The T-shirt sublimation printing business is booming now, where most advanced printers are now being introduced. Starting a new t-shirt printing business is a good idea, but this idea can only be successful if you have a quality sublimation printer. Picking your first sublimation printer can be a tricky process where many factors are involved.
Sublimation printers use multiple processes to print a high-quality image on the t-shirt. The only problem people face in the sublimation printing business is, overlooking the minor parts of the system. The importance of sublimation ink type in a printer can not be neglected. Similarly, print quality and color accuracy are also important to consider. So, if you don’t want to face issues and care about small mechanisms that will help grow your business, I’ve got your back.
In this blog post, I’ve compiled a list of the top 6 best sublimation printer for t-shirts that are not only picked by keeping their pricing in mind; but also took a deep analysis of each part of the body. All these sublimation Printers are tested by experts and can help your t-shirt printing business reach the top level.
6 Best Sublimation Printer for T-shirts
| IMAGE | PRODUCT | RATING | PRICE |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
Epson WorkForce Pro WF-4830 |
9.8
|
Check on Amazon |
 |
WorkForce WF-7710 |
9.8
|
Check on Amazon |
 |
Epson EcoTank ET-2800 |
9.8
|
Check on Amazon |
 |
Epson Ecotank et-3760 |
9.7
|
Check on Amazon |
 |
Epson WorkForce WF-7720 |
9.6
|
Check on Amazon |
 |
Epson EcoTank ET-2750 |
9.7
|
Check on Amazon |
1:Epson WorkForce Pro WF-4830 ( Cheapest Sublimation Printer For T-Shirts)
Specifications:
- Printing Technology: Inkjet
- Special Feature: Wireless
- Sheet Size: 8.5 x 14 inch
- Model Name: WF-4830
- Brand: Epson
Suppose your last printer showed some problems scanning your pages, then Epson WorkForce Pro WF-4830 comes with an excellent scanning feature. The printer has a removable panel in the back that helps easily access the papers. Using this printer, the search for high-resolution prints is no more. To give your shirt precise finishing, the printer has a flatbed scanner and high-capacity cartridges which helps in printing durable designs.
LCD screen display
The printer has 4.3 inches screen, which is easy to use. The printer has a touchscreen which makes your work more precise and smart. Usually, the screen is horizontal, but you can tilt the screen for your need.
Ink cartridges
The printer has easy access to the ink cartridges, which you can change at any time. Moreover, you’ve to change the cartridges when they are empty.
Material quality
The printer’s material is durable and sturdy, ensuring a long-lasting life. The printer is equipped with two paper trays to manage different paper sizes.
Viewing angle
The only drawback that I found in the printer is the LCD screen viewing angle is not too good. While working, we observed that the view from the sides of the screen is not as straightforward as from the front. But if you work standing in front of the screen you don’t need to worry.
- Colors stay longer on the shirt
- The cost per print is meager.
- The scanning feature is considerable
- Connect with any device in the home
- Best for t-shirt printing business.
- Black page yield is not effective
Summary
Overall if I talk about the printer’s performance, it has a sleek design and outstanding capabilities to perform duplex printing. You can print your design sitting anywhere in the office or at home with the fast connectivity options, which reduces your work fatigue and allows you to bring your natural creativity sitting on the chair, not working on the machine.
2. WorkForce WF-7710 (Best T-Shirt Sublimation Printer)
Specifications:
- Printing Technology: Inkjet
- Special Feature: Auto-Duplex
- Model Name: WF-7710
Workforce WF-7710 printer is a versatile sublimation printer with advanced specs that complete all the requirements needed for t-shirt printing. The printer is an excellent choice for designing prints on a large scale that stay longer on the t-shirts. Here is a few nominated feature of this printer.
Excellent print quality
The WF-7710 printer has excellent print quality, allowing you to print 2400 DPI resolution designs on the shirts. The prints remain for a longer time and do not fade colors.
Vibrant and accurate colors
Most of the t-shirts fade their colors in a short time when washed. With this printer, you’ll get more vibrant colors than other printers on the market. You can use this printer to create dynamic prints of any size.
Scanner is exceptional
Probably my favorite feature of the printer is how you can scan your designs for better results than any other printer can provide. The WF-7710’s scanning quality is exceptional compared to that of HP, Canon, and other printers.
Ink cartridges
The printer works perfectly with the Epson 252 and 252XL DuraBite ink cartridges. The only thing which disappoints is you can’t use other brands’ ink cartridges with this printer.
