Sublimation printing is one of the most accurate and detailed printing processes in the world. It is a printing process that transfers special ink from a ribbon onto the fabric typically with heat, which is the most popular technique in the industry.
It is used to print on a variety of materials and can create prints that are incredibly detailed and vibrant. Buying a sublimation printer for t-shirt printing is like buying a regular printer.
But it is more complicated than that. You should make sure that you choose a printer that is capable of producing high-quality prints, is easy to use, and at a good price.
There is a lot that goes into the decision to buy the printer. This blog is going to look at some of the best sublimation printer for t-shirts to help you come to a decision on which sublimation printer is best for you.
| Image | Product | Feature | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
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Printer for T-Shirts
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Epson EcoTank ET-2750
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Comes with 2-year ink Auto 2-sided printing Save 80% ink |
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|
Printer for T-Shirts
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Epson Artisan 1430 Wireless Color Wide-Format Inkjet Printer
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Wireless Borderless printing Technical support |
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|
Printer for T-Shirts
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WorkForce WF-7710 Wireless Wide-format Color Inkjet Printer
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Wireless printing Touch screen 250-sheet paper tray |
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|
Printer for T-Shirts
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Brother HL-L2320D Mono Laser Printer
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Up to 30ppm print speed Hi-Speed USB 2.0 interface Automatic Duplexing |
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|
Printer for T-Shirts
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HP OfficeJet Pro 8035 All-in-One Wireless Printer
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Self-healing WI-FI Build-in security essential Sustainable design |
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|
Printer for T-Shirts
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DNP Event Photo Printer
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Durable construction High print performance USB connectivity |
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|
Printer for T-Shirts
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Epson Stylus C88+ Inkjet Printer
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14 ppm color print speed 5760 x 1440 dpi resolution Individual Color Cartridge |
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|
Printer for T-Shirts
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HP Laserjet Pro M452dw Wireless Color Printer
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Fast printing 7.6 cm touchscreen Color toner cartridge |
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Table of Contents
Reviews on Best Sublimation Printer
Epson EcoTank ET-2750
Best for its High Resolution
Are you looking for a way to reduce the cost of company printing? With EcoTank Epson printers in your office, it’s possible!
Using this printer can save you up to 80% when it comes to printing supplies. Epson EcoTank Printers also work well if you’re in need of a multifunction like a copier or fax machine as they can do triple duty!
In addition to being an excellent office resource, these machines allow you to save money because, with EcoTank technology, there is no cartridge or any external ink supplies used.
In other words, the bottle of ink will last for about 2 years before needing replacement. The machine comes in a small and lightweight package and you’ll be able to enjoy that it can fit anywhere because of its design.
It also features a unique matte black exterior that adds to the professional touch. The rounded corners look sleek, giving the machine an attractive appeal.
This printer is fast enough for printing high-quality documents or creating sharp photos up to 10.5ppm for monochrome prints and 5ppm for color prints, though a borderless option is available to enhance your photos.
Yet another benefit of the Officejet 7520 printer is that it can print instant, unauthenticated wireless mobile printing with all smartphones and tablets.
Not only do those devices enjoy this benefit but computers functioning without any problem with the operating system also connect to this printer for its quality services.
Features
- Comes with 2-year ink
- Auto 2-sided printing
- Save 80% on ink
- Borderless photo printing
Pros
High resolution
Say goodbye to wasting paper with our exclusive blend of high-quality inks and advanced pigment technology! Now you can print sharp, colorful documents and photos up to 5760 x 1440 optimized dpi.
Wireless connectivity
Easily print from iPad, iPhone, and Android tablets and smartphones via an app on your phone or computer
User friendly
This printer is quite affordable and user-friendly.
High print volume
This printer is recommended for companies whose average monthly print volumes are between 150 and 800 pages.
Cons
Graphic printing could be better
The graphic printing of this printer is not good.
Tester says about this Product
“I switched this printer over to sublimation after my Sawgrass went down the tubes due to Sawgrass ink requirements. The Epson does the job beautifully! It is slower to print than the Sawgrass but the ink is so much more affordable and lasts forever.
I watched a YouTube video on how to calibrate the colors and honestly, the end results are as beautiful as Sawgrass (which was a great way to learn). If you’re serious about sublimation and know you will be using a lot of ink, get the Epson!” By godoggoAW
Epson Artisan 1430 Wireless Color Wide-Format Inkjet Printer
Best for its Versatility
If you’re looking for the best printing solutions when it comes to business cards, it’s important to consider using the Artisan by Epson.
