The 6 Best Sublimation Printer for Beginners in 2024

Best Overall

Epson WF-7720

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Superior choice for beginners in sublimation printing, offering ease of use and versatile features.
Best Wide Format

Epson ET-7750

Artchive templeates Square
Best for wide format sublimation printing, excelling in large-scale and high-resolution prints.
Best for Heat Transfer

Sawgrass SG500

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Optimal for heat transfer sublimation, delivering consistent quality and reliability in transfers.

The Best Sublimation Printer for BeginnersSublimation printing is a form of digital printing that involves the use of heat to transfer dye onto a substrate like fabric, plastic, or paper. A specialized printer is used with inks that evaporate into gas when exposed to heat. In this way, the gas penetrates the fabric and chemically bonds with the fibers to produce an image that will not fade, break, or peel over time.

Sublimation printing is often used for the personalization of sports jerseys, flags, and t-shirts because it can create high-resolution, full-color designs with precise details and gradients. It’s also a common medium for making artwork, presents, and promotional goods. This method excels on polyester or polymer-coated substrates as the ink adheres more strongly with these materials.

sublimation printer

As this method only uses the amount of ink that is actually needed for each print, sublimation printing reduces waste compared to conventional printing methods, making it a more cost-effective way to create art, which is important, especially if you want it for commercial reasons.

sublimation printer 2

Nowadays, graphic designers and DIYers are often experts at digital art but may be a little less familiar with sublimation printers, especially if they are beginners. So, choosing the correct sublimation printer can be difficult. However, we will discuss the best options based on each machine’s printing area, overall printing quality and resolution, ink systems as well as ease of use since this guide is aimed primarily at people now learning to use this medium. We will also discuss the most appropriate choices for beginners and professionals now delving into this art, who are interested in wide format printers and heat transfer options, as well as an affordable option for those looking into all-in-one solutions, as they will require specific choices.

 

Selection Criteria for Sublimation Printing 2023—Buying Guide

Sublimation Paper Print Size:

When looking for the best sublimation printer for beginners, it is essential that you have in mind the largest paper size that can be printed on. If you want to print on big objects like banners, flags, or upholstery, this is a crucial factor.

Sublimation Printing Quality

Always aim to get a printer that can print in high quality, with clear text and bright colors, as will be explored further in our next point. The quality of printed materials improves as printer resolution rises, so aim for the highest-resolution sublimation printer that your budget can afford.

Sublimation Ink System

Full-color graphics with gradients and photographic pictures are possible with sublimation printing but not with conventional screen printing. A printer with more ink options is preferable since it allows for finer gradations of color and, consequently, more realistic colors in your print.

There are two varieties of dye-sublimation inks used by sublimation printers: cartridges and bulk ink systems. While bulk ink systems are more cost-effective in the long run, they also require more maintenance than cartridges.

Sublimation Printing Ease of Use

Try to find a printer that doesn’t take a lot of time to install and learn how to use. If you’re just getting started with sublimation printing, this is vital information.

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Top Product Recommendations for the Best Sublimation Printer for Beginners 2023

  1. Overall Best Beginner Sublimation Printer: Epson WorkForce WF-7720
  2. Best Wide Format Sublimation Printer: Epson EcoTank ET-7750
  3. Best Sublimation Printer for Heat Transfer: Sawgrass SG500
  4. Best Sublimation Printer for Home Use: Lexmark MC3224dwe
  5. Best Sublimation Printer for Business Use: Sawgrass SG1000
  6. Best Affordable Sublimation Printer: Brother MFC-J995DW 

1. Overall Best Beginner Sublimation Printer—Epson WorkForce WF-7720

Epson WorkForce WF-7720

Selection Criteria

  • Sublimation Paper Print Size – 10/10
  • Sublimation Printing Quality – 9/10
  • Sublimation Ink System – 9/10
  • Sublimation Printing Ease of Use – 10/10

About Epson WorkForce WF-7720

Epson WorkForce WF-7720 all-in-one printer prints wide format (13 by 19 inches) papers and tabloid size scans, copies, and faxes (11 by 17 inches). In general, Epson models with wide-format printing capabilities are valuable in and of themselves because of the increased surface area they provide for designing and printing, especially when you are looking for a starter sublimation printer that will be able to follow you throughout your learning process.

A single-pass auto-duplexing automated document feeder is only one of the many high-quality productivity and convenience features this sublimation printer boasts (ADF).

