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Desktop Sublimation Printers come in three variations: Sawgrass Printers, Traditional Epson Desktop Printers and Epson Eco Tank Printers. Sawgrass Printers are designed to be used for sublimation while Epson Printers need to be “converted” to sublimation by using third party ink. Before talking about the different types of printer models, you need to understand the basics of the three types.

Sawgrass Printers

Since sawgrass printers are the only printer dedicated to sublimation we will start with them. Sawgrass has two desktop models, the SG400 and SG800. Both printers have all of the same features except print size. The SG400 can print 8.5X14 and the SG800 can print 11X17 and 13X19 with a bypass tray that needs to be bought separately.

Sawgrass took Ricoh Printers(commonly used in offices) and redesigned and rebranded them to be used with sublimation ink that they specifically designed for these printers. 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-in to 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 comes with commonly used sublimation templates preloaded into it and you can print directly from the software, ensuring the correct sublimation settings. If you are using a separate software like Silhouette Design or Photoshop, when printing, you will select the printer and it will print just like any other printer.

Additional Note: Sawgrass printer’s ink cost are substantially higher than Epson sublimation ink. Unlike Epson printers, Sawgrass users have fewer options for ink. Most Sawgrass users use genuine sawgrass inks with their Sawgrass printers. There are some third-party inks available but they will void your warranty, so most wait until their warranty is up to explore third party ink.

Epson Printers

Epson has two categories of printer options, the first option is a traditional printer that has ink cartridges and the second is a newer type of printer called Eco Tank, which doesn’t use cartridges. Eco Tank Printers have built-in tanks that you literally dump a bottle of ink in and the printer does the rest.

Not all desktop printers are created the same way, Epson uses a piezo print head, that essentially sprays the ink out(in a controlled manner) where, Cannon and HP’s use a thermal head, heating up the ink. For obvious reasons (sublimation uses heat), only piezo print head printers will work with sublimation ink.

Unlike Sawgrass Printers, Epson printers are not designed to be used with sublimation ink. In fact, you will void your warranty by using any other ink than the ink provided. Sometimes the risk is worth the reward.

Once you have “converted” your Epson printer into a sublimation printer, you will not have any support from Epson. If you purchase ink from a higher-end company like Cobra ink or InkOwl, they will provide you support with the ink.

The customer service won’t be comparable to Sawgrass.  Since Sawgrass is the printer and ink company, they have more resources to troubleshoot. However, InkOwl has remote logged-in to my computer to help with some setting issues I had earlier this year. The quality of customer service with an Epson sublimation printer is going to directly correlate with your choice of sublimation ink. I did a sublimation ink comparison here.

How Epson Printers Handle Colors

If you are considering an Epson printer it is important to understand how Epson’s and Sawgrass printers handle colors. When you buy any new printer(sublimation or not), you download the drivers that come with the printer. These drivers allow you to print accurate colors. Drivers are essentially pre-built printer profiles. If you don’t know what printer profiles are, read this article.

Drivers allow the user to go file>>print>>select printer>>print, and when the image prints, it reflects what we see on the screen. This is what happens with Sawgrass printers.

The problem is for Epson printers converted to use sublimation ink, the driver is designed for genuine Epson ink(the ink that comes with the printer) and when you are using a third-party ink(like sublimation ink) the driver will no longer provide the most accurate colors. It is close but not accurate. This is where profiles come into play. Third-Party ink company’s use profiles to adjust the colors so they are more accurate.

You can see in the picture the before and after of profile images. While they all look relatively the same, using the profile is clearly the best, they tend to be extremely helpful with skin tones. Profiles are specific to the ink and printer you are using. Your ink company should provide you with a profile.

How To Use Profiles

Depending on your printer, profiles are handled differently. For the most part, once you install sublimation printer profiles all you have to do is select the printer and profile and adjust all of your other settings normally. Printer profiles are another step to printing and are often seen as a headache or even avoided like the plague. Truth is, yes profiles are just one more thing to go wrong, but in my opinion, having accurate colors is worth the extra effort, if needed.

