Wondering if you need a printer for your dye sublimation startup? Well, stop worrying,
Wondering if you need a printer for your dye sublimation startup? Well, stop worrying, I am here to help you stand out. In this post I will guide you to the question; do you need a sublimation printer? additionally, I will also teach you which printer can be converted into sublimation and which one cannot.
So, let get straight into it.
Do You Need a Sublimation Printer for Dye Sublimation?
Well, if you are a hobbyist and want to do sublimation as a hobby and do it as occasionally. you don’t need any printer. To do sublimation, you can simply buy a few, not expensive, materials that can do the job for you. For instance, you will need a Dye ink, ink markers, a heat press, a sublimation paper and a blank t-shirt – which is polyester or polyester mix -.
However, if you are a Print on Demand startup or want to do it professionally, I recommend you to go with a sublimation printer. A dye printer can help you give the chance to learn the business and scale the business. With the help of sublimation printer, you can sublimation on bulk order which is hard with hand panting. Unlike Sublimation printer printing, crafting by hand is very affordable but in term of time, time is money, and work a printer is best decision you will ever make.
what printer can be used for sublimation?
Now you ask, what printer can be used for sublimation? But before I answer this, you will need to understand the sublimation concept. Every sublimation printer needs a printhead that uses the piezo or pressure technology. This help in transition of the ink into the material. However, most brands use thermal or heat technology instead of Piezo.
There is only one brand that is manufacturing printers with this tech and the brand is, you may know, Epson. Epson uses mini piezo printhead in all their printers which makes them suitable for dye sublimation.
What does it mean to convert a printer to sublimation?
A normal printer uses thermal printheads which cannot be used for dye sublimation. It because sublimation uses piezo or pressure procedure that can heat up the ink so it can disintegrate into intended material. the difference between a normal and sublimation printer is the printhead. For
sublimation the ink is necessary to disintegrate into the materials with help of pressure. And most printer do not support this feature.
For this reason, you will need to buy or convert a printer to sublimation one. to convert a printer into sublimation printer, you will need to buy a new one or replace the ink cartages in the old one and fill the dye ink in it, on day first. However, most printer cannot be converted. the printers which can be converted to sublimation ones is of all model of Epson. Epson makes three types of printers which uses this tech. includes;
- Epson EcoTank Printers
- Epson purpose base sublimation printers
- Epson Cartridge bases printers
Related post: Can You Use Any Printer for Sublimation?
Easiest Printers to Convert to Sublimation
As I told, the easiest printer to convert into sublimation is Epson. Epson has mini Piezo printhead in all their printers which makes them suitable for sublimation and crafting. This feature is lacking in all other brands. So, the only brand you can convert is Epson. which clear the answer to do you need a sublimation printer?
What Epson printers can you use for sublimation?
The answer is, you can use ALL Epson printers. Epson uses piezo or pressure printheads in all their printers, which makes them workable for sublimation. It means that you can convert or use any Epson printer for dye sublimation. However, you will need to buy sublimation ink for it.
Can you convert Brother printers for sublimation?
Probably yes, you can covert Brother printer into a Dye sublimation printer. however, you may have difficulties finding its ink. It’s because the company is not popular for making sublimation printers. This takes us to the conclusion that, brother printers cannot be converted into sublimation because of the unavailability of dye ink. And, of course, the ink is mandatory for sublimation.
Can HP printers be used for sublimation?
No, Hp pointers cannot be used for sublimation. Hp has no piezo printheads in all models which is necessary for print on demand printing. This makes them out of the contest of dye printers’ manufacturer. So, you will have to go with other Brands, perhaps, Epson?
Can you use Canon printers for sublimation?
No, as like Hp and Brother, you cannot use Conon printer for sublimation as well. As like others, Hp is also not using the pressure printheads and this makes them out of the sublimation printing printers’ game. So, the only option which is left is, Epson.
Related Post: 15 Sublimation Project Ideas for Beginners
Final thoughts
To sum up, I believe you have nearer to the answer to the question- Do You Need a Sublimation Printer for Dye Sublimation? As I told above, well, yes. In a long run you will need a sublimation printer for sublimation.
It is not necessary that you get it at the very beginning of your carrier. There is a lot to learn about sublimation. After being familiar with the crafting, then, buy or converted it.
However, I suggest you, to get a new one or if you are on a tight budget you may go with converting an Epson into sublimation printer. There are other brands which are making printers, but you may not able to find pressure printhead in it. So, you cannot convert it into sublimation.
Still confused? Leave a message in the comments box below. I glad when I able to help.
Muhammad Ali,
Happy Sublimating!!!
Sources:
- https://jennifermaker.com/do-you-need-a-sublimation-printer/#:~:text=Still%2C%20You%20Can%20Sublimate%20Without%20a%20Printer&text=Creating%20crisp%2C%20bright%20colors%20and,fibers%20in%20the%20same%20way%3F
- https://sniptoit.com/can-you-use-a-regular-printer-for-sublimation/
- https://quickspi.com/sublimation-equipment/can-you-use-any-printer-for-sublimation-epson-hp-brother-canon/
