I spent hours designing a graduation stole for my daughter and used sublimation to transfer the ink onto the fabric. The first side was perfect, it had a beautiful, crisp “2026” that made me so excited to see my design come to life.
Then came the second side.
I placed it under the heat press with the Teflon sheet I had used on the first side. Everything looked normal...until it came out of the press with a faint shadow of “2026” ghosted across the fabric! I was in such a hurry that I did not stop to understand why it had happened. I assumed I’d somehow pressed it too close to the other side.
It wasn’t until I ruined all three stoles and had to order more that I finally stopped and researched what had gone wrong.
That is the day that I learned that while Teflon is usually recommended when pressing vinyl, Sublimation ink turns into gas, and Teflon traps that gas, which then can transfer onto your next project.
As someone who uses a sublimation, vinyl, and DTF, and infusible ink regularly, I finally sat down and researched when to use Teflon, vs, parchment paper, vs butcher paper and when not to
Here’s the cheat sheet I wish I had before I pressed those stoles:
Parchment = equipment protection
Butcher paper = sublimation transfer
Teflon = vinyl + HTV protection (never sublimation)
And here is the full breakdown for sublimation, HTV, DTF, and infusible ink:
Sublimation | Heat Transfer Vinyl (HTV) | DTF | Infusible Ink | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Parchment Paper | Yes, but only under/around the project | Yes, best choice | Yes, on top or under only | Yes, safe and recommended |
Butcher Paper | Yes, required | Yes, but not ideal | Yes, but not recommended | Yes, best choice |
Teflon Sheet | No, traps gas, causes ghosting | No, blocks heat needed for proper adhesion | Yes, but not recommended | No, traps gas |
And that’s really that’s it! Every material we use in crafting behaves differently under heat. Some need protection, some need room to breathe, and some need direct contact to bond properly. Once I understood why each barrier works (or doesn’t), everything finally clicked and there were fewer frustrating craft nights.
DTF needs direct high heat so the adhesive powder melts correctly. Any barrier, especially Teflon, can block that heat and lead to poor adhesion, peeling, or cracking over time. Infusible ink needs a breathable barrier like parchment or butcher paper so that gas caused by heat, can escape. Sublimation needs butcher paper because it absorbs moisture and prevents ghosting. HTV is the most flexible, but even then, pressure matters.
It took many projects and that stole for such an important day for me to slow down and learn the differences, but now I reach for the right material without second guessing myself.
If you have ever wondered why your projects sometimes behave unpredictably, chances are it’s not you, it’s the tools you are using.
Crafting is a mix of creativity, science, and a little bit of chaos. The more we understand the “why” the easier it becomes to get consistent, beautiful results. Hopefully this guide saves you from the mistakes I made and helps you press with confidence.