Do you want to get into sublimation printing for the sake of crafting or starting a small business? Many people enjoy crafts as a recreational activity, but if you want to turn this into a business, you must use the highest quality sublimation transfers. However, in order to meet your printing needs, you must have the best sublimation printer for craft.

Sublimation printing is the newest craft trend for transferring intricate and beautiful full-colour designs onto projects. To print bespoke designs quickly and effectively, higher-end compatible equipment is required.

Printing is the bread and butter of crafters and do-it-yourselfers, and high-quality customizations are possible with good equipment. But in the market there is quite a variety that makes it difficult for you to choose one. Don’t worry, we got you covered. This is a detailed guide all about sublimation printers for craft work.

List of The Best Sublimation Printers for Crafts:

Here are reviews of the top best sublimation printers for craft work that you can consider. Take a look and assess which one you can buy suiting your needs.

1. Epson Workforce WF 7720 Inkjet Printer

This model, like the Epson 7710, features 2-sided automatic printing but at a faster print speed of 18 ppm for black and 10 ppm for coloured prints.

With a paper capacity of 500 sheets thanks to its dual trays, it is most likely the most versatile printer. The printer also has a tray for special papers. Butcher paper, for example, can take up the entire space in the special paper tray if you need it for sublimation projects. The 7720, like its predecessor, is equipped with four DURABrite Ultra Ink cartridges (CMYK).

2. Epson Workforce WF-7710 Dye Printer

The printer can load up to 250 sheets at a time, eliminating the need to frequently refill the tray. This machine is an excellent choice for printing pamphlets, posters, and documents due to its versatile media support. The printer uses 4x DURABrite Ultra Ink cartridges for the most vibrant transfers (CMYK).

3. Canon Selphy CP1300 Compact Sublimation Printer

You can also order Instagram square prints for your friends and family. The Selphy CP1300 can print on a variety of media, like cards, photo paper, labels and postcards.

Print from your USB drive or use the wireless connectivity option for convenience. The printer also has a party shuffle mode, which allows your friends or family to send different photos, which the CP1300 will combine in a collage and print.

4. Canon Pixma MG3620 Sublimation Printer

The fast print speed is another great feature that helps to print in bulk and save time. The printer has a monochrome print speed of 9.9 ppm and a colour print speed of 16 ppm. Use the auto-duplexer to get the most out of printing on both sides.

Despite its compact design, the Canon printer can hold up to 100 sheets of paper in the input tray and is fully compatible with media such as glossy photo paper, lustre paper, envelopes, and so on.

Furthermore, the printer employs proprietary inks, so you can expect higher-quality print results. It also aids in cost-per-page savings.

5. Mitsubishi CP-K60DW-S Dye Printer

The printer has several printing modes for improved performance, including Ultra Fine, Fine, and Matte (Ultra Fine, Matte) (Fine). The K60’s ability to print on two different media formats (68 and 46 inches) from a single paper roll is one of its most impressive features.

Instead of the infusible ink concept, this printer’s dye sublimation processes for photo printing use sublimation ink for hard and soft applications. When you use high temperatures for the transfer, the ink becomes solid on the paper.

6. Epson Artisan 1430 Dye Sublimation Printer

The Artisan 1430 works with a variety of media sizes. Printing options include CD, DVD, glossy paper, matte paper, plain paper, watercolour paper, and semi-gloss photo paper.

Claria ink cartridges are incredibly simple to use. With six individual colour ink cartridges available (light cyan, cyan, magenta, light magenta, black and yellow), you can always replace the most frequently used one rather than the entire printer.

7. Brother MFC-J995DW Inkjet Printer

Furthermore, the printer prints at a high speed of 10 ppm in colour and 12 ppm in black and white. It also has an ADF feeder that can hold up to 50 sheets and supports two-sided printing.

The adjustable paper tray can hold a variety of paper types, such as photo paper, card stock, plain paper, and so on. It also has a capacity of 150 sheets of paper. To save time and money on printing, the Brother MFC-J995DW printer uses four separate individual INKvestment Tanks and comes with a year’s worth of cartridges in a box.

