For those just getting started with sublimation printing, there can be a lot of jargon and terminology bandied about that can make finding what you’re looking for difficult. It’s hard to know what the best sublimation printer for beginners is when you’re a beginner yourself. I know what that’s like, so I thought I’d try and help.
I’ve put together some recommendations for my personal preferences in sublimation printers, factoring in different needs and budgets. With the sublimation market growing almost daily, there has never been a better time to give this incredible craft method a try.
 | Best Overall Epson Surecolor F-170 |
| Check Lowest Price |
 | Best Budget Epson ET - 2800 |
| Check Lowest Price |
 | Best 13x19 Epson ET - 15000 |
| Check Lowest Price |
Best for Beginners: Epson SureColor F170 Dye-Sub
- DESCRIPTION You will receive: 1 Original F170 sublimation printer. 25 Sheets of original sublimation Paper for polyester garments 2 sheets Forever Subli-Flex 202 for 100% cotton dark garments (sublimation to Black cotton) 3 Sheets Subli Light Cotton for 100% cotton light color garments (sublimation to white cotton) 1 sublimation mouse pad 1 Thermal Tape 1 full set of sublimation Inks. User guide and AC power cable SCF170
- Original Sublimation Printer
- We request signature at the delivery
- It prints 8.5×11 or 8.5×14 sheets
- Versatile Media Handling
- Fast Print Speed
- Energy Efficient
- Compact Design
- High price point
After reviewing the Epson SureColor F170, I can confidently say this is the best sublimation printer for beginners. Not only is this printer configured for sublimation straight out of the box but beginners can remain reassured of their warranty remaining intact.
Test experience with the F170 revealed vibrant and crisp print quality. The dye sublimation technique seamlessly merged colors, and the high resolution amplified intricate designs. For an 8.5″ x 11″ full-color print, the F170 has a print speed of about 15 seconds. Swift printing proved advantageous, particularly for business owners with tight schedules.
Connectivity remains unhindered in the modern world: USB, Ethernet, and WiFi interface seamlessly with Windows and MacOS, offering wireless printing with ease from any device. The ink system – utilizing four ink tanks like Epson EcoTank units – promises vivid prints and cost-effective usage.
Check out the full Epson SureColor F170 printer review here.
Best 13×19 Printer for Beginners: Epson EcoTank ET-15000
- Innovative Cartridge-Free Printing ― No more tiny, expensive ink cartridges; each ink bottle set is equivalent to about 80 individual cartridges (4)
- Dramatic Savings on Replacement Ink ― Save up to 90% with replacement ink bottles vs. ink cartridges (1) – that’s enough to print up to 7,500 pages black/6,000 color (3)
- Stress-Free Printing ― Up to 2 years of ink in the box (2) – and with every replacement ink set – for fewer out of ink frustrations
- High-Capacity Ink Tanks ― Epson’s exclusive EcoFit ink bottles make filling easy and worry-free
- Zero Cartridge Waste ― By using an EcoTank printer, you can help reduce the amount of cartridge waste ending up in landfills
- Low cost-per-print
- WiFi Direct makes for easy printing
- Overkill for smaller projects
Epson offers a tremendous range of EcoTank printers that can be used for sublimation. After testing, I concluded the ET-15000 is easily one of the best for wider format printers.
If you choose to convert an Epson EcoTank printer for sublimation, note that the process is irreversible and will void any warranty you have with the manufacturer.
The ET-15000’s ongoing expenses remain remarkably low, even when engaging in extensive sublimation printing. Image quality remains uncompromised due to its high-density print chip, ensuring sharp, detailed, and lifelike designs.
WiFi Direct bypasses the hassle of connecting wirelessly, allowing you to print your designs no matter the device or software. Once the design has been received, prints are quick and efficient.
That said, you’ll be glad to be able to print wirelessly, as I find the user interface on the ET-15000’s LCD screen to be a little poor, with limited functionality – though as I say this is easy to bypass. I still highly recommend it as a top convertible sublimation printer, especially for beginners.
Check out the full Epson ET-15000 printer review here.
Best Budget Sublimation Printer for Beginners: Epson EcoTank ET-2800
- Innovative Cartridge-Free Printing ― High-capacity ink tanks mean no more tiny, expensive ink cartridges; Epson’s exclusive EcoFit ink bottles make filling easy and worry-free.Operating Temperature : 50 to 95 °F (10 to 35 °C)
- Dramatic Savings on Replacement Ink ― Save up to 90% with replacement ink bottles vs. ink cartridges (1) – that’s enough to print up to 4,500 pages black/7,500 color (2), equivalent to about 90 individual ink cartridges (3)
- Stress-Free Printing — Up to 2 years of ink in the box (4) – and with every replacement ink set – for fewer out of ink frustrations
- Zero Cartridge Waste – By using an EcoTank printer, you can help reduce the amount of cartridge waste ending up in landfills
- Impressive Print Quality ― Unique Micro Piezo Heat-Free Technology produces sharp text – plus impressive color photos and graphics – on virtually any paper type
- High-resolution prints
- Compatible with multiple sublimation ink brands
- Affordable
- Requires ICC configuration
- Average printing speed
For a budget sublimation printer suitable for beginners, look no further than Epson’s EcoTank ET-2800 – an affordable model in the same range as the ET-15000. Quick to convert and user-friendly, this printer is an ideal starter printer.
