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We know how confusing it can be to see a printer feature that says: “uses sublimation technology” or “can be used for heat transfer” but these statements mean different things to different hobbyists. Let’s clear the air when it comes to what printers can and cannot be used as a sublimation printer…and WHY.
For the most part, whether or not a printer will be capable of producing sublimation transfers for a heat press application comes down to the printing technology. Printers use either thermal (heat) technology or what’s called Piezo (pressure) technology.
In short, thermal printers will NOT work with sublimation ink, but Piezo printers WILL work for sublimation.
Easiest Printers to Convert to Sublimation
Some of the easiest models of Piezo Printers capable of sublimation are the Epson EcoTank Series. You can use any of these Epson Printers for Sublimation: EcoTank 2700, 2800, 3750, 4700, 15000, 16000, etc. and anything in between as they are inkjet printers, capable of sublimating.
Be sure to check the table below for print size and pros and cons of each model.
Best Places to Get Inkjet Printers for Sublimation Use
If you can find a Sublimation capable inkjet printer in the aisles of Costco or Walmart, grab it. But we’ve noticed supply is not keeping up with demand and so we normally buy online.
Be sure to shop around for the best price, here is a Link to check supply of EcoTanks on amazon, but you can sometimes find these printers cheaper, refurbished, right on the epson site clearance section.
But there is more to learn, especially about all the different Epson printers and we put it in a nice table for you below…so let’s dive in….
Can I Use my HP Printer for Sublimation?
If you have a HP home or office printer you will not be able to convert it for sublimation. That’s because most HP printers disperse ink onto paper using the thermal heat process.
This makes nearly all HP printers incapable of printing a clear image using sublimation ink because the ink would essentially bake onto the paper or gas out of the cartridges during the printing process.
What About HP Actual Sublimation Printers?
HP does have a line of printers that CAN and DO support sublimation ink, and UV ink. This special line of printers can print onto sublimation paper or directly onto fabric. They are huge, expensive, industrial printers made for the job.
How much are these printers? HP’s entry level industrial sublimation printer is about $7,000 USD, and that doesn’t include inks. As you can see, these are not for hobby sublimators.
Conclusion: HP Printers Cannot Be Used for Sublimation
Can I Use a Brother Printer for Sublimation?
Some people have successfully used Brother printers for sublimation. Most Brother printers do use piezo printing technology. But the bigger problem with Brother printers is that no one is making sublimation ink for them and no one is making “replaceable” cartridges for them.
This means print quality suffers tremendously because you cannot setup an ink profile. When you do sublimation, you need your end products to look sharp and vivid. For this reason, Brother printers are not ideal unless you are a hobby only sublimator. Still, you may soon get annoyed with untrue colors and fuzzy designs.
Bad results are often the reason people quit sublimating, and you can read more on our home page.
There are some forums where people talk extensively about using Brother printers for sublimation. Just google it, or here is one link to a rather extensive review (link to reviews).
Conclusion: Brother printers can work for sublimation with Sub-Par Results – Fingers Crossed for Improvement!
Are Canon Printers Good for Sublimation?
Canon makes answering this question easy. No, Canon printers cannot be used for sublimation or converted to be used for sublimation. They use thermal printing technology which would negatively impact sublimation ink.
But what about the Canon Sublimation printer? I know, I know,…most people have heard that Canon makes a dye sublimation printer and it confuses people for obvious reasons.
The Canon Dye Sublimation Selphy Printers (link to check product) are the coolest little desktop printers but they are not sublimation printers. Rather, they use sublimation ink and a built-in heater to sublimate your photos onto clear film. They do not allow you to insert paper and print out sublimation prints.
Conclusion: You Cannot use Canon printers for Sublimation and don’t be confused by Canon’s sublimation desktop photo printer.
Which brings us to ……
Can All Epson Printers Be Used for Sublimation?
All Epson Printers use Piezo print technology which is exactly why so many people turn them into sublimation ink printers. Let’s break it down into ACTUAL sublimation printers and “CAPABLE” sublimation printers.
Epson ACTUAL Sublimation Printers
Epson does make a line of actual sublimation printers, and they come complete with incredible quality, sublimation ink and warranty for sublimation purposes.
At the time of this writing, the demand for these epson sublimation printers far outweighs supply, making them rather hard to score.
Here are some links to the model numbers and you can check on pricing and supply on Esty, which is the only place I’ve seen them on a regular basis:
- Epson F170
- Epson F570
- Epson F10070H
Given the short supply and higher price tags of these actual sublimation printers, many people end up using regular Epson printers, intended for home and office. .
Epson CAPABLE Sublimation Printers
Even though Epson does not sell these regular office printers as sublimation printers, if you use sublimation ink instead of the ink they come with, they will work for sublimation. The trade-off is… expect no tech support and no warranty once you pour sublimation ink into and Epson printer
Still, the cost to get up and running with an Epson printer CAPABLE of sublimation, is reasonable and makes it easy to accept the risks associated with voiding any warranties. And as for support, there are videos and facebook groups abound and you should have all the help you need.