The WF-7720 can handle more than 500 sheets of paper from a variety of sources, including two 250-sheet drawers up front and a single-sheet override tray at the back. Similar to its predecessor, the two cassettes can be arranged to accommodate media up to 13 by 19 inches, 20 sheets of quality picture paper, and ten No.10 envelopes.

The printer’s dimensions of 16.5 by 22.3 by 17.8 are to be expected, as it needs to accommodate the printing of wide papers, but it also means that it requires more vertical space than comparable computers. If we’re talking about durability, this printer is in a league of its own; it’s entirely molded from hard plastic, making it one of the most sturdy on the market.

The new control panel is perhaps the most noticeable improvement to the WF-7720. The buttons and number pad are larger and more aesthetically pleasing, and the touch screen is about an inch larger in surface area, making it easier to touch icons in a hurry.

Epson included touch controls but also provided a set of physical buttons next to the display for instant access to often-used functions. Tactile and easy to push, the buttons are a delight to use. Simple up-and-down tilting of the display allows for customization of viewing angles.

As is typical of Epson printers, the WF-7720 produces high-quality prints. The quality of the text was excellent, from the smallest sized eight fonts to the largest 96-sized fonts we printed, making it suitable for dye sublimation printing of not only images but also accompanying texts and line graphics.

The business charts and graphs I printed looked fine as well, with the exception of a few instances of very subtle banding and a few instances in which colors and grays appeared darker than they should have. Nonetheless, depending on your standards, this might not even be noticeable.

By adding sublimation ink, Epson’s WorkForce WF-7720 is a top-notch choice for a multifunction desktop printer. This printer is capable of meeting your production needs rapidly, with the highest print quality, so you can enjoy learning the sublimation process and then some.

Pros:

  • A multifunction printer that accepts specialist sublimation ink
  • Wide-format
  • Great print quality
  • Wireless printing

Cons:

  • High ink cost
  • Takes a lot of space

2. Best Wide Format Sublimation Printer: Epson EcoTank ET-7750

Epson EcoTank ET-7750

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Selection Criteria

  • Sublimation Paper Print Size – 10/10
  • Sublimation Printing Quality – 9/10
  • Sublimation Ink System – 10/10
  • Sublimation Printing Ease of Use – 9/10

About Epson EcoTank ET-7750

The Epson EcoTank ET-7750 is a great choice if you need a wide-format printer to start sublimation printing but also value the flexibility of an ink tank system. The ET-7750 is the perfect sublimation printer for beginners due to its low learning curve, versatility in media conversion, high-quality output, and affordable price based on its performance.

The Epson is simple to set up and use, especially with the Epson iConnect mobile app, and it produces quite quiet prints, despite its high speeds. The app’s failure to associate the printer with your Wi-Fi network means that you’ll have to manually enter your password using the printer’s small display and accompanying buttons. Because of this, the initialization process takes much longer than necessary.

We tested it against the smallest print fonts possible, and it was always legible, while the larger ones were sharp and uniform. There was no smearing or excess inking when using with a sublimation ink kit or its own refillable ink cartridges. In addition, you receive five ink bottles, one of which is picture black, which gives prints a significantly richer tonal range and is ideal for making black-and-white transfers.

Documents of up to A3 size can be printed in full color in a matter of minutes thanks to the uniform and speedy application of four dyes. The Epson EcoTank ET-7750 really shines, though, when it comes to printing graphics. The superiority of utilizing a photo black pigment in addition to the black dye is clearly visible in every image, as is the incredible level of detail that is on display.

It’s also reasonably quick. It consistently produced quality results throughout the test, and of course, it never once ran out of ink.

Fortunately, there is an SD card slot and a USB port on the front of the device, as well as a USB input and an Ethernet port on the back, so you can even bypass the use of a computer, if you plan on sharing this sublimation printer with other artists.

One paper tray can hold up to 100 sheets of ordinary paper, another can handle envelopes or photo paper, and the third can print directly onto printable CDs or DVDs. This Epson printer features a rear paper tray that can accommodate either A3 or tabloid-sized paper, making it ideal for printing on t-shirts and other large items. Note that while it can print color papers at that size, it cannot print photographs on glossy A3 paper.

