrave the signs on wood, acrylic, or plastic sheets, allowing your students to experiment with different fonts and graphics to ensure the signs are visually appealing. Challenge them to stick to the same theme to keep things cohesive across the entire school, tying elements of problem-solving and teamwork into the lesson.

Or, let them get creative and pick different themes for different parts of the classroom or school. You could stick to the same general theme, letting students choose the specifics. For example, the umbrella theme might be Disney- or Western-based, with each area of the school or classroom featuring different characters or cowpoke-themed elements.

5. Laser-Cut Puzzle Sets

Puzzle sets are a bit more challenging, making these projects a great fit for older students who are ready to take on more complex design tasks. Precision is a must to ensure the pieces fit together perfectly, so this project is no easy feat. Using a laser engraver, your students can create customized puzzles by engraving and cutting interlocking pieces from wood, cardboard, or acrylic.

The puzzles could feature educational tools, such as geography maps, or purely for entertainment, complete with custom artwork. If you go the educational route, you could incorporate the finished puzzles into lessons on geometry, design, or even psychology since the puzzles require critical thinking and spatial awareness.

6. Engraved Jewelry

If you teach a fashion, sewing, or accessory design class, incorporate the engraver into a lesson on engraved jewelry. Use the machine to create custom pendants, earrings, or bracelets from materials like leather, acrylic, or even thin sheets of wood.

Once engraved, have your students assemble the pieces into wearable jewelry. You won’t need much for this—simple jewelry-making supplies will do.

This project is great for encouraging attention to detail while introducing product design. It’s hands-on, with a tactile element that demands focus and precision to ensure a beautiful result.

If you want to incorporate additional concepts, like branding, consumer products, market trends, and other entrepreneurship topics, this project is a great time to do it!

7. 3D Model Engravings

Engravers aren’t only capable of creating pretty jewelry, keychains, and coasters—they can also be handy tools in creating 3D model engravings. Laser engravers can help communicate lessons in architecture or engineering, encouraging students to use critical thinking skills while cutting parts for models of buildings, bridges, or even vehicles.

Once all pieces are cut and engraved, the sheets can be assembled into a 3D structure. Since each piece must be cut to precise measurements to ensure a snug fit, this project is excellent for emphasizing the importance of precise measurements and technical drawing. It can also better explain lessons on prototyping and scale modeling.

8. Engraved Phone Stands

Laser-engraved phone stands are another intriguing project that combines functionality with style. Let your students craft custom stands from acrylic or wood, designing each piece to match specific aesthetic preferences.

Incorporate a math and engineering aspect by having your students craft the stands to match their phones’ specific measurements. Encourage them to think about ergonomics and product design, ensuring the final product not only looks good but serves a practical purpose.

9. Personalized School Supplies

If you’re searching for free laser engraving projects, this one might be a great fit. If your budget doesn’t allow for elaborate projects with fancy materials, have your students practice engraving on their own school supplies. This is a great way to teach them how to use engravers (and the many lessons that can go with them) without having to purchase substantial amounts of material. Plus, it allows them to personalize their own stuff, which can be an appealing factor.

Have your students craft designs to engrave on their pencil cases, rulers, notebooks, and similar items, allowing them to incorporate different themes, names, or motivational quotes. Tie the project into discussions about personalization in product design or the importance of branding.

10. School Merchandise

Many of the projects on this list can be tweaked to create school merchandise that can be sold at fundraisers and events, such as plays or sports games. Have your students create themed designs for various products you can sell at those events.

You might engrave the school mascot onto keychains, wooden coasters, school supplies, or even phone stands. Or, stick to simple, classy designs that can still be sold at those events (but aren’t school-themed), such as jewelry, holiday-themed coasters, or personalized keychains.

These projects can be an excellent way to teach lessons about entrepreneurship, design, engineering, and much more while making sellable items that benefit the school!

Create Beautiful Laser-Engraved Products With AGC Education

Laser engraving opens up a world of creative possibilities for students. It combines the best of technical skills with artistic expression while also leaving room for all sorts of lessons on everything from entrepreneurship to fashion design to engineering. Whether you choose to have your students make personalized keychains, design intricate puzzles, or build model structures, these projects provide hands-on learning opportunities that are both fun and educational.
If you’re ready to incorporate laser engraving projects into your classroom or school, AGC Education has the equipment and materials you’ll need. Our Laser Lab Desktop Laser Engraver and Cutter is designed specifically for schools, and our wide range of laser engraving supplies is ready to help you get started. Contact us today to get a quote.

Hot vs. Cold Lamination: What’s the Difference?

Larry Girty on November 1, 2024

Lamination is a helpful process that protects all sorts of items, including important documents, posters, and educational materials. It can extend their lifespan, ensuring the delicate and very rippable paper inside doesn’t fall prey to the hands of students. While small, personal-sized laminators (or even clear tape as a last resort) can handle small projects, they’re not the most practical choice for educational settings where larger volumes and projects are the norm.

So, you might find yourself looking into educational laminators. As you search, you’ll come across two options: hot and cold. So, what’s the difference between hot lamination vs. cold lamination? Which one is better for your school’s needs? Let’s find out.