Connectivity technology
The WF-7710 can be connected with USB 2.0 and Wifi. So you can print directly using your phone or laptop.
Large Screen Panel
The large screen panel is highly user-friendly, which allows you to manage your printing with comfort. Nice big icons are visible and easy to click.
- Print large scale papers(13 x 19 inches).
- Easy to manage control panel
- Comes with the auto-duplexer
- Integrated with the PrecisionCore Technology
- Printing quality can be improved
- The print head is a little expensive
Summary
The only slight drawback of this sublimation printer is that it does not print high-definition (HD) images like the Epson WF-4830 Pro printer. Keeping aside this issue; the printer is easy to use, simple to operate, and durable in the material.
3. Epson EcoTank ET-2800 (Best Epson Sublimation Printer)
Epson
Specifications:
- Printing Technology: Inkjet
- Special Feature: Wireless
- Connectivity Technology: Wi-Fi, USB
- Model Name: ET-2800 White
- Scanner Type: Flatbed
- Print media: Envelopes, Paper (plain), Glossy photo paper
If you face the issue of having less time but want to print more pages to sell more, then Epson EcoTank ET-2800 can be the right choice. With the low cost per page, the printer comes with a flatbed scanner which helps in capturing high-resolution designs with fine details.
Resolution and colors
You can print up to 1200 DPI photos with a maximum color depth of 24 bits. The printing colors are vibrant and sharp which looks good.
Cartridge system
Thankfully, you do not have to change cartridges every time in this printer. The printer uses ink bottles, which only need to be refilled. The printer has a supertanker for ink storage, which runs longer.
Build quality
The elegant printer is made with sturdy plastic material with some moving parts. The paper tray is thin and flimsy, which helps in smooth document yield.
Small display screen
The display screen is small (1.5 inches), but you can still see the icons appearing on the display. For navigation, you have to use the buttons just on the left and right sides of the display.
The overall printing is good, but the only issue that I had to face was that the printing process is a bit slow, which takes time to give you the final product. Moreover, the printer does not have an automatic document feeder, so you have to do this work manually.
- Sharp and vibrate photos print
- Best printer for t-shirt sublimation
- Small and unique design
- Ink bottles are cheap and allow you to print in bulk.
- Slow printing process
- ADF not included
Summary
The printing quality is perfect and sharp. The ink bottles are cheap and stay longer on the work, creating vibrant colors on the shirts. So, if you are thinking of starting a shirt printing business and looking for a cheap yet durable printer, then EcoTank ET-2800 can be the machine you were waiting for.
4. Epson Ecotank et-3760 (Best Dye-sublimation Printer For T-shirts)
Epson
Specifications:
- Printing Technology: Inkjet
- Special Feature: Refillable, Wireless
- Connectivity Technology: Wi-Fi, USB, Ethernet
- Recommended Uses For Product: Office, Home
- Model Name: ET-3760
If you want to print professional-grade images that do not fade soon, then giving a chance Epson ET-3760 is not a bad idea. This is an all-in-one inkjet printer that contains a super tank that is refillable. The printer is integrated with printing both color documents and monochrome pages. The powerful machine has an auto document feeder that gives you good speed at work.
Display screen
The printer has 2.4 inches screen that displays multiple options like copy, scan, and maintenance. The menu setting is easy to navigate, visible, and large enough that you can work efficiently.
Four high-capacity ink tanks
The printer has a unique super tank ink system to place four-color inks for your t-shirt printing. The ink tanks are refillable and hold a lot of ink to yield a high number of pages.
Color and resolution quality
The budget-friendly printer has fantastic color accuracy that looks shiny when printed on a t-shirt. The maximum scan resolution is 1200 DPI, while the color depth is 24 Bits.
- User-friendly interface
- The structure material is durable
- Best sublimation printer for small office
- 4 colors of ink bottles
- Place up to 150 pages in the input tray at once.
- Don’t have a Duplex scanning feature
Summary
Finally, I would say that the Epson EcoTank ET-3760 is budget-friendly, uses less expensive ink, and keeps the cost low. The printer has a decent and sleek design which works better for home offices. However, the printer is a bit slow to print black-only text documents, so if your business needs fast printing, I would say go for Epson EcoTank ET-2750. Other than this, the printer has all the specs that you need for the t-shirt printing business.