Even though there will be plenty of help online, having a basic understanding of Epson’s Piezo technology can actually help you understand the basics. In short detail, the technology applies your printout to the paper using pulses or vibration. This means “no heat” which is good news for sublimation ink, because it activates when it’s heated.
What Epson printers can be used for sublimation printing?
All of the Below models are what most people are using for sublimation when they use an Epson printer. Please note that no matter which printer you select, you must buy Sublimation Ink because, remember…with the exception of the F-150, F-570 and F10070H are NOT sublimation printers. They will come with regular ink so you need to buy sublimation dye ink. (link to sublimation ink).
WF3540 WF3520 WF3640 WF3620 WF7010 WF7110 WF7510 WF7520 WF7610 WF7620 WF7710 WF7720 WF7210 WF2750 ET2720 ET2650 ET2750 ET4700 ET15000 ET 16000 ET 16500
It’s worth noting that Epson regularly retires model numbers and creates new ones. If you have an opportunity to buy a discontinued model, do not be afraid. There is plenty of support in the sublimation community.
This table includes affiliate links to amazon. If you see a blue link, you can click it to check pricing and availability on amazon marketplace.
| Epson Models | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| WF-Models 1000-7600 | Affordable | Must Buy Cartridges Max print 8.5″ Wide |
| WF-7710 (1 Paper Tray) | Affordable 13×19 Prints | Must Buy Empty Cartridges |
| WF-7720 (2 Paper Trays) | Affordable 13 x 19 Prints | Must Buy Empty Cartridges |
| EcoTank Models 2000-5000 | Affordable Fillable Tanks | Max Print Width 8.5″ |
| EcoTank 7700 (5 ink) See Below for 5 Ink* | Sleek, Low Profile | Max Print Width 8.5″ |
| EcoTank 7750 (5 ink) See Below for 5 Ink* | Sleek, Low Profile 11×17 Prints | Price |
| Epson 8500 – at Epson Site See below for 5 Ink | Sleek, low profile Borderless 8.5×11 | Max Print Width 8.5″ |
| Epson 8550 See Below for 5 ink | Sleek, Low Profile 13×19 Borderless | Price |
| EcoTank 15000 | Fillable Tanks 13×19 Prints | Price |
| EcoTank 16000 Models | Fillable Tanks 13×19 Prints | Price |
| Professional T3170 | 24″ Wide Prints Fast Print Speed Low Profile & Fillable Tanks | Price |
| Epson Models | Pros | Cons |
Don’t forget, you can also buy right on Epson.com. Sometimes they are out of stock, but when they are in stock, you will pay just the MSRP and that’s good news. You can click the link or banner below to check pricing and stock on Epson.com actual website:
Epson HomePage Link
Epson 8550 for Sublimation plus 7700 , 7750, 8500 are ALL Five (5) Ink Tank Printers capable of Sublimation
The Epson ET 7700 and 7750, slowly being replaced by the 8500 (at epson website) and 8550 can also be used for sublimation. A bonus for the 7750 (link to price check) is that it can print 11 x 17 and the 8550 can print 13×19. That’s great news for those of you looking for something bigger than 8.5″ Wide restrictions. Just know that the 7700, 7750, 8500 and 8550 have 5 ink tanks as follows:
- 2 tanks for black sublimation ink
- 1 for Cyan
- 1 for Magenta
- 1 for Yellow
When it comes to pouring in the black sublimation ink, we recommend using the same brand of black sublimation ink for each tank and pour enough into each black labeled reservoir that takes black ink.
Can Refurbished Epson Printers Be Converted to Sublimation?
Yes! We have successfully converted refurbished Epson printers to sublimation printers. We highly recommend staying inside the Epson family of certified resellers and make sure that the refurbished printer comes with a warranty.
The Epson store at amazon.com does have a refurbished section. You can check that out here: Epson Refurbished Section
Frankly, regardless of model, we cannot say enough great things about using Epson EcoTanks for sublimation. In my fun sub group people say:
Epson et-15000 it’s so easy to setup. You just pour sublimation ink in. It prints like a dream and can print 13X19 and the ink is cheaper than Sawgrass refills.
We have a handful of sublimation printers and our most recent purchase was the Epson ET 2720. You can watch a bunch of videos about it on our youtube channel –
Conclusion
Most home printers that have been sitting around cannot be turned into a sublimation printer. In order to have a chance at working the printer must be functioning properly and it must use Piezo Print Technology.
This means HP, Canon printers cannot be used in the art of sublimation since they do not use Piezo print technology.
Brother printers use Piezo technology but they have not gained popularity with the ink makers which means no printing profiles. You never think about printing profiles until you need to design something and have it look good on paper. Without printing profiles, results are fuzzy and off color.
Epson printers are the go-to printer for sublimators. This is because they use Piezo print technology and plenty of ink makers have created inks with good color profiles. This means beautiful results. Just remember printer warranties will likely be void because they are not sold as sublimation printers.
Regardless of which printer you choose, you must buy sublimation ink. None of the above printers come with sublimation ink. They usually come with pigment ink and that is useless in the art of sublimation.
Happy Sublimating!
For more info about starting your sublimation journey visit our introduction page