Best Printers for Sublimation for T-Shirts

by Terry R.

T-shirts are worn by so many people these days and mostly because of the designs on them. creating designs on shirts is fantastic method to demonstrate your artistic skills while also earning a respectable cash inflow as a business person. However, it is important to consider the method by which the designs are printed and appearance of the outcome after the design is complete

Printing on t-shirts may be accomplished using a variety of techniques, however sublimation printing is more outstanding above the others. We believe that investing in the finest sublimation printer is a great approach to jumpstart your profession in the t-shirt manufacturing industry.

This article will provide you with the necessary information you need to choose the most suitable sublimation printer for your designs.

Why Purchase a Sublimation Printer?

If you want to start a company designing t-shirts, you may want to think about purchasing a sublimation printer. It works a little differently than most other printers in that it prints directly onto the cloth. The majority of printers print directly onto the fabric's surface. Fortunately, this works perfectly, and the design is coated such that, in most instances, it does not bleed through to the cloth.

Sublimation printers pressurize the cloth to embed the ink. This means that as the cloth moves, the pattern moves along with it, resulting in a more distinct picture overall. Sublimation printers are usually more expensive than other types of printers, but if you want to sell your t-shirts, they may offer you a competitive advantage.

The Importance of Sublimation Printers

  • You may print on a variety of hard surfaces, including mugs, plates, and clocks.
  • You are not restricted to a limited palette of colors to choose from. Furthermore, there is no extra expenditure required on your side to include new color.
  • It is a reasonably priced product. You may print multiple units for the price of a single item.
  • Because of the low assimilating curve, even a complete novice may get started on making designs on t-shirts.
  • It is not necessary to reprint the image after using this method since it will not fade over time.
  • It is resistant to scratch, and its color will not fade unless it is exposed to bright sunlight on a regular basis.
  • The whole procedure is completed within a short period of time. In fact, due of its quick and effective printing performance, you may fulfill all gigs that same day they are received by the customer.

Over the years, this technology has grown in popularity as a result of its many benefits. Nevertheless, there are a few disadvantages that you should be aware of before making a decision on your option. For example, in order to get a high-quality print on cloth, the fabric must contain at least more than half polyester by weight. Aside from this, surfaces that are black or contain a dark color do not react well to this method. If none of these problems are a source of trouble for you, you should have a positive experience with sublimation printing in general.

Printer Brand Compatible devices price
Epson Eco-tank et-4760 wireless sublimation printers. Epson PC and laptops $480
Epson artisan 1430 sublimation printer Epson Smartphone, PC, laptops.
Epson workforce wf-7720 sublimation printer for shirts Epson PC and laptops $680
Sawgrass virtuoso sg400 sublimation printer sawgrass Smartphone, PC, laptops.

The Best 4 Sublimation Printers

The Best 4 Sublimation Printers
The Best 4 Sublimation Printers

Epson Eco tank et-4760 wireless sublimation printers - Link

Epson EcoTank ET-4760 Wireless Color All-in-One Cartridge-Free Supertank Printer with Scanner, Copier, Fax, ADF and Ethernet - Black
Epson EcoTank ET-4760 Wireless Color All-in-One Cartridge-Free Supertank Printer with Scanner, Copier, Fax, ADF and Ethernet - Black

Epson eco tank et-4760 is at the top of our list and it is manufactured by Epson. This is the most efficient printer for sublimation works. Your company requires a printer that is fast, affordable, simple to use, and equipped with advanced productivity features. To meet this need, the Eco tank et-4760 was created.

With borderless printing and two-sided printing that works automatically, you have a wide variety of choices at your disposal. It also has a variety of different features.

Instead of using cartridges, it makes use of ink tanks, which reduces the amount of time and money you spend on maintenance. Sublimation ink can be used instead of cartridges, allowing you to save money. A revolutionary cartridge-free solution that makes use of large-capacity, easily refillable ink tanks. As a result, you'll spend less time worrying about running out of ink and more time saving money on new ink.

Each bottle of ink is filled with enough ink to fill more least 80 cartridges, meaning you won't have to be bothered about buying more ink for a long period of time.

