Sublimation printers represent the new era of fabric printing, especially socks printing. They are becoming the new trend of cloth printing using a special type of paper. For sublimation printing on socks, you need to use socks made of at least 65% polyester material. Printed socks are a new trend and it’s, even more, trendier when you can design your printing socks at home itself in an economical way. The best sublimation printer for socks at home allows you to have trendier and fashionable socks to wear.
Product | Features |
 | EPSON ECO TANK Wireless Printer ET-2850
 |
 | EPSON Premium Supertank Printer
|
 | HP Deskjet Wireless Printer
|
 | Liene Wi-Fi Picture Printer
|
 | Canon Pixma Wireless Printer, MG 3620
|
 | EPSON Expression Wireless Printer, XP- 15000
|
 | HP DesignJet Modern Printer, T210
|
It is easy and more environmentally friendly which makes it more popular. Through Sublimation printing we can come up with seam-to-seam designs and a perfect mode of socks printing. Finding the best Sublimation printer from the wide market which is suitable for your needs and which is equally budget-friendly makes your new fabric printing methoda more economical and environment-friendly method. For that, you need to have deep knowledgeof the best Sublimation printers for socks available on the market and this will be the perfect guide for you tofind out your perfect trending fabric printer.
Best Sublimation printer for socks – Buying Guide
Factors to consider for buying the Best Sublimation printer for socks
Sublimation printing on socks is an effective way of printing more sustainable and trendy designs on socks. It can print high-quality images on polyester fabrics. It helps to print designs all over the socks which will not peel or crack and remain there for long years.
- Long-lasting designs: Sublimation designs on your socks are not easily damageable and it doesn’t get washed away or fade away after normal washing like in traditional printing because the ink is infused into the fabrics through the sublimation process.
- Seam to seam dyeing possible: Through the sublimation process, it is possible to dye the socks with trendy designs from seam to seam as it gives a perfect blend of dye on polyester fabrics.
- Economical: It can print as many designs as possible in a minute and can transfer them into your socks through temperature technique within a few minutes. It doesn’t require tough labor like the traditional fabric printing process. All you need is a good sublimation printer, sublimation ink, and sublimation paper to print the designs.
Best Sock Sublimation Printer – Reviews
1. EPSON ECO TANK Wireless Printer ET-2850
Description:
- Brand:Epson
- Printing Technology: Inkjet
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi, USB
- Model: ET- 2850
- Color: White
Performance:
It is capable of printing 4800×1200 resolution images on paper. Using the black ink, it is observed to be printing 10.5 white sheets per minute. While colored ink is used, the speed maintained by this product is 5 papers per minute.
It saves a significant amount of time for the users by automatically printing on both sides of the paper. It is also capable of adjusting the size of the image to be printed. It is estimated that it is capable of reducing the image to a maximum of 25% and increasing the image to a maximum of 400%.
As socks are unlike papers and are much thicker and have uneven surfaces, the printer needs to be efficient enough to print seamlessly. With the Epson inkjet printer, the socks are provided with a seamless printing that is much helpful for the proper dyeing of the socks.
Comparison:
As long as the other normal printers in the market are concerned, they need manual support in printing both sides of a paper. But when it comes to Epson brand’s inkjet printer, the machine automatically prints both sides of the surface without availing any human help.
Unlike many other counterparts in the market, the Epson inkjet printer is wireless and comes with mobile printing options that work the best with apps like the Epson Smart Print app, Epson Mobile Print app, etc.
Many sublimation printers available in the market are using cartridges to store the ink. But when it comes to the Epson inkjet sublimation printer, it is devoid of any cartridges and makes use of a built-in ink tank to store the Epson’s ink bottles.
Usage:
The Epson inkjet printer is one of the best sublimation printers for socks presently available in the market and it is considered an all-family printer. The usage and the process of the product are extremely simple and thus, are ideal for the entire members of family to use conveniently.
