- LCD 3.2-inch screen
- 300X300 DPI resolution
- Dye-sublimation printing technique
- Glossy or matt prints
- Dust resistant housing
- Compatible with Mac and Windows
- 19 watts of power consumption
- 120 paper sheet input tray
- Compatible with Macintosh and Windows
Are you hearing the term sublimation printer for the first time? Well, if you have customised coffee mugs, t-shirts, or photo frames in your collection, then you must have used this printer. A sublimation printer is a device that processes thermal and heat printing. It implements heat to transfer the dye into various materials like metals, fabrics, wood, or plastic.
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A sublimation printer’s concept stands on the transition from a solid to a gas state without passing through the liquid form. It can help apply a dye with additional pressure and low temperature. The device ensures printing a firm design with no risks of overheating and smearing. Many printers use a dye in the intermediate layer to transfer it directly to the printing material.
The sublimation printers are perfect for crafty customers or small business owners. Nowadays, even many artists use this machine to capture high standard photos. Sublimation printers offer a special coating to produce detailed and crisp images with brighter hues and shades.
So if you are seeking the best sublimation printer for your studio, home, or business, then this review is perfect for you. We have decided to pick up the best seven sublimation printers to give a detailed overview, buying guide, and some FAQ on each of them. Are you already excited? Then pounce on further to read in detail.
Best Sublimation Printer Reviews
1. Epson Stylus C88+ Inkjet Printer
Epson Stylus C88+ is one of the best sublimation printers for beginners for those who are eager to learn dye sublimation. The printer comes with a maximum transfer size of 8.5 X 11 inches with 5760 x 1440 DPI and can be used with a CISS system. If you need to print something every 1 to 2 weeks, then it’s a great machine to start up with.
The tray of Stylus C88+ can carry 130 paper sheets, which means there is no need to change the paper very often. Epson claims that all the printout from this device is waterproof. There is a separate tank system present for which you do not need to replace the DURABrite pigment ink apparatus every time.
Besides, this device is compatible with both Macintosh and Windows through the Parallel and USB ports. C88+ can also take some professional smudge-resistant photos and documents on both glossy and plain photo paper.
Key Features:
- Compatible with Macintosh and Windows
- 120 paper sheet input tray
- 19 watts of power consumption
- 23 pages /minute Black and white printout
- 14 pages/ minute color printout
Specification:
- 19-watt power consumption
- Frame sizes of 5X7, 8.5X11, 4X6, 8X10
- 42 dB sound
- 50 to 95 degree Fahrenheit operating temperature
- 5760 X 1440 DPI
- Pros
- Water and smudge resistant photos
- Networking alternatives available
- Parallel and USB ports
- Software for photo editing
- 4 DURABrite well-pigmented inks
- Cons
- Speed might slow down while printing a large number of photos
2. Mitsubishi Compact Dye Sublimation Printer
Mitsubishi D70DW is one of the most lightweight and professional photo printers that are capable of printing 4 x 6 inches photos in just 8 seconds. All the images produced by this machine are of superfine matt finish quality. It can also print in numerous sizes like 2X6, 6X8, 3.5X5, 5X7, 4 X6, and 6X6 inches.
Moreover, D70DW operates in 3 printing modes of fine, ultra-fine, and superfine with high speed and resolution. There is no need for a media change in this device. It also includes an advanced and latest algorithm for image processing to improve the photos’ image sharpness and quality.
The machine also comes with inbuilt energy-saving facilities, including an entire cooling unit to regulate the print head’s internal temperature and power supply while printing. This also results in reduced energy consumption by this outstanding device from Mitsubishi.
Key Features:
- Compatible with Mac and Windows
- Dust resistant housing
- Glossy or matt prints
- 27 lbs of weight
- Full-featured photo
Specification:
- 4X6 inch photo in 8.4 seconds
- Compact and lustrous design
- Lightweight and compact design
- 300 DPI thermal head
- Connection through USB cable
- Pros
- Comes with a cooling system
- Three modes of Fine, Super Fine and Ultra Fine
- HD quality photos
- One year of warranty
- Thermal Printing technique
- Cons
- Make a little noise while printing
3. Canon SELPHY CP1300 Compact Photo Printer
SELPHY CP1300 is a wireless photo printer ideal for home and office use. This device allows you to print wireless through AirPrint, memory card, or Canon Print application directly from social media platforms like Instagram or Facebook. The device can also make a collage format of your favorite images through the photo booth or party shuffle style printing feature.
CP1300 prints the documents in numerous sizes and styles, including 4X6 (postcard), 2.1X3.4 (card), 3.5X4.7 (Large), and 2.1X2.1 (Square Label). All these outstanding features are more comfortable to use with 3.2 inches LCD flip-up color screen. It can print 4X6 inches documents or images within a minute with clear 300X300 DPI.
Now you can customize your printing requirement also with effects like portrait optimization, smooth skin facility, correction of red-eye. CP1300 has made editing and printing of documents fun and simple. With Pre-cut stock of the papers that are included in the bundle, print up to 108 numbers of 4X6 inches images effortlessly.