It allows you to enjoy a complete experience without using your hands while using it due to its modern features such as wireless printing and voice activated operation. A modular and classy style that is not only visually appealing, but also highly efficient in the office setting, distinguishes it from the competition.

Features

  • Innovative cartridge-free printing
  • Savings on ink replacements
  • Stress-free printing
  • Zero cartridge waste.
  • High print quality.
  • Robust paper handling
  • Built-in scanner & copier
  • Modern connectivity is designed for reliability.
  • Voice-activated operations and wireless connectivity.
  • 250-sheet paper tray.
  • A 2.4-inch LCD touchscreen display.

Epson Artisan 1430 Wireless Color Wide-Format Inkjet Printer - Link

Epson Artisan 1430 Wireless Color Wide-Format Inkjet Printer (C11CB53201)
Epson Artisan 1430 Wireless Color Wide-Format Inkjet Printer (C11CB53201)

In addition to producing beautiful, ultra hi-definition prints up to 13" x 19", the Artisan 1430 also offers a variety of other features. Its excellent color and lighting correction capabilities allow it to produce stunning photographs. Hi-definition ink makes pictures smudge, and weatherproof, as well as fading resistant.

In spite of the fact that it is generally recognized among the best picture printers available, the Epson artisan 1430 should not be overlooked as a sublimation printer.

A must-have item for anybody who wants to begin with t-shirt design, this device is an absolute necessity. All you need is a decent ink, and you'll be ready to start printing.

The most important selling feature of the device is the high-definition picture quality that it produces. With no problems, it may produce pictures with smooth grades and crisp, noise-free detail without any problems. Even if you're dealing with lettering on shirts, you may expect to get great outcomes from your efforts.

It has a media size of 13 inches wide, thus, plenty for the majority of expert t-shirt designers out there. When you purchase, you will get six high-definition ink cartridges, which will guarantee that your drawings and pictures appear sharp and professional.

An additional convenient feature the device has is its ability to connect through wireless technology. It's also simple to share your artisan 1430 with others thanks to the convenience of wireless networking. Anyone on your network can now produce large-scale, exhibition prints, as well as design and print expert CDs and DVDs, all from their computer. It is possible to obtain your images without a computer by using your phone or tablet, which will save you time and effort.

Due to the fact that it offers contemporary connection features at a reasonable price, the artisan 1430 is a good pick. Regardless of the fact that it seems to be inexpensive, the quality it provides is very impressive.

Features.

  • Brilliant, large-size photos
  • Prints in ultra hi-definition prints
  • Connect to your wireless network in seconds
  • Superior image enhancement tools
  • Remarkable image quality
  • Professional looking CDs/DVDs
  • Individual ink cartridges
  • Wireless connection
  • Borderless photos in popular sizes

Epson Workforce Wf-7720 Printer - Link

WorkForce WF-7210 Wireless Wide-format Color Inkjet Printer with Wi-Fi Direct and Ethernet, Amazon Dash Replenishment Ready
WorkForce WF-7210 Wireless Wide-format Color Inkjet Printer with Wi-Fi Direct and Ethernet, Amazon Dash Replenishment Ready

The Epson workforce WF-7720 wide-format all-in-one inkjet printer has a plethora of features and can print sheets as large as 13 x 19 inches. It is a good value for money. It also has the capability of scanning and printing documents with a maximum size of 11 x 17 inches. This printer from Epson is not only packed with features, but it is also a fantastic choice for sublimation printing!

It provides excellent results at an extremely low price, making it ideal as a sublimation clothing printer for a variety of applications. If you run a small artistic company, this is the option for you.

It is simple to turn it to a sublimation printer by simply changing to ink instead of cartridges. It is accompanied by three separate input trays, each with a 500-sheet storage, and it enables borderless printing with size varying from 13 to 19 inches. Moreover, the unit's automatic document feeder has a capacity of 35 pages, allowing it to be used in a variety of situations even more effectively.

The unit's big 4.3-inch LCD touchscreen, on the other hand, is its most appealing feature. It produces a very clear picture with a responsive touch screen that is second to none. From this interface, you have full accessibility of the printer's features and operations. The device also has wireless access and may even be connected to the internet through an Ethernet cable.

Epson's workforce series of printers has long been a people-favorite due to the high level of efficiency it provides for the cost. This unit is useful irrespective of whether you have an existing company or are starting from the bottom up with a new venture.

