Global Sublimation Ink

Section 1D : All About Printers

When it comes to sublimation printing unfortunately you only have a small selection of printers to choose from. This is because of a few things but the main one is the way the print head works in the printer.

There are 2 types of print head in today's desktop printers, thermal print heads and Piezo electric print heads. Thermal heads are found in bubblejet printers like the HPs Cannons Lexmark etc. and work by heating up the ink which when it expands forces a droplet of ink onto the paper. The problem with this type of print head for sublimation is that the heat affects the inks as they are forced through the head and the ink will accumulate inside eventually clogging the print head.

The other type of print head and the one we use use for sublimation is the Piezo Electric print head. This print head is designed owned and made by Epson. It works by means of a tiny crystal in the head that pulsates with a small electrical charge forcing droplets of ink onto the paper with virtually no heat being generated. This print head is fitted in all Epson desktop printers and many large format printers and is the only print head that will work for sublimation printing.

Points To Note

Size Make sure you pick a printer that can print the size you need

Speed Make sure you pick a printer that is fast enough for your anticipated volume

DPI All toady's printers are capable of well above 720 dpi even as high as 5600 dpi these super high resolutions are not needed you will never print above 1440 dpi and 95% of the time you will use 720dpi

Bulk Make sure a bulk ink system is available for your printer of choice as once your business grows you will want to cut down on your ink costs and a bulk ink system is the ideal way to do this.