Though the best sublimation printer claim to be suitable for sublimation, very few of them are actually efficient and can meet the required subliming demands. An apt printer for sublimation is one that gives off good sublimating results without damaging the material.
Finding the best sublimation printer can be extremely challenging, as the ideal sublimation characteristics are hard to find simultaneously in a printer. But contrary to what some people think, there are a few printers that can indeed satisfy your subliming demands.
Check out the following context if you want to know which is the best sublimation printer. Here you will find a detailed guide on some of the best sublimation printers and will know what specifications make them better than others.
7 Best Sublimation Printers
The following are the top picks for the Best Sublimation Printer. All these printers offer various features; you can choose the one which fulfills your subliming needs better.
Canon SELPHY TM CP1300 Wireless Compact Photo Printer
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| Model Name | Canon CP1300 |
| Connectivity Technology | USB |
| Printing Technology | Dye Sublimation |
| Max Print Speed (Color) | 1ppm |
| Max Print Speed (Monochrome) | 1ppm |
| Color | Black |
| Price | See on amazon |
Production Description
Canon SELPHY is one of the top-rated sublimation printers on Amazon. Contrary to traditional printers, it can do color and monochrome printing simultaneously.
Canon printers are known for their remarkable printing quality, and this one is no different. SELPHY works on dye sublimation technology that uses heat energy to transfer the desired image to the substrates.
Compared to its predecessor, this one has a bigger screen size and better user interface, whereas all the other specifications remain identical. Earlier, Canon printers used to have cable connection; but this one being more advanced, can be operated via USB, WiFi, and SD cards.
Usually, sublimation printers can be pretty heavy and large, but SELPHY being ahead of its time, is lightweight and portable. The printer comes with a few sample ink cartridges. With each kit, you can sublime up to five substrates. Once the kits run out, you will have to purchase cartridges on your own.
Being better in quality and more efficient in functionality, Canon ink kits are costlier than other brands. Though you can employ ink cartridges from other brands, using the Canon ink kits with the SELPHY printer is encouraged to bring out the best results.
Canon SELPHY has every desired feature for sublimating. However, this printer can disappoint a bit when it comes to capacity. The printing size of this filter is quite limited, implying that you cannot sublimate large substrates at once. You will have to take several turns to sublimate such substrates thoroughly.
The customer reviews for Canon SELPHY printers are outstanding on Amazon. The printer has over four thousand reviews with an average rating of 4.3 stars. Customers seem satisfied with the sublimating quality of the printer, but its timid capacity comes forward as its drawback.
Pros And Cons
HPTM OfficeJet Pro 9025 Wireless Single-Pass (Auto) Printer
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| Model Name | HP |
| Connectivity Technology | Wireless, USB, SD Card |
| Printing Technology | Inkjet |
| Max Print Speed (Color) | 20ppm |
| Max Print Speed (Monochrome) | 24ppm |
| Color | Grey n White |
| Price | See on amazon |
Product Description
If you want a sublimation printer with a better “PPM” rating, then check out the HP OfficeJet 9025 printer. Since this printer yields several prints per minute, the running costs of this printer are relatively low. Usually, people believe that fast printers’ print quality is not optimal enough. But the HP OfficeJet Pro 9025 has falsified all such claims by being functional and fast at the same time.
Besides having an excellent print speed, this printer also offers a few special features like ‘auto-duplex’ and ‘single-pass print,’ which further elevates the sublimating efficiency of this printer. Since the printer has wireless connectivity, you can easily access the printer via USB, WiFi, Ethernet, and SD cards.
The printer can sync with Google Drive, QuickBooks, and Smart Tasks applications, which ultimately saves you from doing repetitive tasks. Thanks to the integration of advanced technology, most of this printer’s operational tasks are automatic. For instance, it has self-healing WiFi and fool-proof security systems, which further enhance these printers’ functionality.
Unlike the previous one, this printer does not have limited capacity. You can easily sublimate a substrate of any size from this printer. Thanks to such flexible features, this printer has over two thousand reviews and is rated with an average of 4.4 stars on Amazon.
However, the HP 9025 is not an affordable printer. Though this printer’s maintenance and ink costs are fairly economical, its purchase price can challenge your budget. But if you indeed want the best printer for sublimation, then it is wise to invest in this product.
Pros And Cons
Epson EcoTank ET-4760 Wireless SuperTank Printer
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| Model Name | ET-4760 |
| Connectivity Technology | Wireless, WiFi, Ethernet |
| Printing Technology | Inkjet |
| Max Print Speed (Color) | 8ppm |
| Max Print Speed (Monochrome) | 15ppm |
| Color | White/Black |
| Price | See on amazon |
Product Description
Epson EcoTank 4760 is one of the few printers that produce no paper waste. Not only is it eco-friendly, but it has cartridge-free printing, making the ET-4760 somewhat economical as well. The monochrome print speed of ET-4760 is around 15ppm. But this significant print speed drops to a meager 8ppm in color printing, which some users may find disappointing.
