The 5 Best Sublimation Printers

If you're looking for the best sublimation printer, then read this article to find out which one is the best for your needs!

Dye sublimation printers are a great way to print high-quality images onto a variety of surfaces. They can be used for a wide range of applications, from printing custom T-shirts to creating unique home decor.

The problem is with so many different printer options out there it can be hard to know where to start.  Even if you pick a quality printer, if it doesn't match your needs you will still be wasting money. This is where we can help.

How We Picked The Best Sublimation Printer

Our expert reviewers have spent time researching and reviewing the best sublimation printers on the market.  We then compiled a list of the 5 most popular printers and ranked them based on print quality, ease of use, value, and technical support. This way you can match the most important qualities to your specific needs.

Epson SureColor Pro F570

Best Overall Sublimation Printer

Why It Gets A High Rev Rating

Sure, a lot of printers can do sublimation. But not all of them can do it as well as the Epson SureColor Pro F570. It can accommodate rolls and sheets up to 24" wide to give you the most versatility. With its PrecisionCore MicroTFP printhead and Nozzle Verification Technology, this printer delivers amazing image quality time after time. Plus, its vibrant ink ensures that your prints will be bright and brilliant every time. Whether you're printing general-purpose transfer paper or tackling a variety of different jobs, this Epson sublimation printer is up to the task.

Important Points

The Epson SureColor Pro F570 is a high-end printer that offers superior performance and quality when compared to other options on the market.  This printer is the most expensive on our list, but it comes with two full sets of initial ink bottles, and 3 rolls of transfer paper, which should be considered when looking at the overall cost.  It has a large 4.3" LCD color touchscreen that makes print tasks easier and more intuitive and can connect via USB, Ethernet, or integrated wireless. Its professional software - Epson Edge Print Pro with an Adobe PostScript® 3 and Adobe PDF Print Engine - features job layout and nesting, pattern repeats, and advanced color controls for professional results.

Sawgrass SG1000

Best wide format sublimation printer if you don’t need 24’ media capability

Why It Gets A High Rev Rating

This is the printer for those who want to take their sublimation business up a notch. With a print size of up to 11x17 inches, you can easily print large designs or multiple small ones. The color management system built into the printer ensures that your prints will be true-to-color every time. And if you need help with anything, Sawgrass's top-notch tech support is always available to assist you. Plus, this printer takes care of its own routine maintenance so you don't have to worry about it!

Important Points

The Sawgrass SG1000 is a high-quality printer that was designed specifically for sublimation printing.  It is more expensive than some other printers, but the price of this sawgrass sublimation printer is justified by its performance and features. The printer comes with preset or customized profiles for optimal color output, and it also has an easy-to-use interface.

Epson EcoTank ET-15000

Best budget-friendly wide format printer

Why It Gets A High Rev Rating

The EcoTank ET-15000 is perfect for people who want to save money on printing costs without sacrificing print quality.  The ET-15000 was not designed to be a sublimation printer but is less expensive and easy to convert.  Because the Epson EcoTank printers use tanks instead of cartridges they are the easiest printer to convert to sublimation printing.  This design feature also makes ink cheaper and reduces waste.

Important Points

The Epson EcoTank ET-15000 may not have been designed for sublimation printing, but it is still an excellent choice for those looking for an affordable and versatile wide-format printer. While users may have to experiment with color correction settings to get the desired results when using sublimation ink, the potential reward of greater output quality and cost savings can be well worth the effort. As always, users should keep in mind that using sublimation ink will void the manufacturer's warranty.

Sawgrass SG500

Best overall regular format sublimation printer

Why It Gets A High Rev Rating

The Sawgrass SG500 is the perfect sublimation printer for people who don't need a wide-format printer and want to save on costs without sacrificing quality. This printer is cheaper than wide format printers, but can still produce prints up to 8.5” wide and 51" long. It's also designed specifically for sublimation, so the colors are more accurate than those produced by converted Epson printers. And if you ever have any issues, Sawgrass has great tech support to help you out!

