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The Best Sublimation Printer for Wood: Reviews & Guide

best sublimation printer for wood

Sublimation on wood is something exceptional as it can open a world of opportunities and help in launching unique products. In this article, we will talk about the 5 best sublimation printer for wood to help you accelerate your own sustainable wood sublimation printing business.

Product

Features

Epson Workforce WF-7720

  • Wide-Format Printing

  • Excellent Design Quality & Built Aesthetics

  • Very Low Printing Costs

Epson Expression Photo HD XP 15000

  • Quieter Operation

  • Compact & Well-Designed

  • Vast Connectivity Options

Canon SELPHY CP1300 Review

  • User-Friendly Interface

  • Good Number Of Connectivity Options

  • Sturdy & Durable

Brother Inkvestment Tank MFC-J995DW

  • Economical Printing

  • No Time For Warm-Up Needed

  • Rich Scan & Print Quality

Sawgrass SG500

  • Fast Printing Speed

  • Free Sawgrass Online Creative Studio License

  • High-Quality Printing

Best Sublimation Printer For Wood – Buying Guide

Here are a few basics you need to know before buying the best sublimation printer for wood.

Factors to consider while buying the best sublimation printer for wood

What is dye-sublimation printing?

Sublimation allows digital images to be transferred onto textiles, plastic, and paper using heat. It is possible to create customized clothing, branded signage, wood, flags or bespoke designs on crockery using a dye-sub inkjet printer and the right ink. Synthetic textiles can be printed directly with more expensive machines.   

How does dye-sublimation printing work?

A high-release ‘transfer’ paper is first imprinted with your graphic by your sublimation printer. The dye design is then transferred onto your substrate – wood, tee shirts, mugs, or banners – using a heat press. Sublimation is a process in which solid dyes are converted to gas and penetrate substrates to form prints that are water-resistant and won’t crack. A high polyester blend produces vivid and permanent results, but it doesn’t work with natural fibres. 

In addition to printing directly onto the fabric, direct-to-fabric sublimation printers also print directly onto rolls or bolts of fabric, thus eliminating the transfer step altogether. Due to their size and cost, these machines are typically reserved for business use. Inkjet printers with direct-to-garment capability can print directly on garment surfaces instead of dye sublimation printers that use dye sublimation ink. 

A list of the five best dye-sublimation printers for printing graphics, logos, and photos on wood, fabric, and transfer paper has been compiled by Printer Solution. Direct-to-fabric models cater to startups and small to medium businesses and range in price and functionality from the simplest to the most advanced.

Best Sublimation Printer For Wood Reviews

1. Epson Workforce WF-7720

best sublimation printer for wood

Description:


o Brand: Epson


o Model: Workforce WF-7720


o Weight: 40.8 lbs.


o Connectivity: WiFi, Epson iPrint App, Ethernet, USB, email print Apple® AirPrint®, Android printing, Google Cloud Print™, Fire™ OS printing


o Product Dimensions: 19.1 x 22.3 x 13.4 in.


o Display Type: 4.3” colour touchscreen


o Ink Configuration: N/A


o Maximum Resolution: 4800 x 2400 dpi


Performance: The Epson Workforce WF-7720 printer comes with an inkjet cartridge system that is quite decent. In terms of the printing cost, the Epson printer makes a value-for-money option. The printing speed offered by this printer is decent as well. It offers a fairly moderate printing speed with 6ppm black-text printing and 8ppm for coloured prints. It is the best choice when it comes to dye-sublimation printing.
Comparison: As compared to other sublimation printers on the list, the Epson Workforce 7720 printer makes the best overall dye-sublimation printer for wood. It offers vibrant colours along with a decent dynamic range. Printing photos will take around 59 seconds with this printer for sublimation which is fairly sub-par with other sublimation printers in the range.
Usage: The on-screen guide makes setting up this sublimation printer for wood almost like a cakewalk. Reading the text comfortably is made possible with a large touchscreen display. Switching between different modes can be done with the available physical keys. The touchscreen display is certainly one decent addition that aims to boost the device’s overall usability.
Pros:
o Wide-Format Printing
o Excellent Design Quality & Built Aesthetics
o Very Low Printing Costs
Cons:
o Needs To Improve Its Colour Accuracy
What’s New:
The Epson Workforce 7710 is one decent printer meant for small offices and homes. This printer is suitable for medium printing needs. The small size of this printer does not make it a suitable choice for bulk printing. However, it offers a lot of handy features. Epson Workforce 7720, on the other hand, is a comparatively more performance-driven sublimation printer meant for regular basis printing. It can handle the printing load.
Why You Should Buy It:
You should buy the Epson Workforce 7720 printer because it is one of the best wide-format and all-in-one sublimation printers for wood. The sublimation printer for wood is quite affordable and comes with an impressive scanner. This printer can even print photos from a removable USB device. It certainly offers outstanding results in terms of print quality, functionality, and paper handling capability.

