Sublimation PU leather products have become increasingly popular in personalized gifts, POD (Print on Demand), creative merchandise, holiday products, and online retail. Their vivid colors, durable surface, and flexible customization make sublimation leather blanks an attractive category for wholesalers and sellers.
This time we will explain the science behind sublimation leather printing, which materials work, how the process operates, and the most common applications.
“We support adding custom pu leather surfaces to various products to obtain more meaningful products. In addition to the basic products we provide, if you have personalized customization needs for your products, you can contact us to process heat transfer coatings for your products and take your business to the next level.”
1. How Sublimation Works on PU Leather
Sublimation is a printing technology in which solid dye turns into gas under high heat and penetrates the coated surface of the material.
On sublimation PU leather:
1. Dye becomes gas under heat
Sublimation ink activates when heated, forming gas molecules.
2. Dye penetrates into the polymer coating
The special coating on sublimation PU leather absorbs and locks the dye.
3. Cooling solidifies the image
The dye re-solidifies inside the coating, resulting in:
- Sharp details
- Vibrant colors
- High resistance to scratches and wear
- Long-lasting stability
Because the dye becomes part of the coating rather than sitting on top, sublimation leather products are strong and durable.
As long as the picture can be printed out can be completely printed to the sublimation product above
2. What Leather Materials Can Be Sublimated?
Suitable: Sublimation PU Leather (PU leather blanks with sublimation coating)
These materials are specifically engineered to accept sublimation dye.
Key features:
- White or light base color
- Sublimation receptive coating
- Heat resistance up to 180–195°C
- Smooth surface for detailed prints
Common blanks include:
- PU luggage tags
- PU wallets and cardholders
- PU leather coasters
- Keychains, ornaments, door hangers
- PU notebook covers
- Leather photo frames and custom shapes
Not suitable:
- Real leather
- Standard PU without coating
- PVC
- Heat-sensitive materials
These materials cannot absorb sublimation dye effectively.
The comparison between matte PU leather and glossy PU leather
3. Standard Workflow for Sublimating PU Leather
1. Artwork preparation
- 300 dpi resolution
- RGB color mode
- Mirror the design before printing
2. Printing
- Use sublimation ink
- Print onto sublimation paper
- Allow time to dry fully
3. Positioning
- Place printed image face-down on the leather
- Fix with heat-resistant tape
4. Heat press settings (reference)
- 185°C / 365°F
- 45–60 seconds
- Medium pressure
Adjust slightly depending on product thickness.
5. Peel, cool, inspect
The colors settle and become more vivid after cooling.
This is a video guiding the printing process – how to sublimate PU leather
4. Applications of Sublimation PU Leather
Sublimation leather products are widely used in:
- Travel souvenirs
- Holiday gifts
- Wedding favors
- Creative cultural merchandise
- Corporate promotional items
- E-commerce platforms (Etsy, Amazon, Shopee, Temu)
- POD studios and designers
- Gift wholesalers and retailers
They offer high added value and strong market adaptability for both small customization and bulk production.
Sublimation PU leather products printing effect
Leadsub International Trade Co., Limited is a manufacturer with over 20 years of experience in sublimation materials and advertising materials. We operate production bases in Jiangxi and Shandong, covering 18,000㎡ with a daily output of 50000+pcs.
We supply:
- Sublimation PU leather blanks
- Sublimation blank gifts
- Custom shapes (OEM/ODM)
- Bulk production for wholesalers, gift shops, e-commerce sellers, and POD factories
We provide stable supply, consistent quality, and flexible customization options, welcome to visit our factory.
For catalog, quotation, or samples, feel free to contact us anytime.