Printers Profiles make it so that no matter the program you are printing from, you will receive accurate color every time, just like Sawgrass Printers.

Side Note: Within the last year, Cobra Ink, a leader in sublimation ink, developed an ink that is meant to mimic Epson genuine ink, meaning that it doesn’t need a profile. Since then, lots of lower end ink companies have been saying that their ink doesn’t need a profile. In my opinion, they say this not because it doesn’t need a profile, but because they are too cheap to make one and that is the easy way out. Be careful when sublimation ink companies claiming that their ink doesn’t need profiles. I tested out the leading sublimation inks and wrote a comparison blog post.

When considering an Epson Printer, it is important to think about the ink before you purchase the printer. Do your research and understand what works for your needs and budgets. I wrote a very in-depth(read: it took me 5 months to make) review on the most popular sublimation inks, check it out! If you have any questions, please feel to ask me! Also join Sublimation Studies, Facebook Group, Print and Press for access to other sub-ers and daily tips, tutorials, and projects!

Epson Traditional Desktop Printers

You read that right, just like a printer that you are already familiar with. The most common Epson printers used for Sublimation are the Epson 7710 and 7720. They are the same printer with the exception that the 7720 has an additional paper tray–this can be helpful to be able to have different size paper in each tray. The additional tray doesn’t have the same print settings as the main tray but, I still find it helpful.

The most popular complaint with this type of printer are issues with the cartridges not being recognized and having to refill them. All of my printers at my shop use refillable cartridges and while I do get cartridge errors, which stop your production time, I find they are easy to troubleshoot and get up and going shortly.

In order to convert a traditional Epson printer, you will need:

• Refillable Cartridges-my favorite(here)-use code SUBSTUDIES for $5 off!
• Sublimation Ink- sublimation ink comparison here

Lastly, here is a post on how to convert a desktop printer to a sublimation printer. In short, fill the cartridges, put them in and print.

Epson Eco Tank Printers

Epson Eco Tank Printers are a newer version of printers that don’t use cartridges. Just like the name says, they have tanks that hold the ink. If you are familiar with CIS, think of CIS built into the printer.

In order to convert a traditional Epson printer, you will need:

• Sublimation Ink- sublimation ink comparison here

The process of converting an Eco Tank is much easier. Set up your printer and instead of putting in the genuine Epson ink that comes with it, you put in the sublimation ink that you bought. Super simple!

Just like anything, there are Pro’s and Con’s to the traditional printer versus an Eco Tank Printer but we will save those for another post!

Sawgrass Versus Epson Sublimation Printer

Comparison Chart

Below is a chart of the most popular printers in each of the three categories, Sawgrass Printers, Traditional Epson Printers and EcoTank Epson Printers.

