Which printer can be used for sublimation?

Sublimation printers are gaining immense popularity due to their wide application on various surfaces. From sublimation on a T-shirt to a glass panel and a mug, it’s an interesting process that draws attention.

But the bottom line is that you need to use the best dye-sublimation printers to get the results you want. If you are new to this process, let us guide you on how to manually select such printers.

So which printer can I use for sublimation?

Here is our selection of the best printers you can use for sublimation.

• Epson Workforce WF-7710
• Epson Stylus S88+
• Canon SELPHY CP1300
• Kodak Dock
• Brother MFC-J995DW

In the next section, we will explain how we chose them.

There are three criteria that your printer must meet in order to be used for sublimation.

Pressure Transfer: Sublimation is a process that involves pressure that conventional thermal printers cannot provide. Your printer must support piezo technology.

Sublimation paper support. Conventional printers usually support printing with their inks on plain paper. However, sublimation indicates a change in paper type. In fact, sublimation ink goes into a gaseous state when pressed to leave a better print.

Availability of CISS ink system: Ordinary printers can also be converted to sublimation printer under the condition that the CISS ink system is compatible.

So what does this system do? It comes in a kit and contains all the necessary elements to convert a regular printer into a sublimation one.

The Best Sublimation Printers

Epson Workforce WF-7710

Any workforce printer can sublimate as it contains a complete all-in-one toolkit that promotes various printing styles. The Epson Workforce WF-7710 is also equipped with a 4.3-inch touch screen, making it easy for beginners to operate. Print on the go via Wi-Fi, USB or Ethernet and it really works. This is essential if you are running a business where sublimation printing is the need of the hour.

Epson Stylus S88+

Most Epson printers support sublimation printing. But contrary to the myth that “sublimation printers are expensive”, Epson has introduced an effective model at an affordable price – Epson Stylus C88+.

With a fantastic print speed of 14 pages per minute, this printer is unrivaled in terms of print quality. This is the printer to start your sublimation journey with for all those new to sublimation.

Canon SELPHY CP1300

Oh, sublimation printers require a huge amount of space! Contrary to this claim, the Canon SELPHY CP1300 is the best sublimation printer that is highly portable, has a special ink for on-the-go printing, and also prints at 47 seconds per page.

While you may have to manually feed the print paper, it’s still worth it as you can print on the go from multiple input sources. Most importantly, if you are using it for your small business, the quality of the output can instantly lead to skyrocketing your business.

Kodak Dock

The Kodak Dock is another tiny sublimation printer that does the job just fine. Do you print postcards? Kodak Dock is what you need. Say goodbye to those messy cables hurting your printer.

Kodak Dock is still devoid of wires. You can use this sublimation printer wherever you are.

Brother MFC-J995DW

Like Epson, the Brother MFC-J995DW comes as a complete kit with ample space in the sublimation paper tray.

This device also includes a CIS scanner, so scanning and coloring photos can be done quickly. Taking it one step further, sublimation printing is now possible when connected to the cloud.

Can any printer be turned into a sublimation printer?

HP and Canon printers use thermal printing technology that does not support sublimation, while EPSON and some Brother models use piezo technology that allows conversion.

The good news is that you can still purchase a CISS ink supply system and connect to your existing printer over the Internet to see if sublimation is possible.

Conclusion

Each printer is built for a specific purpose. While converting an existing printer to a sublimation printer is exciting, you need to be careful about how long you will need it and what type of printing is required.

For long term use, it is always recommended to use the top five printers mentioned above as they are exclusively for sublimation and come as complete kits. As a result, you don’t have to spend a single penny extra.

Get your hands wet with these sublimation printers today and tell us about your experience!