Printing techniques for mugs | Sublimation printing (ceramic mugs)

Printing technique for printing mugs

1. Sublimation printing (ceramic mugs)

Our printer uses sublimation printing on their ceramic mugs. This is a heat and pressure process specifically designed for mugs with a polymer coating .

How the process works

1. The design is printed with sublimation ink on special transfer paper.
2. This paper is placed tightly around the mug.
3. The whole thing is heated in a mug press (±180–200 °C).
4. The ink evaporates and bonds molecularly with the coating of the mug .

So the ink is not “on” the mug, but in the coating.

2. What this means for quality

Advantages

• Full-colour printing possible (photos, colour gradients, illustrations).
• No tactile edge or ink layer.
• Wear-resistant: resistant to normal dishwasher use.
• Suitable for small print runs and personalisation (names, texts).

Limits

• Only works on mugs with sublimation coating (usually white or light).
• White areas in the design will remain the color of the mug (no white ink).
• Less suitable for solid PMS colours that must match exactly.

3. Finishing and use

The mugs our printer supplies are usually:

• Glossy white ceramic
• ±330 ml (11 oz)
• Suitable for microwave and dishwasher (for normal domestic use)

This makes the technique particularly suitable for:

• Personalized mugs
• Gift mugs
• Corporate mugs in small to medium quantities
• Print-on-demand applications

In summary

Used for printing mugs our printer sublimation printing .
This is a durable, full-color printing technique that permanently embeds the design into the ceramic mug's coating. The result is sleek, professional, and suitable for everyday use, provided the mug is properly coated and handled normally.