They’re capable of printing images that are large and detailed, which is especially important if you need small business cards as many other photographers do.
You’ll be able to print your photos in high definition and they will also appear much more realistic thanks to the printer’s ability to produce such crisp images on paper.
In addition, this helps small businesses with their marketing efforts as well because their potential customers can see what their brand looks like up close during tradeshow events or networking activities with new contacts who could possibly turn into clients.
The Artisan uses WiFi to eliminate the hassle of being tangled in cables. All modern homes are equipped with it, but if you’re one of the 2% that aren’t, our patented tetherless technology means you still have access to a cheap and effective printer.
No other printer will be able to do an edible image as fast or cost-effectively as we can. It’s your best bet – just make sure to get yours today.
The Artisan takes individual ink cartridges, which means that the regular tasks of monitoring them and keeping track of them can be cumbersome.
Additionally, the ink itself is compartmentalized into different parts of the machine according to cartridge color.
Related Post: How to Connect Printer to WIFI?
Features
- Wireless
- Borderless printing
- Technical support
- 6 color ink
- Comes with manual
Pros
Versatility
The Artisan 1430 takes personal and business photo printing to new levels of performance, delivering brilliant, Ultra Hi-Definition prints as large as 13″ x 19″.
This all-in-one printer is packed with numerous high-quality features and capabilities, from the 8.8 cm touchscreen interface to the capability to print on a wide range of media types, including photo paper.
Budget-friendly
This printer has a low cost that’s why it is budget-friendly.
Advanced colors and high-definition prints
The Artisan 1430 includes advanced color and lighting correction for amazing photos for added creativity.
Cons
Difficult to carry
This printer is heavy that’s why you can’t carry it easily.
Tester says about this Product
“Needed a replacement for my Epson 1400 that died. Found out that there is a newer model for 1400. We have a small home-based screen printing business and we use this printer for printing our film positives. The Epson inks are reasonable and produce a dense black for the film positives.
The photo quality prints are also very bright and accurate. This printer is also recommended for screen printing and is supported by rip software. For people that do a lot of printing, there are bulk systems that support this printer as well as a full black ink system. For our home-based business, this is a great printer for our needs.” By BrianAndCyn
WorkForce WF-7710 Wireless Wide-format Color Inkjet Printer
Best for its Double-side Printing
When you’re looking for a printer that is not only able to succeed at the simpler tasks like print, fax, or copy but can deal with more complex assignments too, you might find yourself drawn toward printers such as the Workforce multi-functional MFC by Brother.
Most multifunction devices similar to this one can fulfill the requirements of such diverse projects, but often they offer limited options because they are concentrating on specific strengths.
It’s different from the Workforce through it offers loads of options in terms of what projects it can handle and its load capacities are also generous so if you need to print multiple copies or scan/fax some key documents or complex assignments, there’ll never be a problem.
Many multifunction printers have only a few options for paper print size, for example, legal or tabloid. The Workforce by HP is different because it accepts any sheet of paper up to 13×19 inches.
This feature proves that the Workforce offers limitless printing possibilities. The all-in-one printer capabilities of the Workforce are something you might find can become both a blessing and a curse though because as they say with great power comes
Features
- PrecisionCore technology
- Wireless printing
- Touch screen
- 250-sheet paper tray
- 8.7 ppm print speed in black
Pros
Double side printing
Automatic 2-sided printing for black and color prints at a rate of 8.7 pages per minute and 6 pages per minute.
Compatible with different mobiles
Wireless printing and networking from any mobile device within the home or office.
Budget-friendly
This 250-sheet tray can also hold up to 20 sheets of glossy photo paper or 10 envelopes
Touch screen
It comes with a 4.3″ color touch screen.
Cons
Difficult to clean
This printer requires maintenance and proper cleaning.
Tester says about this Product
“This is a really good sublimation printer! I love it! No problems whatsoever!” By Cecile Sosa
Brother HL-L2320D Mono Laser Printer
Best for its Double-side printing
Constant printing sessions can use a lot of ink, and it won’t necessarily cost quite as much if you’re printing in a small business environment where you have frequent printouts because other people will steadily be placing orders, but one could easily find themselves out of ink all too often if they are churning out pages nonstop and don’t plan ahead.
The mono-laser printer has decisively solved this problem by containing a 26% high capacity toner cartridge that holds 1350 pages.
This means you will have up to 2 years (26%) more to work with before having to change the low-yield toner cartridge in the dependable Brother mono-laser printer.
Although it can print, as one would expect from a printer, its in-built scanner features some neat and innovative technology. Thanks to its high resolution, this feature can be used for legal documents and larger photos alike.
