What Do You Use to Put Designs on Cups?

Personalizing cups with your own designs is a fun and creative way to showcase your personality, promote your brand, or create special gifts. Whether you're looking for DIY techniques or professional solutions, there are several tools and methods to help you customize your drinkware. While services for custom cups—like those offered by QualityImprint—are ideal for bulk orders and detailed designs, you can also achieve beautiful results at home using a variety of tools and materials.

In this guide, we’ll explore the most popular supplies and methods you can use to put designs on cups, from simple hand-drawn options to advanced printing techniques.

Basic Tools for Cup Customization

1. Permanent Markers (Sharpies)

One of the easiest and most popular methods to personalize a cup is by using oil-based permanent markers. These markers work well on ceramic, glass, or plastic surfaces, making them perfect for quick and simple designs.

What You'll Need:

• Oil-based Sharpies or other permanent markers
• A plain ceramic, glass, or plastic cup
• An oven (for setting the design)

How to Use:

• Clean the cup to remove any dust or oil.
• Draw or write your design directly onto the cup using the markers.
• Let the design dry for 24 hours.
• To make the design permanent, bake the cup at 350°F for 30 minutes, then let it cool in the oven before handling.

This method is great for creating hand-drawn designs or adding personal messages. However, these cups should be hand-washed to prevent the design from fading over time.

2. Acrylic Paint

Acrylic paint is another easy way to add designs to cups. It works on a variety of surfaces, including ceramic, glass, and plastic, and offers more flexibility for creating detailed designs.

What You'll Need:

• Acrylic paint (preferably dishwasher-safe)
• Paintbrushes
• A cup for your design
• An oven (for ceramic or glass cups)

How to Use:

• Clean the surface of the cup to ensure the paint adheres properly.
• Paint your design using brushes or stencils.
• Let the paint dry for several hours.
• For added durability, bake ceramic or glass cups at 350°F for 30 minutes.

Acrylic paint allows for more vibrant designs and colors, but similar to markers, hand washing is recommended to extend the life of the design unless you use dishwasher-safe acrylics.

3. Stickers and Decals

Stickers and vinyl decals are an excellent way to add intricate or pre-designed patterns to cups without having to draw or paint.

What You'll Need:

• Vinyl decals or stickers
• A plain cup (ceramic, plastic, or glass)
• Transfer tape (for vinyl decals)
• A squeegee or credit card

How to Use:

• Clean the cup surface to remove any dust.
• Apply the sticker or vinyl decal to the cup.
• If you're using a vinyl decal, use transfer tape to move the design from the backing paper onto the cup.
• Smooth out any bubbles with a squeegee or credit card.

For added durability, some people use dishwasher-safe Mod Podge or a clear acrylic sealer over the decals. Vinyl decals are often dishwasher-safe, but it's always best to check the manufacturer’s recommendations.

Advanced Tools for Putting Designs on Cups

1. Sublimation Printer

Sublimation printing is one of the most professional ways to transfer detailed designs, logos, or even photos onto cups. This method requires special equipment, but it produces vibrant, durable designs that are dishwasher-safe.

What You'll Need:

• Sublimation printer and sublimation ink
• Sublimation paper
• Heat-resistant tape
• Sublimation-ready cups (with a special polymer coating)
• A mug press or heat press

How to Use:

• Print your design onto sublimation paper using a sublimation printer.
• Wrap the printed design around the sublimation-ready cup and secure it with heat-resistant tape.
• Place the cup in a mug press or use a heat press to transfer the design (typically at 400°F for 3-5 minutes).
• Remove the paper to reveal the vibrant design.

Sublimation printing creates long-lasting, high-quality images that are embedded into the surface of the cup, making them perfect for custom mugs, promotional items, or photo gifts.

2. Waterslide Decal Paper

Waterslide decals are an easy way to transfer custom designs onto cups. With this method, you print your design at home, soak the decal in water, and then transfer it onto the cup’s surface.

What You'll Need:

• Waterslide decal paper (for inkjet or laser printers)
• A printer
• Scissors
• A bowl of water
• Clear acrylic spray sealant (for added protection)
• A plain cup

How to Use:

• Print your design onto the waterslide decal paper.
• Cut out the design and soak it in water for 30-60 seconds.
• Slide the decal off the backing and onto the cup.
• Smooth out any air bubbles and let the decal dry for at least 24 hours.
• For added durability, you can seal the design with clear acrylic spray or bake the cup (if it's ceramic) at 250°F for 15-30 minutes.

Waterslide decals are great for adding intricate designs or photos to cups, and with the right sealant, they can be durable enough for light use. However, hand washing is usually recommended to preserve the design.

3. Laser Engraving

Laser engraving is a premium method for creating permanent designs, particularly on stainless steel or glass cups. This technique is often used for high-end custom drinkware like travel mugs and tumblers.

What You'll Need:

• A laser engraving machine
• Stainless steel or glass cups
• Design software (such as Adobe Illustrator or CorelDRAW)

How to Use:

• Use design software to create or upload your design.
• Place the cup in the laser engraver and select the appropriate settings based on the material.
• The machine will etch the design directly onto the cup’s surface, creating a sleek, professional look.

Laser engraving is ideal for creating logos, monograms, or text-based designs that are both durable and visually striking. This method is often used by businesses for branded drinkware or special event merchandise.

4. Heat Transfer Paper

Heat transfer paper allows you to print your design and use heat to transfer it onto a cup. This method works best on ceramic or glass surfaces.

What You'll Need:

• Heat transfer paper
• A printer
• A heat press or mug press
• A cup for customization

How to Use:

• Print your design onto the heat transfer paper using an inkjet or laser printer.
• Place the printed design onto the cup and secure it with heat-resistant tape.
• Use a heat press or mug press to transfer the image to the cup at around 350°F for a few minutes.
• Let the cup cool before removing the transfer paper.

Heat transfer paper is a good option for creating colorful and detailed designs at home, though the results may not be as durable as sublimation printing or laser engraving.

Additional Supplies to Consider

When putting designs on cups, there are a few additional materials you might find useful:

• Clear Acrylic Sealer: Helps protect hand-drawn, painted, or decal designs, ensuring they last longer.
• Mod Podge (Dishwasher Safe): A great way to seal designs and make them more resistant to water.
• Transfer Tape: Essential when working with vinyl decals to ensure a smooth and bubble-free application.

Conclusion

Whether you’re looking for a simple way to add hand-drawn art to your favorite mug or want to create professional-quality drinkware at home, there are numerous tools and methods available for customizing cups. From Sharpies and acrylic paints to advanced options like sublimation printing and laser engraving, the right technique will depend on the material of your cup, the complexity of your design, and how durable you want the final product to be.

For professionally made custom cups with detailed designs, check out the options available at QualityImprint. Whether you need cups for promotional events, gifts, or personal use, they offer high-quality printing services tailored to your needs.

Need help? Talk to an expert now at 1-888-377-9339 or Email us at care@qualityimprint.com.