	SAWGRASS PRINTERS		TRADITIONAL EPSON PRINTERS		ECOTANK EPSON PRINTERS
	SG400	SG800	Epson Workforce 7710	Epson Workforce 7720	Epson Expression ET-2650 EcoTank	Epson ET-16500 EcoTank
Price of Printer:	$550	$1599	$149.99	$199.99	$179.99	$899.99
Maximum Print Size:	8.5"x14"	11"x17" and 13"X19" with the additional bypass tray (sold separately)	13"X19"	13"X19"	8.5"x14"	13"X19"
Maximum Resolution:	1200 x 1200 dpi	1200 x 1200 dpi	Color Up to 4800 x 1200 dpi Black Up to 4800 x 2400 dpi	Color Up to 4800 x 1200 dpi Black Up to 4800 x 2400 dpi	Color Up to 5760 x 1440 dpi Black Up to 5760 x 1440 dpi	4800 x 1200 optimized dpi
Duty Cycle:	Information Not Available	Information Not Available	Up to 20,000	Up to 20,000	Up to 7,500	Up to 20,000 pages (Recommended monthly page volume up to 1,300 pages)
Print Speeds:	High Speed (600 x 600 dpi) 15 seconds High Quality (600 x 600 dpi) 29 seconds Advanced Photo (1200 x 600 dpi) 48 seconds	High Speed (600 x 600 dpi) 15 seconds High Quality (600 x 600 dpi) 29 seconds Advanced Photo (1200 x 600 dpi) 48 seconds	18 pages per minute for mono color and 10 pages per minute for color	18 pages per minute for mono color and 10 pages per minute for color	10 pages per minute for mono color and 4 pages per minute for color	18 pages per minute for mono color and 10 pages per minute for color
Additional Add Ons:	-Additional 250 sheet paper feed tray option -Bypass tray extends maximum media size up to 8.5" x 51"	-Additional 250 sheet paper feed tray option -Bypass tray extends maximum media size up to 13" x 19"	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Do I need Profiles?	No, they are built into the driver	No, they are built into the driver	Maybe, depends on the ink that you select	Maybe, depends on the ink that you select	Maybe, depends on the ink that you select	Maybe, depends on the ink that you select
What software can I use?	Creative Studio (included), or any others of your choice	Creative Studio (included), or any others of your choice	Your choice	Your choice	Your choice	Your choice
How many ink colors?	4, CMYK	4, CMYK	4, CMYK	4, CMYK	4, CMYK	4, CMYK
Ink Delivery System?	Standard cartridges, these will need to be thrown out(or recycled) each use.	Standard cartridges, these will need to be thrown out(or recycled) each use.	Refillable cartridges, these cartridges are refilled using a syringe and bottled ink. Once the cartridges are bought, the only recurring cost is the cost of the actual ink	Refillable cartridges, these cartridges are refilled using a syringe and bottled ink. Once the cartridges are bought, the only recurring cost is the cost of the actual ink	Refillable tanks, these printers don’t tank cartridges. On the side they have tanks that you pour ink into. The only recurring cost is the cost of the actual ink.	Refillable tanks, these printers don’t tank cartridges. On the side they have tanks that you pour ink into. The only recurring cost is the cost of the actual ink.
Size of cartridges	Regular Size Cartridges Cyan- 29 ml Magenta- 29 ml Yellow- 29ml Black- 42ml	Regular Size Cartridges Cyan- 29 ml Magenta- 29 ml Yellow- 29ml Black- 42ml Extended Size Cartridges Cyan- 68 ml Magenta- 68ml Yellow- 68 ml Black- 75ml	Regular Size Cartridges Cyan- 15ml Magenta- 15ml Yellow- 15ml Black- 42ml Extended Size Cartridges Cyan- 15ml Magenta- 15ml Yellow- 15ml Black- 35ml **These sizes are an approximate based on my experience	Regular Size Cartridges Cyan- 15ml Magenta- 15ml Yellow- 15ml Black- 42ml Extended Size Cartridges Cyan- 15ml Magenta- 15ml Yellow- 15ml Black- 35ml **These sizes are an approximate based on my experience	Doesn't use cartridges, ink tanks built into the printer.	Doesn't use cartridges, ink tanks built into the printer.
Approximate cost of ink	Regular Size Cartridges Cyan- $77.00 Magenta- $77.00 Yellow- $77.00 Black- $109.00 =$340 total	Regular Size Cartridges Cyan- $77.00 Magenta- $77.00 Yellow- $77.00 Black- $109.00 =$340 total Extended Size Cartridges Cyan- $131.00 Magenta- $131.00 Yellow- $131.00 Black- $131.00 =$524 total	Prices are going to vary based on the cartridges and ink you choose to buy. Refillable Cartridges $27.95-$43.99 Sublimation Ink $26- $95 =$53.95- $138.00	Prices are going to vary based on the cartridges and ink you choose to buy. Refillable Cartridges $27.95-$43.99 Sublimation Ink $26- $95 =$53.95- $138.00	Refillable ink costs about $20 per ink color for a 100ml bottle Set of 4 Bottle of Sublimation Ink $26- $95	Refillable ink depending on your ink company costs about $20 per ink color for a 100ml bottle Set of 4 Sublimation Ink $26- $95
Items to get started	Sold as Kit - SG400 Printer - 4 regular size ink cartridges - 1 pack of 8.5 X 11 TextPrint paper	Sold as Kit - SG800 Printer - 4 regular size ink cartridges - 1 pack of 8.5 X 11 TextPrint paper	Sold Individually Epson 7710: $149.00 Refillable Cartridges: $27.95-$43.99 Sublimation Ink: $26- $95 1 pack of 8.5 X 11 TextPrint paper: $15.50	Sold Individually - Epson 7720: $199.00 - Refillable Cartridges: $27.95-$43.99 - Sublimation Ink: $26- $95 - 1 pack of 8.5 X 11 TextPrint paper: $15.50	Sold Individually - Epson ET 2650: $179.00 - Sublimation Ink: $26- $95 - 1 pack of 8.5 X 11 TextPrint paper: $15.50	Sold Individually - Epson ET-16500 EcoTank: $999.00 - Sublimation Ink: $26- $95 - 1 pack of 8.5 X 11 TextPrint paper: $15.50
Price to get started:	$550	$1,599	$218.45 - $303.49	$268.45 - $353.49	$194.50 - $263.50	$1040.50 - $1109.50