The Brother MFC-J430W’s 250 sheet paper capacity with an additional 100 sheet multi-purpose feeder allows you to place plain paper spools or photo paper at the same time.
It supports both US letter and A4 sizes so you don’t have to worry about buying more upgrade parts when you decide you want to use a different type of paper.
Because of its wireless support via an optional adapter, this all-in-one printer will give you the ability to print pictures right out of your camera’s memory card without any issues!
Plus, if you’re feeling really efficient and don’t need a scanner anymore (or run out of ink), then simply turn it off and save more money on ink without compromising on quality.
Features
- Up to 30ppm print speed
- Hi-Speed USB 2.0 interface
- Automatic Duplexing
- Electrophotographic Laser
- 250 sheet capacity trays
Pros
User friendly
This printer is user-friendly and easy to use.
Affordable
This printer has a low cost that’s why it is affordable.
Double side printing
Hi-Speed USB 2.0 interface for local connectivity. Automatic Duplexing (two-sided printing).
Accept change in paper size
The 250-sheet capacity tray comes with a built-in system you can use to change the size of paper that it accepts.
It can easily be used for either legal or letter-sized paper, and even envelopes through a slot underneath!
Cons
Slow printing speed
The printing speed of this printer is slow.
Tester says about this Product
“But perfect for me! It was frustrating to continually pay a lot of money for replacement cartridges for my HP color printer, mostly because I didn’t use it enough – especially for color copies. The ink would dry up, then even black and white copies couldn’t be made.
The Brother has proven to be exactly what I need for my infrequent print needs. The black and white copies are sharply clear and multiple copies can be made very quickly. It’s compact, and the price was right. If I ever need a color copy, I’ll find a different way to achieve that. Since 99% of my copy needs are for black and white, I’m not worried” By Linda Bergman
HP OfficeJet Pro 8035 All-in-One Wireless Printer
Best for its Affordability
You can find the HP OfficeJet Pro 8035 to be useful if you need a space and resource saver that is also capable of dealing with copying, scanning, printing, and faxing.
With the printer’s ink levels alert system users receive notifications when they need to replace old cartridges so there is little wastage in terms of time and money.
The fact that there are two trays that can accommodate 225 sheets makes it an appropriate office workhorse that will ensure busy workers get their job done without undue delay.
This printer adopts a borderless printing style on A3 size documents. The machine uses 1200 dpi scanners for high-quality scanning and printing.
It supports 35 papers, with “A4” size sheets accepted in the input tray. This unit can support network connectivity via both Wi-Fi and Ethernet; the devices connect quickly to your home network thanks to the touchscreen display mounted onto the front panel.
This makes it easier to control its automated features including NFC or QR code support that links you to wherever you need support or information. With an Amazon Alexa or a Google Assistant, you can activate this device simply by voice command.
Features
- Self-healing WI-FI
- Build-in security essential
- Sustainable design
- 3 stages of reconnection
Pros
Build in protection
Encrypt and password protect your devices, secure up wireless connections and be conscious of others accessing sensitive documents during the daily grind.
Wifi stability
Ensures you stay connected by automatically and seamlessly checking for, fixing, and reverting Wi-Fi issues when they occur.
Affordable
This printer is quite affordable because of its low cost.
User friendly
This HP inkjet printer is a great environmentally friendly choice. It is made from recycled plastics and other electronics up to 15% weight of plastic.
Cons
Difficulty in cleaning
This printer requires proper maintenance and cleaning.
Tester says about this Product
“The printer arrived packaged well. There were no missing or damaged items. it came with ink. The printer was very easy to set up on my wireless network.
After installing the software on my laptop, I was able to easily print wirelessly. I could even print from my phone without an app. I think it’s a good deal for the price paid.” By J.
DNP Event Photo Printer DS-RX1HS
Best for its High Print Speed
The DNP Event Photo Printer DS-RX1HS is a great choice for anyone who has to deal with extensive, detailed projects on a regular basis.
It produces high-quality images quickly and efficiently, meaning you won’t have to spend hours on each print. In terms of speed, the DS-RX1HS can print 290, and 4×6 images in just one hour.
This printer is not only efficient with primary colors, but it can produce full-color images quickly. You have three size options to choose from, making it versatile and easy to select the required size.
The USB connectivity option means you can connect it to your Mac or PC without any signals or issues. This printer is durable, with a robust construction that ensures it will stay with you for a long time.
It’s also super fast, making it ideal for commercial purposes where you need to print hundreds of copies every day.
Moreover, it saves time while performing in a superfast manner to make sure that you can print hundreds of designs daily if you are using it for commercial purposes.
This printer is made with a design that is effortless to use while also being able to print out high-quality designs at rapid speeds.
Features
- Durable construction
- High print performance
- USB connectivity
- Inexpensive hardware
Pros
Affordable
This printer is quite affordable for all users.
High print speed
The DS-RX1HS print speed is 20 percent faster, so users can complete printing projects more quickly.
Versatility
The only fully integrated digital transfer system designed specifically for the seamless integration of creating and printing digital transfers on white and light-colored cotton, jerseys, knits, t-shirts, and other cotton or cotton blend tops.
High Resolution
Turn your memories into something that’s harder to forget with 300 x 600 Dpi print results with the premium HD photo quality. This makes every memory you capture last longer and look better than anything else on the shelf.
Cons
Ink is Expensive
This printer requires ink for printing and this ink is expensive.
Tester says about this Product
“The printer does everything promised and it does it blazingly fast! The printer is a bit bulky but that is offset by the number of prints it can do before needing to be reloaded! Good purchase for my photo booth.” By Scott
Epson Stylus C88+ Inkjet Printer
Best for its Faster Print Speed
The Stylus series are multi-cartridge printers by Epson which will help cut costs since you’ll only need to replace individual cartridges instead of all of them together.
Using different colored cartridges also ensures that printouts will always look great as each layer/ink adds its own unique touch – ideal for printing things like graphics or photos.
Overall, the Epson Stylus is a great printer for color printing. Most printers that use multiple ink cartridges also do well but the Epson Stylus goes above and beyond them with its high-quality resolution at a 5760 x 1440 dpi ratio.
While it produces excellent quality printouts, it does have its limitations. It can only print in full color and up to 25 pages per minute of single- or double-sided prints. It cannot be connected to the internet wirelessly but can be connected via cables or USBs.
Features
- 14 ppm color print speed
- 5760 x 1440 dpi resolution
- Individual Color Cartridge
- 19-watt power consumption
- Media Handling
Pros
Affordable
This printer is quite more affordable than others.
Advanced Software
This includes easy-to-use photo editing software so you can create calendars and photo books for your clients to use again and again.
Compatibility
Compatible with both Windows and Macintosh systems via USB and Parallel ports.
Faster print speed
It prints black pages at a maximum rate of 23 pages per minute and color pages at 14 pages per minute.
Cons
Difficult to handle
This printer is delicate and its handling is difficult.
Tester says about this Product
“Great printer saw the bad review but got it anyways the only thing is I wish I could print bigger pictures but let me tell you the pictures are super sharp and look really clean great printer for the price right now I am using a CISS system and printing on to transfer paper to make shirts and they look really good.” By nick
HP Laserjet Pro M452dw Wireless Color Printer
Best for its Wireless Printing
The LaserJet Pro has a capacity of up to 300, depending on how many times you fill it. The LaserJet Pro can print up to 28 pages per minute (ppm), so unlike those other printers out there, the LaserJet Pro won’t leave you hanging around for long before it spits out your custom-designed sheet metal prototypes.
If you’re printing lots of sheets at once, say for example lots of pages of invoices or something more involved like a construction project, they’ll all be done in no time.
The Networked LaserJet Pro is compatible with several different types of networking methods, including Wi-Fi. It has the ability to support up to 10 individual users working on the same printer simultaneously.
As a result, it’s an excellent choice for companies that are going to share workflow and documents in one central location.
However, since this product can do so many things, you need to educate your team about how best to use it and get them comfortable using it regularly.
Features
- Fast printing
- 7.6 cm touchscreen
- Color toner cartridge
- Print with a USB drive
Pros
Touchscreen
Manage print jobs at a printer with an easy-to-use touchscreen that comes in a convenient 3-inch (7.6 cm) size.
Wireless printing
Stay connected with easy mobile printing options. Easily print from a variety of smartphones and tablets, generally, no setup or apps are required.
Quick printing
The print speed of the printer is very fast and quick.
Web support
A one-year limited warranty is provided. It offers 24/7 support whenever you need it.
Cons
Expensive
This printer is quite expensive. You must have a proper budget for this printer.
Tester says about this Product
“This printer works great. The wireless setup was a breeze as the reviews said. It is fast and prints good-looking images. I will not rate the photo quality of it in that we are not using it for that purpose. we print handouts for classes that we teach and it has saved many dollars in inkjet costs and time with its speed.
