Best Sublimation Printers For Beginners

When you see a t-shirt printed through the sublimation printing process, you can immediately appreciate the fine detail and extensive colors shown in the design. You will also see that there is no presence of added weight or thickness shown with the same design. Well, this sublimation printing starts with using one of the best sublimation printers for t-shirts and I am here to discuss them.

What are the best sublimation printers for beginners? The best sublimation printers for beginners are:

Canon MX492

Epson Stylus C88+

Kodak Dock and Wi-Fi Photo Printer

Olympus P-11

Silhouette Cameo 3

Dye sublimation printing is easier to learn compared to screen printing and you get to choose from a large selection of colors. You can do design customization here faster since there are no plates required. Lastly, you get to print t-shirts here quicker since there is not a lot of setup work needed.

Dye sublimation is a type of heat transfer printing style. This process uses heat from external sources like heat presses to transfer the dye that was printed onto a sheet using a sublimation printer onto a substrate.

You can use sublimation printing on t-shirts especially with nylon and polyester fabrics although the latest technology will permit you to print on cotton and cotton blends. Aside from t-shirts, you can perform sublimation printing on mugs, license plates, boards, and metals.

Let me now share the features and customer reviews of each of these sublimation printers perfect for newbies. Generally, all of these pieces of equipment are not expensive to buy and it would not require much time for a newcomer to sublimation to learn how to operate it.

Also, when purchased, they usually come in a sublimation printer bundle which includes a continuous ink supply system or CISS, sublimation ink, and paper.

Canon MX492

Pros:

Compact space requirements
Automatic paper feeder
Extra large ink cartridge size
Compatibility with cloud-based apps

This equipment will not cost you a lot but it does not mean that you are not getting value for your money here. For a beginner, this is a good printer for you since you will learn the ropes of sublimation printing here. Its basic functions would be sufficient for your requirements.

It’s compact size means that it would not demand much space from your work area. The dimensions of this device are 11.7” x 17.2” x 7.5” and it weighs around 13 lbs. This is perfect if you are working in tight spaces.

Convenient features include an automatic paper feeder so that you will not have to manually add paper to it. It also comes with an XL-sized ink cartridge which will allow you to use it for an extended period without refilling. The inks that are used here are dye-based.

Printing photographs is a breeze and the quality of these prints is above average. You can easily transfer the printouts to other materials.

This device is compatible with proprietary print apps such as Google Cloud Print, Canon Print App, and AirPrint. You can do your printing from your own smartphone or iPad directly to this printer even if you are not connected to a Wi-Fi and you also do not need print drivers.

Just like with similar equipment of this type, it can also scan images. You can print and scan your photos from your own mobile devices using the included Canon Print App.

To add peace to your mind, it comes with its own 1-year warranty.

If you have a printing requirement of more than 20 sheets per day, you must consider getting a higher end model.

Customer reviews for this printer point out the fact that if you will read closely and follow the installation instructions, you will be fine. Also, by pushing down the ridge behind the ink heads, it should address any issue of printing loudly and encountering frequent jamming.

Epson Stylus C88+

Pros:

Cheaper maintenance costs
Uses inks that are resistant to smudges and others
High-quality prints and border-free prints generated

This is the cheapest sublimation printer available on the market today.

Budget-conscious and newer users should definitely get this model. Operating costs are also minimal compared to other similar devices.

I would definitely suggest that people who just want to try out sublimation printing to use this. Home crafters can also consider this for their crafts. This computer peripheral can print on fabrics and ceramics aside from paper.

You may have to purchase a sublimation ink because it is probably not included in the sublimation printer bundle. This model uses Epson’s own DuraBrite Ultra pigment inks which are known to be resistant to smudges, fading, and even water. They come with individual color cartridges.

You will also get prints here that are free of borders. This is a standard feature for all Epson sublimation printers.

The maximum size of paper you can use here is 8.5” x 11”. The dpi is set at optimized 5760 x 1440.

Be warned though that this is not going to be the best printer for sublimation printing nor considered a durable one. You can only print through USB or its own parallel port and there is only a single input tray here. It is compatible with both Windows and Mac operating systems.

Even though this device is pretty much basic, customers who have purchased this are raving about it. They appreciate the high-quality prints that they are getting with it and setting it up to run with a continuous ink system is not difficult.

Kodak Dock and Wi-Fi Photo Printer

Pros:

Docking station for smartphone feature
Comes with Wi-Fi connection and charging station
Uses overcoat type ink

This sublimation printer offers plenty of convenient features despite its relatively small size.

For example, you can dock your smartphone on it’s upper slot. You can then import your photos for immediate printing. There is a bottom tray where the print will be coming out.

