Easily Use a Shin Guard Heat Press

A Press That Combines Protection, Sport, and Style

In the world of sports, shin guards are essential equipment, especially for contact sports like football, hockey, or rugby. However, beyond their protective role, these accessories are increasingly used to express personality and stand out on the field. Imagine wearing a unique shin guard, personalized to you, that no one else has. This is possible thanks to sublimation!

Sublimation is an innovative printing technique that allows transferring images, logos, patterns, and even high-quality photos onto specific materials. Originally used in the textile industry, this method has become popular in many other fields, including sports equipment. In this article, we explain step by step how to customize your shin guards using sublimation printing, from choosing materials to tips for achieving a professional finish. Whether you are a DIY enthusiast or a professional, discover how to use our shin guard press.

Using My Shin Guard Press

First, we want to clarify that this article explains how to personalize shin guards using the Sublimation Press for Shin Guards that we sell.

We will guide you step by step on how to easily customize your shin guards.

1) Before starting, turn on your press and set it to reach a heating temperature of 210°C and a heating time of 300 seconds.

2) Using Illustrator or Photoshop, print your design. If you are not yet equipped, you can purchase your EPSON Sure-Color SC-F100 printer from us, with free shipping! Regarding printing your designs, we recommend leaving at least 0.5mm bleed on each side so that your print covers the entire shin guard.

3) Follow these steps carefully:

A - Place your sheet with the printed design on a flat surface. Print your design in mirror mode so that your print is oriented correctly.

B - Position your shin guard in the center of the sheet. Make sure your design extends beyond both sides of the shin guard so the ink covers it entirely.

C - Use high-temperature sublimation tape to firmly secure your sheet to the shin guard. This step is crucial to achieve a sharp and even print on the surface. Don’t hesitate to "wrap" your shin guard.

D - Here is the result once your sheet is firmly attached.

E - We recommend trimming the excess paper to handle your sublimation support more easily. In our workshop, where we perform sublimation printing daily, we always do this step. It prevents the paper from wrinkling when sliding it under the heat press.

F - Here is the result once your sheet is firmly attached and the excess paper removed.

G - Now place your shin guard under the heat press. The support must be positioned exactly in the center. Don’t worry if your shin guard doesn’t have the same shape as the press cylinder. This is completely normal, as you can see in our example. Thanks to the heat from the press, the shin guard will take the shape of the press; you won’t risk breaking it by pressing hot (if you respect the heating temperature of 210° Celsius).

H - Bring the top of the press down toward the base of the shin guard.

I - Make sure to turn the knob at the top of the press before pressing your support. This knob ensures you have enough pressure, resulting in a more even print.

J - Close the press using the handle.

K - Press "OK" to start the timer. Wait 3 minutes 30 seconds and lift the press once the time is up. Remove your support from the press.

L - Wait a few moments for your shin guard to cool down. Once at room temperature, remove the paper from your shin guard.

M and N - Once your paper is removed, inspect your support. The print has covered the entire shin guard.

O - Your shin guard is now finished. You can now stick the foam part inside your protection. To do this, remove the "3M" sticker from the foam part and take your time to apply it to the back of the support. Our advice for applying the foam is to start by positioning it well in the center of the shin guard. Once you are aligned edge to edge, you can spread the rest of the foam toward the edges. If you make a mistake at the very beginning when positioning the foam in the center, you have a few seconds to reposition it.

Express Your Style on the Field with Sublimation

Customizing shin guards with sublimation printing is an excellent way to transform simple protective gear into a unique piece that reflects you. Whether you want to display your number, your team’s colors, or even an original pattern, this technique offers almost unlimited design possibilities while ensuring a durable and resistant finish.

By following the steps described, you now have all the keys to create a shin guard that represents you and sets you apart on the field. So, why settle for standard models when you can wear something that inspires and motivates?

Ready to Get Started?

We have everything you need!

You can order our press, the printer needed to print your sublimation sheets, our high-temperature tape, and of course the shin guards available from size XS to size L.

You can contact us at hello@coque-sublimation.fr to ask any questions!