Unique personalised Baubles - Perfect ceramic Gift – Spottedlizardprints
Are you looking to add a personal touch to your ceramic Baubles? Sublimation is the perfect technique to achieve vibrant and long-lasting designs on your ceramic ornaments. Let's dive into the process of sublimating a ceramic bauble with Spotted Lizard prints. You can also check out our Youtube channel.
Materials Needed
To start the sublimation process, gather your materials. You'll need a ceramic Bauble specifically designed for sublimation, a sublimation printer, a heat press, and a printed transfer. If you don't have a heat press, a heat gun can be used as an alternative.
Preparation
Prior to printing, ensure that the ceramic bauble is at room temperature. To create a smooth surface for printing, consider using a silicone mat as a base.
Printing
Set up your desired image in an ornament template, print the transfer, and carefully trim it to fit the ceramic Bauble.
Applying the Transfer
Secure the transfer onto the ceramic bauble using heat tape or adhesive spray. This step is crucial to ensure that the design stays in place during the sublimation process.
Pressing
Now it's time to apply heat to the ceramic bauble. Utilize a heat press or heat Gun to transfer the design onto the Bauble. To prevent any damage, place a heat-resistant pad underneath the bauble to avoid cracking. Sublimation does also use a gas process to make the ink transfer onto the item. Check out our is sublimation safe blog for more information. Personalised unique gift ideas from Spotted Lizard prints.
1. Choose the Right Material
Not all materials are created equal when it comes to sublimation. For the best results, opt for materials with a high polyester content. Polyester fabrics have the ability to hold the sublimation ink and produce vivid, durable prints.
2. Use High-Quality Sublimation Ink
The quality of the sublimation ink you use can greatly impact the final result. Invest in high-quality sublimation ink that is specifically designed for the sublimation process. This will ensure vibrant colours and sharp details in your prints.
3. Maintain Proper Heat and Pressure
Heat and pressure are crucial factors in the sublimation process. Make sure to follow the manufacturer's guidelines for temperature and pressure settings. Consistent heat and pressure will help the ink transfer evenly onto the material, resulting in a professional-looking finish.
4. Ensure Proper Image Resolution
For sharp and detailed prints, it is important to use high-resolution images. Low-resolution images can result in blurry or pixelated prints. Aim for images with a resolution of at least 300 dpi to achieve the best results in sublimation printing.
5. Practice Proper Colour Management
Colour management is key to achieving accurate and consistent colours in sublimation printing. Calibrate your monitor regularly and use colour profiles to ensure that the colours in your design match the final printed result. This will help you avoid colour discrepancies in your prints. Personalised Gifts printed by Spotted Lizard prints
6. Allow Sufficient Cooling Time
After the sublimation process is complete, allow the material to cool down before handling it. This cooling period is essential for the ink to fully set and bond with the material. Rushing this step can result in smudged or faded prints.
🎄 Step 1: Customer Order & Personalisation
- You choose a design from their Christmas bauble collection (e.g. baby’s first Christmas, memorial bauble, pet bauble).
- At checkout, you add your personalisation details – name, date, or short message.
- They double-check spelling/format before starting production.
🎨 Step 2: Design Preparation
- The chosen artwork (festive illustration, character, or photo) is combined with your personalised text on their design software.
- The design is mirrored (flipped) so it prints correctly during sublimation.
- They size it to fit the bauble surface area precisely.
🖨 Step 3: Printing the Transfer
- Using a sublimation printer, the design is printed onto special sublimation transfer paper with sublimation inks.
- Colours look dull on paper at this stage but will become vibrant after heat pressing.
🔥 Step 4: Heat Transfer to Bauble
- The transfer paper is wrapped carefully around the blank bauble (usually a ceramic or polymer-coated ornament).
- A heat press or convection oven applies high heat and pressure (typically ~180–200°C).
- The ink turns into gas and bonds permanently into the coating of the bauble.
🎀 Step 5: Finishing Touches
- Once cooled, the paper is removed, revealing the permanent, vibrant design fused into the bauble’s surface.
- They attach a hanging ribbon (red, white, or seasonal colours).
- If ordered as a gift, the bauble may be boxed or wrapped, ready to send.
🚚 Step 6: Packing & Shipping
- Baubles are fragile, so they’re carefully bubble-wrapped and boxed.
- Orders are dispatched via Royal Mail (24hr/48hr tracked in the UK).
- For international orders, delivery is available worldwide, but extra packing ensures safe arrival.
Spotted Lizard Prints – High Quality, Eco-Friendly Personalised Gifts Made with Care
At Spotted Lizard Prints, customer satisfaction is at the heart of everything we do. As a UK-based small business specialising in personalised gifts and custom printed products, we take pride in creating items that bring joy, sentiment, and lasting memories to our customers. Every order is handmade with care, attention to detail, and a genuine passion for quality.
We believe that personalised gifts should be as special as the people who receive them. That’s why every product — from our personalised baby grows and jumpers to passport covers, Santa sacks, and keepsake gifts — is crafted using high-quality materials and professional-grade printing techniques. Our print process ensures rich colours, sharp detail, and long-lasting durability, so your personalised design stays vibrant even after repeated use or washing. Whether you’re ordering a one-of-a-kind birthday present or a seasonal Christmas keepsake, you can trust that your gift will be made to the highest standards.
Committed to Customer Satisfaction
Our goal is simple — to make every customer happy. From the moment you place your order to the day it arrives, we focus on providing a smooth, enjoyable shopping experience. Each product is individually checked before dispatch to guarantee it meets our strict quality standards. If something isn’t quite right, our friendly team is always ready to help, ensuring every customer receives the care and service they deserve.
Sustainability and Responsibility
At Spotted Lizard Prints, we care deeply about the environment and are constantly working to reduce our carbon footprint. We recycle waste materials wherever possible, including paper, packaging, and offcuts from our production process. Our packaging is chosen to be recyclable or reusable, and we aim to source our materials from sustainable suppliers who share our eco-friendly values
By choosing Spotted Lizard Prints, you’re not just supporting a small UK business — you’re choosing quality, care, and sustainability.
Whether it’s a thoughtful personalised gift or a keepsake for a special occasion, every Spotted Lizard Prints product is made to delight, designed to last, and created with respect for both our customers and the planet.
Tips for Success
For optimal results, remember to apply light pressure during the sublimation process. Avoid tilting the bauble to maintain an even distribution of heat and colour on the surface. You need to experiment and find the right amount of pressure, heat and time required for each item.
By following these steps and tips, you can successfully sublimate a ceramic bauble with a personalized design. Get creative and make your ornaments stand out with vibrant and durable sublimated designs! Checkout our blog for regular updates.