It also has built-in Wi-Fi. There are connections for SD cards, USB drives, and digital cameras. There is also an outbound charging port within this device.

The print quality is acceptable and you will get plenty of resolution and saturation from it. It uses D2T2 thermal transfer technology which will result in prints that do not fade or bleed.

This printer is using an overcoat ink process.

Overcoat ink layers are needed to enable pressing dye sublimation prints to materials that are not made from synthetic fabrics such as cotton and cotton blends. You can print directly on cotton or cotton blend fabrics directly without the need for additives or special treatment applied. You will realize how much savings to you get with this device in terms of time and cost.

And since this device is portable, you can easily lug it around and take it with you if your business is also mobile-based.

Bear in mind though that it can only permit you to handle a single print size which is 4” x 6”.

Customer reviews are mostly positive in terms of being a fun and an easy one to use. They like the amenities that come with this peripheral although there are some who point out that you would not make use of a USB-C type smartphone with it.

Olympus P-11

Pros:

Easy to set up and use
Quality photo prints generated

This sublimation printer is perfect for people who really do not have extensive experience with sublimation printing. To start using it, just connect it to your own computer, power it on and you are all set.

You can only print in 4” x 6”, which is basically a photo size, so there is really not a lot of setting to configure. You need only to load the paper that you will be using and that’s it.

The print resolution you can get here is 310 dpi and it comes with an internal paper tray.

Olympus claims you can print a 4” x 6” photograph in about 33 seconds. This is not fast but if you project this to an hour usage, you will manage to print 120 pieces.

Customers like the value for money it offers aside from it portability and simple to use. The prints that it is generating are almost indistinguishable when compared to photo prints.

However, it appears that it is not duly supported by Windows 7 since it cannot work with these computers.

Silhouette Cameo 3

Pros:

Perfect for DIY heat transfer projects on vinyl, paper, and other materials
People with ink allergy can safely use this device

This one differs from the others in this list because it is not a printer. It is considered as a device for creating heat transfers.

You will still need it to connect to your computer whether it’s running on Mac or Windows operating system via a USB cable. The difference with printers is that this Silhouette printer will cut the image on the heat transfer paper with its own built-in blade rather than printing it. You can even replace this same blade with a pen instead if you would prefer that this machine just sketch the artwork.

All of these functions can be controlled from your own computer.

That is why this equipment is perfect for crafters and DIY aficionados. Also, for people who do not prefer to deal with inks for their own reasons.

The graphics that you can use here are limited compared with the sublimation printers. This equipment already comes with plenty of built-in fonts and graphics. There are also templates coming from professional users that will render it convenient for you to work with this equipment.

Tutorials are also available when you purchase this device.

You can use this equipment when you are planning to work with heat transfer vinyl. If you really want to learn more about this process, you can click on this link which will detail how to create amazing t-shirts with heat transfer vinyl.

If you are somebody who likes to create custom made products, then get this equipment. It will really allow you to personalize your creations and you can draw on a great variety of materials like vinyl, fabric, paper, and cardstock up to the size of 12” x 10”.

You can plug in your USB to its port if you have your design already on hand.

Reviews for this equipment are generally favorable. Buyers are praising the fact that it really helped them make custom designs even if they have limited product knowledge.

Negative reviews were cited for their customer service handling of problems relayed.

I would now like to go over the commercial sublimation printer best of list.

This is because I want to provide you with available printing equipment options.

As an added bonus, you can click on this link that will inform you as to what other equipment you will be needing in sublimation printing.

These computer peripherals can also be rightfully considered as among the best sublimation printer for heat transfers. They are:

Epson Expression XP-15000

Epson Surecolor T5000

Epson Workforce WF-7710

Mitsubishi CP-9550DW

Sawgrass Virtuoso SG400

Sawgrass Virtuoso SG800

Epson Expression XP-15000

Pros:

Does not need plenty of maintenance
Can print large size prints and without borders
Comes with color correction feature
Comes with two input trays and can fit easily on desks
Has a program for automatic ink replenishment

This sublimation printer is perfect for people who are wanting to take their printing business to another level.

For one, there is not a lot of maintenance work needed by this particular model.

You can print large borderless images and high definition prints with this one. The maximum size of the print can reach up to 13” x 19”.

It offers greater printing flexibility since it makes use of 6 colors which includes red and gray inks. You will realize print resolution here of up to 5760 x 1440 dpi.

The images generated can be transferred to t-shirts, CDs, mugs, plates, and others.