Key Features:
- 4X6 inches photo in less than 1 minute
- 300X300 DPI resolution
- Dye-sublimation printing technique
- LCD 3.2-inch screen
- A power adapter is present
Specification:
- 2.1X2.1, 3.5x4.7, 4x6, and 2.1X3.4 inches frame size
- Connectivity through PicBridge, AirPrint, Canon Print, and more
- Party Shuffle and Photobooth feature
- Multiple physical and wireless connections
- Collage printing facility
- Pros
- Can print 108 number of 6X6 color photos
- Tools for editing the photos
- Water-resistant and instant dry photos
- Alternative battery pack
- Portable and sleek design
- Cons
- Slow printing when connected through Windows Photo app
4. Brother MFC-J995DW INKvestmentTank Printer
MFC J995DW is one of the best printers for sublimation, perfect for small businesses and home use. It is an all-rounder device that can fax, print, and scans together. It offers a cool mix of convenient and productivity features that most of the small business owners love, mostly due to its heat press and thermal image printings.
Also, it includes high capacity ink with a low printing solution that makes it affordable also. Other notable features of this device are automatic both side printing. You can also print wirelessly or print through NFC or Ethernet connections without any difficulty. The 2.7 inches LCD touchscreen offers easy controls of the features.
MFC J995DW from Brother can print any vinyl, or photos and also do sublimation related work efficiently. There is an option to choose which type of material you need to be printed on. You can print large glossy prints with attractive texture, saturated colors, and fine details in simply 4 minutes.
Key Features:
- One year of an ink supply
- Reengineered cartridges of high-quality ink
- Innumerable Network connectivity options
- MFC J995DW ink cartridges
- Compatible with Mac and Windows
Specification:
- Wireless printing through AirPrint and Google Cloud Print
- Brother Page Gauge (2)
- Versatile handling of paper
- 2.7-inch color LCD touchscreen
- Operating temperature is 50 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit
- Pros
- Automatic two-sided printing
- Automatic document feeder
- 150 paper tray sheet
- One-touch NFC connection
- Super high yielded photos
- Cons
- Automatic dual side printing does not work on Copy and scan function
5. WorkForce WF-7710 Wireless Printer
The workForce is a Wi-Fi direct and wide format best sublimation printer that can connect with both smartphones and tablets. This inkjet printer can print anything Through AirPrint on both the sides of the material. If you have a small-scale business, then this printer is a must-have to enhance your productivity.
It is a heat transfer, capacious and advanced with Precision Core technology that allows you to print borderless photos up to 13X19 inches size. PrecisionCore is a pristine technology that can handle high-density printing chips. These print chips can produce up to 40 million pointed dots within seconds with an excellent grade, substantial speed, and accuracy.
It has a freightage of 250 sheets in the front that can print any black and white or color printouts with correctness. WF 7710 also contains rear trays that help the user in case of special paper for envelope printing. 4 DURABrite with 252 ink cartridges is also present in this model of the best dye-sublimation printer.
Key Features:
- Scans 11X17 frame size document
- Wireless networking connectivity
- PrecisionCore technology
- Storage dimension is 22.3X19.1X13.4
- Print, scan, fax and copy all at the same time
Specification:
- The paper tray holds 10 envelope and 20 photo paper sheets
- Automatic 35-page document feeder
- Both sided printing technique
- 250 sheets of the paper tray
- Borderless printing for up to 13X19 image size
- Pros
- Consume 80% less power than other printers
- Comes with instruction manual and power cord
- 4 DURABrite ink cartridges
- Wireless printing from iPhone, iPad, Android Smartphones and Tablets
- 4.3 inch LCD touchscreen
- Cons
- Not so perfect in detecting printing sizes
6. WorkForce WF-7210 Wireless Printer
The 500 sheet capacity of WorkForce 7210 allows all the paper to be stored up without any necessity to replace them often. The PrecisionCore Technology of this printer offers performance that is beyond laser. It also prints shops like color graphics and sharp black and white text with complete perfection.
It can print any borderless image up to 13X19 sizes on various materials. It is, however, one of the most productive printers that use 80% less energy consumption when compared to laser color printers. WF 7210 comes with a facility of both side printing with up to 11X17 inches.
The machine can print wirelessly from any tablet, smartphone, iPhone, iPad, or desktop. The 2.2 inch LCD screen makes it easier for the user to set up and navigate the device. It comes with a dash replenishment feature that keeps track of the ink usage and alerts you when you might be running out of ink.