Important Points

Like its big brother the SG1000, the Sawgrass SG500 was specifically designed for sublimation and includes software designed to get the most out of this printer.  It is more expensive than the other regular format printer on our list but has the performance and features that have made Sawgrass the quality standard for sublimation printers.  The printer performs its routine maintenance automatically, keeping the printer ready to print quality images whenever you need it.

EcoTank ET-2800

Best budget-friendly sublimation printer

Why It Gets A High Rev Rating

The EcoTank ET-2800 is the best affordable sublimation printer on the market today. Why? Because it offers a low-cost way to get started with sublimation printing, making it ideal for home use for small to medium projects. Plus, this bad boy offers good-quality prints that will make your products stand out from the competition. So if you're looking for an affordable and high-quality option, this Epson printer is definitely worth considering.

Important Points

The ET-2800 is a great way to start out in sublimation printing, but it was not designed to be a sublimation printer.  This means there are a few drawbacks.  The first one is that the color may not match the color in your original design, and you will have to play with color correction to get the output you desire.  The second drawback is that using sublimation ink in this printer will void the manufactures warranty.  Unlike Sawgrass printers, Epson printers do not automatically do maintenance to keep the print head in good condition, so you will have to do this manually.

Note:  All Epson EcoTank printers can be used for sublimation, so if you can't find an ET-2800 you can use a higher model.  The downside to this is you will be paying for extra features that aren't used with sublimation printing.  You may be able to find some of the earlier EcoTank models for an even cheaper price.

Epson also makes other printers that can be used for dye sublimation.  The Epson workforce WF printers are an example of this, but these printers are harder to convert because you need to find compatible dye sublimation ink cartridges.

How To Pick The Best Sublimation Printer For Your Needs

Here are some tips for picking your next dye sublimation printer.

Printing Dimensions

Printing Dimensions are an important area to consider when it comes to choosing a dye sublimation printer.  The basic regular format printers, are limited to 8.5 inches and are suitable for items such as mugs, tote bags, and smaller t-shirts.

However, if you know you will be printing on medium and large t-shirts and other larger projects, then a wide-format sublimation printer may be the better option. These are more expensive but provide more versatility for larger projects. It is important to consider what your current needs are as well as any possible needs in the near future when deciding which type of printer to purchase.

Convert A Printer Or Go With A Specialized Printer?

Two types of printers can be used for sublimation.  Regular inkjet printers that can be converted to a sublimation printer, and printers that were specifically designed for sublimation.  The main advantage to converting a printer is it is usually cheaper than buying a specialized printer.  The main downside is it may take some tweaking and additional software to get the quality that you want, and many times the warranty is voided by using sublimation ink.

How Easy Is It To Convert The Printer

If you decide to convert a regular printer you need to know that some printers are easier to convert than others.  The Epson EcoTank printers are the perfect choice for newcomers because the ink tank design makes converting them as easy as filling up the tank with sublimation ink.  On the other hand, printers that use ink cartridges are more difficult, because there may be compatibility issues with sublimation ink cartridges that are available.

Is The Printer Easy To Use

It is important to find a printer that is easy to use, especially if you are new to the sublimation printing process. Printers converted to sublimation can take more effort to set up and get working correctly, but a sublimation-specific printer will often be much easier to operate. This is because the software and menu system is designed specifically for sublimation printing, meaning that everything works together seamlessly and you don't have to spend time trying to configure different programs to work together.

Connectivity

Is your printer going to be used by multiple people or do you have specific connection needs?  If so you will want to see what options for connectivity are available for each printer.  All of our top picks can connect in multiple ways.

Printing Speed

If you are going to use your printer a lot another thing to consider is print speed.  Each printer has different print speeds based on the print quality you need.  As with other types of printing, color usually takes more time than black and white, and higher-resolution prints take more time than lower-resolution prints.

Best Sublimation Printer FAQs

There are a lot of different factors to consider when making your purchase, such as the type of substrate you'll be printing on, the size of the prints you want to make, and how often you plan on using your printer.

We've put together a list of the most Frequently Asked Questions about sublimation printers so that you can make your next purchase with total confidence.

Q: What is sublimation printing?