5. Epson WorkForce WF-7720 (Best Printer for Extra-Large T-shirts)
Epson
Specifications:
- Printing Technology: Inkjet
- Special Feature: Wireless
- Connectivity Technology: Wi-Fi
- Model Name: WorkForce
Suppose you want to print oversize pages for extra-large t-shirts, then Epson workforce WF-7720 is your pick. With the ADF feature, you can print up to tabloid-sized pages quickly and automatically. The printer helps print high-quality graphical illustrations and photos that look pretty awesome on any t-shirt.
Design quality
The print design quality of the printer is remarkable. You can print high-dimension photos on a page. The vibrant color creates an immersive look on the t-shirts.
Material
The printer is made with quality plastic material, which stands firm and feels very well-built. The output tray is durable and holds pages without shaking. Paper jam is easy to handle to bring out any paper stuck while printing.
Compatible devices
You don’t need to stand on the printer’s head. Connect your laptop or PC to the printer and do your job sitting on the work desk.
Genuine ink
Epson company give you three separate genuine inkjet cartridge system. The ink color quality is excellent and stays longer. However, you have to replace color cartridges when empty.
Economical printer
The printer helps you save your money with 80% less power consumption.
Sheet Capacity
You can place up to 500 sheets in the tray at once, which helps save time for placing sheets every day. The output tray has 125 sheet capacity.
- Best sublimation printer for scanning multiple pages
- Equipped with the auto document feeder
- User-friendly control panel
- The printer larges pages up to 13″ x 19″
- Best for small offices and workgroups
- The cost per page is a bit high
- The black page yield is disappointing
Summary
Overall, the printer has all the features that are required for precise sublimation printing. You can print and scan large-size pages with the easy-to-use control panel. The printer allows you to print multiple pages which not only saves your time but ultimately helps in saving your overall cost. Giving a try to this printer can be fruitful.
6. Epson EcoTank ET-2750 (Best Epson Inkjet Printer)
Epson
Specifications:
- Printing Technology: Inkjet
- Special Feature: Wireless
- Connectivity Technology: Wi-Fi
- Model Name: ET-2750
- Sheet Size: 8.5 inch x 11.7
Every t-shirt printing business needs an all-in-one printer with inkjet technology, quipped with wireless features, integrated with the SuperTank, and precise color accuracy. So, if that’s something you need, then Epson EconTank ET-2750 is your last chance. The Cartridge-free Supertank printer has all the specs that will help get the final product that sells.
Auto 2-side printing
With the automatic feature of 2 side printing, you can save 50% on paper supply, which helps you save the extra cost.
Cartridge free printing
No need to replace ink cartridges like other printers. Just take this printer and forget about filling the super tank for at least 2 years. The ink bottles are durable and stay longer for printing.
Wireless printing
The printer is accessible to smart technology features. The wireless printer allows you to connect with an iPad, laptop, android phone, and PC to access the wireless printing feature.
Print resolution
The printer comes with an accurate print quality with a maximum of 5760 x 1440 DPI.
High-capacity ink tank
The printer has three large ink tanks (black, cyan, and magenta) with an ultra-filling capacity with genuine Epson ink.
- Cost-effective ink system
- Comes with multiple connectivity options
- Manage all your work through a mobile app
- Excelling printing quality
- Best sublimation printer for t-shirt business.
- The sheet size is small
Summary
Overall, the printer is budget-friendly with all its top features that most other printers miss. The photo quality is decent, with an accurate display that matters most for the t-shirt business. The compatibility with the Smartphone, laptop, and PC is fantastic. In short, the printer has all the specs that every t-shirt printer needs.
What To Look at When Buying a Sublimation Printer For a T-shirt
The things every person should look for before buying a sublimation printer for T-shirts include;
Heat Press System
The first and foremost thing a person should look for before buying a sublimation printer for T-shirts is its heat press system. For the performance of a heating press system, a person should look for its speedy and readily performance. Its temperature control system should also work well.
Sublimation Ink
Before buying a sublimation printer for T-shirts, the second thing a person should inspect is its sublimation inks. The problems faced by most people new to sublimation printing regarding its ink are the quality of ink and its short lifetime. A person should always look for the best sublimation inks that are most compatible with their printers with better quality.
Print Quality and Resolution
The most important thing for any person related to sublimation printing is the quality of the printed picture and the diversity in resolution. For brands that are new to the sublimation printing market, the quality and resolution of the print are of utmost higher priority.
Budget and Printing Costs
This is an essential factor for people who are new to sublimation printing and are low on budget. They need a better-performing printer and much cheaper but better printing. Also, it is not always better to buy expensive equipment because there is a big chance that your sublimation printing business might not work and will become a more significant loss for you.
