i have the loklik impress auto 2 heat press. I want to sublimate on to photo slates but they keep coming out with a grainy appearance. can anyone tell me the correct time, temp and pressure for them?
Hi and Welcome to the Community @linda_smith!
Thanks for sharing your setup—photo slates can be stunning when they come out just right, but they’re definitely one of the trickier blanks to dial in.
That grainy appearance usually points to one of a few culprits: either the pressure isn’t firm enough to fully transfer the ink, or the time/temp combo needs adjusting. Here’s a starting point that works well for many slate blanks:
- Temp: 400°F (204°C)
- Time: 8–9 minutes
- Pressure: Medium to firm
- Orientation: Slate face-up, print face-down
- Layering tip: Use a green conductive pad or thin silicone mat to help even out pressure across the slate’s surface
Also, make sure your image is printed at high resolution and slightly oversized to bleed off the edges—slates have jagged borders that can cause white gaps if the design doesn’t fully cover them.
Humidity, paper type, and even the slate coating can affect results, so if you’re still getting graininess, try increasing the time by 30 seconds or switching up your paper brand.
Hope that helps! Let us know how your next press goes—would love to see your finished slate once it’s dialed in! ![]()
NOTE: This is for your reference ONLY! Please follow the manufacturer’s heat settings for both machine and material. In addition, please let us know your sublimation settings to assist you better.
i have the loklik impress auto 2 heat press. I want to sublimate on to photo slates but they keep coming out with a grainy appearance. can anyone tell me the correct time, temp and pressure for them?
What temp and time are you using and time the slates need a lot more time then other things.
I do mine face of the slate up, print down. 400° for 420 seconds and rotate it 90° every 100 seconds. They get hot so wear good gloves! I lay it on a piece of cardstock and rotate the cardstock so I don’t disrupt the print position. After you tape the paper on, squish it really tight against edges of all 4 sides and the corners, too.
Thankyou, I will try out your suggestions
Thankyou!!! My photo slates are turning out beautifully now! I would love to send a photo, but havent figured out how to do so.
Thankyou - problem now solved - blessings
Wow they turned amazing not only beautiful ![]()
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This is wonderful! I feel so glad for you. Your sublimation turn out gorgeous!
They look great