Key Features:
- 80% less energy consumption than the other color printers
- Prints up to 13X19 frame size
- PrecisionCore methodology
- CD ROM is present for driver installation
- 4X DURABrite ink cartridges
Specification:
- Dash replenishment feature
- Wireless networking and printing from iPhone, iPad, desktop, tablet
- Automatic dual side printing up to 11X17 frame size
- Dual tray 500 paper sheet capacity
- 125 paper sheet output tray
- Pros
- 2.2 inches LCD screen for simple navigation
- Instruction manual and power cord are included
- 18 paper/minute for black and white and 10 paper/ minute for color printout
- A rear feed is present for special paper printing
- Compatible with Windows and Mac
- Cons
- Require additional software to access the NFC
7. Epson Artisan 1430 Wireless Color
Epson Artisan is a wireless best printer for sublimation that can print high-end mugs, t-shirts, and more. It has taken color printing to the next level from the livery and performance perspective. All the printout from Artisan 1430 has high definition quality and brilliant prints that make it an all-time favorite in the industry.
This machine uses Claria Hi-Definition ink cartridges that can print four times longer than the normal cartridges. The best part of this best sublimation printer is that it produces scratch, fade, smudge, water-resistant printouts, a document, or an image. It can print up to 13X19 inches of gallery sized images.
Now you can print from anywhere in your office or home through wireless connectivity with this machine. You can also select sublimation printing on CD or DVD by connecting it with your tablet, iPhone, or desktop. The machine comes with a CD ROM containing all the necessary drivers and software for Windows and Mac OS compatibility.
Key Features:
- CD ROM to install the required drivers and software
- Inkjet printing technology
- Tray for CD and DVD printing
- Connects to a wireless Network
- High definition printout of 13X19 inches frame size
Specification:
- Ink droplets of 1.5 picoliters
- Tools for lighting and color corrections
- 5760X1449 DPI printing resolution
- 6 Claria Hi-Definition ink cartridges
- Compatible with Windows and Mac OS
- Pros
- Come with instruction and set manual and power cable
- Smudge and scratch proof, and fade and water resistant photos
- Borderless photo printing
- The 13-inch wide printing format
- 2.8 black and white, and color printing speed per minute
- Cons
- Can only accommodate papers that are less than 10 mm thick
Best Sublimation Printer Buying Guide
Please take a note of the below vital hallmarks before purchasing a sublimation printer.
- Printer Use
Printer use is a requirement that will help you to decide which sublimation printer you should shop for. Some models print images on the shirts, t-shirts, mugs, plaque, or the jerseys. On the other hand, there are some models of the printers which produce fade-resistant and smudge-proof photographs. Thus you have to be sure for what purpose you will be going to use that printer. In the market, you will find a professional one that is fit for a large business and the budgeted version that is mostly used by the small business owners or craft specialists.
- Media Form
The best sublimation printers use special paper that comes in a large roll for printing. The standard material sizes for printings are 4 x 6 inches, 3.5 x 5 inches, and 2 x 6 inches. Some advanced professional printers can accommodate larger sizes like 6 x 8 and 5 x 7 prints.
- Connectivity Options
The most refined models of sublimation printers can be connected to all operating systems like iOS, Windows, or Linux. Also, through a USB port, you can connect it to a MAC, laptop, smartphone, or PC. Also, the printers can be connected to the memory cards to print the photos directly. You can also connect the machines through Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. Thus sort out your connectivity options first and then finalize the model.
- Ink Type
Sublimation printers mainly use two types of ink: cartridge and ribbon ink. Without high-quality ink, the devices cannot perform with perfect speed and efficiency. For the professional models, ribbon ink is most suitable, while the cartridge ink is ideal for the budgeted models.
- DPI or Resolution
DPI indicates the resolution, brightness, sharpness, and clarity of the printing. Dots per inch or DPI deals with the images’ dot density. It is needless to say that the higher the resolution, the higher will be the sharpness. We suggest going for a minimum of 300 dpi of the best dye-sublimation printers for all the average customers. If you are looking for one with higher clarity, then you can opt for 600 DPI as well. All the photo labs have installed 1200 DPI in their studio labs for gallery-like image quality. Thus before deciding on the DPI number, decide on what and which type of print media you will be using.
FAQ’s
Can I use any printer for sublimation?
No, you cannot use any printer for sublimation. The manufacturer designed the printers meant for this purpose with special print heads and ink cartridges that are not present in the normal ones.
How long can the ink last in a sublimation printer?
The sublimation printer ink comes with a specific shelf life. Keeping them inside the printer for long without any use might cause a color shift, banding, or head clogging of the machine. All the ink cartridges come with an expiry date of 6 months within the installation.
What is the cost of the best sublimation printer?
Sublimation printers are not at all costly. The range of sublimation printers with average printing capabilities varies from $300 to $500. However, printers with higher capabilities and features will cost you more.
At what temperature the sublimation printers can operate?
The best sublimation printer for beginners generally operates at 400 degrees Fahrenheit, along with moderate to high pressure on the printing material.
On what materials sublimation printers can be used?
You can use a sublimation printer on various resources like signage, apparel, photo paper, rigid products, knitting, and woven materials, plastic, aluminum, ceramic, and fiberglass.
Final Verdict
We hope you have already found your printer that will meet all your needs- personal or commercial from the lists of this sublimation printer review. Choose any model from the above sublimation printers with quick production, high-resolution printout, and low cost. If you have any more queries, then do leave a comment for us, and we will surely get back to you.
