Best sublimation printers for every budget
Not all printers are the identical: many have very particular makes use of and benefits. Whereas generally used laser or inkjet printers are nice for printing paperwork or pictures, Sublimation printers are good for pictures, attire and textile printing.
A sublimation printer is a heat-based printer that permits customers to make high-quality picture prints or print onto a variety of supplies, from ceramics and cloth to steel or wooden. It’s an excellent possibility for creating customised clothes, pillows, mugs, wall artwork and plenty of extra.
In case you’re seeking to get your arms on this versatile piece of printing expertise, we’ve listed our picks beneath. The printers can range in worth, relying on their options and supposed makes use of, various from beneath £300, to approach over the £1,000 mark.
We’ve tried to incorporate an possibility for each funds and supposed use. The product dimensions are all listed by way of width x depth x peak.
Finest sublimation printers
Epson SureColour SC-F100
This mid-priced printer from Epson claims to be their first A4 dye sublimation printer. This restricted dimension means it’s principally aimed toward producing smaller merchandise or items, equivalent to mugs or cellphone covers.
Extra like this
The SureColour SC-F100 includes a front-feeding system, with paper change performance which is alleged to be straightforward to make use of and capable of maintain as much as 150 sheets.
Epson say it gives a low price of possession for small companies, requiring no specialist information for set-up or upkeep.
Dimensions: 37.5 x 34.7 x 18.7 cm
Printing Measurement: A4
Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi Direct, Ethernet, USB 2.0
Ink Specialists ET-2814 Printer Bundle
This starter bundle from Ink Specialists goals to offer every part wanted to get a newbie began. It contains an Epson Ecotank ET-2814, a funds printer that goals to offer good worth for cash.
The primary promoting level of this printer is entry to Epson’s EcoTank with excessive yield ink bottles and no cartridges to switch, which the model declare permits for a 90% saving on printing prices.
Ink Specialists embrace their Ink Tec Sublinova Sensible inks, which they are saying are manufactured for use in Epson printers. The ink can reportedly be used as a direct to garment ink, making use of Epson Micro Piezo print head expertise.
This implies it ought to switch onto most artificial supplies, from polyester and nylon to ceramics.
Dimensions: 37.5 x 34.7 x 17.9 cm
Printing Measurement: A4
Connectivity: USB, WiFi, Wi-Fi Direct
Epson SureColor F570
This premium printer is alleged to be designed for high-performance printing. It options Epson’s PrecisionCore MicroTFP printhead, which goals to offer excessive readability and reliability.
It’s capable of accommodate printing on sheets or gadgets as much as 60cm. There’s an auto-feed tray with as much as 50 sheets, plus a built-in cutter to chop your prints to the precise dimension.
There are a number of different options that goal to make sure this printer is appropriate for professionals, equivalent to their Epson Edge Print Professional software program, which is designed to streamline your workflow. It connects with Adobe programmes to assist with sample repeats and color controls.
Dimensions: 97.0 x 81.1 x 24.5 cm
Printing Measurement: As much as 60cm large
Connectivity: SuperSpeed USB (USB 3.0), Wired Ethernet, Wi-Fi Direct
Epson SureColor SC-T5100N (£1,631.70)
In case you’re on the lookout for a premium large-format printer, Epson declare their SureColor SC-T5100N is designed for giant, detailed prints for architects, engineers, or ads.
The printer options Epson’s Nozzle Verification Expertise, which is designed to assist keep away from misprints, with their PrecisionCore Print Head for element―with a printing decision of two,400 x 1,200 DPI.
This printer additionally options UltraChrome XD2 pigment ink, which Epson say ensures prints are smudge proof and water-resistant.
Dimensions: 97.0 x 81.1 x 24.5 cm
Printing Measurement: As much as 91cm
Connectivity: SuperSpeed USB (USB 3.0), Wired Ethernet, Wi-Fi Direct
How does a sublimation printer work?
The sublimation printing course of entails the usage of warmth to switch dye. It entails printing onto a sheet of paper, which is then introduced beneath warmth and pressed onto the fabric desired.
The method makes use of particular sublimation ink, a strong dye which is reworked right into a gasoline with out passing by way of a liquid state, therefore the time period “sublimation.” The gasoline then permeates the floor of the printing medium and solidifies right into a print.
This separates a sublimation printer from a printer that may use dye sublimation to print. Whereas “sublimation printing” is a selected digital printing course of, “dye sublimation” refers to the kind of dye used within the course of.
These phrases are sometimes used interchangeably, so it’s good to attract a distinction. Not all printers that use dye sublimation are sublimation printers.
What’s the printing course of utilizing a sublimation printer?
- Design: Create or choose the specified picture or design on a pc.
- Printing: The sublimation printer applies warmth to the strong dye pigments, changing them right into a gasoline that’s then transferred onto a particular switch paper.
- Switch: The printed switch paper is positioned on the fabric to be printed, equivalent to a T-shirt or mug.
- Warmth press: The fabric, together with the switch paper, is topic to excessive temperature and strain utilizing a warmth press machine. The warmth causes the dye gasoline to penetrate the fabric’s floor, leading to a everlasting switch of the picture.
What software program do I want to make use of a sublimation printer?
To make use of a sublimation printer, you usually want graphic design software program like Adobe Photoshop to create and edit designs.
Template software program may help place designs on particular product templates. All the time examine your printer producer’s suggestions for suitable software program choices.
What are some great benefits of a sublimation printer?
- Excessive-quality prints: Sublimation printing produces vibrant and detailed prints with steady tones, clean gradients, and sharp pictures.
- Lengthy-lasting prints: The sublimation course of creates prints which might be proof against fading, peeling, and cracking, guaranteeing sturdiness over time.
- Versatility: Sublimation printers can be utilized on a variety of supplies, together with textiles, ceramics, metals, and extra.
- Full-colour printing: Sublimation printers can produce full-colour prints with exact color replica, permitting for the printing of complicated designs and images.
What do you have to search for in a sublimation printer?
- Printing Expertise: Be certain that the printer is particularly designed for sublimation printing. When you can convert different printers into sublimation printers, it’s best to have the required elements and mechanisms to deal with sublimation inks and produce high-quality sublimation prints.
- Ink Compatibility: Verify if the printer is suitable with sublimation inks. Some printers might require specialised cartridges or techniques to accommodate sublimation inks. It is essential to make sure that the printer helps the particular ink formulation you propose to make use of.
- Print Measurement and Format: Take into account the utmost print dimension and supported paper codecs of the printer. Select a printer that may accommodate the print sizes you require in your supposed functions. Widespread sizes embrace 8.5″ x 11″, 11″ x 17″, and bigger format choices.
- Connectivity Choices: Verify the out there connectivity choices of the printer. USB, Ethernet, and Wi-Fi connectivity are widespread options that help you join the printer to your laptop or community for simple printing.
Prime picture credit score: Evelyn Geissler/Unsplash