Personalized gin glasses have become a craze at weddings, bachelorette parties, graduations, and year-end celebrations. They bring elegance and are much more profitable than traditional acrylic long drink glasses.
If you want to enter this lucrative market, you need to learn how to sublimate glasses perfectly. Glass and premium polymers require specific care. See the step-by-step guide.
What you will need:
- Sublimation-ready glasses (quality resin is essential).
- Fast-drying sublimation paper.
- Heat tape.
- Sublimation Oven and Shrink Film (Shrink Wrap) or Silicone Blanket.
Note: Due to the curved shape of the gin glass, it's practically impossible to use a traditional cylindrical press. A sublimation oven is the correct equipment.
Step-by-Step
1. Artwork Preparation
Measure the usable area of the glass. Since it's curved, very square designs or photos may suffer slight distortion at the edges. Prefer crests, names, initials, and floral patterns. Print mirrored on sublimation paper.
2. Fixing
Attach the paper to the glass using heat tape. Stretch it well to avoid air bubbles, which cause flaws in the print.
3. Shrink Wrap Application
Place the glass inside the shrink film bag (shrink wrap). With a heat gun (or powerful hairdryer), heat the plastic until it shrinks and presses the paper firmly against the glass. The shrink wrap should be smooth, without wrinkles over the design.
4. In the Oven
Preheat your sublimation oven. The temperature and time vary greatly depending on the oven and the material of the glass (glass or polymer).
- For Polymer Glasses: Generally 180ºC for about 5 to 7 minutes.
- For Glass Glasses: Generally 190ºC for 7 to 9 minutes.
Always test with one piece before producing large quantities.
5. Cooling
Remove from the oven with heat-resistant gloves. Carefully cut the shrink wrap and immediately remove the paper.
Attention if it's glass: Do not place the hot glass on cold surfaces or in front of strong wind, as thermal shock will break the piece. Let it cool naturally at room temperature.
The choice of glass makes all the difference
Low-quality glasses melt in the oven, deform the stem, or have dull prints. For a professional result, we recommend the Elegance Glasses from LiVE, available at Outside. They feature a sophisticated design, superior resistance, and a coating that delivers incredibly vibrant colors.
Add gin glasses to your catalog and watch your event sales skyrocket!
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