Custom sublimated vinyl record slip mats for music labels, indie record shops, DJs, vinyl release campaigns, and bands selling merch alongside their LPs. Sublimation prints your design directly into the felt fibers in full color, edge-to-edge, with no color count limits — best for photo-realistic artwork, full-color illustration, gradients, or designs that screen printing can't reproduce.
Alchemy is a production partner built by artists, musicians, and brand owners. We've helped creators produce over 5 million custom products since 2019, and we don't operate like a promotional products company. Whether you're an indie illustrator running your first 50-piece drop, a band making merch for a tour, or a designer ordering for a brand launch, our job is the same: make the best merch we can for you.
What sublimated slip mats are
Sublimation dyes the felt fibers themselves rather than printing ink on top. The result is full-color artwork that becomes part of the material — won't crack, peel, or fade like surface-printed mats can. Best when your design depends on photo-realistic detail, multiple colors, gradients, or all-over coverage that screen printing's flat-color process can't deliver.
For 1-3 color screen-printed designs (the more common option for label-style merch), see our screen-printed slip mats in single-sided or double-sided.
What you get
- Material: Sublimation-grade felt
- Default thickness: 4mm — slightly thicker than our screen-printed standard
- Custom thickness: 2mm to 5mm, specify in your order notes
- Print: Full-color CMYK sublimation, all-over edge-to-edge
- No color count limits
- Single-sided default; double-sided printing available — adds a one-time $25 plate fee for the new backside design
- Express shipping included
Other slip mat options we offer
- Screen-printed slip mats (single-sided) — classic 1-3 color screen printing on felt; most economical
- Screen-printed slip mats (double-sided) — same screen process, artwork on both faces
- Sublimated slip mats — full-color all-over print on felt; best for photo-realistic or full-color artwork
How a run actually works
Most orders start with a quote, not a cart. You send us your artwork (vector preferred for clean lines, raster works for full-color), and we come back with pricing, a production timeline, and any production notes within a business day or two. We'll flag anything in the file that won't translate well at production size before we move forward.
From proof approval, most overseas products are about a month to your door. That's the nature of producing 100% custom merchandise overseas vs. shipping a stock promotional item. Shipping is express and included in the price.
If you have a hard deadline, tell us before you order. We don't charge rush fees. We'll either confirm we can hit your date or tell you up front that we can't, so you can plan around it.
Why our minimum is 50
It's a factory math thing, not a quality stance. The factories we work with charge a labor minimum that covers setup, mold use, proofing, and the production run itself. That floor barely changes between a 25-piece and a 50-piece order, so a 25-piece run costs almost the same as 50 with half the output. 50 is where the per-piece price actually starts to make sense.
We can run smaller hard sample runs if you really need to (the factory will do it), but it's not financially viable for most people: you're paying close to 50-piece pricing for a fraction of the output. If you're set on a small run, email us first and we'll walk through whether it's worth it. Larger runs (100, 200, and up) bring the per-piece cost down meaningfully.
Who we work with
Artists running their own work: illustrators, bands, indie brand owners, podcasters, comic creators, convention sellers. Designers ordering for a brand launch, an event, a campaign, or a customer giveaway. Agencies and design studios producing merch for their clients. Merch companies running production for the artists they represent. The common thread is that the merch matters: it's representing a brand, a band, an artist, or a project that someone cares about.
What you get with Alchemy
- 5+ million products produced for creators and brands since 2019.
- 100% money-back guarantee. If it's not right, we remake it at no cost or refund you in full.
- Long-standing factory relationships. We've been working with the same vetted overseas factories for years. Consistent quality, predictable timelines, no chasing the lowest quote at the cost of the product. You get a US-based partner who handles the production logistics for you.
- Quality good enough for licensed brands. We've produced merch for officially licensed properties and large brands. The same standard goes on every order, including yours.
- A team of artists, musicians, and brand owners. Not customer-service reps trained on a script. Everyone proofing your file knows what it feels like to send their own art to a factory and hope it comes back right.
Pairs well with tote bags
If you're producing slip mats for a vinyl release, your customers probably also need a tote to carry the LP and slipmat together. Our cotton canvas totes and sublimated polyester totes are sized at 40cm × 35cm — fits a 12" vinyl record cleanly. Common merch bundle: slipmat + tote + LP.
Common questions
Sublimated vs screen printed — which is right for my design?
Sublimated for full-color, photo-realistic, or gradient-heavy artwork. Screen printed for 1-3 color designs with flat color and crisp lines. Sublimated wins on color accuracy and detail; screen printed wins on cost (typically) and on classic flat-color label-merch aesthetic. More on screen-printed slip mats here.
What thickness should I pick?
4mm is the sublimated default and works for most use cases. 2-3mm is preferred by DJs (less grip, controlled slipping during scratching). 4-5mm is better for record protection and archival display. If you're not sure, 4mm is the safe choice.
Can I do double-sided sublimated slip mats?
Yes. Sublimation supports double-sided printing for an additional $25 plate fee covering the back artwork setup. Different artwork on each face is allowed.
What size are they?
Sized for standard 12" turntable platters. Custom sizes available; email us if your project needs a different diameter.
Can I do multiple designs in one order?
Yes, as long as each design hits the 50-piece minimum at the same size and thickness. Different designs are quoted as separate runs because each needs its own sublimation setup.
What artwork format works best?
High-resolution raster (300 DPI at print size) is ideal for sublimation because color depth matters. PSD, PNG, or high-res JPG all work. CMYK is preferred; RGB converts and we proof carefully.
How long do sublimated slip mats take?
About four weeks from proof approval to your door, including express shipping. No rush fees.
Do I see a proof before production?
Yes. Digital proof for review before printing. Revisions until you approve.
Are these made in the USA?
Sublimated slip mats are produced overseas at long-vetted factories. Our team is US-based and handles file prep, proofing, and customer success. Our wooden products and stickers are made in the USA.
Start a quote
Send us your artwork and a rough quantity, and we'll come back with pricing and a timeline within a business day or two. Not sure if your file will work? Send what you have. We'll tell you what we'd need to make it production-ready. Start a quote.
Design Templates
Set up your artwork at the correct size with proper bleed and safe zones using our production templates. Vector files (PDF/AI/EPS) are preferred for clean lines and scaling; raster (PSD) works for full-color artwork at 300dpi.
- Vector Slip Mat Template (Vector PDF)
- Raster/ PSD Slip Mat Template (Raster PSD)