However, the print quality of this product is absolutely phenomenal. It utilizes inkjet technology, producing the best color quality on papers and substrates. Another aspect is that it has a borderless and 2-sided sublimating style, which makes it better than conventional products.
With the printer, you also receive a scanner and an automatic paper feeder, both of which can immensely help you in sublimating tasks. Furthermore, the printer has a built-in fax machine, implying that it can be used as a multi-purpose tool.
Like other printers, Epson ET-4760 also offers wireless connectivity. In fact, you can even access this printer with your mobile phone. But a major downside is that it lacks connectivity support for flash memory devices, which is a must for many customers.
Moreover, the duty cycle of this printer is fairly low, implying that your yield rate might not be high as that of the previous printer. Besides, the auto-duplex technology is also missing from this product which most printers feature these days.
Still, thanks to the excellent print quality and portability of ET-4760, it is considered one of the best printers for sublimation. This product has received around three thousand reviews on Amazon, and 70% of these customers have given this printer a full five-star rating.
Pros And Cons
Brother MFC-J995DW INKvestmentTank Printer
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| Model Name | MFC J995DW |
| Connectivity Technology | Wireless, USB, Ethernet |
| Printing Technology | Inkjet |
| Max Print Speed (Color) | 10ppm |
| Max Print Speed (Monochrome) | 12ppm |
| Color | Grey |
| Price | See on amazon |
Product Description
When it comes to the list of the best printer for sublimation, one can surely not miss out on the MFC J995DW INKvestmentTank printer. Like previous filters, this one also operates on inkjet technology, implying that its color print quality is remarkable.
It has a great capacity for monochrome printing and can yield several prints per minute. All these factors make this printer an economical choice for monochrome sublimation. J995DW also features auto-duplex technology, which reduces the need for manual operation.
Besides having remarkable print quality, its print speed is also exceptional. The cartridges used with this printer are inexpensive, and since it has a fast print speed, the maintenance costs are also quite low. In fact, it would be viable to say that this printer offers one of the lowest cost-per-print.
The printer’s connectivity is pretty palpable. You can use any connecting device to access this printer, whether it is a flash drive, SD card, WiFi, or mobile app. Thanks to such an extensive range of features, it is one of the top-rated printers on several retail websites, including Amazon.
The printer has received over twenty-four hundred reviews on Amazon, with an average rating of 4.2 stars. However, its printing speed for black-only documents is somewhat questionable.
Pros And Cons
Epson WorkForce WF-7220 Wireless Wide-Format Printer
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| Model Name | WF-7220 |
| Connectivity Technology | Wireless, WiFi, Ethernet |
| Printing Technology | Inkjet |
| Max Print Speed (Color) | 10ppm |
| Max Print Speed (Monochrome) | 18ppm |
| Color | Black |
| Price | See on amazon |
Product Description
WF 7220 is another great sublimation printer from the Epson range. The monochrome print rate of this machine is 18ppm. Whereas for color printing, the rating drops to 10ppm. But many customers have reported that when you use this printer, its monochrome rating drops to 13 ppm.
Despite this ppm downfall, the sublimate quality of this printer is remarkable. This printer is primarily applauded for its monochrome printing, and analysts think its graphic print efficiency could have been better.
The best aspect of this printer is that it can do 11” x 17” auto-duplex scanning, which most sublimate printers struggle to achieve. Moreover, using this printer is extremely easy and hassle-free. Its user interface is pretty user-friendly, and even without prior knowledge of a printer, you can easily sublimate with this machine.
However, the per-print cost of this printer is higher than others mentioned in this list. This implies that the maintenance cost for this printer is not economical. You may purchase this printer inexpensively, but if you are on a budget, you might struggle with its maintenance expenditures.
But thanks to its excellent sublimate quality, it has been picked as a nominee for the best printer for sublimation. The printer has received over two thousand reviews on Amazon and has an average rating of 4.00 stars.
Pros And Cons
Epson Expression XP-15000 Wireless Wide-Format Printer
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| Model Name | XP-15000 |
| Connectivity Technology | Wireless, WiFi, Ethernet |
| Printing Technology | Inkjet |
| Max Print Speed (Color) | 20ppm |
| Max Print Speed (Monochrome) | 20ppm |
| Color | Black |
| Price | See on amazon |
Product Description
XP 15000 is another printer from the Epson range that have excellent sublimation and print quality. Epson printers have always been known for their optimal user interface, and this one is no different from the others in the range. Even if you have never used a sublimate printer before, you can access this printer easily without any help.
