Epoxy vs. Sublimation Tumblers: What's the Difference?
If you've ever looked through the ShopWithWilkins tumbler collection and wondered:
“Okay… what's actually the difference between an epoxy tumbler and a sublimation tumbler?”
You're not alone! 😂
They can both be gorgeous. They can both have some seriously fun designs. And they can both become your favorite cup that somehow follows you absolutely everywhere.
But they're made very differently.
So let's break it down without getting all science-y about it.
✨ Epoxy Tumblers
Epoxy tumblers are the handmade, glittery, can't-stop-staring-at-it side of ShopWithWilkins.
These are created by hand using layers of materials, including glitter, color, artwork, and epoxy resin, to build the finished design.
Every tumbler is its own little project.
And that's part of the fun.
Because of the handmade process, no two epoxy tumblers are ever going to be exactly alike. Even when I'm working from the same general design, there can be tiny differences in glitter placement, color, texture, and finish.
That's what makes them handmade.
What makes epoxy tumblers special?
✨ Lots of dimension and sparkle
✨ Handmade designs
✨ Unique color combinations
✨ Glitter, embellishments, and layered effects
✨ Each one has its own personality
Basically, if you like your drinkware to make people say “OMG, WHERE DID YOU GET THAT?”…
Epoxy might be your thing. 😂
🖤 Sublimation Tumblers
Sublimation is a completely different process.
Instead of building the design up with glitter and epoxy, a sublimation design is transferred onto a specially coated tumbler using heat.
The result is a smooth, printed design that becomes part of the tumbler's surface.
This makes sublimation a fantastic option for detailed artwork, colorful patterns, illustrations, sayings, and designs that would be difficult to recreate by hand with epoxy.
And because the design is transferred rather than layered on top, sublimation tumblers have a completely different look and feel.
What makes sublimation tumblers special?
✨ Crisp, detailed artwork
✨ Tons of design possibilities
✨ Smooth finish
✨ Great for colorful patterns and illustrations
✨ No glitter or epoxy required
And let's be honest…
Sometimes you just see a design and think:
“Yep. I need that on a tumbler.”
Sublimation makes that possible. 😂
So Which One Is Better?
Here's the thing:
Neither one is “better.”
They're just different.
It's kind of like asking whether you want cake or cookies.
Why are you making me choose?! 😂
If you love glitter, dimension, handmade details, and one-of-a-kind pieces, you may fall hard for epoxy.
If you love detailed artwork, bold designs, smooth finishes, and lots of design options, sublimation may be more your style.
And if you're like me?
You probably want both.
Why We Offer Both
One of the reasons I decided to offer both epoxy and sublimation tumblers is because I don't want ShopWithWilkins to be limited to one type of creativity.
Some designs practically beg to be covered in glitter.
Others are better suited to a detailed printed design.
And sometimes I just really want to make something weird and see what happens. 😂
Having both options lets me create a much wider variety of products while still keeping the handmade and creative spirit that ShopWithWilkins was built around.
The Short Version
Epoxy = handmade, layered, glittery, dimensional, and completely unique.
Sublimation = smooth, detailed, colorful, and printed directly onto a specially coated tumbler.
Both are fun.
Both have their own personality.
And both have a place here at ShopWithWilkins. 🖤
So the next time you're browsing the tumbler collection and wondering which one is right for you, hopefully you'll have a better idea of what you're looking at.
And if you still can't decide?
That's okay.
Just get both.
I won't tell. 😂