Features

  • Wireless and Ethernet connections
  • 4.3 inches' screen display
  • 3 input trays of 500 sheet storage
  • Borderless printing
  • 8.7 ppm for automatic 2-sided prints

Sawgrass Virtuoso SG500 Sublimation Printer - Link

Sawgrass SG500 Sublimation Printer
Sawgrass SG500 Sublimation Printer

Since it is specially built for sublimation printing, the sg500 is a very simple machine to learn how to use and operate. Once you've completed all of the necessary configurations and input all of your preferences, all you have to do is click the 'print' button, and the sg400 will perform precisely as you want it to do. It is also worth mentioning the current amazon promotion, in which you will get both sublimation ink and sublimation paper with your purchase!

The device is capable of printing at a high resolution of 1600 dpi, resulting in vivid pictures on your printouts. At this rate, you can print about 40 photos each hour at this quality.

You may obtain more points simultaneously by reducing the resolution of the image. This is ideal for someone who has a modest t-shirt company and wants to expand.

This printer is equipped with an automatic self-cleaning technology that stops ink blockage and paper jams from occurring. The printer even has the ability to connect through Ethernet and USB 2.0 in order for drivers to be installed or images to be printed.

In addition to its outstanding features, the device has a high level of overall construction quality. It has a sophisticated and contemporary appearance, making it an excellent option if you require the finest t-shirt sublimation printer.

Although it is a little costlier than comparable to Epson inkjet printers, this machine from sawgrass is packed with amazing sublimation features, making it a worthwhile investment.

Features

  • High quality image printing software
  • Creative studio online designer
  • Sublijet UHD sublimation inks

Buying Guide

After you have seen our listed out suggested equipment, you should observe the criteria that we took into consideration while making our selection.

Understanding these important elements will assist you in gaining better understanding of the product &, as a result, in making the best decision for yourself.

After much deliberation, here are some of the characteristics that you need to look for when purchasing the finest printer.

The size of the print media

Your selection must be able to accommodate your needs in terms of size. Printing tiny t-shirts designs, for example, does not need the use of huge media sizes. where such a scenario exists, anything with a printing capacity of 4x6 inches should be sufficient.

Bigger designs, on the other hand, need the use of a bigger media size from the printer. Everything boils down to your requirements.

So, before making a decision on a sublimation printer, think about the size requirements you have and compare them to the capacities of the printer.

Resolution

When it comes to printing, more resolution immediately correlates to the printed picture details. As a result, if you're working on intricate designs, you will need a device with high resolution abilities.

With printers having lesser resolution, the picture may seem fuzzy, which will have an adverse effect on the overall quality of the tees.

This is dependent on the pattern you're aiming for once again. When printing tiny logos, you may easily get away with using a printer with low-resolution that has no disadvantages.

Nevertheless, for big projects, it is recommended that you choose a machine that has a least resolution of 4800x1200 dpi for the best possible results.

The printing speed

Perhaps you own and operate a t-shirt printing company, print speed is critical to your overall efficiency and production. You will find it easy to finish a big number of jobs in a short period of time if you use a high-speed printer. In such scenario, you may be required to spend a little more money on a high-quality printer in order to obtain the most profit of your investment in that particular printer.

The print resolution has an impact on the printer's overall speed as well as its overall performance. When printing high-resolution pictures, the speed of printing suffers a significant decrease.

As a result, before making your final decision, you should attempt to discover the optimal balance between both the printer's resolution and speed capabilities. When it comes to personal usage, resolution takes precedence above speed.

The printing volume

Like the speed of printing, the amount of work you produce has a major impact on the enhancement of your company's operations. If you want to sell designed t-shirts on a business basis, you should consider investing in a printer that is capable of handling high-volume printing. You will find it easy to complete big orders batches with relative ease in this manner.

Some of the most expensive machines for sale can print thousands of copies each run, while others are restricted to just a few hundred prints per print run.

The ability to connect

There are certain printers for sale that are equipped with Bluetooth or wireless connections, which may be useful to few users.

However, this feature on the other hand, is not suitable for everyone. Those who prefer to operate from a physically attached computer connection may find that they may not obtain the full benefits of this technology.

