[Skydesigns]

Hey there, so I have a cricut maker, and I’m tired of weeding smaller projects and screwing them up and having to waste vinyl...I would like to purchase a printer, and I’ve been told to buy an inkjet printer. I have so many questions as to which one I should purchase and I want to keep in mind my budget and not spend too much but I want a good quality..I have done some research as to what inkjet printers are the best and I have come to a conclusion that Epson or brother are probably the best? Here is what I need when I purchase my first inkjet printer.
1. The best quality of an image/aka no bleeding
2. Bright and vibrant colors/no bleeding
3. More than likely be able to print larger than 12 inch.
4. Budget up to $400
5. Ink not to be outrageously expensive
6. Be able to heat transfer on any type of shirt type!

My questions with the printing also, is it better to get a printer with dye ink, sub ink or high pigment...or whatever it’s called. I’m new to all of these and need a good explanation too all of the options out there!!
I’m very new to the whole printer process so I’m trying to find the best and most affordable way and easiest way to help my business grow with no headache.

 

[NoXid]

You posted in the Dye Sub section, which might limit the responses you get, as that is a very specific tech.

Anyway, the "simplified answer":

Dye Sublimation only works on white 100% polyester. You can use 3rd party dye sub inks in Epson, and some other printers. There are also some printers made/sold to use dye sub to start with.

Inkjet Transfers like JPSS look good and are durable and can be used on different fabric types, BUT they are only for white garments, as the garment provides the white in the image.

Inkjet Transfers for Dark Garments look good ... until you wash them and they crack and the white underbase shows through. Also, you may still need that cutter in order to trim away any unprinted areas that you don't want to be white when printed on the shirt. So that is easy with a solid square design, but a design with a complex border/outline and/or internal areas that must be cut out, get you back to need a cutter. Oh, and these have a heavy hand and can make crackling noises, like crinkling a stiff piece of paper, as the shirt is worn.

One could slice and dice the details a lot finer than that and add nuances, but in practical terms for what most people have in mind when they want to print on shirts, the above covers it without muddying the issue up with what amounts to trivia and corner cases.

Every method has its pros and cons, and situations where it is a better or worse choice. YMMA.