How to sublimate a dye sublimation dog bowl

Here’s a complete, easy-to-follow guide on how to sublimate a dye sublimation dog bowl  — perfect for custom pet gifts, shop products, or personal keepsakes!

What You’ll Need

• Blank sublimation dog bowl (ceramic or stainless steel with sublimation coating)

• Sublimation printer with sublimation ink

• Sublimation paper

• Heat-resistant tape

• Convection oven, or 3D vacuum heat press

• Silicone wrap or shrink wrap bag

• Heat-resistant gloves

• Lint-free cloth or roller

Step 1: Prepare Your Design

1. Measure your bowl’s printable area — each model is different!

   • For example, a ceramic bowl may have a print area around 77cm Deep
     17.5cm Diameter, 56cm Circumference - ours come in three different sizes

2. In your design software (Canva, Photoshop, etc.):

   • Set your canvas to the bowl’s printable dimensions.

   • Add 3–5 mm bleed for full edge coverage.

   • Mirror (flip horizontally) your design before printing.

3. Print your design on sublimation paper using sublimation ink, and let it dry completely.

Step 2: Prep the Bowl

1. Wipe the surface with a lint-free cloth to remove dust, oils, or fingerprints.

2. Make sure it’s completely dry and room temperature.

Step 3: Apply the Design

1. Trim your printed design and wrap it around the outer surface of the bowl so the image faces inward against the coating.

2. Align carefully — ensure it’s level all the way around.

3. Secure tightly with heat-resistant tape to prevent movement.

4. Place you bowl into a shrink wrap bag if using an oven or wrap the outside with a silicone wrap.

Step 4: Heat Press Settings

The settings depend on your press method and bowl type:

Tips:

• Apply medium pressure — too light and colors fade; too heavy and ceramic may crack.

• Always make sure the bowl is of room temperature before pressing

• Never leave the bowl unattended while heating.

Step 5: Cool & Finish

1. Carefully remove from press with heat-resistant gloves.

2. Peel off paper immediately (hot peel) to prevent ghosting.

3. Allow to cool naturally — don’t submerge in water (ceramic may crack).

4. Once cool, your custom dog bowl is ready to use or gift! 

Extra Tips

• Material check: Only sublimation-coated ceramics or stainless steel will accept the ink.

• Avoid the inner surface — sublimation coatings are only applied on the exterior.

• Colour consistency: For darker designs, slightly increase press time by 30–60 seconds.

• Test first: Every bowl’s thickness and coating can affect the final colour.