Have you ever wanted to wear your favorite T-shirt print, but couldn’t find it in stores? Do you have an HP printer that you would like to turn into a sublimation printer? If you answered positively to both questions, then let’s find out how to convert hp printer to sublimation printer.
How to convert hp printer to sublimation printer?
If you have been interested in sublimation printers before, you may have noticed that they are extremely overpriced. So, why not try making it at home?
The following text contains a list of necessary items and detailed instructions on how to turn the inkjet printers into sublimation printers.
Items needed to convert HP Printer to Sublimation Printer
- Printer
- Sublimation Ink
- Heat Transfer paper
- Heat Press
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Get yourself a brand new printer
Of course, if you already have the required printer type, the whole thing is very easy and quick. But if you don’t want to spend extra money on a sublimation printer, you surely can make it yourself.
How to convert HP printer to sublimation printer?
Using only a new HP printer or previously untouched printer is very important. If ordinary ink is mixed with sublimation colorants, the image will be fuzzy and the print will not remain on the T-shirt.
- Sublimation papers and inks
If you want your drawings to last, make sure you use high-quality sublimation inks. It is also very important to use the correct type of paper. Sublimation paper is specially designed to be used with sublimation inks, and using regular paper will not give the same results.
If you want your print to look like it was just bought from the store, use quality products only.
To avoid problems with printing, purchase high-quality sublimation paper. Insert it into the paper compartment.
- Fill tanks with sublimation inks
It is the point when you might realize that you can’t convert your HP inkjet printer to sublimation. You need to get the ink tanks and fill them with sublimation ink, which may not be possible if your printer has ink cartridges instead. You can only convert an HP printer into a sublimation printer if it contains refillable ink tanks.
If you can’t find compatible ink cartridges, don’t despair. This can be made easier with Epson printers. The ink tanks are easy and free to get removed.
- Choose the design of your choice
To print the desired image, you must click on File in the top tab of the program and select Print from the menu that opens. In the print settings, be sure to select the sublimation paper type, it can affect the print quality. Also, the ink color and the color of the paper should fit each other.
When all the settings are in order, click on the Print button, and you’re done! It remains to wait a bit and your print will be ready to apply to the T-shirt.
- Analyze the printed image
When the printing process is over, be sure to look at the quality. Make sure there are no cuts or stains. If the image is poor quality, print it again until you achieve the desired outcome. If after inspection everything suits you, then proceed to the main thing.
Before washing, it is better to iron the fabric to see its flaws. If you are still worried that you don’t have a clear image, then you can relax. Sublimation ink shows better in the next step when it is affected by temperature.
- Iron the T-shirt
Be sure to iron the fabric perfectly before applying the print. If you are too lazy to do this, then the image will be fuzzy or with missing places. You need to get rid of all the crease lines or nothing will work out. Ironing the T-shirt on both sides is recommended for best results.
- Heat press
And here is the final step! To capture your desired image on the fabric, take the sublimation printed paper and put it under the shirt, where you want your print to be. Iron directly through the fabric. Make sure that there is no air circulation that obviously can lead to gaps.
- Peel away the paper
Gently peel away the paper, to prevent damaging any of its fibers. Put other layers if needed. This process can seem to be stressful, but it is worth the final result.
And you are done! If you did all the steps successfully, you can enjoy your new DIY t-shirt.
How does the sublimation print technology work?
A sublimation printer or thermal inkjet printer is a type of printer that use high temperatures to transfer dye to paper, plastic, or textiles. This technology is commonly used for printing on polyester-coated materials, like T-shirts.
Sublimation ink is remaining solid at room temperature, but turns into a gas when high temperatures are applied. The ink changes its state and penetrates through the pores of the fabric. As it cools, it hardens inside the material and the result is a finished print.
How do sublimation printers work?
During the printing process, the ink is heated until it turns into a gas, skipping the liquid stage. When the state is changed, the pores of the paper or polyester open, where the ink is injected.
The paint is not stable until the material cools down and the pores close.
This is why these printers deliver high quality prints.
