An important step in the journey to achieving high-quality results is selecting the best heat tape for sublimation. Purchasing from the less known or reputed brands can result in discoloration issues, therefore you want to ensure you are procuring your heat tape from the more well known brands. Explore our curated choices to find the tape that won’t leave you dealing with residue or imperfect transfers, ensuring a crisp, professional output every time.
Snapshot of Top-Performing Heat Tapes
Heat tapes, especially heat resistant ones, serve as the unsung heroes in the sublimation process. They are designed to stick, withstand high temperatures, and peel off without leaving marks or sticky residue. The choice of tape can greatly impact the quality of your final product, from t-shirts to mugs.
Without any further ado, lets get straight into it. For those of you who work with smaller, regular tape dispensers, I recommend you choose any one of the following three brands: Artesprix Heat Tape, Siser Heat Tape or the Cricut Heat Tape. However, if you prefer the larger, more expensive tape dispensers, the PYD Life Tape is a great option. Read on as we dive into a more detailed discussion of each.
Artesprix Heat Tape
Artesprix Heat Tape, celebrated for its high-quality performance and reliability, stands out as a great overall choice for sublimation projects. You can find it here. It features:
- A good amount of stick
- Easy to work with
- Designed to peel away easily after the sublimation process without tearing the paper or leaving a sticky residue.
Specifications:
- Fits standard tape dispensers
- Green in color
- Assembled in the USA using a standard tape dispenser
Pros:
- High-quality performance
- Easy to use
- Leaves no residue
Cons:
- More expensive compared to other brands, especially when looking to increase quantity
Artesprix Heat Tape is the go-to tape for many seasoned sublimation practitioners. The tape’s superior stickiness allows it to firmly hold the sublimation paper in place during the pressing process, ensuring clean and professional-looking results. Despite its slightly higher price point, users find it a worthy investment for its excellent performance and reliability as a heat resistant tape. In fact, it is often preferred over other heat transfer tape options available in the market.
User Experiences with Artesprix
Artesprix Heat Tape has garnered positive feedback from users, particularly for its:
- Ease of use
- Lack of discoloration on materials
- Strong adhesion, ensuring the sublimation paper remains perfectly in place during the heat press cycles, contributing to precise and crisp image transfers.
Pros:
- Strong adhesion
- Does not cause yellow discoloration on white or light-colored materials
Cons:
- Higher price point compared to other brands, but still a good price for the quality
Most users commend the green tape for its robust adherence and the clean peel-off post pressing, which leaves no sticky residue or discoloration, even on white or light-colored materials. Despite its higher price point, many users find it a worthy purchase for the quality it offers, with some noting it has saved them from potential project mishaps.
Siser Heat Tape
Siser Heat Tape, known for its ease of use, can endure temperatures of up to 428°F (220°C) and is designed to secure transfers and designs during heat application, making it an essential tool for maintaining the position throughout the sublimation process.
Specifications:
- Can endure temperatures up to 428°F (220°C)
- Measures 0.78 inches wide and 21.86 yards long
Pros:
- Easy to use
- Suitable for various project dimensions
Users frequently mention the ease of handling Siser Heat Tape. Despite its affordability, it does not compromise on performance and is praised for its effectiveness in holding designs securely during heat application.
User Experiences with Siser
Siser Heat Tape is popular among users, particularly beginners, for its ease of use. Overall satisfaction with this product is high, with users appreciating its effectiveness in securing designs during heat press cycles. The manageable learning curve makes it suitable for beginners in sublimation projects.
Users find the Siser Heat Tape easy to handle, contributing to a positive user experience. Its user-friendliness and effectiveness make it a recommended choice, particularly for those new to sublimation.
Cricut Heat Tape
Cricut Heat Tape provides an affordable yet strong option for heat transfer projects. You can find the tape here.
It is designed to be compatible with a variety of heat press tools, including Cricut EasyPress, and can withstand high temperatures up to 400°F (205°C). Despite its affordability, it does not compromise on performance and is appreciated for leaving no residue after use.
Specifications:
- Measures 2 cm x 16 m
- Can withstand high temperatures up to 400°F (205°C)
Pros:
- Cost-effective
- Compatible with various heat press tools, including mug press
- Leaves no residue
Cricut Heat Tape offers a reliable, budget-friendly solution for sublimation applications. Users praise its strong adhesion to surfaces, ensuring images stay in place during heat transfers without leaving marks. Despite this, the adhesive maintains its hold during the heat transfer process, making it a worthy consideration for budget-conscious users.
