Printer type and pertinent print-method says a lot about the quality of print you’ll get from your heat-transfer, such as its color-fastness, material-type, and more. We included numerous inkjet ...

The best overall sublimation printer in my view is the Epson SureColor SC-F100 (F170), listed below. But if you need a higher specification, there’s also the Mimaki TS100-1600.

In short, sublimation printing is transferring specific or sublimation dyes to a transfer sheet that then are imprinted or “sublimated” into textiles or other compatible materials by adding heat.

You’ll also need to invest in sublimation paper, ink, heat-resistant tape, and blanks to transfer your images onto. Be sure to factor all these costs into your budget when choosing a printer.

Simply print, then press the transfer. You'll also find that sublimation printers require little maintenance so long as you print with them every now and then.

The sublimation dye is activated with heat, and, of course, you are shooting out hot plastic, so the image will transfer to the plastic. [Teaching Tech] explains the best settings to make it all work.

Thermal transfer printers produce shades of colors by placing color dots side-by-side (see dithering). Printing faster than dye sublimation, consumables (ribbon and paper) are also less expensive ...