The machine consists of a built-in scanner, which let the user scan the desired design or pattern into the machine. The size of the design can be easily altered by the user. The printer is compatible with mobiles also, thus, can be controlled with mobile printing options present in it. It is undoubtedly an extremely user-friendly product.
Pros:
- Gives impressive print qualitywith heat resistance and sharp texts that can be printed on any Sublimation paper.
- Eco-friendly as there are no more cartridge wastages in the Epson Eco tank wireless printer.
Cons:
- Does not have a touch screen display
What’s new?
It is a wireless printer which makes it easy to carry and handle. Also, it produces picture-perfectimages or designs on paper which gives a perfect socks printing option. The highlight of this printer is its avoidance of small expensive cartridges which get wasted with ink. It replaced these cartridges with ink tanks and it provides ink for two years along with the package which makes it economical and tension free.
Why you should buy it?
If a high-quality printing machine is needed for your socks design,an Epson ECO TANK wireless printer is the best option as it provides high-definition images and sharp texts on any paper. Also, it is economical and eco-friendly by its in-built ink tank. It can be considered a family printer that can be used for many purposes.
2. EPSON Premium Super tank Printer
Description:
- Brand: Epson
- Printing technology: Inkjet
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi, USB
- Model: Eco Tank 2803
- Color: White
Performance:
The Epson Premium Super Tank Printer is known as one of the best sublimation printers for socks which are extremely easy to use and store. It is an inkjet printer that contains a flatbed scanner.It can print pages with sheet sizes 5×7 inches and 4×6 inches.
It is observed that the refill tank of this product is well built and that in a single refill, it enables the printer to print up to 4500 pages in black ink and 7500 pages in color ink. A single refill of the ink tank of this product is equivalent to 90 ink cartridges.
Comparison:
When compared to its counterparts in the market, the Epson Premium Super tank printer can be said as easy to handle and install. It is wireless and has voice activation equipped in it which controls the printing as and when required. The voice-activated printing can be enabled only by using smart panel applications in the concerned smart devices.
Usage:
It is extremely easy to handle, operate, and even maintain. As it does not contain any cartridges of ink, the user need not worry about changing the cartridges occasionally. Instead, the built-in ink tanks of the printer can be easily refilled as and when required.
Despite the less complicated operating procedure, the printer produces high-definition and high-quality pictures and infuses them almost permanently into the socks using the sublimation technique.
Pros:
- Eco-friendly
- Economical
- Easy to install and use
Cons:
- May require an adapter to use
What’s new?
It has got a voice-over activationfeature which makes it easy to handle. It also provides an economic way of printing where the ink tank can provide a maximum number of prints.
Why you should buy this?
It prints high-resolution images with picture-perfect quality which gives a glassy image for socks designing. It also has a flatbed scanner that provides high-quality images scanned making it a great option for various designs.
3. HP Deskjet Wireless Printer
Description:
- Brand: HP
- Printing Technology: Inkjet
- Connectivity: Bluetooth, USB, Wi-Fi
- Model: Desk Jet 4155e
- Color: White
Performance:
The HP Desk Jet 4155 model inkjet printer easily qualifies as one of the best all-in-one printers. Along with being one of the best sublimation printers for socks, it also serves the functions of a scanner, regular printer, and mobile fax. It utilizes cloud printing technology, which contributes to the accuracy and perfection of the process.
It can be set up and controlled or operated by wireless options like Bluetooth or wi-fi. It weighs just around 10.8 pounds and thus, can be considered one of the most lightweight and best sublimation printers for socks available presently in the market.
Comparison:
Compared to other ink cartridge printers, the HP printer provides six months of ink free of cost and enables the user to subscribe to a monthly plan which let the user be worry-free about the availability of the ink and will be provided with a refill of ink every month.
Usage:
The HP Desk Jet 4155 inkjet printer makes use of ink cartridges in printing the images and designs on the socks. It is estimated that using a single cartridge, the printer can take printouts of around 60 to 70 pages.