It comes with an advanced color correction feature that makes it certain that your prints are always of the highest quality achievable. And since it makes use of the Claria brand high definition inks which is dye-based, the images printed will be resistant from fading, scratch, and water.

Wireless printing is possible with this equipment.

It comes with a 50-sheet rear tray for placement of an assortment of specialty media. Sizes that can be accommodated here can be from 4” x 6” and up to 13” x 19”. Front tray can handle easily up to 200 sheets and this device also can manage two-sided printing.

Also, this printer features Amazon’s own Dash Replenishment program which means that come the time that you are nearly running out of ink, it will automatically order a new one.

Even if there are many functionalities with this equipment, it can still easily fit on your desktop.

Customer reviews point out that while this device is excellent in printing photographs, it cannot handle screen films. Frequent print banding is also encountered even after performing numerous alignments.

Epson Surecolor T5000

Pros:

Has a plus size ink cartridge
Can print wide images with plenty of colors
Print resolution is very good
Capable of quick image printing

When you purchase this T5000 sublimation printer bundle, you will also be getting the following:

A complete set of an extended Sawgrass Sublijet Professional Ink Cartridges
A roll of Texprint XP-HR Sublimation Heat Transfer paper with the size of 17” x 110”

The ink cartridges come in a 700ml size which can deliver extended usage and low imaging costs.

This commercial sublimation printer is designed to produce photo panels with high volume production of images that can be as wide as 36”. There is no question that you will be able to recoup quickly the purchase cost because of the incremental business that you will get.

You can connect to this printer through LAN or via USB. The maximum resolution in dpi that you can obtain is 2880 x 1440.

This device will be able to accommodate bond papers as well as a 1.2 mm poster board.

Paper loading is easy and it can support up to 2” and 3“ cores. All you have to do here is put the roll on top of this device, insert on each the roll adapters, slide in place this assembly, and then feed it to the equipment. Because of this loading setup, you should not have a problem locating this computer peripheral near a wall.

This printer can even track the media length when you unload and subsequently, reload rolls since it has a barcode printed at end of the roll.

The speed tracked for a black and white CAD drawing using 720 x 1440 dpi took about 90 seconds to complete printing with excellent results. If the speed mode is selected, this will be further whittled down to 50 seconds with no visible quality change.

Clients who have purchased this sublimation printer raves about the superb colors being generated. They believe that this is a worthwhile purchase for it offers excellent value.

They are not happy though with the poor output being realized when using Mylar. This is a form of polyester resin that is used in making films and sheets that are heat-resistant. Also, there are concerns about delays in print driver updates.

Epson Workforce WF-7710

Pros:

Can handle large format prints
Offers wireless connection
Has a program for automatic ink replenishment
Uses less electricity compared to similar devices

This equipment is considered as among the best sublimation printer for heat transfer.

It will also serve you well to make this a part of your own business printing and scanning requirements. And since Epson is a trusted brand, you will get a good value for your money along with great performance and functionality.

This commercial sublimation printer can handle printing of large format paper sizes. Borderless prints with great photo quality are a standard here. Maximum size allowable is up to 13” x 19” and you can scan documents with up to 11” x 17”.

Epson’s DuraBrite Ultra pigment inks can definitely furnish you with most durable prints especially when compared to dye inks. This equipment can also use cartridges that are made of dye-based ink.

You can use your mobile devices to be able to print directly with this equipment even without an available Wi-Fi connection. It works well with both Windows and Mac operating systems.

There is a 250 sheet tray here and you can load specialty paper at the rear part of the printer. It can handle 2-sided auto prints and even has a 35-page document auto feeder. Just like with the XP-15000, you can make use of the Dash Replenishment system of Amazon to ensure that you will always have ink to use.

This equipment is not that heavy, easy to use, and does not need a lot of maintenance. Epson claims that it can use 80% less electricity when compared to other similar devices.

Customer reviews for this printer are varied. There are some who are praising the great print quality that they are getting from it. However, there are others who are pointing out that they are getting lines with their printouts and that the ink simply does not last long.

Mitsubishi CP-9550DW

Pros:

Detailed color prints generated
Thermal head can perform longer
Workhorse printer perfect for dye-sublimation business

This printer is considered as one of the best sublimation printers for t-shirts. You can also use other merchandise for sublimation printing with this one.

It has a lot of unique and revolutionary systems within its features. This Mitsubishi printer is focused on outstanding color reproduction with the sheer amount of details. Improvements made on the thermal head and processing chips enabled this printing to bring out AMOLED colors and razor-sharp resolution which is converted nicely on the merchandise surface.

It’s color reproduction system can provide consistent print quality regardless of the type of ink sheet used. The proprietary Color Imaging chips can control and use the right color characteristic for the type of media to be used.

