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 |
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 | Best Budget Epson ET - 2800 |
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 | Best 13x19 Epson ET - 15000 |
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Best for Beginners: Epson SureColor F170 Dye-Sub
- DESCRIPTION You will receive: 1 Original F170 sublimation printer. 10 Sheets of original sublimation Paper for polyester garments 1 Mini Iron Heat Press Machine 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
- Once you fill in with inks the printer, can’t be returned.
- 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 Sublimation: 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.
Epson ET-8550: Best 6-ink sublimation printer
- Cartridge-free printing for lab-quality photos, graphics and creative projects — get vibrant colors and sharp text with Epson’s high-accuracy printhead and Claria ET Premium 6-color inks; print a 4 x 6″ photo in as fast as 15 seconds (4).Product protection you can count on — 2-year limited warranty with registration (10). | Genuine Epson Ink for Genuine Epson Quality― Epson strongly recommends the use of genuine ink to ensure optimal print quality and performance. Use of non-genuine ink could cause damage not covered under the printer’s ltd. warranty.
- Extraordinary media support, including borderless photos up to 13″ x 19″ — accommodates cardstock, CD/DVDs and other specialty media up to 1.3 mm thick; auto 2-sided printing
- Amazing value — save a ridiculous amount on photos (1) and creative projects with affordable in-house photo printing; print 4″ x 6″ photos for about 4 cents each vs. 40 cents with traditional ink cartridges (1)
- Save up to 80% with low-cost replacement ink bottles vs. ink cartridges (3) — that’s about Dollar-2000 on each set (3), enough ink to print up to 6,200 pages color (5)
- Print up to 2 years (2) — with each included and replacement ink bottle set
- The Claria Photo ink setup makes room for the best possible prints.
- The ink system is refillable and cost-effective
- The printer comes equipped with advanced printing settings
- Large and difficult to assemble
- Still not a dedicated dye sublimation printing solution
To be honest, I love Epson Ecotank printing solutions for the quality of prints. And even though the Epson Surecolor series saves us the need for conversion, the Epson EcoTank ET 8550 is one of the better inkjet printers with a six-color ink system, based on the Claria Photo technology.
If you want to print high-quality photos on your t-shirts, this Epson EcoTank printer is the one to go with. Plus, it also boasts high-volume sublimation printing support.
As far as the features are concerned, this $800-odd sublimation printer might just be the one to offer the highest print quality on the list, supporting resolutions of up to 5760 x 1440 dpi. Each sublimation or transfer paper can be handled in under 90 seconds, making it pretty fast for its size.
As you read above, choosing a sublimation printer can greatly impact the quality and efficiency of your printing projects. After considering several top options, you can buy printers such as ET-2800, SG-500, or ET-15000. These models offer exceptional print quality, fast printing speeds, versatile media compatibility, user-friendly features, and reasonable costs.
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 want 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.
Different types of sublimation printers explained
You can segregate sublimation printers according to their operational modes or even the nature of usage. By the time you may already know there are small format and wide format sublimation printers. Some are purpose-built, while some are convertible but at the same time affordable. Some are good for polyester fabrics, while some make sense only with harder substrates.
Epson EcoTanks are the best for sublimation
Epson EcoTank offers the easiest-to-execute conversion because it comes with a separate ink tank module instead of regular cartridges. These are the most highly recommended Epson printers for sublimation.
You don’t need to pop out ink cartridges and use syringes to fill in the sublimation ink carefully. Just attach the ink bottle with a specialized nozzle (Hiipoo and a few other brands make these) and fill the ink color. Moreover, my ink spillage and wastage are significantly less with EcoTank. Most EcoTank printer models support the standard 8.5″ x 14″ paper size.
Epson SureColor dedicated sublimation printers
The SureColor Series is another range of Epson printers for sublimation designed to provide industrial printing solutions at a low total cost of ownership while delivering high-quality print output. I think these printers are the logical next step for sublimation printing at a journeyman level.