It is ideal to be used at home as it is equipped with wireless connectivity tools which let the user or users connect their smart gadgets via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi to print whatever they need and like.
Pros:
- It gets smart activation through hp+app.
What’s new?
Hp printer comes up with cloud printing technology that gives high-quality images that can be used as a sublimation printer.
Why you should buy this?
HP Deskjet Wireless printers are the best option among ink cartridge printers as it gives many offers in ink refilling and also it has all three functions in one printer; printing, scanning, and mobile fax connection.
4. Liene Wi-Fi Picture Printer
Description:
- Brand: Liene
- Printing Technology: Dye sublimation
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi
- Model: DHP 513
- Color: white
Performance:
High picture quality photos can be printed which helps in the sublimation of pictures on socks. It is highly recommended for picture design sublimation on all kinds of fabrics, especially the ones with high polyester content. This printer is at the lightweight end of the section weighing only around 2.16 pounds.
It is a portable printer that can print up to 40 pictures after a single refill of ink. It can be easily carried around in a backpack and, as it is compatible with the Liene App that can be installed on smartphones, can be used anywhere. This product can be called one of the best sublimation printers for socks due to the immense options to customize the image through the mobile app conveniently.
Comparison:
It uses ink cartridges that provide high-quality images with seamless borders and it provides four different frames option to enhance photo quality, unlike most of its counterparts.
Usage:
A perfect portable printer for traveling. It can print photos taken from a mobile camera provided both should be connected with a high-quality Wi-Fi connection. Also, it can be connected to five mobiles at a time provided every mobile phone should be connected with the same Wi-Fi.
Being extremely lightweight, it can easily be handled by anyone in the household too.
Pros:
- High compatibility withalmost all gadgets
- Instant printing
- No paper jam issues are caused
Cons:
- Fails to operate in the absence of a stable internet connection
What’s new?
Compared to traditional photo printers Liene photo printers print photos with thermal-dye sublimation where the last layer of ink gets into the paper and it provides a perfect picture without any ink spreading or cracking.
Why you should buy this?
Its thermal dye sublimation feature helps to give perfect dyeing socks without any crack or ink spreading. For a perfect picture to be dyed on fashionable socks Liene picture printers are always best.
5. Canon Pixma Wireless Printer, MG 3620
Description:
- Brand: Canon
- Printing technology: Inkjet
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi
- Model: MG 3620
- Color: Black
Performance:
The Canon Pixma Wireless printer is one of the best sublimation printers for socks in terms of affordability. It is one of the cheapest printers presently available and it manages to print efficiently in black color. It can print in 2.6 inches sheets.
It is extremely easy to set up and can even be used right away if Wi-Fi is available. The Canon application that comes with the product can be installed on any smartphone and customizations can be carried out through this app.
Comparison:
Compared to the other products in the market, they quickly print texts and images. That is, 9.9 images per minute for black color and 5.7 images per minute for color.
Usage:
This sock sublimation machine is extremely easy to use with the help of the Canon app. With a single press of a button, the machine can scan or print. It is equipped with auto-duplex printing and this significantly cuts down the usage of paper by 50%.
Pros:
- Compatible with android devices too
- Smudge-free prints
- Compatible with Alexa
Cons:
- Instructions regarding wi-fi setup are not clear
What’s new?
Unlike the previous versions which carried out scanning of the image through a built-in scanner, this newer version of the sock printing machine supports scanning through the Canon app.
Why you should buy this?
This printer lets the user have smudge-free and seamless printouts and it is compatible with all the smart gadgets, which adds to the convenience of operation.
6. EPSON Expression Wireless Printer, XP- 15000
Description:
- Brand: Epson
- Printing Technology: Inkjet
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Ethernet
- Model: XP- 15000
- Color: Black
Performance:
Being one of the best sublimation printers for socks, the Epson Expression Wireless printer prints wide format prints that are seamless. It can print an image in less than 30 seconds.
