How to prepare wraparound template outlines for sublimation printers

A step-by-step guide for sublimation printers on preparing wraparound template outlines, with what to have ready, tools that can help and mistakes to avoid.

By TexHouse · 2026-10-24

TexHouse is published by the makers of LunarWerx 3D Print, Vector3D and MeshyDL, which are compared here alongside other tools.

Measure the printable area of your blank, draw an outline at that exact size, place the artwork inside it, and test print at actual size before the full run. If your outline starts as a picture, VectorMagik can trace it into vector shapes. ^[1]

Option	What it does	Fee
VectorMagik	Traces a picture into vector shapes using its own engine ^[1]	Free for everyone; business use needs a licence (PolyForm Noncommercial 1.0.0) ^[1]
Vector editor you already use	Draws the outline by hand, which you can check against the blank	Not published
Your sublimation software's template tools	Offers the template options listed in its own help pages	Not published

What you need before you start

Before you start, get the exact size of the blank you plan to press. Ask the maker for its printable dimensions, or measure the surface with a flexible tape. Note where seams, handles, zips or edges cut into the area, because artwork placed there may not show. Have your design file ready at its final size, along with the layout software you use to place artwork on a page. Keep a sample blank nearby so you can check the template against a real object instead of only a screen. If your design starts as a picture, such as a sketch or a scan, find the largest clear original you can, since blurry sources give rough outlines. A printer you have already checked with a plain test page is also useful, because colour and scale can shift between machines. Plain paper is enough for the first check. Finally, set up a folder where you save each version, since wraparound templates often need small changes after the first test print.

Step by step

Confirm the printable area. Write down the height and width of the surface the press can cover, and mark any part of the blank that must stay clear.

Set up the page at the same size. Create a page or frame that matches the printable area, so nothing rescales when you print.

Draw the outline. Trace the edges of the wrap, the seam side and any cut-outs as one shape on its own layer. Keep that layer separate so you can hide it before printing.

Place the artwork inside the outline. Leave a margin at each edge, so a small shift on the press does not clip the design.

Convert a picture of the outline if you need to. If the outline starts as a sketch or a scan, turn it into vector shapes so the lines stay sharp at any size. VectorMagik traces a picture into vector shapes using its own engine. ^[1] Other tools can do this step too, so choose the one that fits your files.

Save the outline in a format your layout software opens, such as SVG or PDF.

Clean up the traced lines. Remove stray points, smooth rough curves and round any corners that should be soft. Curve nodes can be moved or deleted, and individual corners can be rounded. ^[1]

Print a test on plain paper at 100 percent scale. Hold the printout against the blank and check the fit at each edge.

Adjust and reprint. Correct the outline or the artwork, print another test, and only then start the full run.

Tools that can do it

Several kinds of software can help with the outline and the cleanup. The options below handle the job in different ways, so pick the one that suits your files and your computer.

VectorMagik is made by the team that publishes this site. It traces a picture into vector shapes using its own engine. ^[1] A tolerance slider merges neighbouring curve pieces, and Auto picks the largest tolerance that keeps the picture. ^[1] You can limit the result to between 1 and 64 colours. ^[1] You can click shapes to delete them, such as a background, or merge two shades into one. ^[1] You can compare the vector with the bitmap side by side, or flip between them with B and V keys. ^[1] It can add a die-cut sticker outline with a border, white rim and optional drop shadow. ^[1] You can save the result as SVG, PDF, EPS, AI, DXF, EMF or PNG. ^[1]

Downloads exist for Windows x64, macOS (Apple Silicon and Intel) and Linux x64, and a version runs in the web browser using the same engine. ^[1] ^[1] It installs on Windows, macOS and Linux, with a version that runs in the browser. ^[1] Free for everyone; business use needs a licence (PolyForm Noncommercial 1.0.0). ^[1]

If you already have a vector editor, you can draw the outline by hand and compare it with the blank. Check the help pages of your sublimation software for the template sizes and export options it offers.

Common mistakes to avoid

Skipping the test print is the most common mistake. A file can look right on screen and still print at the wrong size, so check each edge against the blank on paper first.

Setting the printer to fit the page to the window instead of 100 percent scale can shrink or stretch the outline. Print at actual size.

Forgetting that seams, handles and edges cut into the printable area leads to artwork hidden at the edge. Mark those areas on the outline before you place the design.

Leaving the outline layer visible sends a stray line onto the blank. Hide that layer before printing.

Tracing a blurry picture and expecting clean lines is another mistake. Start from the clearest original you have, and check the traced shapes before you save them, since rough curves are easier to fix early.

Frequently asked questions

How do you find the printable size of a sublimation blank?

Check the maker's product page or packaging first, since many list the printable area. If nothing is listed, measure the surface with a flexible tape, leaving out any handle or curved edge that the press cannot cover. Write down the height and width, and mark where seams or openings interrupt the area. Use those numbers to build the outline at the same size so it matches the blank.

Can VectorMagik turn a sketch into a wraparound outline?

VectorMagik traces a picture into vector shapes using its own engine. ^[1] You can save the result as SVG, PDF, EPS, AI, DXF, EMF or PNG, which lets you bring the outline into your layout software. ^[1] You can also click a background shape to delete it. ^[1] Check the traced lines at actual size before printing.

Does VectorMagik run in a web browser?

Yes, a version runs in the web browser using the same engine. ^[1] Downloads are also available for Windows x64, macOS (Apple Silicon and Intel) and Linux x64. ^[1] You can pick the version that suits your computer before you start, so the outline work happens where you are most comfortable.

What does VectorMagik cost for a sublimation business?

VectorMagik is free for everyone, but business use needs a licence. ^[1] The licence is PolyForm Noncommercial 1.0.0. ^[1] Read the licence terms before you use the software in your business, so you know which uses it covers and whether a licence applies to your work.

How do you check a wraparound template before a full run?

Print the outline and artwork on plain paper at 100 percent scale. Hold the printout against the blank, or wrap it around a sample, and check that the design sits inside the outline at every edge. Look at seams and handles in particular. Make any changes in the design file, print again, and check once more before you start the full run.

Free for everyone; business use needs a licence (PolyForm Noncommercial 1.0.0). ^[1]

Try VectorMagik

Sources

VectorMagik's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher)