Top Best Sublimation Printers To Buy In 2024 - A Complete Guide [Updated]
Rohan Roy
Jun 9, 2021
Print Business
Sublimation transfer sheets are used to transfer the ink onto the substrate in the case of the sublimation technique. This aids in the creation of a lasting design that will last for a long period.
Talking about this technique, it has evolved as a go-to choice for creating HD photographs as well as images.
A wide-format dye sublimation printer is a well-known option for improved sublimation printing. It works on paper, cloth, plastic, and cardstock. The technique is known as "sublimation" printing because the ink changes from a solid to a gas.
Small company owners and creative consumers find large-size dye-sublimation printers to be preferable options.
Best Sublimation Printers
The best ten best sublimation printer for beginners for your dye sublimation printing company are listed below:
Epson Workforce WF-7710
Sawgrass Virtuoso SG400 S. Printer
Canon Selphy CP 130
Epson HD XP-15000 (Inkjet)
DNP DS-RX1HS
HiTiP525
Mitsubishi CP D70DW
Sony DPP-FP70
Kodak Dock
Epson WorkForce WF-2710
1. Epson Workforce WF-7710
This sublimation printer is a feature-packed sublimation printing machine that ranks at the top of the list of wide formation sublimation printers. It's a color inkjet printer that can print on a variety of media, including plain paper, envelopes, glossy picture paper, and a lot more.
It can scan, print, copy, as well as fax as an all-in-one printer. Furthermore, it effectively supports ethernet printing as well as wireless printing specifically through Wi-Fi. It is well equipped with PrecisionCore technology and can produce borderless prints up to 13×19” in size.
Also, it can effectively print double-sided documents at rates of 8.7 pages per minute (black) and 6 pages per minute (color). It can store up to 250 sheets of paper in each of the trays.
Important Features
Power consumption is very low
Simple to use as well as handle
Support for a variety of printing media
Touchscreen with a large and color display
Printing on both sides
2. Sawgrass Virtuoso SG400 S. Printer
The Sawgrass Virtuoso is a sublimation ink printer designed for digital recording specifically on a desktop. It includes a creative software studio as well as eliminates the need to purchase extra desktop graphics software or clip art.
You would be able to effectively save a lot of money on graphics software as well as clip art this particular way.
When it comes to print quality, this printer has a resolution of up to 1200 x 1200 dpi. It can hold 100 sheets of sublimation paper measuring 8.5" x 11".
This translates to a cheap setup as well as picture production costs for high-resolution prints. It's also very flexible, with the ability to print pictures on a variety of materials with much ease.
Virtuoso allows you to offer your customers more vivid as well as accurate colors. It also aids in the creation of designs from your phone, computer, or tablet.
This printer is a fantastic choice for best sublimation printer for heat transfer since it has thousands of pictures as well as hundreds of templates to pick from.
Important Features
It is regarded as the first completely integrated desktop system for sublimation in the industry.
Significant cost savings due to the elimination of the need to purchase extra graphic design tools as well as clip art.
High-definition picture quality with up to 1200 × 1200 dpi resolution.
3. Canon Selphy CP 130
The Canon Selphy CP 1300 is one of the best sublimation printer that you can consider using. This wireless small photo printer specifically comes with AirPrint as well as Mopria Device Printing capabilities.
It can print on ordinary paper as well as labels. The tilting 3.2" LCD screen on this wide-format sublimation printer makes editing, selecting, and printing favourite pictures very easy. The resolution of the print is specifically up to 256 colors in each level.
With postcard-size paper cartridges of different sizes, the output tray has a capacity of about 18 sheets.
Furthermore, the pictures produced are dried very easily and are fully water-resistant, guaranteeing their long-term viability.
You would be able to carry this best sublimation printer for t shirts wherever you want because of its portable and sleek design. So, you can print as well as share pictures whenever and wherever you want.
Integral Features
Prints from smartphones, USB devices, PCs, and even memory cards are all supported.
High-quality pictures that are water-resistant and dry quickly.
Regarded as a wireless printing
4. Epson HD XP-15000 (Inkjet)
This Epson sublimation printer is a wireless option that you can consider. It is suitable for producing professional ultra-HD picture quality reproduction.
Also, it is capable of producing borderless prints specifically up to 13" x 19" in size. It has a 200-sheet front tray and it effectively supports automatic 2-sided document printing.
It possesses a 50-sheet back tray for specialized media, such as cardstock. Also, it accepts a wide variety of paper finishes as well as borderless sizes from 4” x 6” and 13” x 19” for professional projects.
Furthermore, the Epson HD XP=15000 features a large format ultra-compact dye sublimation which is 30% smaller than its predecessors.
Not only that, but it fits comfortably on a desktop. This sublimation printer can print papers at 9.2 ISO (ppm) as well as borderless pictures at 4” x 6” in only 3 seconds. The user can use it simply as well as effectively since it has a user-friendly 2.4-inch LCD screen.
Integral Features
Only Epson cartridges, as well as ink, are supported; third-party ink or cartridges are not supported
A printing speed of up to 9.2 ISO pages per minute
Simple to use as well as store
5. DNP DS-RX1HS
DNP's new DS-RX1HS digital photo printer is known to be a large format dye-sublimation printer for t-shirts. It can effectively print on a glossy photo paper support. The dye sublimation thermal transfer technique is specifically used to print it.
In high-speed mode, it has a resolution of 300 x 300 pixels, while in high-resolution mode, it possesses a resolution of 300 × 600 pixels.
Furthermore, this sublimation printing machine can print on all image sizes, including 4" x 6," 2" x 6," 6" x 8," and so on. It can hold 700 sheets of 4” x 6” prints as well as 350 sheets of 6” x 8” prints per roll.
Also, it has a print speed of up to 290 prints of the 4” x 6” size every hour. It enables a smooth connection to Mac and PC systems with enhanced operation thanks to the USB iSerial function. You can consider this option for your web to print store.
It is one of the finest big format dye-sublimation printers for remote or local picture printing locations, with the largest print capacity in its class, robust as well as sturdy construction, along high-speed output.
Important Features
Two size-specific catch trays
Printing in high volume
Very high-speed printing
Small companies can afford it
6. HiTiP525
It is a wide format sublimation printer that is small as well as easy to carry. This dye sublimation printing equipment is excellent for photo booths along with on-location event photography at fairs, theme parks, as well as celebrations.
It is just 12.4' x 14" in terms of its size and weighs only 39 pounds.
It's the world's first photo printer to use RFID technology, which detects as well as recognizes RFID media chips.
Also, it effectively eliminates the need to change the media key when replacing media. The P525L has an integrated mono-LCD model along with five hard keys for monitoring the status of the printer.
It prints at a resolution of 300 dpi, making it ideal for passports, printing ids, event photos, and more.
Important Features
Ideal for on-location booth as well as event photography that requires a lot of power.
Compact and simple to use
Economical as well as adaptable
Lightweight and portable
7. Mitsubishi CP D70DW
The Mitsubishi CP D70D is a single-deck wide formation sublimation printer that is small, space-efficient, and lightweight.
It has fast print rates of 4×6 pages per second in only 8.4 seconds. Also, it creates prints with a high resolution of 300 dpi as well as a super-fine and fine glossy matte finish.
It can print in a variety of sizes, including 3.5×5, 2×6”, 5×7, 4×6”, 6×8 and 6×6”. There is relatively little maintenance required specifically due to the sturdy construction, dust-proof housing design, as well as a sophisticated cooling system.
It is compatible with both PC and Mac and has a high-speed USB 2.0 interface.
This wide-format sublimation printer employs a cutting-edge image processing algorithm to improve natural picture clarity and sharpness, bringing out the best in event photos. It also has a built-in energy-saving mode that reduces power consumption to less than 1 W.
Important Features
Excellent for newcomers
Glossy and matte finishes
It is small and light.
Simple to use and maintain
8. Sony DPP-FP70
It is a color printer that accepts glossy photo paper as a print medium type. Also, it produces 4×6 color prints in 45 seconds at your home, with lab-quality results. It is a very cost-effective sublimation printing machine since the cost of each print is just 29 cents.
Also, it has a 2.5" fixed TFT LCD panel and a simple one-button printing procedure. This printer is simple to set up, so, you can use it anywhere.
It also has built-in screens as well as improved editing features that let you preview and modify pictures before printing. Each print is guaranteed to have a constant color tone due to its dye-sublimation technology.
Important Features
300 x 300 dpi high resolution
Auto Touch-Up with a Single Button
9. Kodak Dock
This photo printer by Kodak is a wide format sublimation printer that allows you to create beautiful 46 prints with the touch of a button. This unique dock, which combines a charger as well as a printer, enables you to charge your gadgets on the move.