Comparison:
The HD clarity prints produced by this sock printer machine make it stand out of the lot. The 6 color ink cartridge includes the colors grey and red, which contributes to the seamless pictures.
Usage:
They are extremely easy to use and carry around. Being wireless, it can be placed anywhere during the operation. They can print around 9.2 pages per minute in black color and 9 pages per minute in color.
Pros:
- HD quality pictures
- Auto-scan feature to avoid system viruses
What’s new?
It connects with an Ethernet connection too in addition to the other regular connectivity mediums.
Why you should buy this?
If you are looking for a smart printer that updates the firmware, checks the availability of ink to give alerts, and provides HD quality images, this is your best sublimation printer for socks.
7. HP DesignJet Modern Printer, T210
Description:
- Brand: HP
- Printing Technology: Thermal inkjet
- Connectivity: Ethernet, Wi-Fi, USB
- Model: DesignJet T210
- Color: Black
Performance:
These are ideal printers for technical drawings which consist of sharp and clean lines and patterns.
Comparison:
It uses only 95% less ink than most of its counterparts. It also comes with an HP-smart assistant for required customizations.
Usage:
With the smart application and ethernet connectivity, it can be used anywhere and printouts can be taken anywhere too.
Pros:
- Sustainable design
- Cost effective
Cons:
- It is a bit on the heavier side
What’s new?
This newer and updated version can be connected with ethernet also.
Why you should buy it?
It would be the best buy for users who consider sustainability as an important criterion.
FAQS
1. How to make printed socks?
Printed socks are mostly made by sublimation printing socks technology. To facilitate the printing, the image is chosen first and then scanned into the sublimation printer. Then a specialist paper is inserted into the printer and the image or pattern is properly printed onto the paper.
Then, the socks to be printed are placed into one of the 2-D molds and, the sock printer is heated to a high temperature and then transfers the pattern onto the socks by infusing it into it. To ensure that the image is perfectly and accurately transferred without any unclear edges or blurred lines, the printer is generally heated up to 400 degrees.
2. How to print on socks?
The process of printing on socks is known by the name sublimation. The only equipment required for carrying out this procedure is a sock printer machine or sublimation printer and a heat press.As the first step, scan the required image into the printer and size up or down the pattern according to the personal preference of the user.
Now print the design onto a specialist paper. It is better to have several copies of the pattern with you. Trim the margins of the printed sublimation paper accordingly. And then the paper is placed onto the socks which are properly spread on a 2-D mold and using a heat press, the design is pressed thoroughly onto the socks.
3. What are sublimation socks?
Sublimation socks are majorly polyester socks for sublimation, which are printed with patterns that were pressed onto the surface of the socks by a process called sublimation. The process of sublimation is carried out by a sublimation printer and a sublimation paper.The printer is fed with the required image or pattern and this pattern is accurately printed onto a sublimation paper.
This sublimation paper is placed properly onto the target socks and heat pressed with high pressure. The pressuring position should be continued for around 30 seconds and once the image is pressed onto the socks, the paper has to be removed and the same procedure has to be repeated on the opposite side of the socks too.
4. How to screen print on socks?
For screen printing, a perforated mesh of metal or any other strong material is made in the pattern or design of what has to be printed. Once the mesh is made up, the socks that have to be printed are laid flat on any hard surface without any folds or creases.
Afterward, the mesh is placed on top of the socks and the ink solution is poured into the mesh. The ink solution is evenly spread across the mesh to make it go through the perforations onto the socks and accurately create the desired print. After the printing process, the mesh is removed and the socks are left to dry. After drying the opposite side of the socks is also printed similarly.
5. How to make designs on socks?
Designs can be made on socks by multiple methods like regular dyeing, tie-dyeing, screen printing, sublimation printing, etc. Among them, sublimation printing tends to leave permanent designs on the socks.
6. How to sublimate socks?
The design to be printed has to be scanned into the printer. Then print the design onto a sublimation paper, which is later heat-pressed onto the concerned socks using high temperature and high pressure
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