Sublimation only works on polyester fabrics or hard items (like mugs or keychains) that have a specialized polymer coating . It will not work on 100% cotton. 3. Essential Tools for Success

This acts as the carrier for your printed design before it is transferred.

Because the ink is embedded in the fibers or coating, the design will not crack, peel, or wash away. It is highly resistant to water and sunlight.

On fabrics, the print has "zero hand," meaning you cannot feel the ink on the surface of the shirt.

A printer equipped with sublimation inks.