Nonetheless, if you prefer to operate on your phone or tablet, this is a convenient option to have available. With this tool, you will find it easy to simply transfer the drawings onto the printer & print them without the need to utilize a computer throughout the process. If it seems like something you'd be interested in, it may be worth your while to look into it.

Branding

If you require a positive experience with your printers, it is best to get a machine from a reputable manufacturer. Using off-brand, knock-off goods is almost never a smart idea in most cases.

Our selection includes items from three outstanding brands: Epson and sawgrass, all of which have strong reputations for producing high-quality products. You may choose any one of these businesses and be certain of receiving a high-quality service with your goods. Just ensure you stay with a reputable manufacturer, and you will achieve excellent aftermarket assistance if anything goes bad with your equipment.

Budget

When making a large investment, your financial constraints always play a major role. A sublimation printer for t-shirts may be purchased at various price points depending on the model and the money you have available. Purchasing the costliest model available, on the other hand, may not be the greatest decision.

If you want to achieve the most from your budget, you certainly should think about your needs and set a definite, acceptable spending limit for yourself. You will be able to make your decision within a pricing range more comfortable for you and will not be distracted by any other factors.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Can any printer be used for sublimation printing?


In fact, not all printers are capable of doing sublimation printing straight out of the box. If you have an inkjet printer, you may simply convert it to work with sublimation by using sublimation ink that is not included with the printer. There are also certain printers that are specially designed for sublimation printing, an example is the sawgrass sg-500

How long can sublimation ink last?


Due to the fact that the lifetime of the ink varies from one model to another, there is no definite response to this issue. After installation, the usual requirement is to utilize the ink within six months of when it was installed. If you wait any longer, you may have problems such as color shifting or clogging.

Is it possible to use any kind of sublimation material?


No, you are unable to do so. In terms of fabric, you must choose polyester or a polyester mix; otherwise, the color will not be true to its intended appearance. When printing graphics on 100 percent cotton tees, the heat transfer technique is the only option available.

Can I use any kind of heat press to print sublimation images?


Generally speaking, yes. If you use a hot iron for sublimation printing, you may be able to get away with it in certain scenarios.

Final Words

In conclusion, for t-shirt graphics, sublimation printing is the preferred method of printing. It has been seen to be the best method. Despite the fact that the capital cost may be a little expensive, the cheap maintenance costs and high production make it a financially feasible option.

On that point, the Epson Eco Tanks ET-4760 is unquestionably the obvious winner of our comparison round-up. You may easily turn it into a specialized sublimation printer by just introducing sublimation ink to it, despite the fact that it is not designed to do so. It offers a number of features that make it an excellent value for money.

We hope that our article on how to choose the best t-shirt sublimation printer has been of assistance in identifying your requirements and selecting the most appropriate machine for your needs. Have fun making those amazing designs.

Buy on Etsy, Walmart, eBay (quality guaranteed)

Epson EcoTank ET-4760 Wireless Color All-in-One Cartridge-Free Supertank Printer with - Walmart, Etsy, eBay

Epson Artisan 1430 Wireless Color Wide-Format Inkjet Printer (C11CB53201) - Walmart, Etsy, Ebay

Epson WorkForce WF-7720 Wireless Wide-format Color Inkjet Printer with Copy, Scan, Fax, - Walmart, Etsy, Ebay

Epson Stylus C88+ Inkjet Printer Color 5760 x 1440 dpi Print Plain Paper Print Desktop - Walmart, Etsy, Ebay

SAWGRASS VIRTUOSO SG400 sublimation printer. BUNDLE with complete set of Sawgrass - Walmart, Etsy, Ebay

WorkForce WF-7710 Wireless Wide-format Color Inkjet Printer with Copy, Scan, Fax, Wi-Fi - Walmart, Etsy, eBay

DNP Event Photo Printer DS-RX1HS 6" Dye Sublimation, for Booth Portrait Printing, 290 - Walmart, Etsy, eBay

About Terry R.

Hello everyone, Nice to meet you!I'm Terry. The man behind the sweet revelations blog. I'm a father of two energetic kids. I grew up in New York. I love to read books. I like to spend most of the time with my family and friends. I used to learn new things and wish to share my knowledge with others.

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