5 Best Sublimation Software For Design in 2024!

You have everything set to start your sublimation business, a sublimation printer, sublimation ink, heat press, and sublimation paper. But have you ever thought about the importance of quality of designs to be printed?   Quality of print plays a critical role in design to be printed and for the best designs, you are going to need best sublimation software for designs.   These design software must be capable of making or editing your images or design. Only best sublimation software for design can make you excel in your field by providing you enough opportunities at your fingertips.   If you are going to use a professional and one of best sublimation software for designs then you will not only have the ability to edit but opportunity of creating your own unique designs will be at your fingertips.   And, to help you understand these sublimation software’s better, I have reviewed many of them. But for sake of only best candidates, I have shortlisted five best of them which are as follows;

Best Sublimation Software For Design

1.     Clip Studio Paint Pro

One of best sublimation software for design is Clip studio paint pro which will make you able to draw stunning digital art easily and effortlesly. With sketching pencils and inking pens, add a realistic touch to your artwork. There are more than 1000 free assets that you can download which will aid in your designing process. Tools are very versatile because they can be used for a variety of applications. A highlight of this program is its 3D model library for both male and female. Using these sizable 3D models, you can create artwork of people for your sublimation printing very easily. Most significant benefit of using this software is that it requires a one time cheap payment. But there is a catch! You cannot download it offline. You must provide an email address where you will be spammed by their promotional offers. Also, you will be spammed on the front page with news and marketing material. For digital drawing tablets, Clip Studio paint pro is a perfect solution.

Medium Learning Curve

In addition of being greatly intuitive, I discovered that this program takes very little time to understand with a medium learning curve.

2.     Adobe Photoshop

Do you want to try a design tool that will help you edit and enhance photos for sublimation prints? Then Adobe Photoshop is here to save the day. “Image is photoshopped! ” Yup, that’s the first thought that comes to our mind whenever we see edited photos. Photoshop is that much famous and has been around for a long long time. Are raster graphics and photo printing your niche in sublimation printing? Then there is no other software that will help you better than Photoshop. Beside its already vast tools for editing, it is being constantly expanded with each update. My research has found it to be one of best selling software. If I have to describe it in one sentence, I would say that it is a very simple and useful tool. Furthermore, if you are a beginner than there are many tutorials available online that will help you along your path. It also comes with an App for iPad and iPhone by which you can be creative from anywhere.

Create Digital Paintings

You can also create digital paintings, in addition to editing images like applying filters etc. You can make use of Photoshop in sublimation printing with its wide variety of plugins which keep on adding with each update.

3.     Adobe Illustrator

Another software from Adobe is Adobe Illustrator which is made for vector designs because Photoshop can only be used for raster designs. But Illustrator is equally important and one of best sublimation softwares for design. Whereas Photoshop can also be used by beginners in the sublimation business, but illustrators might overwhelm newcomers. Try to get your hands on this software if you are already making profits in your sublimation business. This is an advanced software that provides vector based images that will not lose their quality while resizing. Thus making this software a very useful tool because quality is what we as a customer want for our products. Moreover, if you are using Silhouetted sublimation printers or Circuits, then you are going to need Adobe illustrator as your software companion because they need vector based designs. There is also an advantage for photoshop users because illustrator is somewhat with the same interface making it easier to understand. But as I said earlier, use this software only if you are not new in the sublimation business because it has a steep learning curve which will surely intimidate new users. But if they really want to use it, then there are free and paid tutorials available in bulk that can help you cover this curve. Perfect For Drawing Sketches Want to draw a sketch of someone? It’s easy with illustrator. All you have to do is use a photo and make use of its vectorize tool to draw sketches.

4.     CorelDraw

An up and coming rival of Adobe Illustrator! CorelDraw is another vector based and one of best sublimation software for designs in which you can do customizations and editing with its ready made templates without much effort. It is becoming a popular software for sublimation designs because of its ability to edit photos despite being a vector graphic editor primarily. Things can be start with ease with its built-in library of images, fonts, and designs. Also, its customizable design interface will help you feel at home in which you can set tools to your preferences and ease. CorelDraw is a software that does not have as many functions and tools as an illustrator but it is gaining popularity among young and professional designers alike who find it just suitable for their designing needs. A flaw that I encountered is its price tag of $499. But it also allows a monthly subscription at just $20.99 which makes it affordable for budding designers. Download And Edit Many File Types One more advantage of Coreldraw that I have uncovered is that it can download and edit many different types of files.

5.     Adobe InDesign

Adobe InDesign is another best sublimation software for design from Adobe which is suitable for many users from businesses to freelancers. By using many templates and tools in InDesign, you can create professional looking prints from start to finish. Images can also be imported from internet and local storage, in addition to creating your own designs. InDesign comes with a pricey subscription and one thing should be kept in mind that a cancellation fee will be charged if you opt for it before completion of 12 months. The interface of InDesign will be very similar to users if they have used Photoshop and Illustrator.

• I like a feature where you can copy and paste from illustrator effortlessly.
• I also praise its feature where you can add text to designs very easily.

Only thing that upsets me is its no free trial. If you want to try it then you have to buy its monthly subscription plans which start from $20.99 for now. Uncover Limitless Powers Limitless power can be uncovered if you will use its integrations and plug-ins. Its an industry level software that will make your designs looking perfect.

Frequently Asked Questions

What free program can I use for sublimation designs?

There are many free software programs available for sublimation designs but not all will give you satisfaction. Free and best sublimation software for designs are Canva, GIMP, and Inkspace

What is the best file format for sublimation printing?

Best file format for sublimation is PNG because it preserves transparency. It is also a universal format and very modern too which can maintain the resolution of your design too.

Is Photoshop or Illustrator better for sublimation?

Both Photoshop and Illustrator are very famous in their respective areas but Photoshop is more popular and has been around for a longer time. It is suitable for beginners to professionals alike. Illustrator, on the other hand, requires a bit of prior knowledge therefore it is more suited for intermediate to professionals.

Wrap Up

Thinking of starting a sublimation business? Or have already one but not making enough profit? Then it’s time to take a look at your designs. There are many best sublimation software for designs that are available at reasonable prices ( free also with limited applications) that will help you in creating your design with great quality that will radiate professionalism. Although, I have listed five best sublimation software for designs but my top three recommendations will be: CorelDraw: mostly because of its ability to edit photos despite being a vector graphics editor.   Adobe Photoshop: because it aids in photo and images’ editing exceptionally. Also, because it is very simple to understand and use.   Clip Studio Paint Pro: mainly because it is a cheaper option. Also, it fulfils most of designers’ needs. And, it is a one time purchase.