Compared to other printers, this printer has an extensive capacity and can print (monochrome and color) with an optimal speed of up to 20ppm. Besides being efficient in its print speed, the sublimate quality of this machine is also quite remarkable.
Most printers in this list are the Best Sublimation Printers in either monochrome or color print quality. But XP 15000, being ahead of them, offers excellent functionality in both departments. Moreover, the usage of this printer is quite hassle-free, as it does not restrict you to use only specific ink cartridges. Instead, with this printer, you can use ink kits of almost any brand.
The printer offers wireless connectivity, implying that you can connect it with ethernet, WiFi, or SD cards. Besides, it is also compatible with certain mobile applications, which makes its accessibility even more convenient.
However, an aspect that often disappoints customers is that these printers require high maintenance. Since the printer has a low print yield, the per-print cost of this printer can certainly exceed your budget. Still, if you want no compromise over your sublimate quality, then it is advised to invest in this printer anyway.
Owing to the extraordinary efficiency of Epson XP 15000, it has received over fourteen hundred reviews on Amazon with an average rating of 4.00 stars. This printer’s most frequently reported drawbacks are its slow speed, low print yield, and high maintenance costs.
Pros And Cons
Sawgrass SG500 Sublimation Printer
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| Model Name | SG500 |
| Connectivity Technology | Wireless, WiFi, Ethernet |
| Printing Technology | Dye Sublimation |
| Max Print Speed (Color) | 10ppm |
| Max Print Speed (Monochrome) | 10ppm |
| Color | White |
| Price | See on amazon |
Product Description
Sawgrass SG500 is another pick in our list for the Best Sublimation Printer that features dye sublimating technology. The dye sublimation technique is still considered more efficient than inkjet technology for sublimating. The PPM rating for dye sublimation printers is not that high, but their quality is better than other types of printers.
The monochrome sublimating quality of this printer is good enough, but its prime feature is its color printing technique. This printer is undoubtedly the best choice if you want ultra-realistic sublimating impressions.
Usually, dye sublimate printers are very slow and have a minimum yield rate. But Sawgrass has pushed its boundaries by introducing a printer with a 10ppm rating. Though this print speed is still lower than inkjet technology, this printer has set a benchmark for other dye-sublimating printers.
When it comes to connectivity, then this printer is as good as any other on this list. It wirelessly connects with any device and is accessible via your mobile phone. The printer also has auto-duplex scanning, but it is not as functional as its competitors.
However, the ink cartridges for this printer are quite expensive. Since dye sublimation is a complex printing technique, its ink kits and cartridges are also pricier than others. Thus, if you are able to bear a high per-print cost in lieu of phenomenal print quality, then Sawgrass SG500 is the best sublimation printer for your requirements.
Sawgrass SG500 is an underrated sublimate printer; therefore, it has only 75 reviews on Amazon. But this printer has an average rating of 4.2 stars, even with minimal reviews. The only reason why people avoid this printer is its high price. Besides that, this printer has everything that one can seek for sublimation.
Pros And Cons
Final Words: Best Sublimation Printer
Here we conclude our list of the Best Sublimation Printer. If you want an affordable yet quality-wise functional printer, opt for the Canon SELPHY printer. But for those seeking a sublimation printer with a high PPM rating, the HP OfficeJet Pro 9025 is the ideal choice.
Thus, among the above-picked ones, the best sublimation printer is the one that fulfills your requirements better. However, if your prime concern is print quality and not other features, getting a printer with dye sublimation technology is suggested.
But inkjet printers are the best options if you want graphic-like print quality. They don’t only have excellent print quality, but their print speed is also pretty optimal, which makes them so functional and efficient. Thus, it is advised that you should always buy a printer that meets your sublimating demands aptly.
FAQs: Best Sublimation Printer
- What is the disadvantage of dye sublimation printers?
Dye Sublimation printers are pricier than other technologies like inkjet printers. Moreover, they work at a slower pace and have a lower yield rate, ultimately making their per-print cost higher.
- Which is a more advanced process; inkjet or dye sublimation?
Inkjet printers are more advanced than dye sublimation printers. With more innovative technology, inkjet printers have a complex process; they have a higher yield and economic costs than dye sublimation printers.
- Are Epson printers good?
Epson manufactures some of the best sublimating printers. They feature a comprehensive range of functionally-efficient printers. Thanks to their remarkable quality, Epson products are among the top-rated printers on significant platforms like Amazon.