Once converted, the ET-2800, which is identical to the ET-2820, can be filled with a wide range of top sublimation ink options from a range of manufacturers. Due to the high-capacity tank-based design of the EcoTank models, they can print a substantial amount of prints before requiring refills. The printer’s output quality is highly commendable given the price point, boasting a resolution of up to 5760 x 1440 dpi, guaranteeing sharp and vibrant images.
There are two variations in the EcoTank 2800 range: “2800” and “2803”. There’s no difference between the models, only that the 2803 is available only from select retailers.
For all of its top-notch features, there are a few issues it warrants mentioning. I found the overall print speed to be fairly average, whilst not painfully slow, it can delay your sublimation process. I’d also recommend using an ICC Color Profile, as the base color configuration on the ET-2800 isn’t as bright as I would have liked.
That said, I still think that the ET-2800 is more than worth its price, and arguably has exceptional value for money. If you’re a beginner looking for a starter sublimation printer, this unit is hard to beat!
Check out the full Epson ET-2820 printer review here.
What makes a good sublimation printer?
For those unaware, let’s return to first principles: a sublimation printer is a specialist printer that is capable of using sublimation ink. Whilst this sounds fairly straightforward, this isn’t a standard feature in most printers.
Sublimation printers allow you to print designs that, when paired with a suitable heat press machine and substrate, allow you to create custom clothing. As such, they are highly sought after by custom clothing and accessory businesses as a quick and efficient way to print any design. From branded t-shirts to custom-designed glass tumblers, the possibilities are endless with a sublimation printer.
When looking for the best sublimation printer for beginners, there are a few main variations of model to consider, aside from the overall price. I started sublimation printing using a converted Epson printer, which is a great affordable entry point into the craft – more on them later. For more business-minded printing, you can buy dedicated models.
For beginners, I think it’s also important to factor in the overall print quality over print speed: naturally you don’t want to be waiting by the printer all day, but you are less likely as a beginner to need rapid turnarounds on your designs. For similar reasons, I looked at printers with a high range of compatible sublimation paper and ink in order to maximize usefulness no matter the artist’s location.
If you’re considering a different sublimation printer, it’s worthwhile factoring in a few of these key talking points:
Sublimation Ink
Sublimation inks mix base colors in inkjet printers for varied outputs. Most sublimation printers feature four primary hues: cyan, magenta, yellow and black (CMYK). Four-color ink models like this excel in creating vibrant graphics and photos, ideal for various applications.
White sublimation ink doesn’t really exist, since most sublimation prints are done on white surfaces. There are some clever workarounds to get white in your design, such as using vinyl as a base layer.
Print Resolution
Print resolution is pivotal for sublimation printer quality, and is generally valued in dots per inch (DPI). Epson’s Workforce and EcoTank excel at 5760 x 1440 DPI, while Sawgrass follows at 1440 x 1440 DPI. At these resolutions, you can use these printers for sublimation printing images. Budget models manage 300 x 300 DPI, still producing good prints. Yet, resolutions below 300 x 300 aren’t optimal for sublimation printing.
Print Size
Mainly, EcoTank sublimation printers offer a max width of 8.5″, which is excellent for small items or small designs. If you are wanting a larger-format design, that may warrant a larger scale sublimation printer such as Sawgrass’ SG1000, which can print ultra-wide designs.
Connectivity Options
For optimal sublimation printing, beginners should choose a printer with versatile connectivity, particularly Wi-Fi compatibility. This feature allows seamless wireless connections, eliminating cable clutter in your workspace. Regardless of the brand, prioritize printers with this convenient connectivity option.
FAQs
A substrate is a catch-all term for the material you are planning to sublimate onto. As sublimation designs can be transferred to anything from tumblers to t-shirts, it is easier to describe the material in broader terms for tutorials.
Sublimation chemically bonds your design to the substrate, so it is difficult to remove after the fact. On some substrates such as cotton, the design can be washed off over time, and you can use nail polish remover or methylated spirits on ceramics such as mugs or plates. However, these methods are time-consuming and may not always work.
Final Word
In choosing the best sublimation printer for beginners, I realized just how accessible sublimation printing is. With such a diverse range of product prices and great features, it doesn’t take much to try out sublimation printing for yourself.
If you’ve already got started and are looking for some inspiration, check out this collection of free sublimation designs that I’ve compiled.