Trusted Brands
Most people make mistakes in choosing the local brand for the sublimation printing business. People should always go for reliable brands like HP, Epson, and Sawgrass printers because they save you from a disarray of costing, problems in equipment, and other problems.
Size of Print Media
A sublimation print should always be available in different sizes for different designs. That’s why a person should always keep the size diversity in mind before buying a printer. Typically, printers offer a size variety of 44 inches to 10 feet wide. Also, they must be in the budget for prints.
Easy to Navigate Control Panel
It was complicated to find sublimation printers with more straightforward controls and user-friendly control panels in the old times. But, now the brands have become modern enough to offer much more easy-to-use equipment. So, a person should always go for printers that are much easier to operate and perform full functioning.
Wireless and Easier Connectivity
Today, it is much easier for a person new to sublimation printing to imprint designs anywhere they want. Utilizing the wireless connectivity of a printer, they can even print designs from their mobile phones sitting on a couch. So, always be sure to look out for such options.
How To Do Sublimation Printing on a T-shirt?
Before starting sublimating a T-Shirt, a person must have complete supplies. These supplies include;
Sublimation Printer
A particular type of printer embeds and imprints digitalized designs on polyester products.
Sublimation Ink
A special kind of ink that is made for sublimated printing. It is a mixture of heat-reactive solids and printer fluid that forms bonds with polyester in designs.
Sublimation Paper
A special kind of paper coated with polymers makes sublimation possible and practical.
T-Shirt
A person will need a T-Shirt to embed prints on. The T-Shirt can be of any brand or length as long as it is polyester.
Lint Roller
T-Shirts often come with lots of dust and lint on them. A lint roller wipes away all the dust from the T-Shirt in seconds.
Butcher Paper
Butcher paper protects the T-Shirt from touching the heat press and prevents the design from imprinting on the other side of the T-Shirt.
Heat Press
A Heat press is a tool that sublimates the ink and imprints the design permanently on the T-Shirt. The most suitable one for a T-Shirt is the Calendar press.
Heat Resistant Tape
A heat-resistant tape keeps your design safe from spreading and gives a ghost effect to the design. It can resist temperatures up to 425F.
When a person is fully equipped with the tools required for sublimation, they can start sublimating the T-shirt.
The Process of Printing a T-shirt
- Firstly, print the digitalized design onto the sublimation paper using the printer.
- After that, cover the lint-rolled T-shirt with butcher paper on both sides.
- Then, put the design with sublimation paper on the T-shirt and pass it through the Calendar heat press.
- Adjust the temperature to 400F and time it for 60 seconds.
- Ensure that the T-shirt’s vulnerable parts are equipped with heat-resistant tape, or the design will spread.
- After 60 seconds, you will have a nicely sublimated T-shirt in front of you.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I do sublimation printing on dark T-shirts?
Sublimation printing can be done on dark T-shirts by simply removing the white under base from the design and using glitters on the T-shirt. Simple Inkjet printers can also do this sublimation, but a heat press is necessary. If we talk about the procedure for printing, it is the same as that of the everyday sublimation printing on T-shirts.
How long does sublimation last on T-shirts?
The durability and strength of sublimation differ from ink to ink on different printers. Some inks enable the sublimation to last for a more extended period and make them washable. In contrast, low-quality inks decrease the durability of the sublimation, which can lead to cracks after some time. Generally, the lifetime of sublimation is given to be about 4 years.
How to fix a sublimation mistake on a T-Shirt?
Sublimation mistakes done on a T-shirt can be fixed by performing a second sublimation print on the T-Shirt. This method removes some parts of your previous design. To avoid this, use Teflon or Kraft paper while doing sublimation because it prevents sublimation ink from spreading to areas where it is not required.
How to remove sublimation from a T-shirt?
If a person wants to remove a sublimation from a T-shirt, it can be done by applying a reasonable amount of rubbing alcohol to the place of the sublimation. The alcohol dissolves the sublimation ink, and this method can remove the sublimation.
Final Words
After reading all the product reviews and guides, I hope you understand the top requirements for the best sublimation printer for t-shirts. I would suggest if your business is small and has less budget then buying a printer with all-in-one features can be the most cost-effective. Because the printers who need extra equipment to get the final products usually cost you high with some extra hard work. At the same time, a printer that has all the advanced features and built-in technical features needs less time to manage things.
Still, if you are confused, think about what printer will help you best. My final recommendations for the best sublimation printer for t-shirt small businesses are:
I hope these recommendations will help you choose your best pick and help grow the t-shirt printing business.
