The right sublimation printer can make all the difference when it comes to turning your creative ideas into high-quality products. Sawgrass is a trusted leader in sublimation printing, offering innovative printing solutions designed to help creators and businesses bring their ideas to life with vibrant, professional-quality results.


When it comes to choosing a Sawgrass printer, there are two main options to consider: SubliJet and VersiFlex™. While both are designed to help you create, these two sublimation technologies from Sawgrass offer different capabilities, compatible materials, and applications. In this blog, we will break down the key differences to help you with your understanding of what sets them apart and determine which printer is the right fit for your products and business.

Sawgrass SubliJet vs. VersiFlex at a Glance

Feature
SubliJet
VersiFlex™
Best For
Businesses primarily focused on traditional sublimation products
Businesses wanting to expand beyond traditional sublimation and offer a wider variety of products
Ink Technology
Sawgrass SubliJet UHD SG500/SG1000 Ink Cartridges
Sawgrass VersiFlex™ Ink Cartridges
Compatible Materials
Sublimation-ready blanks only
Sublimation-ready blanks, as well as cotton and a wide variety of other materials that don’t require a sublimation coating to print onto.
Paper
Traditional sublimation paper
VersiFlex™ Light Media for Sawgrass SG500 and SG1000 Sublimation Printers
Printer Models
Sawgrass SubliJet SG500 and SG1000
Sawgrass VersiFlex™ SG500 and SG1000
Key Advantage
Reliable, high-quality traditional sublimation with photo-accurate color and consistent results
Expanded material versatility, including cotton and other natural materials.

While both technologies offer high-quality printing and are designed with creators in mind, their differences make each one better suited for certain products and applications.

What Is Sawgrass SubliJet?

SubliJet UHD is Sawgrass’s traditional sublimation ink system, designed to produce vibrant, durable prints on polyester fabrics and polymer-coated products formulated for sublimation using traditional sublimation paper. It’s a great option for creating products like apparel, mugs, tumblers, signage, totes, and other sublimation blanks with a polymer coating so all you have to do is print, press, and watch your designs come to life!

Sawgrass SubliJet UHD Ink works with both the Sawgrass SubliJet SG500 and SG1000, so you can choose the printer size that best fits your business.

image of the Sawgrass SG500 sublimation printer

Sawgrass SG500 SubliJet Printer

image of the Sawgrass SG1000 sublimation printer

Sawgrass SG1000 SubliJet Printer

What Is Sawgrass VersiFlex™?

VersiFlex™ is Sawgrass’s newer printing technology designed to give creators more freedom in the materials they can customize with Sawgrass VersiFlex™ Standard Ink. Unlike traditional sublimation, VersiFlex™ allows you to print on cotton and a wide variety of other materials that don’t require a polymer coating, while still supporting traditional sublimation applications with VersiFlex™ Light Media.

This makes VersiFlex™ a versatile option for creators looking to expand beyond traditional sublimation blanks. You can customize products like cotton apparel, totes, canvas, denim, and more giving your business even more opportunities to create unique products.

Like Sawgrass SubliJet sublimation printers, VersiFlex™ is available for the Sawgrass SG500 and SG1000, allowing you to choose between a more compact printer for smaller workspaces and a larger option for bigger prints and growing production needs.

image of the Sawgrass SG500 sublimation printer

Sawgrass SG500 VersiFlex™ Printer

image of the Sawgrass SG1000 sublimation printer

Sawgrass SG1000 VersiFlex™ Printer

Which Sawgrass Sublimation Technology + Printer Is Right for You?

Choosing the right Sawgrass printer and technology ultimately comes down to the products you want to create, the materials you plan to work with, and the size of the designs you need to produce. Both SubliJet and VersiFlex™ offer high-quality results, but their printing technologies are designed for different applications.

If your business focuses on traditional sublimation products, SubliJet is a great choice. Its SubliJet UHD sublimation ink is designed for polyester fabrics and polymer-coated substrates, making it ideal for products like apparel, drinkware, signage, and other sublimation blanks.

If you want to expand beyond traditional sublimation and print on cotton and a wider variety of materials that don't require a polymer coating, VersiFlex™ may be the better fit. Its technology gives creators more flexibility to customize materials such as cotton, canvas, denim, and other natural materials.

Once you've decided which technology best fits your products, you can choose between the SG500 and SG1000 based primarily on the size of the designs you want to create. The SG500 is the more compact option, making it a great fit for home studios, side hustles, and businesses just getting started. The SG500 offers a standard print size of up to 8.5" × 14", while the SG1000 supports larger standard prints up to 11" × 17". Both printers can accommodate longer prints with the optional bypass tray, allowing you to print designs up to 51" long.

In short:

  • Choose SubliJet if you primarily want to create traditional sublimation products.
  • Choose VersiFlex™ if you want the flexibility to print on cotton and other non-traditional sublimation materials.
  • Choose the SG500 if you primarily need smaller prints and a more compact setup.
  • Choose the SG1000 if larger prints and room to grow are important to your business.

Ultimately, SubliJet vs. VersiFlex™ determines the materials you can print on, while the SG500 vs. SG1000 determines the size of the prints you can create.

Start Creating With Sawgrass

Ready to start creating? Shop Sawgrass printers, inks, media, and accessories at JPPlus to find everything you need to bring your next idea to life.