How To Make A Picture Frame For A Special Occasion
Sometimes a regular style picture frame isn’t enough to commemorate a big event. While most standard frames are reasonable standbys for any picture, this uniquely offset sublimation picture frame from Unisub offers plenty of space for celebratory imagery to further feature a moment in time. Ready to fit 4 by 6 inch photographs, these gloss white frames are built with robust medium density fiberboard with black beveled edges. These frames can work as a valuable addition for a photography-centered business, whether they’re themed with your brand’s logo and general style, or for special and more personal events. In any case, these offset frames can make for great gifts that allow for anyone to continue cherishing their favorite memories.
First, prepare your image to fit within the imprint area of the offset frame. To make this much easier, we have a PDF template available at HeatPressNation.com for graphic design software like Adobe Illustrator. With this template divided into bleed, imprint, and safety layers fitted to the frame’s dimensions, you’ll be able to precisely place your image and any additional elements to make for a unique design. But in terms of what kind of elements you can add to the bottom or right half of the template, you can go as simple as your brand’s logo or party’s name, a mini calendar for the year, or even some blank space to hype up a yearly event in the future with a dry erase marker.
Be sure to copy either the portrait or landscape template over to a new document in order to have your image be printable through a desktop sublimation printer. But once you’re set with your image, go ahead and send it to your printer. For Sawgrass printers, send it to Sawgrass Print Manager and use these settings: Substrate to MDF Board, Paper set to your paper’s profile, leave Mirror checked, and in the Color tab, set the Color Mode to Photographic or Vivid depending on your image’s level of detail. Once ready, you may click Print on SPM. And with the transfer printed, we’re ready to apply it on a Unisub offset frame. Turn on your heat press and set it to 90 seconds at 385 degrees Fahrenheit with medium pressure. Due to the thicker nature of sublimation picture frames, we recommend pressing these items with a swing away machine, though a clamshell machine with a floating heating element can also work. If possible, you’ll also want to take out your machine’s removable silicone pad to allow for increased pressure control.
But as soon as your machine reaches temperature, cover the lower platen with a sheet of parchment paper, then add your transfer on top. As you bring your frame in, you’ll want to remove its easel and glass before continuing. With only the frame itself remaining, peel any protective film on its white side, then flip it down. Position it to the printed image itself, then attach it to the transfer with heat tape. To really secure it in place, we recommend attaching tape to the outer edges of the frame in addition to its inner edges.
Finally, flip the frame paper side up, cover it with another parchment paper sheet, then press. After 90 seconds, open your machine and allow your frame and transfer to cool down for 30 seconds. Afterwards, quickly peel the transfer off the frame and you’ve now sublimated a Unisub offset frame with your very own image. All that’s left is to place the frame’s glass back as well as a 4 by 6 inch photograph, then cover it with the easel. This frame has now been put together to keep anyone’s most cherished memory from a special event.
If you’re interested in sharing your own custom picture frames with us, alongside a growing community of customization and heat transfer enthusiasts, be sure to join our HeatPressNation Creators Facebook group at heat.press/FBgroup. To learn more about Unisub picture frames and their other blanks, visit our website at HeatPressNation.com. For any questions, feel free to get in touch with a MyExpert representative at heat.press/support. I’m Travis with Heat Press Nation and have a great day!