One notable example within the SureColor series is the Epson F170, which offers reliable performance with its PrecisionCore MicroTFP printhead, enabling businesses to personalize items such as awards, mugs, and mousepads. Priced in the middle of the best Epson EcoTank printers for sublimation – around the same budget point as the Sawgrass SF-500 – this is a good median option for those wanting a bit more functionality from their printing. The one nagging element is the lack of Epson’s companion software, which is conspicuously absent from this otherwise great package.
Epson WorkForce printers for sublimation come in two variants: one with regular cartridges and the other with the “Supertank” branding. The latter has the same ink tank design and replenishing feasibility as the EcoTank series printers. However, the price difference between a standard Workforce printer and a Workforce Supertank model is quite steep. So, a standard Workforce model will suffice if you are okay with working with syringes to fill the ink cartridge. The Workforce printers support a wide format printing size of up to 13″ × 19″. If you go with the Workforce Supertank version, you can create a formidable sublimation printer with easy ink replacement and wireless connectivity features. But if you go with a WorkForce model that uses ink cartridges, syringes are the only option: they have individual cartridges for each color that I find really difficult to refill.
The WorkForce ST-C2100 starts as the cheapest option, offering 5 prints-per-minute. It has the same external ink tank feature, the only difference being the wider paper size support. As a budget Epson printer for sublimation, it is an inoffensive, inexpensive option.
Convertible printers
It’s a type of inkjet printer that uses piezo print heads like Epson printers. HP and Canon inkjet printers will not work for sublimation because they use thermal print head technology. However, on replacing the regular ink cartridges with sublimation ink cartridges, you can use them for sublimation printing.
The main selling point of a converted printer for sublimation is the cost: you save a lot of money. A brand new Sawgrass printer retails upwards of $500-600, while you can buy a brand new inkjet printer and convert it into a sublimation one for half the cost. You can slash the cost further if you opt for a secondhand inkjet printer (something we don’t recommend).
After a successful conversion, you will need sublimation inks and paper, which don’t cost much (Hiippo and a few other brands). However, it would be best if you often clean the print heads in a converted printer to get the correct output. Something you don’t have to do in Sawgrass, as it has an auto-maintenance feature.
Epson inkjet printers come in two models: EcoTank (easy to refill) and standard cartridges. Epson uses a key system to refill ink, but when you buy sublimation ink kits, they often come with syringes or compatible bottles.
While the initial investment will be cheaper than buying a purpose-built sublimation printer, you won’t get the much-needed technical support or dedicated color management software. On top of that, you will void the warra
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.
You can’t, unfortunately. Converting your printer to a sublimation printer is irreversible – so be sure to use it for any other printing requirements before conversion!
No, you need a special sublimation printer or inkjet printers that use Piezo printheads like Epson EcoTank or Epson WorkForce models.
The Epson SC F170 is the best choice for beginners planning to learn and earn with sublimation. You don’t need to fiddle with settings much, as these are true sublimation plug-and-play printers.
Yes. Sublimation printers can help you customize your apparel and even start a small sublimation on-demand service. You can sublimate on mugs, t-shirts, and many other fabrics, and the results are very photorealistic.
You will need a sublimation printer (original or converted), sublimation ink and paper, a heat press or convection oven to transfer the sublimation, fabric, some heat-resistant tape and scissors, and a computer to feed and tweak designs before printing.
The Epson EcoTank series ET-2800, ET-2803, and ET-15000 is the easiest printer to convert to sublimation. Since it has an external ink tank instead of regular cartridges, replacing and refilling the sublimation ink is easier. You will need to get the color output right, but it is way better than converting an inkjet printer with cartridges. Refilling a cartridge is a painstaking process with a low chance of success.
Yes, you can convert any EcoTank series printer by emptying the regular ink and then refilling the sublimation ink. However, remember to only use a brand new EcoTank printer for sublimation and avoid any discontinued model released more than two years back.
You can get an Epson EcoTank ET 2800 for as low as $170-200 on-sale events. You only need to buy Hiipoo ink worth $30 and an A4 sublimation paper. It is the cheapest printer and ink combination to start sublimation on a budget.
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.
