The best sublimation printer for beginners: How to choose the best sublimation printer to start your creative journey!

Creative entrepreneurs aren’t born overnight. Small sublimation business owners and crafters often get their start with a single spark of creative inspiration, followed by an idea-filled notebook that eventually comes to life with their first project and then finally, the first sale becomes that booming business you see on your feed! If this sounds familiar, until that first project, you probably have a Pinterest board full of aspirational sublimation projects and a social feed packed with creators living your small-business dreams.

Even if your dream isn’t to make millions, but simply to make that first mug, we get it; getting started is overwhelming. With so much advice and information online, it’s tough to know what’s accurate and what’s just noise.

That’s where we come in. At Johnson Plastics Plus, sublimation is what we do, and we’re here to guide you through choosing the best sublimation printer for beginners, plus a few tips and tricks to help you print your first project like a pro. Before long, you’ll be the one sharing your sublimation wins on social media!

What is sublimation?

Put simply, sublimation is a fancy word for a simple chemical process. During the sublimation process, a specially formulated ink is heated into a gas, then bonded into the surface of a sublimation compatible material as it cools, resulting in a vibrant, durable, and professional-looking print.

Overall, sublimation prints offer a great option for printing a multitude of colors, including skin tones, on both hard and soft substrates. The blank, or substrate, must have a special polyester coating or polyester content for the process to work, and be a white or light colored item.

The process is easy; print your transfer, apply heat and pressure, and your transfer is complete! To get started, you’ll need a sublimation printer, a sublimation blank, and a way to add heat pressure, like a heat press, mug press, or convection oven.

You’ll print your design onto a special sublimation paper using a sublimation ink. Once your image is printed, you tape your print to your blank item, and add the heat and pressure to initiate the chemical process of sublimation!

Here are a few common misconceptions and things to consider about sublimation:

Sublimation isn’t just for t-shirts! Things you can sublimate include:

• Mugs and drinkware
• Keychains
• Home decor
• Photo Panels
• Bags
• and thousands more!

Sublimation requires an item that’s light or white in color with a special polyester coating. If your main goal is to print black, cotton t-shirts, consider a different technology like toner heat transfer or DTF!

You need a special sublimation printer and sublimation ink to get the job done right.

Can you use a regular printer for sublimation?

A super common question when starting sublimation is, “Can I use a regular printer for sublimation?” And while technically the answer is yes, you can convert certain inkjet printers for sublimation, we don’t recommend it. Here’s why we don’t recommend using a converted sublimation printer, especially as a beginner (and it’s not just because we sell sublimation printers!)

Converting a printer voids its warranty. Since you’re not using the converted printer for it’s intended purpose, if anything goes wrong with your machine, you’re on your own!

Messy inks and manual processes can lead to costly and frustrating mistakes. No one wants to dump a bottle of ink on the carpet!

It takes time to properly convert, maintain, and troubleshoot converted machines and there’s little support available.

There’s a better, faster, simpler way. Thanks to brands like Epson, there are now affordable, beginner-friendly printers made specifically for sublimation, and all you have to do is plug them in and you’re ready to print. Our top pick for beginners is the Epson SureColor F170.

1. Affordable and accessible
Starting your sublimation journey with a sublimation specific printer doesn’t mean you have to break the bank! The Epson F170 printer and ink bundle starts under $500* making it one of the most cost-effective ways to get professional-quality prints. If you're already working with heat transfer vinyl and have a heat press, you're halfway there, just add the Epson SureColor F170 and you're ready to start sublimating.
If you want a sublimation starter kit, there are several bundle options available to fit your unique needs and business goals. Choose from bundles with blanks, convection overs, cap press and flat press, or a combination!

2. Compact and craft-room friendly

The Epson SureColor F170 is a small but mighty printer. Designed with the size of a desktop printer, it’s perfect for home use and fits easily into any craft space. It’s also lightweight and easy to move if you need to rearrange your workspace. Compared to larger machines or laser-based equipment, it’s a safer option for households with kids or pets.

3. Made for sublimation

Unlike converted inkjet printers, the Epson SureColor F170 is engineered specifically for sublimation. That means better reliability, fewer issues, and higher-quality prints. Best of all, it’s truly plug-and-play:

• Fill the ink tanks with genuine Epson sublimation ink
• Connect the printer to your computer
• Start printing your first design in minutes

No complicated conversions or tricky software setup, just simple, reliable printing from the start.

4. Budget-friendly ink for endless experimentation
Another thing we love about Epson is that Epson’s genuine sublimation ink is super affordable. This is great news for beginners because you can practice, experiment, and learn without stressing over wasted materials and costly prints. It’s the perfect way to grow your skills while keeping costs in check.

5. Free lifetime support from JPPlus
When you buy your Epson SureColor F170 from Johnson Plastics Plus, you get more than just a printer—you get expert support for the life of your machine, completely free. Whether you need setup help, troubleshooting tips, or ideas for your next project, our team is here to help you succeed.

Final Thoughts
The Epson SureColor F170 is the perfect sublimation printer for beginners who want an affordable, reliable, and easy-to-use solution. Whether you're crafting for fun, starting a side hustle, or adding sublimation to your business, this printer is built to grow with you.

With the right tools and support, your first full-color creation is just a print away.