2. Epson Expression HD XP 15000

best sublimation printer for wood

Description:


o Brand: Epson


o Model: Expression HD Photo XP – 15000


o Display Type: 2.4-inch LCD color display


o Connectivity: USB host, Hi-Speed USB, Ethernet 10/100, Wi-Fi support to Wi-Fi Direct


o Product Dimensions: 18.7″ x 30.9″ x 16.2″


o Weight: 18.7 lb


o Ink Configuration:6 ink cartridges


o Maximum Resolution: 5760 x 1440 optimized dpi


Performance: The Epson Expression Photo HD XP 15000 printer can print documents of different qualities and sizes. From focusing on great colour depth sublimation printing to crisp and vibrant colours along with great detailing and a decent dynamic range, this is one sublimation printer for wood that would not disappoint. Printing speeds on the device will also range according to sheet size and the kind of quality required.
Comparison: As compared to other sublimation printers for wood mentioned on the review list, the Epson Expression Photo HD XP 15000 printer standouts when compared to all the other wide-format photo printers available in the market right now. It is also one of the best sublimation printers with a minimalistic design and a massive performance.
Usage: In terms of usage, the offers rich photo printing quality as compared to other good printers for sublimation in the market. The printer can produce some great and applaud-worthy prints with the best sublimation colour inks. Also, the ADF functionality offered by this printer also makes it highly convenient for large-capacity printing jobs.
Pros:
o Quieter Operation
o Compact & Well-Designed
o Vast Connectivity Options
Cons:
o Slow Printing Speed
What’s New:
As compared to the already popular Canon PIXMA IP8750, the Epson XP-15000 comes with a greater input capacity and an incredibly fast printing speed.
Why You Should Buy It:
You should buy the Epson ExpressionPhoto HD XP-15000 sublimation printer for wood because this printer certainly holds a good spot in the list of best wood printers for sublimation in the year 2022. Whether it’s good performance, great features, or an absolutely phenomenal design, the Epson Expression Photo HD XP-15000 certainly has a lot of offerings. In the case that photo printing is your sole concern, then this printer will be the best choice.

3. Canon SELPHY CP1300 Review

best sublimation printer for wood
  • Description:
    • Brand: Canon
    • Model: CP1300
    • Connectivity: Hi-Speed USB, SD card, USB Flash Memory, Wi-Fi Display Type
    • Product Dimensions:7.1″ (W) x 5.4″ (D) x 2.5″ (H)
    • Weight: 1.9 lbs
    • Display Type: Tilting Screen 3.2″ LCD
    • Ink Configuration: N/A
    • Maximum Resolution: N/A
  • Performance: The Canon Selphy CP1300 printer offers surprisingly decent sublimation prints with great accuracy and decent colour quality. For its size, the Canon SELPHY sublimation printer certainly outperforms its capacity. It produces stunning images with great sharpness and colour accuracy. The printer even takes less than a minute to give a 4 × 6 colour output.
  • Comparison: As compared to other sublimation printers for wood on the list, the Canon SELPHY CP1300 printer makes a one of a kind sublimation printer that is available in the market right now. The compact won’t skimp on anything despite its compact size. From the best features to the best performance, this sublimation printer is no less than any regular-size inkjet printer.
  • Usage: In terms of usage, the Canon Selphy CP1300 printer does not compromise in any aspect despite its unusual printer size. It can produce the same results as any regular inkjet printer would. The printer is quite compact and portable, and will not certainly depend on a computer connected to deliver ideal sublimation printing results.
  • Pros:
    • User-Friendly Interface
    • Good Number Of Connectivity Options
    • Sturdy & Durable
  • Cons:
    • No Touch Functionality
  • What’s New:

While the Canon CP1300 compact printer is best suited for dye-sublimation and thermal transfer, the Canon SELPHY Square QX10 Compact Photo Printer is suitable for dye-sublimation only.

  • Why You Should Buy It:

If you have to look for the best 4 × 6 printer for sublimation, then the Canon CP1300 printer makes a valuable deal you should not miss. Besides the compact size of this printer, it offers full-size functionality. In terms of portability also makes one absolutely portable option. However, you will have to purchase the portable battery pack separately.

