Hello All! I have been getting what appear to be bubbles when heat pressing my HVTRONT sublimination vinyl. I have tried different heat settings and pressure settings. Any suggestions?? I also use the HTVRONT heat press (12x12). Thanks in advance!!
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Hi and welcome to the community @Lesa_Brooks! 
So glad you’re here — and great job troubleshooting already. Bubbles in sublimation vinyl can definitely be frustrating, but you’re not alone. Here are a few things that might help:
Pre-Press Your Garment Moisture or wrinkles in the fabric can cause bubbling. Try a quick 5–10 second pre-press to smooth things out and release any trapped steam.
Check Your Vinyl Placement Make sure the vinyl is laying completely flat with no air pockets. Even a slight lift or wrinkle can bubble under heat.
Lower Temp, Longer Time Sometimes a slightly lower temperature with a longer press time helps the vinyl adhere more evenly without bubbling.
Lint Roll First Tiny fibers or dust can interfere with adhesion and cause bubbling — a quick lint roll before pressing can make a big difference.
Use a Teflon Sheet or Parchment Paper This can help distribute heat more evenly and reduce hotspots that lead to bubbling.
You’re using the HTVRONT 15×15 press, which is great for consistent pressure — just make sure it’s not too tight, as excess pressure can also cause bubbling. What materials are you using to press using Sublimation vinyl? Also, I want to know your setting parameters so, we can help you as such! Keep us posted on what works for you!
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Hello and welcome @Lesa_Brooks wish I could be off help, i do not have any sublimation prints to use, but great tips from @rinsky 
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Hi @Lesa_Brooks a few weeks ago I used sublimation vinyl and I prepare my t-Shit heating 5 seconds and It works’ put it when is warm and this Help! Try it! 
@rinsky mencioned before. Take a look! 
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I love you are so helpful that’s awesome so thank you!
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How did you go? Great tips from @rinsky.
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Hello! Thank you for the tips. I always press the material to flatten out first and use two teflon sheets. I am making silkscreens for cookies, so the material isn’t bigger than 7 x 7 at the most. I also do lint roll to get dust or any other particles off of the material before pressing. My press will give me PSIs so that is super helpful as well. I wonder if I am pressing too hard?? LOL
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I will give it a whirl! What temp setting do you use? And thanks!
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That sounds like such a thoughtful setup—thank you for sharing all those details! Your prep routine is spot-on: pre-pressing, lint rolling, and using Teflon sheets are all great practices, especially for smaller silkscreen pieces like yours. And having PSI readings is a huge plus for dialing in consistency.
If you’re wondering about pressure, it’s definitely possible to go a little too hard—especially with delicate materials or smaller surfaces. Sometimes high PSI can trap air or distort the vinyl slightly, which might lead to bubbling or uneven texture. You might try easing up just a bit and see if that helps smooth things out.
Also curious—are you noticing bubbles right after pressing, or only once the vinyl cools? That can help pinpoint whether it’s a heat or pressure issue. Either way, you’re clearly doing a lot right already. Keep us posted if you tweak anything—I’d love to hear what works best for your cookie screens!
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Hello! Always prepress! I find it makes my life easier and my work consistently without issues!
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