Now that you have a better understanding of the printers on the market, below is a chart of what you can expect to be able to produce with your new printer!

What Can I Make?

	SAWGRASS PRINTERS		TRADITIONAL EPSON PRINTERS		ECOTANK EPSON PRINTERS
	SG400	SG800	Epson Workforce 7710	Epson Workforce 7720	Epson Expression ET-2650 EcoTank	Epson ET-16500 EcoTank
Price of Printer:	$550	$1599	$149.99	$199.99	$179.99	$899.99
Can I print on 100% polyester (light colored) garments?	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Can I print on any hard surface items?	No, items will need to be brought precoated or you will need to precoat them	No, items will need to be brought precoated or you will need to precoat them	No, items will need to be brought precoated or you will need to precoat them	No, items will need to be brought precoated or you will need to precoat them	No, items will need to be brought precoated or you will need to precoat them	No, items will need to be brought precoated or you will need to precoat them
Can I print on 100% cotton garments?	Short answer No. Long answer yes, with more steps and cost associated	Short answer No. Long answer yes, with more steps and cost associated	Short answer No. Long answer yes, with more steps and cost associated	Short answer No. Long answer yes, with more steps and cost associated	Short answer No. Long answer yes, with more steps and cost associated	Short answer No. Long answer yes, with more steps and cost associated
Can I print on dark colors?	Short answer No. Long answer yes, with more steps and cost associated	Short answer No. Long answer yes, with more steps and cost associated	Short answer No. Long answer yes, with more steps and cost associated	Short answer No. Long answer yes, with more steps and cost associated	Short answer No. Long answer yes, with more steps and cost associated	Short answer No. Long answer yes, with more steps and cost associated
Can I print on hard goods?	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
What is the cost to print?	Approximately $.014 per square inch price given by manufacturer	Approximately $.014 per square inch price given by manufacturer	Since Epson ink is less than Sawgrass ink, presumably it would be less than $0.14 per square inch, but there is no real way to calculate it.	Since Epson ink is less than Sawgrass ink, presumably it would be less than $0.14 per square inch, but there is no real way to calculate it.	Since Epson ink is less than Sawgrass ink, presumably it would be less than $0.14 per square inch, but there is no real way to calculate it.	Since Epson ink is less than Sawgrass ink, presumably it would be less than $0.14 per square inch, but there is no real way to calculate it.
Can I use a Mac/PC?	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes

Now you have all the information needed to make an educated decision. For the most part, it comes down to two factors, price and customer service. Are you willing to spend more on your initial investment and ongoing print costs(ink) for the reassurance that you will have customer service support when or if you need it? Or do you have faith in your DIY skills and internet support groups that you are willing to “convert” and Epson Printer? Whatever you choose, you will love it!