You’ve probably already started looking into which sublimation printer will be the best choice if you’ve wanted to use sublimation printing in your artwork or small business. Whether you plan to use it for bulk printing for your company or for crafts at home, the best sublimation printer for you will depend on your needs.
You can easily convert an inkjet printer into a sublimation printer with some printer brands.
What Does Sublimation Printing Entail?
In order to permanently embed the ink into the paper or fabric, sublimation printing uses heat. On unique sublimation paper, a pattern is initially printed. The inks become gas when heated, and when they combine with the fabric to print on it permanently, the gas is created.
The results are more durable and less likely to fade because the ink is embedded in the paper or base as opposed to simply lying on top like it would with a regular print. The heat causes the fabric’s pores to open up, and the pressure from the cooling ink causes it to return to its solid state. A permanent, full-color image that won’t peel, crack, or wash off the surface is the result.
The process facilitates the ink’s transition from a solid to a gaseous state without becoming a liquid, much like how dry ice does it. The conversion is started by the printer’s heat and is controlled by pressure after that. This quick and precise digital printing method is becoming more and more popular for smaller batch orders and designs that depend on intricate detail.
What Are Hp Real Sublimation Printers Like?
Printers from HP’s line CAN and DO support UV ink as well as sublimation ink. Both sublimation paper and fabric can be printed using this particular line of printers. They are enormous, pricey, industrial printers designed for the task.
These printers cost how much? Without inks, the cost of the entry-level industrial sublimation printer from HP is about $7,000. These are not for sublimation used for fun, as you can see.
Can I Sublimate On A Brother Printer?
The majority of Brother printers feature Piezo, a pressure printing technology. This indicates that technically speaking, sublimation printing can be done using Brother printers. The bigger problem with Brother, though, is that no one produces sublimation ink or replaceable cartridges for their printers.
When it comes to sublimation printing, you don’t want the printing quality to suffer because you can’t set up ink profiles.
Canon Printers Be Used For Sublimation?
Additionally, Canon office printers cannot be made into sublimation printers. They use heat to print, which sublimation ink cannot, just like HP printers.
However, Canon makes a number of printers with built-in sublimation heaters that can transfer images to transparent film. You cannot use paper and print sublimation prints, according to them.
Epson Actual Sublimation Printers
Epson does produce a line of real sublimation printers, and they feature superb quality, sublimation ink, and warranties for use with sublimation.
These Epson sublimation printers are extremely in-demand at the time of writing, so finding one is a bit of a challenge.
Here are some links to the model numbers and you can check on pricing and supply on Esty, which is the only place I’ve seen them on a regular basis:
Epson F170
Epson F570
Epson F10070H
Many people ultimately use regular Epson printers designed for the home and office because these actual sublimation printers are hard to come by and more expensive.
Epson Capable Sublimation Printers
Even though Epson does not market these common office printers as sublimation printers, they can be used for sublimation if you use sublimation ink rather than the ink they come with. The trade-off is… expect no tech support and no warranty once you pour sublimation ink into an Epson printer.
However, the price to set up and operate an Epson printer capable of sublimation is inexpensive, making it simple to accept the risks connected to nullifying any warranties. You should have all the support you need thanks to the abundance of videos and Facebook groups.
Even though there will be a ton of online resources available to you, having a fundamental understanding of Epson’s Piezo technology can actually help you grasp the fundamentals. Briefly stated, the technology uses vibration or pulses to apply your printout to the paper. This means “no heat” which is good news for sublimation ink because it activates when it’s heated.
What Epson Printers Are Compatible With Sublimation Printing?
When using an Epson printer, the majority of people use one of the models listed below for sublimation. Please be aware that, barring the F-150, the F-570, and the F10070H, you must purchase Sublimation Ink regardless of the printer you choose. Regular ink will be included with them, so you’ll need to purchase sublimation dye ink. (link to sublimation ink).
WF3540 WF3520 WF3640 WF3620 WF7010 WF7110 WF7510 WF7520 WF7610 WF7620 WF7710 WF7720 WF7210 WF2750 ET2720 ET2650 ET2750 ET4700 ET15000 ET 16000 ET 16500
Notably, Epson frequently retires model numbers and introduces new ones. Don’t be afraid to take advantage of a chance to purchase a model that has been discontinued. The sublimation community offers a lot of assistance.
Conclusion
Most common home printers cannot be made into sublimation printers. HP and Canon printers are not an option because they don’t use Piezo technology. There are no printing profiles available despite the fact that Brother printers use Piezo technology because ink manufacturers haven’t adopted it.
You probably haven’t thought about printing profiles until you have to create something that looks great on paper. Printing profiles enable more accurate color reproduction from screen to print output. The results are hazy and off-color if you don’t use a printing profile. Epson is the go-to option for sublimation printing because of its use of Piezo technology. Additionally, a number of ink producers have created excellent color profiles compatible with sublimation inks.
