A custom journal is a gift people use every day, and the cover is a large, flat print area that shows off photos, illustrations and logos. This guide covers Photo USA's sublimation notebook and journal blanks in three sizes, cover templates, how to press them without scorching the binding, who buys them in bulk, and what a case can earn.
Short answer: Sublimation notebook blanks are notebooks with a coated, printable cover panel. You press a mirrored design onto the cover with a flat heat press, and the ink bonds into the coating, so the cover stays bright without vinyl or stickers.
Photo USA sells them in small, medium and large, all with ORCA Coatings® on the cover panel. The small is a pocket notebook for giveaways, the medium is the everyday journal size, and the large has room for full cover artwork.
Short answer: The small notebook is $562.00 for 100 (about $5.62 each), the medium is $367.00 for 50 (about $7.34 each), and the large is $486.50 for 50 (about $9.73 each), each with a one case minimum.
| Size | SKU | Print area (W x H) | Artwork at 300 DPI, with bleed | Case | About each |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small | 91600 | 3.53 x 4.33 in. | 1179 x 1420 px (3.93 x 4.73 in.) | 100 for $562.00 | $5.62 |
| Medium | 91601 | 5.98 x 9.04 in. | 1884 x 2817 px (6.28 x 9.39 in.) | 50 for $367.00 | $7.34 |
| Large | 91602 | 7.94 x 12.44 in. | 2504 x 3853 px (8.35 x 12.84 in.) | 50 for $486.50 | $9.73 |
Keep text and faces inside the print area and let the background fill the full bleed size. Confirm on your first case whether the back cover prints too.
Short answer: Choose the small for bulk logo giveaways, the medium for personalized journals and teacher gifts, and the large for statement journals and corporate gifts where the cover artwork is the selling point.
Short answer: Press only the cover. As a starting point, we recommend 385 to 400°F for 45 to 55 seconds for the small notebook and 55 to 65 seconds for the large, with even pressure, a protective sheet, and the binding kept off the platen.
These are recommended settings only. Temperature and time work against each other, so a higher temperature needs less time and a lower one needs more, and every press runs a little differently. Press one test notebook before running the case. Our sublimation time and temperature chart covers other blanks.
Short answer: Corporate gift programs, event and conference organizers, schools, churches and real estate agents buy notebooks in volume, while Etsy and craft fair sellers sell personalized journals one at a time.
Pair a journal with the matching desk items in the same collection, such as the 4 x 4 in. cherry wooden pencil holder or a business card holder, to build a desk gift set at a higher price.
Short answer: Many sublimation sellers price finished pieces at 2.5 to 3 times their total cost. As an example, a medium notebook at $7.34 plus about $1.00 of ink and labor costs about $8.34, so a 2.5 times price is near $21, and a case of 50 at $21 brings in $1,050 against $367.00 in blanks.
| Size | About each | Example price | Case revenue | Case price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small (100) | $5.62 | $16 | $1,600 | $562.00 |
| Medium (50) | $7.34 | $21 | $1,050 | $367.00 |
| Large (50) | $9.73 | $27 | $1,350 | $486.50 |
Example prices are illustrations, not recommendations. Bulk corporate orders usually sit lower per piece and make up the difference in volume.
Ready to add journals to your gift line? Photo USA sells by the case with a one case minimum and no minimum number of cases, and most orders ship within 24 hours from Fremont, CA and Shepherdsville, KY. We also offer a wholesale imprint service if you would rather receive finished pieces. Email hello@photomugs.com or contact us with the items and quantities you need.
Short answer: Corporate buyers plan early, so take orders now for year end employee and client gifts. For retail Christmas gifts, order blanks by early December so you have time to proof covers, press and ship.
Journals also sell well in January, when people start new planners and goals, so a case ordered in December keeps selling after Christmas.
Photo USA sells sublimation notebook and journal blanks by the case in three sizes: small at $562.00 for 100, medium at $367.00 for 50 and large at $486.50 for 50, with a one case minimum. Most orders ship within 24 hours from Fremont, CA or Shepherdsville, KY.
Small, medium and large. The print areas are about 3.53 x 4.33 in., 5.98 x 9.04 in. and 7.94 x 12.44 in. (W x H).
At 300 DPI, use 1179 x 1420 pixels for the small, 1884 x 2817 pixels for the medium and 2504 x 3853 pixels for the large. These sizes include bleed, so keep text and faces inside the print area.
As a starting point, we recommend 385 to 400°F for 45 to 55 seconds for the small notebook and 55 to 65 seconds for the large, with even pressure and a protective sheet. These are recommended settings only, so press one test notebook first.
Let the spine and binding hang off the edge of the lower platen so only the cover takes heat, and use a protective sheet above and below the cover.
The small for bulk logo giveaways at about $5.62 each, and the large for premium client gifts with full cover artwork at about $9.73 each. The medium suits personalized employee and teacher gifts.
Many sellers price at 2.5 to 3 times total cost. As an example, a medium notebook at $7.34 plus about $1.00 of ink and labor priced at 2.5 times sells near $21, and a case of 50 brings in $1,050 against $367.00 in blanks.
Take corporate orders now for year end gifts, and order blanks for retail Christmas gifts by early December. Journals keep selling in January for new planners and goals.
One last note: the press settings in this guide are recommended starting points only. Temperature and time work against each other, so a higher temperature needs less time and a lower one needs more, and every heat press and oven runs a little differently. Press one test piece and adjust for your own machine.
