Can You Sublimate On Modal Fabric: (7 Easy Steps in 2024)

Discover if you can sublimate on Modal fabric in 2024 and the 7 easy steps to achieve vibrant designs. Can you sublimate on Modal fabric?

Find out how sublimation printing can help you add a personal touch to your modal clothes or home decor by reading on.

Modal has been a popular man-made fiber since the early 2000s. Its main job now is to pull wetness away from your skin, but it was first made to look like silk.

Can you sublimate on modal fabric? Yes, sublimation does happen when something solid melts at very high temperatures and turns into a gas. Putting pictures on textiles like clothes is a popular way to use this method.

Sublimation printing can be done on modal fabric, but it requires pre-treating the fabric with a coating to facilitate ink bonding with the fibers. Due to its delicate nature compared to other fabrics, the printing process must be approached cautiously to prevent any harm to the fabric.

If you want the image to really stand out on the modal fabric, you should stick to lighter colors (or white!). Also, there are some things you need to think about and change compared to the normal sublimation of polyester fabric.

These are the steps you will learn in this piece that will help you sublimate Modal fabrics.

Table of Contents

Key Takeaways:

Sublimation works on modal fabric with at least 50% polyester content and lighter colors.

The process involves using specialized printers and high-quality inks, transferring designs, applying heat, and ironing to set the design.

Modal’s porous surface allows deep ink penetration, resulting in vibrant and long-lasting prints.

Modal fabric, sourced from beech trees, is eco-friendly and biodegradable, promoting sustainability.

Sublimating on modal fabric offers creative freedom to make durable and visually appealing designs.

Considerations Before Sublimation on Modal Fabric:

Before you start sublimating on modal cloth, here are some things you should think about:

Keep in mind that the fabric needs to have at least 50% polyester in it for the process to work. That being said, sublimation on modal fabric is a great way to make custom patterns.

Also, the fabric should be white or a light color since the sublimation process changes the dye molecules in the fabric.

Darker fabrics won’t sublimate as well as lighter fabrics. So, to answer the question “Can you sublimate on modal fabric?” the answer is yes, but keep those things in mind.

Sublimation printing doesn’t work on all modal materials. The cloth needs to have a lot of polyester in it so that the dye sublimation ink sticks well. If the modal fabric doesn’t meet this condition, the sublimation process won’t work as planned.

In general, the modal fabric can be sublimated, but it’s important to keep in mind that not all modal fabrics work well with the process and may not be the best choice for some patterns or projects.

Before you start working, you need to carefully think about the specific needs and limits for sublimating modal fabric.

Related Posts: How to Sublimate on Leather

Step-by-Step Guide On How Can You Sublimate on Modal Fabric:

These are the basic steps you need to take to make high-quality sublimation prints that can be used in a variety of ways.

1. The Cotton Printer:

Everyone knows that they need a certain kind of printer to print something. If you want to sublimate Modal cloth, you need a high-end, brand-name cotton sublimation printing machine.

You should only buy them from local names to be sure that they can perform with grace, perfection, and accuracy. If you use any other printer, the pictures you print on the surface of the main materials will not turn out right.

2. Using High-Quality Inks:

Another important part of this printing method is using high-quality sublimation inks that last a long time. For your pictures to stay on the cotton, the ink needs to be treated in a certain way.

For this reason, we recommend that you pick named inks instead of those made by local companies that make ink bottles. This will help you a lot when making images that will last a long time without getting washed out or fading.

3. Create and Move the Designs:

Once you are ready to start making them, you need to copy your designs onto the transfer paper. letting the printing on the front of your main goods look great.

Don’t forget to always use special tools to safely send them. This easy-to-follow step is the most important part of this Modal cloth sublimation method.

4. Modify the Designs:

An important step is to get rid of all the unnecessary information in your main designs by adjusting them. You could do this with regular scissors, but it would be much better to use software to cut off the extra material.

Additionally, you can cover most of your designs with duct tape and then tear off the extra to make a beautiful and appealing design.

5. Apply Heat to the Designs:

The drawings are then put through the heat presser after being heated to the right level. On this transfer paper, put your drawings. Then, put them in the heat press machine.

When the designs are done, turn up the heat to 400 F, press the designs into the papers for 60 to 70 seconds, and then remove the designs. This will make an impact that will last on the designs you make on the materials you choose.

6. Iron the Fabric:

After printing your patterns on the modal fabrics, you should iron them on to make sure they stay put. In this step, the printed modal shirt needs to be ironed.

Make sure the iron is at the right temperature, and let the shirt cool down first. This will keep the image safe from any effects of heat and make it last a long time without fading.

7. Again, Heat Press the Fabric:

Finally, to make sure that your pictures or patterns last, heat press these modal fabric shirts one more time. This is how you can sew these images onto your fabrics so they stay there.