You don't need to upload files to a computer or memory card while using simple print technology. Simply connect your Android phone to the printer through a 5-pin connector and produce a standard-sized print in seconds.
This sublimation printer has a Wi-Fi connection along with PictBridge technology, allowing you to print straight from your digital camera.
You also receive a wide variety of editing tools, including a lot of stickers, filters, card designs, and a lot more. It is ready to use right out of the box, and the pictures it produces are water-resistant, fade-resistant, and long-lasting.
Integral Features
Lightweight and portable
Compatible with both iOS as well as Android devices
Prints that last for a long time
10. Epson WorkForce WF-2710
Epson WorkForce WF-7210 is a wide-format sublimation printer that is well-known for producing high-quality prints. It can print borderless prints as well as marketing materials up to 1319” in size. It consumes 80% less energy than color laser printers from a financial standpoint.
Furthermore, the rapid replenishment function ensures that it never runs out of ink and allows you to quickly monitor your ink use and orders to prevent runouts.
It has a 500-sheet capacity, two trays, along with a 125-sheet capacity rear feed for specialty paper. So, it contributes to save time and effort by enabling double-sided printing of items up to 11" x 17" in size.
It supports many connections at once with the help of both wired as well as wireless printing specifically through Ethernet, Wi-Fi, and NFC. With a 2.2” LCD screen, the setup process is simple, and navigation is simple as well.
Integral Features
Prints with no borders specifically of large sizes
Printing on both sides
Simple to use and navigate
Factors To Think About When Purchasing A Sublimation Printer
With the rapid emergence of the web to print technology, sublimation printers are in high demand currently. It doesn't matter what kind of company you start, having the proper equipment is crucial. The same may apply to the sublimation printing industry.
After knowing about what is a sublimation printer and some of its examples, you should get a proper understanding of the important factors to consider while buying one.
So, if you're looking for a good sublimation printing machine, there are a few things to keep in mind.
Maximum Resolution
The resolution simply refers to how dense your pictures will be. Dots per inch, or dpi, is the unit of measurement. The picture will seem more detailed and better if the resolution is higher. To produce industrial-quality prints, your sublimation printer should have a fairly high resolution.
Connections And Versatility
To get the best sublimation designs, your printer should be capable of printing on a variety of different materials.
This will allow you to serve a wide client base with a variety of unique requests. So, the more flexible or versatile your printer, the greater its chances of expanding your customer base.
You should also look at the types of connections a printer supports, in addition to its flexibility. Your printer should offer several wired as well as wireless printing options, including ethernet and Wi-Fi, along with additional connection options such as physical ports and NFC.
You don't need all of these choices but having more than two may help you broaden your alternatives.
Performance
Examine the evaluations or reviews on several websites before buying sublimation printing equipment.
A high-quality sublimation printer guarantees excellent performance along with quick turnaround times. As a result, be sure your sublimation printer works with a range of devices. It should also be affordable as well as produce high-quality prints.
Cleaning And Maintenance Tips
You should take good care of your sublimation printer machine if you want it to last a long time.
Keep your printer's firmware up to date to ensure it has all of the newest features.
Clean the electrostatic belt as well as capping station once or twice a year.
Align your prints at least once or twice a year.
What Is The Ideal Temperature For Sublimation?
Common sublimation dyes activate around 350°F in general. As a result, a temperature range of 380 to 420 degrees Fahrenheit is recommended for optimal color. You can obtain a persistent, full-color image specifically with high quality with this temperature range set.
Sublimation Printing Products You Can Print (On)
Sublimation printing can be used to print on a broad range of goods, attracting a diverse client base with varying needs.
Some of them are as follows:
Window treatments, upholstery, tapestries, as well as cushions are some examples of home décor.
Sports clothing, such as jerseys and other sports equipment.
Dresses, bathing suits, scarves, purses, and ties are examples of fashion clothing as well as accessories.
Retail and trade show graphics
Backlit graphics
Silicone Edge Graphics or SEG on certain fabrics with silicone strips specifically on the edges
Specific items such as mousepads, phone covers, coffee mugs, clipboards, baggage tags, and registration plates
Conclusion
There are several printing techniques available, and dye sublimation printing is one of the most common. A wide-format sublimation printer is suitable for printing on a variety of surfaces specifically in the sublimation printing industry.
You can make use of the above-mentioned list to help you figure out which sublimation printing machine is best for you.
All that you need is to opt for the assistance of a professional web-to-print storefront solution if you want to start your own sublimation printing company with the popular web-to-print technology built in.