Top Sublimation Printing Systems for Beginners: Our Picks

Considering trying out sublimation printing?

by Jeff Butler · Senior Strategist

Sublimation printing is a process that is exploding in popularity because it allows for the creation of personalized products that are in high demand. These items, which can feature unique designs or images, are appealing to consumers because they are fashionable and enduring.

The trend for custom sublimation products is growing globally - that's probably why you're here reading this!

Let's take a look at our picks for the best sublimation printing system for beginners.

What is sublimation printing?

Dye sublimation is a printing process that involves transferring a digital image onto a substrate, such as a polyester or polycoated item, using a sublimation printer and special sublimation inks.

The printed image is then placed under a heat press, which causes the inks to turn into a gas and transfer the image onto the substrate.

The resulting image is durable and resistant to fading because the dye penetrates the material rather than sitting on top of it like with traditional heat transfer paper.

What is the best beginner sublimation printer?

Our pick for the best beginner sublimation printer is the Sawgrass SG500 Printer System.

The Sawgrass SG500 Sublimation Printer is a great way to get started in the sublimation printing world. It's affordable, compact, easy to setup, and it's portable. With low start up and running costs, you'll soon be creating customized products with vibrant HD images - quickly, easily and profitably.

Designed to minimize ink and power consumption while maximizing quality and efficiency, the SG500 enables you to create the highest definition images with the lowest per image cost.

Every Sawgrass SG1000 printer is backed by lifetime tech support and a 2-year warranty, providing you with complete peace of mind.

The SG500 is able to print sublimation transfers that are up to 8.5" x 14". This means that if you have a heat press machine that can apply the correct pressure and temperature, you can use the SG500 to make any product that falls within those size limitations.

And there are a lot of products that fit that bill.

Get your SG500 Sublimation Printer shipped today with FREE shipping

What is the best beginner sublimation heat press machine?

Sublimation transfers require anywhere from 375° to 425° F and demand serious force in pressing - often from 40-60 psi. The George Knight Company has introduced an affordable, entry-level heat press that can deliver those specs, and won't blow your budget:t the 14 x 16 inch DK14S Geo Knight Digital Swinger Heat Press.

The Geo Knight DK14 features accurate and easy to use digital electronics, a swing-away design, and the legendary SuperCoil-Microwinding™ heater technology, this little machine can get it done. The compact, portable table-top design makes it perfect for mobility as well. Setting up at a local market or pop-up is a breeze, and power consumption is a modest xxx.

JP14 Features

• Compact Portable Table-Top Design
• Fully digital temperature control 32°-600°F range
• Automatic digital timer & dual pre-press timer
• Extreme high pressure capability
• SuperCoil-Microwinding™ heater technology
• Accommodates materials up to 2" thick
• Temperature readout accuracy +-2°F - can show °C or °F
• User selectable end-of-cycle alarms
• Records number of pressing cycles done
• Teflon-coated 3/4" thick heat platen

If you already have a heat press, be sure to check the manufacturers specs to see if your press is capable of pressing sublimation transfers.

On that note, if you are considering making your sublimation printing setup a long-term gig, you should consider making the investment in a commercial grade heat press. A heat press is a versatile tool and can be used for many other decorating and manufacturing processes such as t-shirt transfers, vinyl, embroidered patches, and even rhinestone transfers. Buy quality and buy it once.

What can I make with a beginner sublimation printing system?

Using an SG500 sublimation printer and a JP14 heat press machine you can create hard goods such as coffee mugs and aluminum photo panels, to soft goods like t-shirts, performance apparel, and pillow cases - there's a lot of possibilities!

Read: The Ultimate Guide to the Top Sublimation Products You Should Be Selling

The SG500 is limited to printing transfers of 8.5” wide so this does need to be taken into consideration when planning your product offerings.

The key to making and selling sublimation products, at the beginner level, is to learn the process. If you can learn a new technology, without breaking the bank, you can create opportunities for growth.

Can I make a profit with a beginner sublimation system?

Provided you already have a heat press, for as low as $574 you can acquire a sublimation printer, sublimation inks, and paper and be up and running in an afternoon. What is the ink cost moving forward? One penny per square inch of the printed transfer. Double that and you have your complete ink + paper cost.

Let's talk ROI. A typical example of a common product is an 11oz ceramic coffee mug. Add your customers logo or image and you’re into the completed item at ~$2.00. Retail? $16.00-$20.00! Adding a premium licensed art image from a known artist can drive that retail number even higher. Another typical example is a name badge: cost: $1.25 - retail: $8.00 - $12.00. I think you get the drift - there’s money to be made!

Adding sublimation printing to your business is the first step in a long-term strategy with excellent scalability. It's eco-friendly and sustainable. It's in-demand and customer perceived value is at an all-time high. As your confidence and skill set grows, so will your product offerings and profits.

Get your SG500 Sublimation Printer shipped today with FREE shipping

Advancing Your Sublimation Setup: The Top Systems to Consider

The Sawgrass SG1000 Sublimation Printer is the ideal printer for the growing business or ambitious entrepreneur, the SG1000 prints on media up to 11" x 17" (28 x 43 cm) with the standard tray. This is perfect for apparel, soft goods, and small or medium-sized photo panels. Click here to learn more.

The 24" EPSON SureColor F570 gives fast, reliable dye-sub printing right out of the box. Ideal for personalizing awards, mugs, mousepads and more, this high-performance dye-sublimation printer delivers professional-quality prints using powerful PrecisionCore® technology. Click here to learn more.

Are you leaving money on the table by under-pricing your custom products?

Did you know Conde has a pricing tool that gives you the suggested retail price range for our entire catalog of print-on-demand blank products?

Start here to learn more about our Retail Pricing Calculator Tool