Some comments/tips: 1. use a laminating machine if you have, on the press it will often bubble 2. use the thinnest laminating film you can get, 50mic, maybe less 3. laminating only one side (front) of the vinyl 4. the white vinyl is only needed to get the sticky back, you can use other colors too, but of course without white background 5. the sublimation does only work good on the laminating film (polyester), not the vinyl itself 6. sublimation is only good for indoor use, outdoor it will fade really quick from sunlight 7. uv protection coating can help with (6) a little, but if you want long lasting decals, just use colored vinyl with your cutter alone 8. you can do transparent decals from transparent vinyl without laminating film, the sublimation will be inside the glue of the vinyl 9. if you sublimate the white vinyl directly, the image will be in the glue too. you can use this for windows from the back (inside)
Thanks for sharing. I liked your video but i feel like you left out a lot. i would like to have seen ALL the steps. i would rather have seen the work instead of you telling about the work...imagine camera facing down on the project. never the less, it is a good video. and i really do appreciate you making it.
the cricut has trouble reading registration marks on shiny material. To fix this, just cover registration lines with clear matt tape. (so now its not shiny.) hope that helps
Thanks for the video. Newby maybe silly question... am I sublimating the thermal lamination side or the vinyl sticker side? I believe the thermal lamination ends up on the away side (of outside window) of the whole decal, then the vinyl sticker and then sticky back side of vinyl sticks on outside of car window. I am just not understanding which side the sublimation is penetrating - the thermal lamination or vinyl sticker. Thanks
@@ThatROUGHTLife thanks for the reply! I found an easy way to get lamination adhered perfectly flat to permanent vinyl. Maybe a “that’s obvious” but I was having problems getting it flat using heat press so I tried running both laminate and vinyl through A4 laminator and got perfect results every time. Thanks again I love your videos - very helpful.
You're welcome. Mine lasted about a year. The color faded, but the decal is still on. Look through the comments on this video. Someone mentioned some UV spray you can get from Amazon.
Alrighty - I got kinda lost and would appreciate your feedback. Am I placing my printed sublimated image in the pouch and pressing at 400 degrees for 1 minute? Or am I placing the 651 in the thermal pouch and pressing? Or is it both? I got everything else from there, it's just that bit that's a tad confusing.
Maybe I'm just up to early watching videos but I have a question. If you laminate the 651, how can it stick to the car? Did you only put it on the top of the 651 or did you put it in the pocket.
Why can't we use print and cut feature of cricut? If you print including registration marks, then press vinyl, laminate and sublimation paper for 60 seconds, then cut with Cricut, would not that be easier? Is there a reason you press laminate and sub paper separately?
I struggle with that also. I buy the thermal pouches for 8.5x11 paper. That was it is connected on one side. The inside of the sheet is the thermal part. If I cut some off one side, I keep some attached so I know which side is still the inside. If that makes any sense.
The sublimation ink will adhere to the laminate not the vinyl. I feel like it would be easier to laminate a piece of white vinyl first, then cut it and sublimate it
I found this video very confusing, if you showed what you were doing and explain it like you are teaching someone that's never done it it would be more helpful
@@ThatROUGHTLife okay thank you for replying I believe there’s a special spray to put on it right so it can last under the sun did you know which it’s????
So y laminate? Only for the shine or is that the only way for the sublimation to stay with out wash off? Just got my sublimation printer and now waiting on ink before i can try anything my self.
What program are you using where you can print the offset without having to use the lines? I am using Cricut Design Space for my Cricut maker and I am having trouble with that part. I have successfully made stickers using your video, but can't figure out how to get them to cut nicely.
When I go to laminate the vinyl, I'm doing shiny side up but my paper sticks even after letting it cool for several minutes. Am I doing something wrong? If I try to peel it up, the vinyl wants to come with it. I'm using the same laminating sheets that you're using too.
@@ThatROUGHTLife I managed to get the laminate sheet to sub, but the laminate sheet itself didn't stick to the vinyl. My copy paper did stick to my vinyl though. Hopefully that makes sense?
Press the laminate onto the white vinyl. It should stick if you press it for 60 seconds. Try adding more pressure. After that, cut the decal outline, then sub the image on top.
@@ThatROUGHTLife I am pressing the laminate to the white vinyl. It just peels off the vinyl and looks bubbly. :/ I'm trying it again with some more pressure though, so we will see 🤞
I'm not sure. I am subbing on top of laminate so there will automatically be shine. You could try matte vinyl, but I don't know if it would make a difference.
Sticker lasts as long as a regular decal with Oracal 651 adhesive vinyl. Sublimation will fade. Check the comment thread about uv spray on Amazon to help protect from fading
