What are the best sublimation printers of 2023? Here’s our shortlist of 5 dye-sublimation printers that can print on fabric and other hard surfaces, and the reasons why we selected them as the best choices to help your brand stand out in 2023 and beyond!
This list has been carefully curated to serve as an invaluable resource for anyone who wants to know more about this exciting technology and how it can be used to further your marketing goals in 2023!
introduction
Dye sublimation is a printing process that creates high quality, vivid images on fabric. This type of printing works by heating the dye inks to transfer them onto the substrate. The ink is heated so that it vaporizes then condenses onto the surface, leaving behind a solid coating of color.
This can be done with either an inkjet or laser printer.
A laser printer uses an intense beam of light which passes through a UV sensitive photopolymer plate to expose it to light. As the plate is exposed to this beam, it responds by hardening wherever it has been exposed to its optimum wavelength of light.

The HP Stitch S500 is a printer that can print directly onto fabric, making it perfect for printing custom t-shirts, blank pillows, or custom upholstery. The dye sublimations are made with high quality inks to provide vibrant colors that will not fade over time. The HP Stitch S500 has an automatic cutter to trim the fabric after printing, so you don’t have to worry about measuring and cutting yourself. This printer also offers wide format printing at 508 x 762 mm (20 x 30), so you can make large prints without any distortion or cropping.
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The Epson Workforce WF-7710 is one of the best sublimation printers in 2023 because it offers exceptional quality, speeds, and versatility. It can print with great accuracy onto fabrics as well as hard surfaces such as plastic, metal, or glass. This high speed printer is an excellent choice for businesses that need to print large quantities of custom designs quickly. The Epson Workforce WF-7710 prints up to 3840 x 1440 dpi at a maximum speed of 16 ppm. The printer also features a 3 year warranty so you can rest assured that your investment will last.
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The Mimaki TS100-1600 is a high speed printing system that prints at an impressive 1600mm/second. This printer supports fabric and hard surface sublimation printing in up to 1440 dpi resolution, making it one of the best printers available today. Plus, this machine comes with a large heated bed that can print an array of materials. It also has a touch screen interface with color LCD display, which makes it easier than ever to control the process from start to finish. No matter what you’re looking for in a printer, the Mimaki TS100-1600 will be able to do it all.
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The Brother MFC-J995DW is a great printer to get if you’re looking for something that can do both fabric dye sublimation printing as well as hard surface dye sublimation printing. It comes with a maximum print size of 12 x 18 which is big enough to do most projects you might have in mind, but not too big that it takes up too much space.
This printer has a six color print head with the ability to use three separate inks. You can adjust the speed of the print, or pause your prints at any time if needed. The cartridges are easy to replace and come in two different sizes depending on what you need them for, giving you more flexibility when it comes to how many colors you want in your design
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Do you need a sublimation printer? If so, the Canon Selphy CP1300 is one of the best options out there. This dye-sub printer is a compact photo printer that can print on hard surfaces like wood, metal, plastic and more. It also has a built in photo album maker to create professional quality photos in just seconds.
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Things to consider before buying Sublimation Printers for Dye Printing
What are the dimensions of the printer?
These printers range in size from 13x13x16 inches to 18x18x22 inches. The larger ones are best for hard surfaces, while the smaller ones work better with fabric. The more expensive printers are more durable, but you will have to pay a higher price upfront. Some of these machines come with built-in lighting which allows you to see the design better when printing on dark fabric or other dark surfaces
What is the ink coverage per square foot?
The ink coverage per square foot is a metric that tells you how much of the fabric will be printed with ink. This means that a higher number means that more of your fabric will be covered in ink, while a lower number means less of your fabric will be covered in ink. The industry standard is between 350 and 400 sq ft per gallon; however, there are some printers which can cover up to 800 sq ft per gallon. The coverage also depends on the type of print job you’re doing: if you’re printing an image, then it’ll have less coverage than if you’re printing text or line drawings.
What is the maximum printing width?
All of these printers have a maximum printing width of 24 inches. Some have the ability to print up to 36 inches, but this is not the standard.
How much resolution does it have?Does it need to be calibrated frequently, or can it self calibrate?
The printer I recommend is the Brother MFC-J6710DW. It has a resolution of 6000 x 6000 dpi (dots per inch), which is the standard for high quality printing. The ink used in this printer is dye sublimated, meaning it will not fade over time like other printers. Plus, it has wireless capabilities so you can print from anywhere in your home.
Does it need to be calibrated frequently, or can it self calibrate?
Having a printer that is calibrated frequently can be a pain in the neck. You’ll need to spend your time calibrating the unit, which could mean wasting valuable time and money.