Pros:

  • One of the best dye sublimation printers for wide format
  • High print quality on all font and graphics sizes
  • Features refillable cartridges
  • Multiple paper trays
  • Can add sublimation ink in this printer’s ink tanks

Cons:

  • Small display, compared to competition
  • Lacks auto feeder

3. Best Sublimation Printer for Heat Transfer—Sawgrass SG500

Sawgrass SG500

Selection Criteria

  • Sublimation Paper Print Size – 8/10
  • Sublimation Printing Quality – 10/10
  • Sublimation Ink System – 10/10
  • Sublimation Printing Ease of Use – 10/10

About Sawgrass SG500

A standard printer’s warranty will be voided if you convert it to sublimation, so the Sawgrass SG500 is a good option if that’s a concern. The SG500 gives you the best possible head start with sublimation because it was made with that process in mind and comes with high-quality Sublijet inks.

The Sawgrass SG500 is unquestionably one of the best sublimation printers for beginners who want to get started printing as soon as they open the box. Sawgrass printers come with a premium membership to the Creative Studio software, which makes it much easier to create designs for sublimation than using a standard design program thanks to the thousands of included templates and a free one-on-one onboarding and setup call to ensure that you have no problems getting it up and running.

It’s built with the bare minimum of features and has a minimal control panel up front. The panel has a backlit LED display, physical buttons, and indicators.

On the right side of the device is the power button. Replacement ink cartridges can be inserted from the front of the device. The Ethernet and USB ports are concealed by a little cover on the left side. The back of the printer has a slot specifically for unjamming any stuck paper.

To get the SG500 up and running for the first time, you need only to spend a few minutes on the basic setup. Very little explanation is necessary.

When it comes to print quality, the device holds up well, displaying very accurate colors and a respectable dynamic range while also proving to be quite cost-effective in the long run. When printing, this Sawgrass sublimation printer is equipped to handle only sublimation transfer paper required for the process. These equipment are top-of-the-line in their field, providing an exhaustive array of options to cater to the needs of sublimation printing.

Although these printers are more expensive than others that are compatible with them, they are well worth the investment if you want to use the printer professionally along with a heat press.

The ink price is the only true drawback for beginners since it is substantially pricier than the budget inks available for competitors. Nevertheless, since a set of inks is included with the printer, the total package is even better value for money. Keep in mind that you will not need to buy special sublimation ink often, as it does not dry out easily, unlike ink cartridges for your inkjet printer.

Pros:

  • Two-year printer warranty
  • High print quality for first sublimation printer, as well as commercial use
  • Creative Studio software is included in the bundle
  • Customer support available for the life of product

Cons:

  • High initial cost, especially to buy sublimation ink – unless you opt for a bundle deal
  • Need special sublimation paper

4. Best Sublimation Printer for Home Use—Lexmark MC3224dwe

Lexmark MC3224dwe

Best Sublimation Printer for Beginners Selection Criteria

  • Sublimation Paper Print Size – 8/10
  • Sublimation Printing Quality – 9/10
  • Sublimation Ink System – 9/10
  • Sublimation Printing Ease of Use – 10/10

About Lexmark MC3224dwe

In terms of print quality and speed, the Lexmark MC3224dwe is comparable to other sublimation printers for beginners, but its high running costs and absence of an automatic document feeder limit it to home use.

Due to its small size and light weight, this starter sublimation printer can be quickly and easily set up and relocated. It is very flexible as its built-in web gateway gives users access to a wide variety of features, especially for the sublimation printing technique.

It is important to remember that the printer is laser-type and can print in color. The printer’s 600 x 600 dpi resolution allows for sharper text and more vibrant colors while printing, so you don’t have to worry about sharp graphics and text. The color prints come out evenly distributed and sharp.

This multifunction color laser printer can automatically print on both sides of a page, for 250 pages continuously without jamming. We consider this to be one of the best starter sublimation printer, as it can print around 22 pages per minute in both black and color. The first page comes out in only 11 seconds, which is really quick. The printer has little trouble keeping up with such rapid printing, especially in a home environment, because of its 512 MB of Memory and 1 GHz Dual Core CPU.

Features such as the Lexmark Android Mobile Printing & Cloud Connector app and the Lexmark iOS Cloud Connector app are included to facilitate seamless integration. The security feature built into Lexmark contributes to a less risky data environment. Those who know a document’s PIN are the only ones who can print it.

