Kitchen gifts are some of the easiest sublimation products to sell. A family recipe on a glass cutting board, a last-name monogram on a bamboo board, a set of custom pot holders for a housewarming basket. They are personal, practical and priced well for gifting. This guide covers how to sublimate the most popular kitchen blanks and the details that make the difference between a professional result and a ruined board.
Popular Sublimation Kitchen Blanks
You will find all of these in our sublimation kitchen and cutting board collection:
- Textured glass sublimation cutting boards in 7.9" x 11", 12" round and 11.25" x 15.5" sizes, sold individually or in 24-piece cases. These have a printable back with a textured front.
- Bamboo sublimation cutting boards (7.5" x 11.5") with a built-in hanging hole. A higher-value blank that looks great at craft fairs.
- White polymer sublimation cutting boards (7.75" x 9.75") sold 50 per case for high-volume and wholesale orders.
- Sublimation pot holders (7.75" x 7.75", 10 per pack), presewn with a heat-resistant bottom layer.
Before You Start
- Check the blank's instructions. Each material has its own time and temperature. For example, our textured glass boards recommend pressing around 400°F for roughly 5 minutes.
- Use the right supplies: sublimation ink and paper, heat-resistant tape, butcher paper and heat-resistant gloves.
- Adjust your press for thickness. Boards are much thicker than shirts, so you will need to open up your pressure setting. Our pressure settings guide explains how.
How to Sublimate a Glass Cutting Board
Glass boards are printed on the smooth back, and the design shows through the textured glass on the front.
- Do not mirror the design. Because you are looking at the image through the glass, printing it un-mirrored makes text read correctly from the front. Always double-check with a test print on plain paper held behind the board.
- Size the design to the printable area and leave a small margin from the edges.
- Remove any protective film and clean the coated back with a lint-free cloth.
- Tape the transfer ink side down to the coated back.
- Press with butcher paper top and bottom at the blank's recommended settings, around 400°F for about 5 minutes for our glass boards.
- Remove carefully with gloves. Glass holds heat for a long time.
- Peel the paper and let the board cool slowly on a heat-safe surface. Avoid cold countertops or water, since sudden temperature changes can stress glass.
How to Sublimate Bamboo and Polymer Boards
- Mirror your design when printing directly onto the surface you will view.
- Clean and dry the board. Wood products can hold moisture, so a short pre-press with butcher paper on top can help.
- Tape the transfer securely so it cannot shift.
- Press with butcher paper top and bottom, using the time and temperature recommended for your blank.
- Peel while hot in one motion and let the board cool flat.
Polymer boards in bulk are ideal for fundraisers, corporate gifts and wholesale orders. Run a test board from each new case before starting a large job.
How to Sublimate Pot Holders
- Mirror the design and size it to the printable face.
- Lint roll the polyester surface and pre-press briefly.
- Tape the transfer, cover with butcher paper and press using medium pressure.
- Peel hot and let cool.
Because pot holders are fabric, follow the guidance for sublimating polyester textiles. Our DTF and sublimation press settings cheat sheet lists general apparel settings of 380–400°F for 45–60 seconds with light to medium pressure as a starting point.
Troubleshooting
- Faded or blotchy color: not enough time or heat, uneven pressure or moisture in the blank. See why sublimation colors look dull.
- Ghosting: the paper moved. Tape all edges and lift straight up when peeling.
- Backwards text on glass: the design was mirrored. Print un-mirrored for glass boards viewed from the front.
- Cracked glass: cooling too quickly or uneven pressure. Let it cool slowly and do not over-tighten the press.
Care Instructions for Customers
- Hand wash only to protect the design.
- Many customers use personalized boards for serving and display, such as charcuterie, bread and decor, to keep the design looking new.
- On glass boards, the design is on the back, so the textured front is the working surface.
- Do not soak bamboo or put it in the dishwasher.
Kitchen Gift Ideas That Sell
- Handwritten family recipes scanned from a recipe card
- Last-name monograms with an established year
- Wedding and anniversary gifts
- Real estate closing gifts
- Mother's Day and grandparent gifts
- Matching sets: cutting board, pot holders and coasters
- Restaurant and food truck branding
Pair boards with sublimation coasters for a complete gift set, and find more inspiration in 25 easy sublimation gift ideas.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I mirror the design for a glass cutting board?
Generally no. The image is pressed on the back and viewed through the glass, so an un-mirrored print reads correctly from the front. Test first.
Can I sublimate any wood cutting board?
No. Sublimation needs a polyester coating or a blank made for sublimation. Regular wood will not hold sublimation ink well.
Can I use a 15" x 15" press?
Yes for most sizes, as long as the board fits fully under the platen with room to spare. Larger boards need a larger press.
Cutting boards and kitchen items are some of the most personal gifts you can offer, and they are simple to produce once you know the rules for each blank. Explore all of our sublimation blanks to build your kitchen line.