Everything You Need To Know About Sublimation Printers

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Ah, the time has come! You are looking at buying a sublimation printer! Hip Hip Horaay! Before you can properly get started with your printer choice, you need to understand color profiles, as your comfort level with printer profiles will play a role in the printer you choose. Read this article here about ICC Printer Profiles.

Here is updated Sublimation printer comparison

Sublimation Printers

The three main types of printers in the sublimation world are Sawgrass Printers, Epson Printers, and Wide-Format Printers.  I will be touching on Sawgrass printers and Epson printers since they are the entry type of printers.

Sawgrass Virtuoso -SG400 and SG800

Sawgrass makes two printers, the SG400 and the SG800. Sawgrass printers are designed to specifically for sublimation

SG400 

Maximum Media Size: 8.5″ x 14″
Up to 8.5″ x 51″ w/ Optional Bypass Tray (additional $182)
Ink Set: SubliJet-HD CMYK
Approx Ink Refill Cost:
Yellow(29ml Cartridge) $77
Cyan(29ml Cartridge) $77
Magenta (29ml Cartridge) $77
Black(42ml Cartridge)$109
Color Management/Ink Profiles:
Virtuoso Printer Manager Supports both Windows and Mac OS
Maximum Resolution: 1200 x 1200 dpi
Media Tray: 250 Sheets
Ink Delivery System: Standard Cartridges
Options:
100 Sheet Multi-Bypass Tray
Additional 250-Sheet Paper Feed Unit

The SG400 can be bought here and here for around $550 give or take depending on the package.

SG800

Maximum Media Size: 11″ x 17″
Up to 13” x 19” with Optional Bypass Tray (additional $220)
Ink Set: SubliJet-HD – CMYK
Ink Refill Cost:
Yellow(29ml Cartridge) $77
Cyan(29ml Cartridge) $77
Magenta (29ml Cartridge) $77
Black(42ml Cartridge)$109
Color Management/Ink Profiles:
Virtuoso Printer Manager Supports both Windows and Mac OS
Maximum Resolution: 1200 x 1200 dpi
Media Tray: 250 Sheets
Ink Delivery System: Standard and High-Capacity Cartridges
Options: 
100 Sheet Multi-Bypass Tray
250 Sheet Paper Feed Unit

The SG800 can be bought here, here and here for around $1600 give or take depending on the package.

Sawgrass Summary

The SG400 and SG800 printers are pretty much identical except for the printing size. Sawgrass is known for their great customer service and consistent results. While Sawgrass printers and inks are more expensive than Epson, their customer service is fantastic. They will remote log into your computer if you need help setting up your color profiles or if you are just having issues. Sawgrass also has a free design software, Creative Studio, that is cloud-based. It has commonly used sublimation templates preloaded into it and you can print directly from the software, ensuring the correct sublimation settings. Also, it needs to be noted that while Epson users have multiple ink options, Sawgrass printers can only use their specific ink.

Epson Printers

Epson Printers? Like the one, I have sitting in my office? Well yes…but not all of them! Epson printers are not originally designed to be sublimation printers but can easily be converted by using new cartridges and sublimation ink. The most popular printers are the Epson Artisan 1430(now discontinued) and the WorkForce printers in models 7210, 7710 or 7720 as well as Epson Eco Tank Printers(whole article comparing here soon)

Epson WorkForce Printers

Maximum Media Size: Up to 13” x 19”
Ink Set: Your choice of sublimation ink
Ink Refill Cost:
All 4 cartridges are sold as a set for ranging from $27.95-$40ish, so about $10 each color. These cartridges ar refillable so after the initial purchase you will only need to purchase ink and refill the cartridges
Ink Cartridges hold about 20ml of ink in each cartridge.*
*Cartridges are smaller than Sawgrass printer cartridges.
Color Management/Ink Profiles:
Depends based on the ink you use–Check the best sublimation ink review here.
Maximum Resolution: 4800 x 2400 dpi
Media Tray: 250-sheet capacity in the main tray*
*it also has a second loading area that may be able to hold mug size sheets as it was designed for envelopes
Ink Delivery System: Pre-filled cartridges(most expensive), Refillable Cartridges, or CIS setup

The Epson Workforce can be purchased here with Cobra Sublimation ink already installed.

Epson Workforce 7710(here) versus Epson Workforce 7210(here) Versus 7710(here)

Epson Workforce 7710 & 7720

The Epson 7710 & 7720 are the same exact model except the 7720 has an extra paper tray making it easier to switch between two paper sizes.

Epson Workforce 7210

The Epson 7210 has the same print capabilities of the 7710/7720 but it does not have the fax/scanner/copy functions.

Epson Eco Tank Printers

Eco Tank is a line of desktop printers that do not use ink cartridges instead, they have large containers you literally dump a bottle of ink into! This has made them very easy to convert to sublimation printers because you don’t have to worry about ink cartridges or the fuss of refilling them!

Since Eco Tanks are a line of printers we have an individual post about them (here) But in summary, they are great starter printers but the lower priced ones only print 8.5″X 14. In order to print wide format(13″X19″) you will have to spend $800, In my opinion, if you are going to spend that much money, you should buy a Sawgrass Printer that is designed for Sublimation.

Epson Artisan 1430 (No longer available)

Maximum Media Size: Up to 13” x 19”
Ink Set: Your choice of sublimation ink
Ink Refill Cost:
All 6 cartridges are sold as a set for $79.99, or individually for $16.99 each color. About 20ml of ink in each cartridge.*
The price for ink can be reduced if you use refillable cartridges or a CIS setup.
*Cartridges are smaller than Sawgrass printer cartridges.
Color Management/Ink Profiles:
Depends based on the ink you use
Maximum Resolution:5,760 x 1,440 dpi
Media Tray: 100-sheet capacity in the main tray
Ink Delivery System: Pre-filled cartridges, Refillable Cartridges, and CIS setup

The Epson Artisan 1430 can be purchased here from Cobra with sublimation ink already installed.

Epson Summary

Unlike the two sawgrass printers, these two are not the same. The WorkForce(WF) is a desktop copy/scanner printer that allows wide format printing(13″x19″). The WF will require third-party cartridges which can cause issues. Where the Eco Tank printers, do not require cartridges but the lower priced printers in the line, don’t allow wide format printing(13″x19″).

With Epson printers, I would argue that the most important thing is the ink you select. If you are thinking about purchasing an Epson, please read this article about printer color profiles as they will play a large role in your color success(or failure).

Summary

At the end of the day buying a Sawgrass Sublimation Printer is like buying a designer outfit from a high-end department store. You will pay more for it because you know if there are any issues, you can take it back and they will fix the issues. While buying Epson printers for sublimation it is like sewing your own dress. You have to go to the fabric store, pick the fabric, pattern, zippers, and accessories. Then you go home cut the pattern, pin and sew the dress, along the way you fine-tune the dress to fit you perfectly. Once you are done, you can’t tell the difference between the two outfits but the difference is if you need to make adjustments to your outfit, you will know how!

It is the same way with printers. What is more important!?! Out of the box production with a higher price tag? Or if you have some patience and a DIY bug, then maybe the Epson printer is for you! Either way, once you start, I promise you will be in love! Check out our list of vendors here for ink and blank suppliers!

XOXO,

Jane