Discuss the various aspects of heat press technology. Transfer paper, inks, plastisol transfers, vinyl cutters, printers, commercial usage, durability, suppliers, etc.
Hello,
I am new to this site and love all the info I have seen here. I know there are many threads about which printer to get. I have read alot but I am still a little confused. Mostly because it seems as though the Epson 1280 is a regularly mentioned option, but is now not offered by Epson. But the R800 and 1800 offered both have 8 different inks, which I have read is overkill and expensive. So my question is, what printer do you recommend now. I want something that will grow with my business. As with most that are starting out, I dont have the money to go with the expensive commercial printers, but want something that will last and is a good performing printer. I have also read the pigment inks are the way to go and only needing CMYK. Any and all advice appreciated.
Thank you!
Some of this also depends on the size graphic you would like to use. The Epson c88+ is being disc. and replaced with the Epson c120, which is a good printer to use with heat transfer paper. You can always start here and upgrade later on, but you'll first need to figure out if your work will be larger than the 8.5x11 or 8.5x14 size paper some printers use.
I also purchased my heat press by the size of the images I work with. I don't go over 8.5x11, so my press is fine at 11x15 - the mighty lite press.
Once you know your paper size, you can compare models based on that.
Sorry, another thing to consider b4 choosing your printer is to determine if you will want to use a bulk ink system. I had a beautiful Epson cx8400 all in one with an SD card reader. I returned if for the c88+ after I realized, no continuous ink system for it. You can't use CIS with all in one's.
Thank you for the reply. Yes, I do want to be able to print the larger transfers. So I guess the c88 will not work, but what else would you suggest. Something preferably with the CMYK.
You might want to look at the Epson 1400. Several comapnies offer a CIS for it. It has dye based ink out of the box, but with a CIS you can get bulk pigment based ink. That's what I have learned here (had to weed through alot of info!) and what I ended up going with to start out.
Find out if others liked having to purge the dye based inks b4 setting up the pigment. I think I remember reading about possible hassles with that. Tmoney, you didn't mention you had any, did that go well for you?
Find out if others liked having to purge the dye based inks b4 setting up the pigment. I think I remember reading about possible hassles with that. Tmoney, you didn't mention you had any, did that go well for you?
I didn't have to purge anything. I never put the OEM catridges in the printer when I got it. So, it was a 'clean' printer when I installed the CIS.
Ahh, excellent. Thanks. The other way when purging is when converting an existing dye printer over to pigment, bulk or otherwise. Thanks, tmoney. I guess I am tired, sorry to bother you but I do appreciate you fixing me up on that.
Ahh, excellent. Thanks. The other way when purging is when converting an existing dye printer over to pigment, bulk or otherwise. Thanks, tmoney. I guess I am tired, sorry to bother you but I do appreciate you fixing me up on that.
No problem. I'm glad you asked because I have not heard of that problem. Glad I didn't have to purge.
help with which printer is best 
Re: help with which printer is best 
