How to Print Vinyl Wraps Using Sublimation Tumbler Templates and Inkjet Printable Vinyl

Sublimation isn't the only way to make tumblers. You can also make vinyl wraps for tumblers using sublimation templates and designs. 

This is a great alternative if you are in one of the following situations: 

• Wondering how to make skinny tumblers without a sublimation printer 
• Looking for ideas on how to fix messed up sublimation tumblers
• Need a way to customize non-sublimation ready tumblers

In this tutorial I'll share how to print vinyl wraps for tumblers using skinny tumbler sublimation templates and inkjet printable vinyl.  

As a side - my preferred method is with an ecosolvent printer like a Roland BN-20A which is what I would recommend if you are making vinyl tumbler wraps to sell, want to print multiple vinyl tumbler wraps at the same time or if want better quality and longer lasting vinyl wraps. But with that said you can use inkjet printable vinyl to wrap skinny tumblers.

Start by finding the sublimation tumbler design you want to use. So Fontsy has a lot of options for 20 oz skinny tumblers as well as 30 oz straight and tapered tumblers. In this example we have a 20 oz straight tumbler that was previously sublimated but was messed up. 

How to Print Vinyl Tumbler Wraps with Inkjet Printable Vinyl

Open Silhouette Studio and go to File > Open to navigate to the file. 

I'm using this sublimation halloween tumbler design from So Fontsy's Coffee Mug & Tumbler Bundle.

You'll want to make sure the page size matches your printer by changing the Media Size in the Page Setup panel to "Printer."  

You'll want to make sure you turn on borderless printing so you can take advantage of the full sheet of material.  This is especially important if you are using an 8.5" x 11" printer. 

Rotate the sublimation template and make sure it fits within the printing boundary. 

These files are usually perfectly sized for tumblers so I would suggest not scaling at all unless you measure your tumbler's circumference and height and determine the template is too small. 

For sublimation transfers you'd want to reverse the image, but for vinyl wraps you do not need to mirror the image.

Now you can prepare to print using a material such as Oracal 1917 which is an inkjet printable vinyl. You can print directly from Silhouette Studio by going to File > Print.

Be sure to adjust the print settings so you get the best possible print resulting in the best possible colors and resolution. 

And that's all there is to printing vinyl wraps for tumblers on an inkjet printer.  

I would suggest using a laminate or clear sticker sheet to seal the vinyl too unless you plan to epoxy after wrapping the tumbler.  For tips on how to wrap a tumbler in vinyl check out this step by step tutorial. 

If you're looking for even better results and options for how to print more vinyl wraps than just one at a time the 20" Roland BN-20A Ecosolvent printer and cutter is a dream.

For how to print custom and patterned vinyl sheets with Roland BN-20A including 20 oz vinyl tumbler wraps check out this step by step tutorial. 

I also have a two part series on printing vinyl wraps for tumblers on Silhouette School Youtube channel. 

Note: This post may contain affiliate links. By clicking on them and purchasing products through my links, I receive a small commission. That's what helps fund Silhouette School so I can keep buying new Silhouette-related products to show you how to get the most out of your machine!

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