A: Dye sublimation printing is a form of digital printing where full-color images are printed on substrates using heat and pressure. The images are first printed on the sublimation transfer paper that is then transferred to the desired surface. Sublimation printers use CMYO (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Overprint Black) inks which produce superior results when compared to traditional four-color printers. The term "sublimation" refers to the molecular change that occurs when the ink is heated and turns from a solid to a gas. This allows the ink to penetrate the surface of the substrate and create a high-quality image that won't fade or peel.

Q: How to print sublimation images?

A: There are a few ways to print sublimation images. One way is to use an inkjet printer that is specifically designed for printing sublimation images. Another option is to convert a normal inkjet printer to use sublimation ink. Each of these methods has its own unique set of pros and cons, so it's important to choose the method that will work best for your individual needs.

Inkjet printers designed for printing sublimation images have become increasingly popular in recent years because they offer high-quality results at a relatively low cost. These printers use four-color cartridges – cyan, yellow, magenta, and black – to produce detailed images with rich colors and realistic textures. In addition, inkjet printers are very versatile and can be used to print photos, textiles, ceramics, and a wide variety of other items.

If you don't want to invest in a new printer, some inkjet printers can be converted to use sublimation ink.  You may have to play with color correction to get your desired output, but this can be a cheap way to get started with sublimation printing.

Q:  Can you use sublimation ink for regular printing?

A:  No, dye sublimation inks are a specialized printing medium that cannot be used for regular printing due to their unique properties. Sublimation ink is designed specifically for sublimation paper which has a coating of polymer that allows it to hold the ink. When heated, the printed sublimation paper undergoes a chemical process that transfers the ink from the paper to the substrate, creating a permanent image.

Regular paper does not have this coating and therefore cannot hold the ink from sublimation printing. This means that regular paper will become wet and lose its stickiness when exposed to the heat of sublimation printmaking, resulting in an unsuccessful transfer.

Q:  Can you use a regular printer for sublimation?

A:  Printers with a Micro Piezo print head can be used for sublimation, but it may void the warranty. A sublimation printer is specifically designed to handle the transfer of dyes from the substrate to the item being printed on. This results in higher-quality prints. When using a regular printer, you may not get the best results, and may even damage your printer.

Q:  How to convert a printer to sublimation?

A:  When it comes to converting a regular printer into a dye sublimation printer, the process will depend on the make and model of your printer. It is important to make sure that your printer is outfitted with a Micro Piezo print head. If your printer utilizes a thermal print head, then it cannot be used for sublimation.

If your printer uses ink cartridges, you can convert it by buying compatible cartridges with sublimation ink. If your printer utilizes an ink tank like the Epson EcoTank printers, then you just fill the tanks with sublimation ink. This is why EcoTank printers have become a popular alternative to printers specifically designed for sublimation.

Q:  What do I need for sublimation printing?

A: To produce prints using the sublimation process, you will need a sublimation printer, sublimation ink, transfer paper, and a heat press. The process involves two steps.  The first step is to print your image or design on the transfer paper. The second step is to use the heat press to transfer the ink onto the fabric or other material.

Once you have these items, you'll also need to make sure that your substrate and fabric are compatible with sublimation printing. For example, certain fabrics may require special coatings in order for the images to transfer correctly.

Q: What is the difference between dye sublimation and heat transfer

A: The major difference between dye sublimation and heat transfer is the method of transferring an image onto a material. With dye sublimation, the image is printed using special inks that are heated to very high temperatures and then transferred directly onto the material with a press.

Heat transfer, on the other hand, involves printing an image onto special paper using special inks and then transferring the image using a heat press. Heat transfer has more of a printed finish, as it only involves pressing an already printed design onto the material. Dye sublimation provides a much higher quality, longer-lasting print that is embedded into the fabric and will not crack or fade over time. The colors are also

Final Thoughts About sublimation printer

There are many different sublimation printer options.  In this article, we reviewed the top 5 based on quality, ease of use, value, and availability. If you're looking for a sublimation printer that is both productive and reliable, any of the printers on this list will suit your needs. With high-quality prints and low maintenance costs, these machines are sure to satisfy even the most demanding users.