Pros:

  • One of the top sublimation printers for home environments
  • High quality of final prints
  • Easy to use interface

Cons:

  • High operation costs, when used with sublimation inks

5. Best Sublimation Printer for Business Use—Sawgrass SG1000

Sawgrass SG1000

Best Sublimation Printer for Beginners Selection Criteria

  • Sublimation Paper Print Size – 10/10
  • Sublimation Printing Quality – 10/10
  • Sublimation Ink System – 10/10
  • Sublimation Printing Ease of Use – 10/10

About Sawgrass SG1000

If you are looking for a Sawgrass sublimation printer that is both beginner friendly and can handle the demands of a business, then the SG1000 could well be an option to consider.

Opening the box, The Sawgrass SG1000’s compact and stylish design makes it convenient to transport and store, just like the SG5000 that we reviewed above. There are a power cord and a USB cable, along with everything else you need to get the most out of your new purchase, inside the box. The setup process is easy to complete without many unnecessary steps.

The difference between the two Sawgrass models is that the SG1000 offers a much larger printing area. Where the SG5000 works on an 8.5 by 14 inches area, the SG1000 gives you the option to extend the area to 13 by 19 inches, which allows it to create graphics for products even larger than t-shirts, including flags and pillows, among others.

If you require professional prints, the Sawgrass SG1000 printer is an excellent choice. The color correcting technology that is integrated into the device ensures accurate printing every time, which is invaluable, especially for beginners. Sawgrass’ cutting-edge Ultra High Definition (uHD) printing technology drives this machine, making it one of the best sublimation printers on the market.

Pros:

  • High-quality results, with the help of the integrated color-correcting technology
  • Large printing space, up to 19 inches
  • Easy to operate, out of the box

Cons:

  • Offers only sublimation prints, so no way to change media for printing

6. Best Affordable Sublimation Printer—Brother MFC-J995DW

Brother MFC-J995DW

 

Best Sublimation Printer for Beginners Selection Criteria

  • Sublimation Paper Print Size – 9/10
  • Sublimation Printing Quality – 9/10
  • Sublimation Ink System – 8/10
  • Sublimation Printing Ease of Use – 9/10

About Brother MFC-J995DW

The Brother MFC-J995DW All-in-One Printer is an affordable option with a solid set of capabilities tailored to the needs of sublimation printing. It has features not seen on rival models, including automatic two-sided printing and the ability to print from and scan to a variety of memory devices.

The device has a flatbed scanner that can handle sheets as large as 8.5 by 11 inches, but does not have duplexing capabilities. Nonetheless, the automatic document feeder feature is available, with a maximum resolution of 1200 DPI, which is quite high, especially if you are in the habit of scanning images to incorporate into your art designs.

Following the on-screen instructions to get the device up and running is a breeze. Simply plug it in, hit the power button, load the cartridges, select wireless or wired connection, and you’ll be good to go.

There’s a decent dynamic range, improved color accuracy, and razor-sharp clarity in our affordable sublimation choice. However, we recommend that the device’s default color profile be adjusted to “vivid” for best print results.

To that end, the MFC-J995DW can crank out 12 black-and-white pages per minute and ten color pages per minute. You can even use sublimation paper in the two paper trays without an issue.

The MFC-J995DW has a 100-sheet cassette up front and a one-sheet bypass or multipurpose tray in the back for handling various paper sizes.

Overall, in spite of its low price point, this is one of the best sublimation printers for beginners, as it is straightforward to use and offers great color printing and photo printing options.

Pros:

  • Cheapest sublimation printer, in relation to its print quality and features it offers
  • Easy to use printer software

Cons:

  • Lacks duplex scanner

Conclusion—The Best Sublimation Printers for Beginners 2023

If you are interested in starting out with sublimation printers, you need to first decide if you are looking for a dye sublimation substitution for an all-in-one inkjet printer or if you are on the market for your first purebred sublimation printer.

For cartridge-free printing, our finest sublimation printer is the Epson EcoTank ET-7750. This model offers a wide printing area, as well as the highest print quality one can expect from a conversion printer.

If you’re looking for a professional printer that was built for sublimation printing, go no further than the Sawgrass SG500 or SG1000, depending on the area of printing that interests you. When it comes to sublimation printing, only Sawgrass sublimation printers are purpose-built machines, whereas all other printers are only compatible.

We hope you found our analysis of the best sublimation printer for beginners of 2023 to be helpful. Consult our associated guides for further sources of comparable items for the artistic lifestyle.

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