The starter cartridges as everyone has stated, barely have enough toner to run a couple of hundred sheets. Do go for the extra capacity cartridges, ie, the “X” version as they will last a lot longer due to the larger capacity. I am running compatible cartridges and they work great. Compared to an ink jet this is a Ferrari.” By Bob Paskvich
Buyers Guide of Best Sublimation Printer for T-Shirts
Cost per Impression
If you’re starting a promotional products business, finding a printer that offers competitive pricing is essential since it will be important to stay competitive as much as possible to ensure success in the future.
What this means is if you set your retail price tag for some of your products at 6 euros, for example, it’s best to keep an eye on printers whose prices per impression only come out to about 3 euros.
As you can see from above, proofreading just a broken sentence or two can help save companies money and resolve other pertinent issues or problems.
Print size
This is yet another factor that depends on what type of printing you plan to make. If you’re in need of a custom finishing touch for small objects such as cover letters or key chains, then this can often be ignored entirely.
Meanwhile, if you desire larger prints like shirts and fabric, then it’s essential to have an idea of the maximum size sheet that your printer supports in terms of inches or centimeters. However, depending on the specific printer in question, this size may vary.
Resolution
When acquiring a printer for this course, you must make sure to consider the resolution of the printouts it provides. Regardless of how you intend to use it, you need to ensure that the resolution guarantees a high-quality finish.
Resolution is measured in pixels per inch (PPP), and having more pixels per inch means the end result will be better looking. If you are going to rely on this printer heavily and require high-quality prints and designs, then at least 700 x 700 PPP is recommended.
Volume of sheets
In determining which printer, you want to invest in, a major consideration that most business owners make is when it comes down to the sheer number of prints, they intend to make.
It is important to measure how much work your printer will be doing and how quickly over a period of time in order to determine if it will help or hurt your business.
You’ll want a higher volume, heftier machine if you intend on producing an impressive amount throughout each month (in comparison with one that only produces dozens of shirts at a time).
Many printers come in numerous sizes, from those capable of making 10s if not 100s of prints per day whilst others can get just about 20 out at most.
Related Post: How to Add a Printer to Mac?
FAQs Related to Best Sublimation Printer for T-Shirts
What is needed for T-shirt sublimation?
Starting off is simple with all of the awesome supplies we offer! You only need to get a monogrammed t-shirt – and we’ll even provide you with a heat press for no extra charge! Everything else (sublimation printer, sublimation ink, and sublimation paper) are included.
How long does sublimation ink last on shirts?
The life span of sublimation is 10 years. Since the sublimation ink chemically binds with fabric, it is permanent and will not come off.
Do you wash shirts before sublimation?
Wash in the washing machine as you normally would. You should get a temp gun to see if your heat-press temperature is accurate.
The best results are achieved on shirts that are 100% polyester for any dye sublimation processes.
All Product Features Comparison
| Products | Best | Capacity | Sheet Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Epson EcoTank ET-2750 | High Resolution | 100 Sheets | 8.5 x 11.7 inches |
| Epson Artisan 1430 Wireless Color Wide-Format Inkjet Printer | Versatility | None | 13 x 19 inches |
| WorkForce WF-7710 Wireless Wide-format Color Inkjet Printer | Double-side Printing | 250 sheets | 8.50 x 14 inches, 4 x 6 inches, 13 x 19 inches, 11.70 x 16.50 inches |
| Brother HL-L2320D Mono Laser Printer | Double-side printing | 250 sheets | 2.1 inches |
| HP OfficeJet Pro 8035 All-in-One Wireless Printer | Affordability | 225 sheet | 3.5 x 5 inches, 4 x 6 inches, 5 x 7 inches |
| DNP Event Photo Printer DS-RX1HS | High Print Speed | None | 4 x 6 inches, 6 x 8 inches |
| Epson Stylus C88+ Inkjet Printer | Faster Print Speed | 120 sheets | 4 x 6 inches, 5 x 7 inches |
| HP Laserjet Pro M452dw Wireless Color Printer | Wireless Printing | 300 sheets | A4 |
Conclusion
Sublimation printers are used to print textiles, such as shirts. It is a process where the ink is heated using a heat press to attach the ink to the fabric.
The process is ideal for printing fabrics because the ink can be attached to the fabric without needing to use the heat press.
If you are starting a t-shirt company then you may be thinking about which is the best printer as that is what you need to start with to get your business up and running.
There are a lot of different types of sublimation printers out there, so it can be a bit of a minefield to choose the right one.
We had compiled a list of the best sublimation printers and we come to know that Brother HL-L2320D Mono Laser Printer is the best sublimation printer.
I hope after reading this article you will understand about the best sublimation printer for t-shirts.