User Experiences with Cricut
Cricut Heat Tape receives positive feedback for its strong adhesion to surfaces, ensuring images stay in place during heat transfers without leaving marks. Users appreciate the mess-free nature of Cricut Heat Tape, as it can be removed cleanly without leaving any residue, thereby maintaining the cleanliness of their projects.
Pros:
- Strong adhesion to surfaces
- Leaves no residue or marks
Overall, users commend Cricut Heat Tape for its strong adhesion and mess-free nature. It sticks well to the surface and peels off cleanly, leaving no residue or marks. This makes it a reliable and cost-effective option for sublimation projects.
PYD Life Heat Tape
PYD Life Heat Tape stands out for its versatility, making it suitable for a variety of sublimation projects including t-shirts and tumblers. You can find the tape here.
Its resistance to high temperatures, ranging from 390 to 480 degrees Fahrenheit (199-249 degrees Celsius), broadens its application scope.
Specifications:
- Can withstand temperatures ranging from 390 to 480 degrees Fahrenheit (199-249 degrees Celsius)
- Measures 0.8 inches by 108 feet per roll
Pros:
- Suitable for a variety of sublimation projects
- Can endure high temperatures
Cons:
- Might not be the best for stickiness
The PYD Life Heat Tape is praised for its versatility and suitability for various sublimation projects. Its ability to endure high temperatures makes it an ideal choice for high-temperature sublimation applications. However, some users have complained about stickiness. Despite this, the overall user feedback confirms it as a versatile choice for sublimation onto various items.
User Experiences with PYD Life
User feedback highlights the well-rounded features of PYD Life Heat Tape, including:
- Compatibility with various sublimation items
- Resistance to high temperatures
- Versatility for sublimation projects
- Ideal choice for high-temperature sublimation applications
Pros:
- Well-rounded features
- Compatible with various sublimation items
Cons:
- Some users found the good tape to have stickiness issues
Users have appreciated the versatility of PYD Life Heat Tape, mentioning its well-rounded features and compatibility with various sublimation items. The tape’s ability to endure high temperatures makes it an ideal choice for high-temperature sublimation applications. However, some users have mentioned that the tape is too thin for their liking.
Decoding Heat Tape: Your Ultimate Buying Guide
When choosing heat tape for your sublimation projects, several factors need to be considered. One of the most crucial is temperature resistance. For instance, Artesprix Heat Tape can endure temperatures up to 400°F, making it suitable for most heat press machines. PYD Life Heat Tape, on the other hand, can endure even higher temperatures, ranging from 390 to 480 degrees Fahrenheit (199-249 degrees Celsius).
The adhesive strength of the tape is another important factor. Both Artesprix and Cricut Heat Tape are praised for their strong adhesion that ensures the sublimation paper stays in place during the pressing process.
Overall, for those who prefer the smaller, regular dispensers, the Artesprix Heat Tape, Siser Heat Tape or the Cricut Heat Tape are all recommended choices. If you are going for the larger tape dispensers, the PYD Life Tape is a great option. The Innosub tape is also a good alternative for larger dispensers. It is recommended that you stay away from unknown brands to avoid risks related to discoloration.
Summary
In conclusion, selecting the right heat tape for your sublimation project can significantly impact the final product. I have suggested a number of different options for small and large dispensers, and highlighted the importance of staying with reputed brands. Find more resources on sublimation printing and related products!
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need heat tape for sublimation?
Yes, heat tape is essential for sublimation printing to secure the transfer to the substrate and ensure a successful print. Make sure to use high-temperature heat-resistant tape for the job. Learn more in my separate article highlighting a discussion of alternatives to heat tape for sublimation.
Which heat tape is recommended for beginners?
I recommend Siser, Heat Tape for beginners because it is easy to use and beginner-friendly.
Which heat tape is the most affordable?
Among the most affordable heat tapes for heat transfer projects are Siser and Cricut Heat Tape. They offer an effective solution at a budget-friendly price.
What are the important factors to consider when choosing a heat tape?
Consider temperature resistance and adhesive strength when choosing a heat tape to ensure it meets your specific needs.