What is Hot Lamination?

Hot lamination is the more traditional method of lamination. It uses heat to seal a layer of clear plastic film over your document. It works by heating the adhesive on the film and using pressure to press the film tightly around the document, creating a strong bond that keeps the contents inside safe.

Many schools and offices use hot laminators because they tend to be faster and more cost-effective for high-volume lamination jobs. Plus, they offer a durable and professional finish, so they’re the go-to solution for many educational purposes.

Pros and Cons of Hot Lamination

Like any equipment, hot laminators have a couple of benefits and drawbacks. The most notable perks include:

Strength: Hot lamination creates a durable, long-lasting seal that can withstand regular use, making it great for items that will be regularly handled by students, like flashcards or classroom signs.
Variety: Hot lamination offers a range of thickness options, each suited to different purposes. Thicker laminates provide extra protection, while thinner laminates are flexible and easier to fold and cut.
Readily available: Supplies for hot lamination are easy to find and often readily available, especially in craft stores.
Professional finish: Hot lamination produces a smooth, glossy finish that enhances the colors and overall appearance of the document or material.

On the flip side, there are a couple of potential drawbacks to keep in mind, including:

Heat sensitivity: The use of heat means that hot lamination isn’t suitable for everything. High temperatures could damage heat-sensitive materials like photos, certain fabrics, or inkjet prints.
Warm-up time: Hot laminators need a few minutes to heat up, which can cause delays, which isn’t ideal if you’re in a rush.
Risk of burns: Since these machines operate at high temperatures, there’s a small risk of burns if users aren’t careful.

What is Cold Lamination?

Cold lamination, as the name suggests, doesn’t require heat. Instead, it uses pressure to activate the adhesive on the lamination film. With a cold laminator, you place your document between two adhesive-backed plastic sheets and slowly feed it through the machine. As it passes through, the machine applies pressure that bonds the laminate and document together.

Cold lamination is a top choice for materials that are sensitive to heat, such as photographs, thermal prints, or delicate papers. While this type of laminator is a bit slower, it’s a great alternative for special projects that require a different type of lamination.

Pros and Cons of Cold Lamination

Like hot laminators, cold lamination comes with its own set of unique benefits and drawbacks. Key advantages include:

Safe for heat-sensitive materials: Since cold lamination doesn’t require heat to create a bond, it’s safe for delicate materials that could warp or discolor under heat.
No warm-up time: The lack of heat also means that you won’t have to wait for the machine to heat up, making this type of laminator perfect for small or quick jobs.
Safe for all users: Cold laminators present no risk of burns or damage from heat, so they’re a great choice for use in classrooms or offices where students or untrained staff might handle the equipment.
Flexible finish: Cold-laminated items tend to be more flexible, which is great for when you need materials that can bend easily without cracking or peeling.

Of course, there are a couple of drawbacks to keep in mind, including:

Less durable: While cold lamination provides protection, it may not be as durable as hot lamination. The adhesive in cold lamination isn’t activated by heat, so it may not be as suitable for high-use situations.
Limited thickness options: The thickness options are limited, especially compared to hot lamination, which can limit the finished product’s durability or rigidity.
Matte finish: Cold lamination usually produces a matte or slightly textured finish, unlike the sleek, glossy finish of hot lamination.

Which One is Right for Your Classroom?

Now that we know the differences between cold lamination vs. hot lamination, which one is right for your classroom? Ultimately, the best laminator for your classroom depends on what you’re laminating and how you plan to use the laminated items.

For example, let’s say you need to create laminated classroom materials that will be frequently used or handled by many students. This could include flashcards, study aids, or reusable worksheets designed for use with dry-erase markers. In this case, hot lamination is an excellent fit since it creates a strong, durable seal that will protect your materials from damage.

On the flip side, let’s say you teach a photography class and plan to have your students laminate the photos for use in a class project. Or, maybe you’re an art teacher who wants to have your students laminate projects with different textures or delicate materials. Or, maybe you plan to use the laminator for a few small projects at a time. If that sounds like you, a cold laminator might be the best fit.

It all depends on your specific needs and what you plan to use the laminator for. Each option has merits, so neither one is inherently better than the other.

Elevate Your Classroom Projects With a Laminator From AGC Education

Whether you choose a hot or cold laminator, these machines can greatly contribute to your classroom. With these machines, you can create more durable classroom materials, protect important documents, and much more! If you’re ready to up your laminating game with a hot or cold laminator, AGC Education has what you need.

We offer hot laminators, which are great for projects that demand extra durability, and cold laminators, which are ideal for sensitive and delicate projects. We also offer different lamination film options to help get the ball rolling.
Contact us to learn more about our laminators and get a quote today.

How to Make Sublimation Tumblers: A Step-by-Step Guide

Larry Girty on September 30, 2024

In December 2023, Stanley™ cups went viral. The luxury mug brand rocketed into the spotlight when a video showed its iconic insulated tumbler was keeping a TikToker’s drink ice cold—right after she pulled it from her burning car!

The brand’s time in the spotlight may have passed, but tumblers are as popular as ever. To get in on the fun, we’re exploring how to use sublimation to make a unique tumbler of your own.