For 10 to 12 seconds, make sure the shirts are heated up. Since the shirts are soft, leaving them in the heat presses for too long will damage them quickly, and your designs will look awful.

Related Post: Can You Sublimate on Silicone?

Why Use Modal Fabric for Sublimation:

If you want to use sublimation on modal cloth, see below.

Modal Fabric is Porous:

The surface of the modal cloth is porous, so the sublimation ink can get to the fibers deep inside. As it spreads out across the fibers, the sublimation ink makes a strong bond.

Because it lets air pass through it, it’s very comfortable and the surface is cozy.

Excellent Stickiness for Sublimation Ink:

The ink that is usually used for sublimation won’t work on modal cloth. The right ink for modal cloth has more dyes that are spread out. These dye particles stick together strongly inside the cloth and go deep into it.

You can get the right sublimation ink from reputable sellers who follow the rules for making things.

Friendly to the Environment:

Fabric made from modal comes from the beech tree. When you mix modal with other materials, like cotton or spandex, it gets softer, better at wicking away moisture, and lasts longer. With these high-end qualities, it can even beat cotton.

Plus, it’s good for the environment because it comes from nature and breaks down naturally over time.

The Best Ways to Sublimate on Modal Fabric:

Getting the right tools is very important if you want to get the best results when sublimating on modal fabric. Use high-quality sublimation inks made for polyester mixes and sublimation printers that can work with them.

Setting up a heat press so that it works with modal cloth is very important for getting good print transfers.

For the transfer process, you need to use a heat press to put heat and pressure on the sublimation-printed paper so that the image is facing down on the modal fabric.

This method lets the ink get deep into the cloth fibers, making prints that are bright and last a long time.

Bottom Line: Can You Sublimate On Modal Fabric

You can make custom fabric patterns with sublimation printing on modal fabric. To sublimate on Modal fabrics, you must follow the steps we’ve laid out in the titles above.

It is very important to use the right machines, papers, and inks for this process. Modal cloth has a unique surface that holds ink well, making designs that are bright and last a long time.

Keep in mind that lighter colors or shades of white will work best with modal cloth. When you mix modal and polyester, your patterns will be even more colorful and last longer.

Not only is modal cloth eco-friendly, but it also comes from the beech tree and breaks down naturally over time. So, you can do more than just make pretty images. You can take care of the earth too.

In the end, sublimating on modal cloth lets you be very creative and make beautiful designs that will last a long time.

FAQ

Yes, you can use sublimation ink on modal fabric. Modal fabric is a type of rayon made from beech tree fibers. Sublimation ink bonds with polyester fibers using heat and pressure.

Modal fabric may bond with sublimation ink under certain conditions, even though it’s not polyester.

Sublimation works best on polyester-rich textiles. Cotton and spandex are widely used in modal fabric, which may impact the final product. The colors may not be as vivid or long-lasting as sublimation on pure polyester.

Before starting a larger project, print a small piece of modal fabric to test the results. Make sure the fabric can sustain sublimation heat without being harmed.

Of course, you can print on modal. But the best results will only come from using the right printing method.

The steps for printing on a modal are the same as those for printing on any other cloth.

Just remember that modal is a little more delicate than other materials, so set your printer to a gentle setting.

Last but not least, sublimation might not work well with modal materials. You can choose screen printing or digital printing instead.

For modal cloth, screen printing is the best way to go because the colors will last longer and be more vivid.

Of course, you can print on modal. But the best results will only come from using the right printing method.

The steps for printing on a modal are the same as those for printing on any other cloth.

Just remember that modal is a little more delicate than other materials, so set your printer to a gentle setting.

Last but not least, sublimation might not work well with modal materials. You can choose screen printing or digital printing instead.

For modal cloth, screen printing is the best way to go because the colors will last longer and be more vivid.

Take great care of the modal cloth. They will lose their shine, beauty, and color if you are rough with them. So, you should wash your clothes without bleach or fabric softener. If you want to iron modal materials, don’t use high heat or a lot of pressure.

If you want to wash and dry modal cloth, you should use the gentle cycle and not bleach or fabric softener. To keep the cloth and print in good shape, iron it on low heat and don’t leave it in high temperatures for long periods.

You can heat press the modal cloth. However, if you are new to sublimation printing, this is not something you should do.

The surface of the modal cloth is fluffy and porous, so it lets a lot of air pass through it. Other cloth blanks, like cotton or polyester, can handle heat better than this one.

To heat the press medium, use a low heat setting of 270oF for 5 to 10 seconds. Make sure to use butcher paper or a pressing cloth to protect the fabric.

Last Updated on May 16, 2024 by Muhammad Haseeb

Can You Sublimate On Modal Fabric

Key Takeaways:

Considerations Before Sublimation on Modal Fabric: