Best sublimation printers for every budget
Printers have different uses and benefits. Sublimation printers, which are often used for document or photo printing, are ideal for clothing, textiles and photography.
Sublimation printers are heat-based printers that allow users to print high-quality photos or onto a variety of materials. These include ceramics, fabric, metal and wood. It’s a great option for creating customised clothing, pillows, mugs, wall art and many more.
If you’re looking to get your hands on this versatile piece of printing technology, we’ve listed our picks below. The printers can vary in price, depending on their features and intended uses, varying from under £300, to way over the £1,000 mark.
We’ve tried to include an option for every budget and intended use. The dimensions of the products are given in width x depth + height.
Best sublimation printing
Epson SureColour F100
Epson’s mid-priced dye sublimation printer is claimed to be the first of its kind. This limited size means it’s mostly aimed at producing smaller merchandise or gifts, such as mugs or phone covers.
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SureColour SC-F100 is a front-feeding printer with a paper-change function. It can hold up to 150 pages and is easy to operate.
Epson says it is a low-cost printer for small business, which requires no specialist knowledge in terms of installation or maintenance.
Dimensions: 37.5 x 34.7 x 18.7 cm
Printing Size A4
Connectivity: Ethernet, USB 2.0, Ethernet, Wi-Fi Direct
Ink Experts ET 2814 Printer Bundle
This Ink Experts starter package is intended to help beginners get up and running. The bundle comes with an Epson Ecotank printer ET-2814 that is a budget model designed to be good value.
The main selling point of this printer is access to Epson’s EcoTank with high yield ink bottles and no cartridges to replace, which the brand claim allows for a 90% saving on printing costs.
Ink Experts includes their Ink Tec Smart inks which, according to them, are made for Epson printers. Ink Experts claims that the inks can be used directly on garments, using Epson Micro Piezo technology.
The same should apply to all synthetic materials, including polyester and nylon as well as ceramics.
Dimensions: 37.5 x 34.7 x 17.9 cm
Printing Size: A4
Connectivity: USB, WiFi Direct, Wi-Fi
Epson SureColor F570
This printer has been designed to deliver high-performance. It features Epson’s PrecisionCore MicroTFP printhead, which aims to provide high clarity and reliability.
It’s able to accommodate printing on sheets or items up to 60cm. There’s an auto-feed tray with up to 50 sheets, plus a built-in cutter to cut your prints to the right size.
Other features are designed to make this printer suitable for professionals. For example, the Epson Edge Print Pro Software, which streamlines your workflow. The Epson Edge Print Pro software connects with Adobe applications to assist with colour control and pattern repetition.
Dimensions: 97.0 x 81.1 x 24.5 cm
Printing size: up to 60cm wide
Connectivity: SuperSpeed USB (3.0), Wired Ethernet (Wi-Fi Direct),
Epson SureColor SC-T5100N (£1,631.70)
If you’re looking for a premium large-format printer, Epson claim their SureColor SC-T5100N is designed for large, detailed prints for architects, engineers, or advertisements.
The printer features Epson’s Nozzle Verification Technology, which is designed to help avoid misprints, with their PrecisionCore Print Head for detail―with a printing resolution of 2,400 x 1,200 DPI.
Epson claims that this printer features UltraChrome XD2 ink which ensures that prints are smudge-proof and water-resistant.
Dimensions: 97.0 x 81.1 x 24.5 cm
Printing size: up to 91cm
Connectivity: SuperSpeed USB (3.0), Wired Ethernet (Wi-Fi Direct),
How does a Sublimation Printer work?
Heat is used to transfer the dye in sublimation print. The process involves printing on a piece of paper which is then heated and pressed to the desired material.
The process is performed using sublimation dye, a solid dye that transforms into a gas directly without having to pass through a fluid state. The gas is then absorbed by the printing media and solidifies as a print.
It is this that distinguishes a dye sublimation printer and a sublimation printing printer. While “sublimation printing” is a specific digital printing process, “dye sublimation” refers to the type of dye used in the process.
These terms are often used interchangeably, so it’s good to draw a distinction. All printers using dye sublimation may not be sublimation printing machines.
What is sublimation print process?
- You Can Design Your OwnCreate or select your desired image or design using a computer.
- PrintingThe sublimation printing process involves heating the dye pigments to convert them into gas, which is then transferred on a special transfer sheet.
- TransferThe printed transfer sheet is placed onto the material, such as T-shirts or mugs.
- Heat pressHeat press machines are used to apply high temperatures and pressures on the material. The heat allows the dye gas penetrate the material surface. This results in a permanent image transfer.
What software will I need to operate a sublimation print?
Adobe Photoshop or other graphic design software is required to create and edit the designs for a sublimation print.
Template software helps position designs on specific templates. Software compatible with your printer should be checked by the manufacturer.
What are some of the advantages to using a sublimation print?
- High-quality printsSublimation printing creates vibrant prints that are detailed and have smooth gradients and sharp images.
- Long-lasting printsSublimation creates prints which are resistant to peeling, cracking and fading. This ensures durability over time.
- VersatilitySublimation Printers can be used to print on many different materials, such as textiles. ceramics. metals.
- Full-colour PrintingSublimation printers are capable of producing full-colour prints, with accurate colour reproduction. This allows for printing complex designs and photos.
What should you be looking for in a printer that sublimates?
- Printing TechnologyYou can convert other printers into sublimation printers, but you should have the necessary components and mechanisms to handle sublimation inks and produce high-quality prints. You can convert any printer into a sublimation printer, but you need to have the right components and mechanisms in order to produce prints of high quality.
- Ink compatibilityCheck to see if your printer is compatible. Some printers require special cartridges or systems in order to use sublimation. You should ensure that your printer can handle the ink you intend to use.
- Print Size and FormatYou should consider the maximum size of print and the paper formats supported by the printer. Select a printer capable of printing the sizes required for your application. The most common sizes are 8.5″ x 11, 11″ x 17, and larger format options.
- Connectivity OptionsCheck out the connectivity options available on the printer. USB, Ethernet, or Wi-Fi connectivity is a common feature that allows you to connect your printer with your computer for printing.
Image credit:: Evelyn Geissler/Unsplash