Discover how students can use sublimation to transform unique designs into fun, useful accessories!

Gear and Materials

To start sublimation printing on containers, you’ll need a sublimation printer, a heat pressing machine, and a few supplies.

We recommend our Sublimation Printer: All-In-One Printing Machine. It’s built with classrooms in mind, designed to empower students at different skill-levels.

We also recommend choosing from a wide range of heat press options, to best meet your class’s needs. Just make sure your heat press machine comes with a tumbler-compatible attachment or add-on.

Additional Materials:

Heat tape
Heat-resistant gloves
Scissors
Measuring tape
Scraper
Rubbing alcohol
Cloth
Sublimation paper
Sublimation ink
Design software
Scanner (optional)

Select Blank Sublimation Tumblers

Choose blank cups with surfaces coated with a sublimation-compatible material (like polymer). The coating is necessary to meld sublimation ink into the object’s surface.

One popular tumbler material is stainless steel, as it’s durable and dishwasher-safe. For example, this lidded, 22 oz travel cup is strong, lightweight, and 100% compatible with sublimation.

Choose a white, light-hue, or translucent blank.

Translucent elements, like the frosted blue gradient on this glass tumbler blank, adds a bit of pizzazz to the piece without affecting your printed design.

Step #1. Discover How To Make Sublimation Designs For Tumblers (With Creative Apps!)

Measure the height and circumference of your tumbler’s print-ready surface.

Make a design for your tumbler on an app, or download a free design from crafters on Pinterest.

You’ll likely have to crop your design, so the design’s most important elements should be in the vertical center of the image.

Make sure to save your completed design as a PNG file, with a resolution of 300 dpi or greater.

Before printing, resize your image so its height and width match the cup’ height and circumference (respectively).

Step #2. Print Your Design Onto Sublimation Paper

Use the tumbler’s measurements to select appropriately-sized sublimation paper for this project.

Load your sublimation paper into your printer, then send the file and print. If you get stuck, call the printer manufacturer’s customer support line.
Step #3. Preheat Your Heat Press To the Ideal Temperature

The optimal temperature (°F), duration (s), and degree of pressure (psi) will vary by material.

Check the printed instructions included with your sublimation blanks (i.e. the blank tumblers) to find the right presets.

If you can’t find the information in the included technical paperwork, look for it on the tumbler manufacturer’s website, or call the customer service line.

As a last resort, use a trial-and-error method to determine the right settings. Run a few test prints, starting with these settings:

Stainless steel: 365 °F / 90-120 s / 40 psi (med.)
Frosted glass: 370-380 °F / 90-120 s / 35 psi (light or med)
Acrylic: 385-400 °F / 50-75 s / 40 psi (med)

Start with the lowest recommended settings. If the print is too light or blurry, increase the temperature, pressure, and time in small increments, then try again.

Repeat until the image on the test tumbler is sharp and saturated.

Step #4. Prepare Your Print and Blank Tumbler For Heat Transfer

As the press preheats, prepare your tumbler.

Peel any protective coatings from your blank tumblers, then clean the cup’s surface. Rub off the adhesive, dust, and any other debris with your cleaning alcohol and cloth.

Use your measurements to crop or trim your sublimation print, then gently wrap it around your tumbler. Make sure the inked side of the print touches the cup’s surface.

Use your hands to flatten the paper, removing any wrinkles or bubbles. Then, after the print is smoothly aligned to the cup, use heat tape to hold it in place.
Step #5. Press Your Sublimation Print and Tumbler

Put on your heat-resistant gloves. The heat press machine will be hot.

Then, put your print-wrapped cup into the tumbler attachment on the heat press and secure it in place.

Adjust the pressure settings to the recommended psi. This can involve manually adjusting tension in the tumbler attachment, to make sure the pressure is evenly distributed.

Then, press your tumbler for the recommended amount of time.

Note:

If your machine doesn’t heat your tumbler evenly, open the attachment after you press it, rotate the tumbler, then press it again.

Step #6. Let Your Tumbler Cool, Then Peel

While wearing heat gloves, move the tumbler to a cooling rack. Once it’s cooled, peel off the heat tape and sublimation paper.
Unique Ways To Use Sublimation Printed Tumblers In Your Classroom
What’s the best way to use sublimation printed tumblers in your classroom? We’ve got some ideas!

Students can keep their personal cups with them all day. This lets them stay hydrated without risking the spread of germs.

Students could also give them away as gifts. As the Stanley™ cup craze showed, tumblers are pretty popular!

Teaching budding entrepreneurs? Students could design tumblers to sell at a craft fair, or sell their accessory-printing services to local businesses.

Get Your Print Lab Kids Ready To Create, Sublimate, Educate and Go!

At AGC Education, we believe technology and art have the power to teach students lifelong skills. That’s why we offer guides like this: to teach each and every kid (and kid at heart) to make real what they’ve dreamed up.

Whether you need sublimation printers, heat presses, or accessories, our team has something to offer.

Call us today at 1 (800) 535-7553 to learn more about bringing our creative technology to your classroom. Or, fill out our online contact form, and one of our experts will get right back to you.