Differences between sublimation and other printing systems
Traditional printing systems, laser or inkjet, do not produce images of the same quality and durability as a sublimation printer. Among the main differences, the following should be noted:
Sublimation allows you to apply a specific amount of dye at each point, while traditional systems always use the same volume in the print area.
The inkjet system separates the colors into individual dots, while the sublimation printer allows them to be mixed.
Mixing pigments avoids the screen tones that appear on traditional prints when trying to create color measurements.
Also, during sublimation, a transparent coating is applied to each colored dot to protect the paint. This makes the photo more durable.
What is the purpose of sublimation printers?
Although the principle of operation is the same for all thermal sublimation devices, it is necessary to make difference in their use.
Printers for hobbyists
Suitable for small print volumes. Consumables for home sublimation printers are quite expensive, and their use is not always cost-effective. In any case, before purchasing such an expensive gadget, you need to calculate all the costs.
Printers for professionals
Professional devices are usually used by companies that provide printing services. This is because such devices (for example, Fujifilm products) have larger dimensions than user equipment, and therefore, they require more space and consume more electricity.
The scope of thermal sublimation printers is very extensive:
- small and medium printing production;
- advertising and printing services;
- color printing services (photos, books, magazines, leaflets, posters, and banners) provided by private entrepreneurs.
Flaws of sublimation printers
The devices are not without flaws. For example:
- The high cost of both the device itself and consumables.
- The sensitivity of the dye to ultraviolet light. It was some time ago and remains on old models. Today, manufacturers use special compounds that protect the ink from sunlight, so the printed image remains bright for a long time.
Is it possible to turn any printer into a sublimation printer?
To convert to a sublimation printer, your current printer must be equipped with ink tanks, not ink cartridges, so it will be to add sublimation ink to the ink tanks. Because it is almost impossible to find the sublimation ink cartridges that fit your printer.
In addition, your printer must be brand new or unused before filling the tanks with sublimation ink because mixed ink will not give you a good result.
Can you use sublimation ink in the HP OfficeJet printer?
Sublimation ink only applies to Epson Printers rather than HP. You can also use HP ion transfer for printing on fabric or bag. If a printer can do that, you can use a printer like Officejet for that.
You may also be interested: Can you use sublimation ink for regular printing?
a few more printers that support sublimation printing:
- HP Envy Photo 7855This HP camera-friendly printer offers wireless print capability from any mobile device. It also offers two touchscreen displays with intuitive navigation. HP Vivera 1320 printer has four colors to help create all kinds of prints.
- HP Sproket 200 Mobile PrinterThe Hp Mobile printer is an efficient compact printer ideal for use on the go. Use an app for smartphones or iPad for connecting to Bluetooth. The print device can connect wirelessly through Bluetooth to your iPhone.
- HP Deskjet 3720It is a multifunction printer that can print from a wireless mobile app. It also has a 2.2-inch LCD screen for easier use. The HP Deskjet 3720 doesn’t use basic HPs Ink technology. Instead, the printer uses four dyes to produce beautiful photographs.
- HP Envy 5660The HP Envy 5660 is a single-sided printer that supports faxing wirelessly from a smartphone or computer. It also features a 2.4-inch LCD-based touchscreen with an intuitive user interface. It is designed for office applications.These are four dyed ink that allows the creation of spectacular photography and documenting materials. In the sublimation printing area, this is the most widely used printer in HP. This printer features a variety of uses, making it ideal for use with sublimating papers.
When we are talking about sublimation printing, these are some of the most purchased and the best HP printers available on the market.
Read also: Difference between screen printing and sublimation.
Conclusion:
Sublimation printing is a great way to customize your clothes. It provides an interesting leisure activity that can even lead to starting your own business.
When you are converting HP printer to sublimation printer, it is very important to keep in mind the process order. If you find it difficult, contact a specialist.
Read also: What is the best shirt for sublimation?
Hi, I’m artist and sublimation printing expert. Born and raised in Anchorage, Alaska, I had passion for photography and painting from my childhood. I started my career as a sublimation print operator for a local printing company in 2012. The role exposed gave me lots of practical knowledge about printing process, from managing color profiles to ensuring print quality on various materials.
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