6 Best Sublimation Printers 2020
If you are considering investing in sublimation printing, then you already have at least a basic understanding of what this means. Even with some knowledge of what this process includes, it is important to consider the features and details of actual use before choosing which printer would be the best investment.
To help you choose the best sublimation printer for your needs, we have developed this guide with the most important features to consider. Using this guide as a tool will be the most informed way of ensuring you love the printer you buy and that you will get the most use out of it.
What to Look For
- Price. If you are working on a smaller budget then you will still have printer options but you will also need to consider the cost of the ink. To determine how much you are willing to spend you should account for the following:
- Frequency of use,
- The printer’s other capabilities,
- Efficiency.
- Uses. Sublimation printing can be used for T-shirts, mugs and to ensure you are getting the highest quality photos. For most home use, you will be printing photos. Even though using the process to print on any kind of raw material is possible, you should consider how you would like to use the process. For photos, the printers in our guide are the most popular on the market.
Top 6 Sublimation Printers Chart
Picture | Name | Best Additional Feature | Price | Rating (1-5) |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. Epson WorkForce 30 Color Inkjet Printer | 5.5 ISO ppm color | $$$$ | 4.4 | |
2. Epson Stylus C88+ Color Inkjet Printer | 14 ppm color | $ | 4.3 | |
3. Canon Selphy CP1200 Black Wireless | Ink kit prints 18,36 or 54 photos | $ | 4.3 | |
4. Epson Artisan 1430 Wireless Color | 2.8 ppm black & white | $$$ | 4.2 | |
5. Ricoh 405753 Wireless Color Printer | 29 ppm color and black & white | $$ | 4.0 | |
6. Epson WorkForce WF-7610 Wireless | 10 ISO ppm color | $$ | 3.6 |
What Makes a Good Sublimation Printer
Having the best sublimation printer means having one that will print quickly. The printing times for these printers can vary vastly but printing more rapidly doesn’t necessarily mean higher quality. You should think about the overall quality that you are looking for in relation to the speed rather than just looking at these features separately.
As you probably already know, sublimation printing requires more than just your basic printing cartridge. There are two different kinds:
- Aqueous Dye Ink. This is the most common kind of ink and is often used with digital inkjet printers.
- Solvent Dye Sublimation Ink. This is less common and is used for wide format printers.
NOTE: Either option is more expensive than the ink that you would use for your average printing jobs.
Top 3 Best Sublimation Printers Reviews
1. Epson WorkForce 30 Color
From the very first time you use the Epson WorkForce 30 Color Inkjet printer, you will be amazed by how well it performs in every capacity, especially when it is used to print photos when you use the sublimation ink process.
For a home office or as a crafting kind of printer, this really is top notch. It isn’t the cheapest option there is on the market, but for the performance the price isn’t really an issue.
Even though this printer is high end and provides great performance, it is also incredibly simple to use. It doesn’t have the unnecessary frills that many printers come with today and that you probably never use.
2. Epson Stylus C88+ Color
The speed of the Epson Stylus C88+ Color Inkjet combined with the affordable price and the beauty of the images that come out make it a great buy. You can even use sublimation ink for enhanced colors.
It should be noted that this is quite a small printer, which makes it great for use in the home, especially when you are not working with a whole lot of space. It is a high capacity printer, as the input tray can hold up to 120 sheets so printing many copies of something is never an issue.
This is something that is also helped along by the fact that the pages per minute, when executing a normal black and white printing job, is set at a high rate.
3. Canon Selphy CP1200
When you want a printer that will perform and is also up to date in terms of technology, then the Canon SelphyCP1200 Wireless Color Photo Printer is a great option. It is wireless and is Airprint enabled but it also has sublimation ink possibilities and a compact design for a more customized use.
Image quality is one of the most attractive features of this printer. The model being is designed for home use but still provides incredible performance, which is also something that easily makes it the best sublimation printer.
You will notice that the ink, images and the quality are all highly consistent. Not only does the performance of the printer remain steady throughout its lifetime, it also outlasts many other available models.
Hi, I was wondering if you can use the pictures that come out of the Canon Selphy CP1200 can be used to transfer the image to a mug or would I need different paper?