Going Small with what you have (hobby, 35mm, process, photoshop)

[Nomadicus]

As promised I'm working on a subject matter not found with a search of CD's threads. This is not camera specific. It's about a unique way to use small images and by small I mean for 8x10.5 all the way down to 1/2 x 3/4 of an inch. The images may be acquired with a 35mm film camera or a small pocket digital. I'll put together a new folder of bookmarks for reference material. The whole idea here is that it doesn't have to be state of the art photography as much as the art process with the images you take. We are going to delve into the world of sublimation printing. Anyone that has shopped a mall during the holidays has most likely seen this at work or even at a flea market. I first saw it many years ago and it got my interest but until just a few years ago I had no experience with it. Now I can speak from experience. It can be a rewarding hobby that can quite possibly pay its way or like a lot of other hobbies something done just for the fun of it. We will be discussing heat presses, mug wraps, supplies, software, needed printers, etc. I've absconded my wife's P&S to take some photos of projects out of the past. Search engines will turn up so much info now it can be like a quagmire. I'll try and keep it simple and straight forward. Put away the ironing board and those iron on transfers and get ready to make things that last and last. Images that won't wash out. If you paint as an artist there will be something here for you too. Stay tuned. Give me a couple of days to organize myself. That will be the biggest hurdle. The process is simple.

[Nomadicus]

Just an update with where I am on this project. I've had a good visit with a friend, artist, and someone who was a backup with a camera for me for many outdoor action photo venue. I in turn reproduced and sold several of his works. He likes the idea of showing what we joined forces to do with sublimation printing. I've got another artist to visit that I copied art work for and printed various sublimation projects for in the past. Once I've spoken with him I'll start putting up some images along with links.

[Nomadicus]

Two of my main suppliers of sublimation materials:

The first supplier I used and a good source of how to to this and that.

Another supplier that has been most helpful.

There is a lot of over lap between these two sites but they each offer some different items to print on.

Here is a link to the developers of the process. More in depth information on the process and the newest developments.

Sublimation can be a hobby or profession. It's not anymore expensive that a lot of hobbies. From custom key chains to t-shirts it's all fun.

A word about the t-shirts. You can't feel the image. As soon as I get my act together I'll post some t-shirts I've made from artist paintings. Just got to get my wife to model. You know the saying "Can't wait to get my Haines on............" Well Sawgrass and Haines developed these special t-shirts as a joint venture. The shirts are cotton with a fine layer of polyester on the outside the the image is literally put inside of.

How does it work. Under heat and pressure the pores in the polyester open up and the sublimation ink forms a gas that enter the pores. Once cool the pores close and now the shirt has your image that just does not wash out. I may have over simplified this but there are websites that really get down to the nitty gritty. Once I get a table top for photographing some of the things I've made to demonstrate I'll post. Again the type of camera can be you choice for going small. Images on coffee mugs are only about 2x3 inches. Napkin holders, as best I remember were 1/2 X 3/4 of an inch. Now that is small. Inserts on glass mugs if still available are also small. Enough for now.

[Nomadicus]

Here is a t-shirt that I made and am wearing. The art work is that of Richard Powers and his signature shows on the shirt. We made many different shirts from his art including fish, elephants, lions, etc. This shirt is 5 years old and has been washed many times. What I wish to convey here is that even a disposable film camera could have been used to do this.

[Nomadicus]

Before digging any deeper into the world of sublimation printing I want to say a word about heat presses. There are two basic types. The swing away and the clam shell. I've never used a clam shell because they were not recommended for doing thicker materials like ceramic and glass tiles. This is the heat press of my choice for versatility. One thing I learned the hard way is that they should be surge protected with a 20 amp surge protector. They are circuit board driven for heat & time with programmable memory. These circuit boards don't like to be hit with surges and if at all possible should be on their own breaker coming from the power panel. With this press I've sublimated photographic images from 1/2x3/4 inch up to 12.5 X 18.5 on t-shirts. There is another press that is much better for exclusive t-shirt work. With DC16 14" X 16" Digital Combo Heat Press you can do what is known as dressing the press and this allows you to print on both front and back of the shirt with out reheating the first image printed. There is a work around on the DK20S 16" X 20" Heat Press but it is a pain in the rear to do so if time is a factor. If 12x12 tiles are not a needed item I would prefer the 14x16 press. You need to allow a full inch of press on all sides more than the size of your printed image. A major project of 12x12 tiles tipped the scales in favor of the DK20S model for us.

The original artwork that the above t-shirt was made from can be found on this page.
Artist Richard L Powers - Marine Life Prints - Frostproof, FL

On this page is a photo of the 12x12 tile mural along with another one of the artist sitting on the corner of the installed floor.

Artist Richard L Powers - Murals - Frostproof, FL

A special memory is that of making a ceramic tile mural from 6x6 tiles of the painting in the background here. I was blessed with the opportunity to photograph "Banana" George Blair on several occasions. By chance I discovered that he served on the board of directors where another CD member was employed. The transit building that has the large mural has another one made inlaid on the out side wall using glass with the printed side being on the back of this painting. That mural in itself is not small as a whole but the 6x6 tiles are. CorelDraw was used for breaking large images into the smaller tiles.

The smallest image of a fraction of a square inch was made from this painting. The target item was this set of napkin holders. The Sunlit Hammock painting also adorns my favorite mug for tomato soup and hot chocolate.

Many of Richard's paintings have been used to make these. Any small P&S digital camera can be used to record a hiking adventure and trail photos printed as memories onto coasters. I lost all count of how many sunset coasters I printed for another artist that teaches art as well as glass cutting boards for his students with their art.

Mouse pads and other soft substrates are another popular way to go small with even the P&S cameras.

The Classic Black tile box found on this page was very popular for teenage girls. From action shots to flowers the imagination is the limiting factor on what can be done small.

Photographs with a workup in Photoshop to include multiple images for auto tags in states that don't require a state front and back make good projects.

Nature photographs can be used so many ways with sublimation printing. Coffee cups and mugs being one of them. These can be done in a dedicated mug press or done with wraps in a conventional oven. When printing several Cactus Wraps are more economical and a faster way than using the mug press. I've done it both ways. Cactus Wraps are more for production printing of your photos and the mug press is more for quick onetime KIOSK usage.

I personally have never been to a sublimation trade show but I do know there have been some in the past. There is a wealth of information on the two main suppliers I have used websites. I see a third website showing up on this page for me. One for BestBlanks. I have done but a very small amount of business with them. I have no comments either way on that supplier.

With a little arm twisting I may can get another CD member to post a photograph of a quilt containing many small photographs on it. This quilt is perfectly washable without danger to the family history images on it. We scanned old family photos and did the best job of restoring them that we could and printed then on a polyester fabric and a family member pieced the quilt together. The bride was quite happy for something handmade instead of store bought. People often confuse these quilts with ones that are made with iron on images from standard inkjet printers that wash out.

Next I'll post some information on sublimation printers and required inks.