Buying Guide for The Best Sublimation Printer for Craft:

Getting the best quality products does not mean investing in the most expensive one by a well-known brand; rather, it means getting the best product for the money. Examine the buying guide thoroughly to ensure that you do not overlook any important information.

1.)  Inkjet Printing vs. Sublimation Printing:

Both printing technologies are well-known and used for a variety of purposes. These, on the other hand, differ in every way. Sublimation and inkjet printing have nothing in common except the ability to produce high-quality photographs.

Sublimation printing:

It also known as dye sublimation printing, entails using special sublimation ink to print on heat-resistant paper. After that, the prints are transferred to the appropriate media. Working on fabric keeps the printed colours vibrant while keeping the fabric soft.

Dye sublimation printers are ideal for photo booths and businesses with a high print volume.

1.) Inkjet Printing:

To print on media, inkjet printing uses liquid inks that are converted into microscopic droplets. These printers are primarily used for graphical prints and text documents, as well as for general business purposes.

2.) Narrow Format:

Narrow format printers are similar to wide-format printers. These machines can also handle higher print volumes and are commonly used in busy offices. These multifunctional printers are used for a variety of prints on sublimation paper rolls ranging in size from 22 to 44 inches.

Print Size: Because crafting a Cricut design requires different media sizes, you must have a sublimation printer that can handle a wide range of media sizes. Sublimation printers are classified into three types based on the media size that they can accommodate:

3.) Wide Format:

These are freestanding models that are commonly used in business settings. Wide-format printers can easily handle higher print volumes. They can print on a variety of large media sizes ranging from 40 inches to 104 inches. Oh, so lovely!

4.) Ink quality:

A high-quality ink is required to produce the best prints. To achieve the desired results, ensure that the printer uses machine-compatible high-quality sublimation ink.

To print on a variety of materials, ensure that the ink is suitable for printing on coloured polyester, cotton, or rayon.

Some printers only accept ink from the original manufacturer, which raises the overall operating cost unless the inks are reasonably priced. You can also purchase third-party inks, but make sure they are compatible with your printer.

Sublimation ink is supplied with syringes for simple tank refilling. Take care not to overfill it. You can check the ink level on the front of the printer.

5.) Print Resolution:

When choosing the best printer for Cricut Maker projects, this should be your top priority. Dots per inch (DPI) is the number of dots printed on a square inch and is used to measure print resolution.

DPI indicates print clarity, sharpness, and density, so choose wisely. The majority of printers have a minimum DPI of 300, which is adequate for consumer models.

6.) Desktop Format:

Print media that is small enough to fit on your work desk or table is referred to as a desktop format. These printers are best suited for t-shirt printing. The media sizes supported range from 8.5″ x 11″ to 13″ x 19″.

7.) Print Speed:

Who doesn’t appreciate a printer’s quick printing speed? It allows you to work on a large volume in less time. So, don’t forget to look for a printer with a reasonable printing speed so that you can print the majority of your items in less time.

8.) Connectivity:

Many people overlook this feature at first and later regret it. It is a true blessing to have a printer with multiple connectivity options. Fortunately, sublimation printers have excellent connectivity options, such as wireless printing and Mac and Windows compatibility.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Q1. Can I sublimate with any printer?

A.   Unfortunately, no. Not every printer is suitable for sublimation printing because only a few printers can print on sublimation paper. The ink will not work on the paper if you use a standard printer. This is because dye sublimation inks are used by sublimation printers to permanently transfer the ink onto the media.

Furthermore, these printers print sublimation ink using a specialised sublimation heat transfer method that no other printer can do.

Q2. Why Should I Invest in Specialised Sublimation Blanks?

A.   On rigid surfaces such as glassware, phone cases, tiles, cutting boards, and so on, sublimation blanks produce excellent prints. The primary advantage of using specific sublimation blanks is that they are coated with a polymer.

At high temperatures, the pores in this coating open up, allowing the ink to infuse onto the media in a gaseous state. This ensures that the prints will not fade over time.

Conclusion

It is difficult to choose the best Cricut printers for DIYers and small businesses from among all of the high-quality sublimation printers unless you have all of the necessary information. These printers will work best for you if you need business printing mugs or merchandise.

To turn your small business into a thriving sublimation shop, make sure you don’t overlook the essentials and get your hands on the best craft sublimation printer.