What is the best way to print on planter, or flower vase?

[AslEdla]

Hello, we sell small planters for plants.
And we want to start personalize service.

Most of our planters are 4" and less, and it is cylinder or rectangular shape.
However some planters are curved or patterned shape. Plz check attached pictures.(I just googled and copy and paste similar planter we have)


Attached pictures
planter1- 4" ceramic cylinder)
plnater2- 3" round white ceramic planter which is uneven and has some pattern on it)
planter3- unique unicorn planter)
planter4- 2.5" white ceramic rectangular planter)
planter5- 2" glass cylinder) I don't have pictures. however it is just reg 2" glass cylinder.

I have searched online, and I found that there are many ways to print on planters.
Printable heat transfer vinyl(HTV) vs Vinyl
HTV vs Sublimation
Heat Press / Oven / 3D vacuum heat press.


And I also found that different kind of printers are used for each type
Sublimation printer(like Sawgrass), or Epson printer
Cricut
regular printers
Vinyl printer


Can you let me know which method is the best methods for us?
We expect to get 5-10 personalizing service a day, and hopefully get more order.

By the way I heard from someone that I can print on only polycoated planters.
I'm not sure if our planters are polycoated or not.
If our planter are not polycoated, is there no way to print on those planters?


I found that there are so many method.
Is there a article or Youtube video which cover and compare all methods, good for newbie?


One last question.
I heard from someone that harmful gas can occur when we do Heat press(transfer).
Do you guys use ventilation fan when you do heat press(transfer)?


Thank you.

[Wika]

The only thing is coming to my mind is try to print using an oven for the bigger one. For small plant pots you can use a sublimation 3D oven. You will need the silicone wraps to wrap around the pot and planters. And of course a sublimation printer and sublimation paper, and heat tape.

[AslEdla]

Thank you for the answer.

By the way, I got an answer from other place like below.
Can you let me know what do you think about it?


"Personally, I would not even engage in trying to print anything for this project.
Use a regular 28" SC2 cutter, feed it with 751 cast vinyl (the good stuff) and apply normally (pressure adhesive, not heat) to the surfaces of your planters. If you want to verify this works, go to a local sign shop, get them to make you a few sample decals (make sure they utilize high-quality cast vinyl -- NOT standard calendared material).
Let us know how that goes."



Is the vinyl he mentioned something like sticker?
Once I apply it on planters, is it permanent or can I peel off it?

Please let me know.
Thank you!

[Mrteajunkie]

If you can find these with a sublimation coating great otherwise you may have to coat them yourself which is risky.

Vinyl will only end up giving you a bad name.
Vinyl will peel and weather. After a few weeks or months they will look awful.

You could pad print or even hand paint but not vinyl.

[webtrekker]

You could try waterslide decals. Maybe protect them with a UV-resistant overspray if intended for outdoor use, or indoor use in direct sunlight.

If you can get poly-coated pots suitable for sublimation then you could try them in an oven using thermo-shrink instead of silicone wraps to hold the transfer in place on oddly shaped pots.

[AslEdla]

I just saw a youtube video about waterslide decals.
It looks like it takes so long time to do.
So, I think using oven is more suitable method for me.

Can you let me know differences between conventional oven and sublimaiton 3d oven?
I can't find many info about 3d oven, and 3d oven selling in Amazon doesn't have good reviews.

By the way,Is there a way to know if my planter is poly-coated or not?
And can you recommend good sublimation coating spray?

If I spray sublimation coating on my planter(not polymer), then I can put it in an oven for sublimation,right?
When I spray the coating, do I have to coat entire planter, or just area that I'm going to heat transfer?

Can I use Sawgrass printer for the method?

Thank you!

[AslEdla]

If you can find these with a sublimation coating great otherwise you may have to coat them yourself which is risky.

Mrteajunkie,
Can you let me what you referring "these"?
Do you referring "oven"?

Thank you.

[Mrteajunkie]

THESE = The planters you have posted pictures of.

if these are available ready for sublimation great otherwise you may need to coat them yourself with the coating sprays but that’s not easy and may not last either.

http://www.subliglaze.com/

[AslEdla]

Okay now I understand!
Thank you for clarifying it.

I just saw a YouTube video which sublimation on non-poly mug.
It takes much longer time than I thought.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLPsnBppsqE

So, if my planter is non-poly coated, then I think there is no easy way to sublimation.

Only easy way to do is Vinyl.
However, as you mention, Vinyl will peel off, and will give us bad reputation.

Is there no other way?
Because I saw a seller who personalize on the same planter that I have.
And more likely the planter is non-poly.
When I touched letters on the planter which the seller sublimated, I can't feel any bump.
So I guess the seller didn't use Vinyl method.


By the way, I looked closely, and I found some trace.
Can you tell me which method they used?
[ATTACH=CONFIG]6480[/ATTACH]

[Mrteajunkie]

Looks like a printed clear vinyl.
it’s just simply a clear digital vinyl which has been printed onto using a solvent printer or UV printer.

Waterslide transfers are an alternate option but not sure how long they would last outdoors.