Resulting prints crisp, rich, and spot-on.

The 346 dpi thermal head is designed for improved quality prints and extended service life. This printer has dual line heads which can definitely print excellent images with plenty of texture and detail.

A commercial sublimation printer of this size would require a solid and sturdy surface where you will situate them on top. Make sure that there is also ample space within its vicinity so that you can work conveniently with this equipment.

It is not the fastest one around when compared to sublimation printers of its kind but it can generate speeds of 15 seconds for a 3.5” x 5” sized print.

If you will be printing on a fabric that is not nylon or polyester, I suggest that you use an overcoat so that the print will stick.

People who have purchased this sublimation printer considered it as a true workhorse. They are generally satisfied with their decision to buy this model.

Sawgrass Virtuoso SG400

Pros:

Print resolution is more than adequate
Cheaper cost of prints generated when compared to other devices
The ink used can be used to print on hard surfaces
Comes with own graphics software

This equipment is right for people who want the next tier above the entry level sublimation printers. It is perfect for a home-based dye sublimation business. It is more reliable and durable when compared to the Epson Stylus C88+.

The maximum size that you can print here is 8.5”x14”. Print resolution for photographs is 1200 x 1200 dpi.

When you use this equipment, you will get a lower cost outlay on a per page basis. The reason behind this is that the ink gel concentrate that it is utilizing can go a bit further when compared to its peers. A single ml of this is equivalent to about 3 ml if you use other brands.

It comes with the Virtuoso Print Manager program that allows its owners to optimize the colored output for vector graphics, spot colors, and photographs. It is compatible with both Mac and Windows operating systems.

You can choose to purchase an optional bypass tray.

If you are really considering this Sawgrass model, get this sublimation printer bundle. It comes with the following:

A complete set of Sawgrass Sublijet HD-SG Ink Cartridges
110 sheets of Texprint R Sublimation paper for gel-based inks
5 pieces of Step by Step Guides to Master Sublimation

Amazon is offering Creative Studio Software and 220 sheets of sublimation paper if you get this sublimation printer bundle from them.

This Sublijet ink can be used on polymers hard coated substrates like ceramic, glass, metal, poly-performance fabrics, hardboard, and even 100% white polyester fabric.

Reviews for this equipment is generally positive pointing out that it is not difficult to use and you get good print quality.

Sawgrass Virtuoso SG800

Pros:

Comes with higher capacity ink cartridges
Can print wide images
High print resolution capability
Comes with own graphics software and print templates
Also comes with enterprise print software

You can consider this particular model as an upgrade of the Sawgrass SG400 model for it is a larger one. It can also take in higher capacity ink cartridges.

It is critical to place this sublimation equipment on a sturdy and flat surface since it is quite heavy and wide. Its dimensions are 28” x 14” x 20” so you have to allocate a large space for it.

This printer can handle images up to 13” x 19” in size if using the bypass tray. If not, you can print up 11” x 17”.

If you have to process large format sublimation prints or have made your business handling dye-sublimation stuff, then this printer is perfect for you. It can also give you accurate color profiles for your prints.

Print resolution dpi is set at 1200 x 1200 which means you are getting sharp and colorful prints.

This commercial sublimation printer is the only one that comes with a fully integrated system to create transfers for light-colored and various cotton blend fabrics. The Chromablast HD ink set that it comes with is perfect for using these types of fabrics.

This is why it is considered among the best sublimation printer for t-shirts. It will make you successful in the dye sublimation based t-shirt printing game if you master the use of this printer.

This link will share with you how to be proficient in using the sublimation printing method for t-shirts.

You will need some time to learn the nuances of this printer so you have to invest your time knowing its features.

The good news here is that you do not really have to buy a separate desktop graphics software or stock design library if you get this printer model. You can use this bundled software to create the designs which you can then export later to this printer. The templates that also come with this purchase will allow you to further modify your designs.

There is also another software provided free if you but this sublimation printer. It is called the Business Builder which makes this machine geared for an enterprise setup. It provides you with webinars, planner, and a guide towards a successful printing business.

Amazon is offering the same sublimation printer bundle that comes with the SG400 model if you purchase this one instead.

Best Sublimation Printers For Beginners – Ultimate Buyers Guide

Canon MX492

Epson Stylus C88+

Kodak Dock and Wi-Fi Photo Printer

Olympus P-11

Silhouette Cameo 3

Epson Expression XP-15000

Epson Surecolor T5000

Epson Workforce WF-7710

Mitsubishi CP-9550DW

Sawgrass Virtuoso SG400

Sawgrass Virtuoso SG800

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