Self calibrating printers are the way to go! They automatically take care of calibration so you don’t have to worry about it yourself. Plus, you’ll never need to worry about wasted ink or toner because self calibrating printers know when they’re out of ink or toner and will calibrate themselves when they need it!
What type of software is available with this model?
The Canon imagePROGRAF iPF8400 series is designed for graphic designers who need a printer that can quickly produce large, high quality prints. The iPF8400 accepts a wide range of media types, from paper to fabric to hard surfaces such as aluminum.
It has a high resolution print head that delivers outstanding detail, so you can print your designs in the finest detail possible. This printer features an intuitive control panel with large buttons that make it easy to start or stop the machine and troubleshoot when needed. You can also connect this model wirelessly using Apple AirPrint, Google Cloud Print or Wi-Fi Direct printing.
Is there an Ethernet port, or will I have to connect wirelessly (using Wi-Fi)?
The printer needs to be connected to the internet to properly function. It has an Ethernet port, but you can also connect wirelessly using Wi-Fi. If you plan on connecting wirelessly, make sure that you have a strong connection with a minimum of 10mbps download speed.
You’ll also need to find out what the Wi-Fi name is from your internet provider (many providers assign a unique name when setting up Wi-Fi). Once connected, the printer should automatically detect your wireless connection. If it doesn’t, enter the wireless settings manually into its settings menu or use a USB cable to connect it directly to your computer or router.
Is there an Ethernet port, or will I have to connect wirelessly (using Wi-Fi)?
The best way to connect your printer is by Ethernet, but if you are unable to, then the next best option is to connect wirelessly using Wi-Fi. If you decide to go this route, make sure that your computer is close enough to the printer so that there isn’t a significant lag when printing.
We recommend installing the drivers and software onto your computer first before connecting to the printer. You can find drivers on most of the manufacturer’s website (if you don’t know where they are located).
Can I use this with a Mac OS computer (e:g., Apple), or do I need Windows OS to run the printer drivers?
A question that often comes up when choosing a dye sub printer is whether or not it will work with a Mac OS computer. The answer to this question largely depends on the printer itself, as well as the type of machine being used. Some printers are specially made for Mac OS computers, but many of them can also be run through Windows OS. One important consideration is whether or not the machine has an in-built driver for Mac OS computers.
If you’re unsure about what you need, ask your printer manufacturer before purchasing a product. On the other hand, if you own a PC running Windows 7 or 8, then it will be necessary to purchase a printer running Windows operating system specifically designed to work with that type of machine.
Does it come in different sizes, i e., desk top models and larger models designed for production environments such as offices, schools, etc.?
Desk top models are perfect for a home office or small business. Larger models, designed to be used in production environments such as offices, schools, etc., can print faster and more smoothly than their smaller counterparts. However, they do not have the same versatility as desk top models; therefore it is important to determine the size of your space before purchasing one.
FAQS
What is the best quality sublimation printer?
There is no one best quality sublimation printer, but some are better than others. For example, the best quality printers are typically more expensive than those that are not of the same quality.
If you plan to print a lot of fabric, the best quality printer would be more cost effective in the long run than cheaper printers. However, if your needs for printing fabric are occasional or light, then you may not want to invest in a high-quality printer.
What is the difference between a sublimation printer and a dye sublimation printer?
There is not much difference between a sublimation printer and a dye sublimation printer. What is important to know, however, is that the terms are often used interchangeably when there is actually a key difference.
The term sublimation refers to the process of transferring heat from one substance to another without any physical contact.
This process has been applied to printing since it was invented by Georges Morel in 1867; this type of printing does not require ink or toner as it applies colors directly onto paper through heat. A dye sublimation printer uses heat from the print head to transfer dye from a ribbon onto paper or fabric without using ink or toner.
Is dye sublimation better than inkjet?
Dye sublimation is a printing process that uses heat to transfer dye onto a material. It may sound similar to inkjet, but there are many differences between the two methods of printing.
Inkjet is better suited for short runs, less than 100 copies, but dye sublimation can accommodate up to 2,000 copies. Another difference is that inkjet printers typically use liquid inks or toners while dye sub printers use paste inks which makes them more durable and suitable for outdoor use.
conclusion
The right printer can be the difference between a lackluster project and a masterpiece. It all depends on what type of fabric you’re using, but there are some sublimation printers that work better than others.
That being said, it is important to shop around for the best prices before purchasing your printer – there are many different brands, models, levels of quality, etc. Make sure you know what you’re looking for before making any commitments! For example, if you’re printing onto fabric, you’ll want to make sure that the ink isn’t going to rub off when washed.
If you’re printing onto hard surfaces (such as wood), then heat resistance is key. Do your research so that you can find out which printer will give you perfect results with minimal cost and frustration!
Last Updated on November 17, 2022