Troubleshooting: Why Does My Sublimation Look Faded?

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Your complete guide to understanding dull, washed-out, or weak sublimation prints and how to fix them for good.

One of the most frustrating things for beginners is pressing a sublimation design… only to lift the paper and discover a dull, faded, washed-out, or barely visible image.

Good news: sublimation is predictable. When your design looks faded, it always ties back to one of a handful of issues with heat, pressure, materials, or surface preparation.

This guide walks you through every possible cause and shows you exactly how to fix each one. It’s written specifically for beginners, without assuming a lot of prior knowledge.

Let’s fix your faded sublimation prints.

First: Understand What Faded Means in Sublimation

When we say "faded," we mean:

Colors look weak or washed out
Black looks gray or brown
Reds look pink
Blues look dull
Image looks uneven or patchy

NOTE:

Sublimation prints ALWAYS look dull before pressing. That’s normal.
This guide covers cases where your final pressed project still looks faded.

Your Substrate Isn’t Compatible with Sublimation

Sublimation only works on polyester or items that have a polymer coating.

Fabric must be at least 65% polyester

100% polyester = brightest results
65% polyester = softer, vintage look
Below 50% = muted, barely visible print

Hard blanks MUST be labeled sublimation-ready

Walmart mugs, Dollar Tree ornaments, wood blocks, and uncoated tiles will NOT sublimate without special prep.

How to Fix It:

Use blanks labeled poly-coated or sublimation blanks (here are some links, ornaments, tumblers, magnets, air fresheners)
For cotton: use glitter HTV or sublimation patches
For wood/canvas: use a polyester coating or glitter HTV
For mugs: use only sublimation-coated mugs

If the surface doesn’t have polyester, then the ink cannot bond and results look faded.

Not Enough Heat or Wrong Temperature

Sublimation needs high, consistent heat to activate the ink.

Most projects press at:
385–400°F (195–205°C)

If your temperature is too low:

The colors will not fully turn to gas
The ink will not penetrate the polyester coating
Your transfer will look pale or weak

Common Causes:

The heat press is running cooler than displayed
There are cold spots on press
Using an EasyPress curved surfaces
Opening the press too early

How to Fix It:

Use an infrared thermometer to verify actual press temperature
Increase time by 10–20 seconds
Use a firm, constant pressure
Preheat your blank for 5 seconds to remove moisture

If you hear sizzling, your press is too hot.
If your print is faded, it's usually too cool.

Not Enough Pressure

Pressure is just as important as heat.

If the pressure is too light:

Ink won’t bond correctly
Transfer will look fuzzy or faded
Edges may look weak or uneven

How to Fix It:

For most projects:
Use medium to firm pressure.

Tips:

Use a pressing pillow for shirts with seams
Adjust clamshell presses tighter
For mugs/tumblers: ensure the press wraps tightly

If your paper lifts or shifts, then pressure is too low.

You Didn’t Press Long Enough

Under-pressing is the #1 beginner cause of faded sublimation.

If the ink doesn’t fully turn to gas, your image will look:

Pale
Soft
Uneven
Missing detail

How to Fix It:

Increase your time by 10–20 seconds.

Typical times:

Shirts → 45 seconds
Mugs → 180–240 seconds
Hardboard → 60 seconds
Wood (poly-coated) → 45–60 seconds
Acrylic → 60 seconds

Always check the blank’s instructions.

Your Sublimation Paper Isn’t Releasing Ink Properly

Not all sublimation paper is created equal.

Cheap or incorrect paper can cause:

Weak transfers
Patchy color
Faded spots

How to Fix It:

Use reputable brands:

Make sure you're using the correct weight:

105g for fabric
120–125g for hard items

And always print on the bright white side.

Your Ink Isn’t High Quality or is Installed Incorrectly

Low-quality sublimation ink will only give low-quality colors.

If your ink is:

Old
Stored hot/cold
Not shaken periodically
Mixed with another brand

…your colors will suffer.

How to Fix It:

Use a reliable ink:

Never mix ink brands in the same tank.

Don't leave ink sitting for too long without mixing.

Your Printer Settings Are Incorrect

Incorrect print settings can drastically weaken color output.

Check:

Color mode → should be Best Quality or High
Paper type → Premium Matte or Presentation Paper Matte
ICC profiles → installed correctly
Mirror ON

How to Fix It:

Use recommended settings for your exact ink + printer.
Install ICC profiles if available.

You Did Not Lint Roll Fabric

This is a small step that causes many problems.

Lint fibers turn into:

Blue dots
faded specks
weak areas where ink didn’t bond

How to Fix It:

Lint roll:

Shirts
Towels
Flags
Tote bags
Blankets

Every. Single. Time.

You Did Not Pre-Press Your Blank

Moisture ruins sublimation.

When moisture evaporates under heat:

The ink can’t bond
Colors turn pale or uneven
You get washed-out areas

How to Fix It:

Pre-press fabric and porous surfaces:
5–10 seconds at 385°F.

This removes moisture and wrinkles.

The Sublimation Paper Shifted (Ghosting)

If your paper shifts even slightly, it can cause:

Shadowing
Soft faded edges
Doubled lines

How to Fix It:

Tape all edges with heat tape
Apply consistent pressure
Open press slowly to avoid suction lift

ADVANCED CAUSES (When the Basics Didn’t Fix It)

The Blank Has an Inferior or Damaged Polyester Coating

This happens often with:

Cheap mugs
Dollar Tree blanks
Off-brand wood ornaments

If the coating is thin or uneven, then color will NOT transfer fully.

Fix:

Use high-quality blanks only.

You Over-Pressed and Burned Off the Black Dye

Black sublimation ink is fragile at high temps.

Too much heat or time turns black to:

Brown
Rust
Dark red
Muddy gray

Fix:

Lower your temperature to 380°F
Reduce time by 10 seconds

QUICK REFERENCE: FAST FIXES FOR FADED SUBLIMATION

Problem	Likely Cause	Quick Fix
Colors are pale	Low heat / short time	Increase time 10–20 sec
Image looks washed out	Wrong substrate	Use polyester or poly-coated
Edges look weak	Low pressure	Tighten press
Print is uneven	Moisture	Pre-press
Colors dull on shirts	Low polyester content	Use 65–100% poly
Black looks brown	Overheating	Lower temp
Design blurry	Paper shifted	Tape more securely
Colors muted on wood	No polyester	Use glitter HTV or coating

Sublimation doesn’t fade because you did something wrong, it fades because one of the key elements wasn’t quite right.

Once you learn to control these variables, your sublimation projects will come out:

Bold
Crisp
Permanent
Professional

Every single time.

If you want to try your hand at a project now, check out How to Sublimate Glass Cans and Cups.

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