4. Brother Inkvestment TankMFC-J995DW

best sublimation printer for wood
  • Description:
    • Brand: Brother
    • Model: MFC-J995DW INKvestment Tank
    • Connectivity: Ethernet, USB host, USB to PC, Mopria Print Service, Wi-Fi, Apple AirPrint
    • Product Dimensions: 17.0” (W) x 13.3″ (D) x 7.6″ (H)
    • Weight: 18.1 lbs
    • Display Type: LCD Display2.6” Touchscreen
    • Ink Configuration: N/A
  • Performance: The Brother MFC-J995DW printer performs exceptionally well when it comes to printing. From rich details, a good dynamic range, and great sharpness to better colour reproduction, the Brother printer outperforms its competitors in every aspect. If you emphasize colour quality during printing and sublimation, then you should definitely grab this product and set it to vivid for the best colour printing results.
  • Comparison: The Brother MFC-J995DW sublimation printer is one of the best investment printers if you are looking for a powerful and affordable sublimation printing combination. This printer certainly checks off all the boxes because it is one professional quality dye-sublimation printer with consistent and quality results.
  • Usage: Setting up the Brother MFC-J995DW printer is fairly easy and provides onscreen instructions. This printer is one high-standard product that comes with both wired and wireless options. It can print 12ppm when it comes to monochrome documents and 10 pages per minute when it comes to coloured ones. You definitely will not face any kind of problem when it comes to using this printer for sublimation.
  • Pros:
    • Economical Printing
    • No Time For Warm-Up Needed
    • Rich Scan & Print Quality
  • Cons:
    • Printing Speed Needs To Be Enhanced
  • What’s New:

When it comes to features as well as functionality, the Brother MFC-J99DW and Brother MFC-J995DWXL offer similar performance and usage. However, it’s what comes in the box on delivery of the product that mainly differentiates them from each other.

  • Why You Should Buy It:

You should buy the Brother MFC-J99DW sublimation printer because it is one useful sublimation printer for wood and t-shirt sublimation. It is the best sublimation printer which one can afford in today. The phenomenal design and aesthetics of this sublimation printer certainly complement one’s environment for work. The device also has a footprint which is small but has some commendable features intact.

5. Sawgrass SG500

best sublimation printer for wood
  • Description:
    • Brand: Sawgrass
    • Model: SG500
    • Weight: 35.2 pounds
    • Connectivity: WiFi, USB, Ethernet
    • Product Dimensions: 21.65 x 14.17 x 9.84 inches
    • Display Type: LED-backlit display
    • Ink Configuration: Standard Sublijet ink
    • Maximum Resolution: 4800 x 1200 dpi
    • Supported Paper Sizes: N/A
  • Performance: Although the Sawgrass SG500 printer does not look modern in any way and does not even focus on modern aesthetics, it offers great performance. The initial setup process takes up less than 5 minutes and is quite straightforward. Overall, this printer offers fairly accurate sublimation prints at a fairly accurate speed.
  • Comparison: As compared to other sublimation printers on the list, the Sawgrass SG500 printer has been specifically designed for sublimation printing. Most printers usually need to convert into sublimation printers. This leads to a lot of maintenance and conversion challenges. However, this Sawgrass sublimation printer offers decent performance at a quality running cost.
  • Usage: In terms of usage, the Sawgrass SG500 sublimation printer prints phenomenal colours, exhibits a high dynamic range, and makes an economical sublimation option when looked at from a long-term aspect. The fairly fast printing speed accompanied by easy-to-use features makes it the best sublimation printer for most beginners out there.
  • Pros:
    • Fast Printing Speed
    • Free Sawgrass Online Creative Studio License
    • High-Quality Printing
  • Cons:
    • No Touchscreen Display
  • What’s New:

While the Sawgrass SG500 can print 8.5 × 14-page size, the Sawgrass SG1000 can print 11 × 17 plus 13 × 15 with additional accessories.

  • Why You Should Buy It:

You should buy the Sawgrass SG500 printer because this printer has been designed specifically for printing on special paper. The printer offers a lot of features meant to meet the demands of professional sublimation printing. The printer is also compatible with most devices out there.

FAQs

1. Can you use a heat press on wood?

Heat presses can be used directly on wood, including wood slices. Using your heat press is a great way to apply heat transfer vinyl to wood slices! To achieve the best results, the wood slices need to be pretty thin and the pressure knob on your heat-press needs to be quite loose.

2. What temp do you sublimate on wood?

Place the wood slices on the heat press with the sublimation paper on top while the heat press is still at 385 degrees. The sublimation paper should be covered with parchment and pressed for 60 seconds. It’s pretty amazing, isn’t it?

3. What is the best printer for sublimating on wood?

The best printer sublimating on wood is the Epson Workforce WF-7720 printer because it is one of the best wide-format and all-in-one sublimation printers for wood. The sublimation printer for wood is quite affordable and comes with an impressive scanner. This printer can even print photos from a removable USB device. It offers outstanding results in terms of print quality, functionality, and paper handling capability.

4. Can I sublimate print on wood?

Yes, you can! A whole new world of beautiful and unique products is open to you when you sublimate on wood.

5. Can you use polyurethane to sublimate on wood?

When you transfer ink to a polyurethane coating on wood with heat and pressure, sublimation transfers the design to a polyurethane coating. In the end, the design will turn out to be a beautiful and vibrant one!