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Need help choosing printer

1745 Views 14 Replies 5 Participants Last post by  webtrekker
I need help choosing a printer.

I bought a Geo Knight DC16 heat press.

However I am completely clueless when it comes to what printer I need.

I want to print larger than the standard 8.5x11. I want something that is good quality but won't hurt the pocket book too bad.

What is the best printer and ink type that would ensure I create a quality product?
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Do you plan to print to dark shirts or only white/light? Do you want to go with laser or inkjet technology? Do you have $500 or $5000?

There have been a lot of threads asking this same basic question. A little search will turn them up, or the same people that answered those threads could start over here :p
Do you plan to print to dark shirts or only white/light? Do you want to go with laser or inkjet technology? Do you have $500 or $5000?

There have been a lot of threads asking this same basic question. A little search will turn them up, or the same people that answered those threads could start over here :p
Dark shirts, most of them will probably be black.

I have checked out the threads here, I just noticed that a lot of them are old and I am not sure what is good for 2018.

However, I am looking at the epson wf1100.

My budget for a printer would be a couple hundred and that fits.

Most importantly I want good ink. So I guess I would want sublimation ink... and I can use that with the wf1100 correct?

Any other recommendations?
I also would like to get an idea how many shirt designs I will be able to print approximately with one set of ink cartridges. Trying to narrow down my per item cost...
The more I read, the more I think heat transfer would be better than sublimation since I will primarily be making shirts.

What is the best ink to use for heat transfer?

Do I need sublimation ink to do mugs?

So much to consider lol.
i think you need sub ink for mugs but shirts pigment...my epson wf7210 with cobra inks has been doing well so far and is in your budget
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i think you need sub ink for mugs but shirts pigment...my epson wf7210 with cobra inks has been doing well so far and is in your budget
Thank you...

How much ink do you typically go through? Do you know roughly how many shirts can be made with new cartridges?
Thank you...

How much ink do you typically go through? Do you know roughly how many shirts can be made with new cartridges?
im not sure on that as i mostly do vinyl work..i print mainly to keep everything unclogged at this point lol its just nice to have the option...i have yet to refill my xl carts
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Dark shirts, most of them will probably be black.

I have checked out the threads here, I just noticed that a lot of them are old and I am not sure what is good for 2018.

However, I am looking at the epson wf1100.

My budget for a printer would be a couple hundred and that fits.

Most importantly I want good ink. So I guess I would want sublimation ink... and I can use that with the wf1100 correct?

Any other recommendations?
You might want to backup and research a little more and then consider your options. There is a lot on here to read about all the options and products and processes and their limitations.

Sublimation is for white polyester garments. Not cotton and not black or dark.

At this point in time, in my opinion, inkjet transfer papers for dark garments leave a lot to be desired. They have a heavy hand feel and tend not to be very durable. This has to do with the necessity of having a white layer under the ink to block out the color of the shirt.

JPSS is a paper for light/white garments. It works well, has low hand, and is durable. You use pigment inks with it. The colors will be true only when used on a white garment. Ash gray is as dark as you can go and reasonably reproduce the colors in a photograph, or the like.
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What you don't say is ..... are you trying to sell your stuff, or do custom stuff for other people. One offs or 100?

This will also affect what direction you take
What you don't say is ..... are you trying to sell your stuff, or do custom stuff for other people. One offs or 100?

This will also affect what direction you take
My plan was to sell tourist shirts in the summer then do custom jobs for businesses and groups in the off season.

But I have a feeling I will be doing more custom work, based on the local feedback I have received so far.

I have a small store front which I was going to display some of my own designs but also have a wall of blank t-shirts for people to pick their size/color and choose a design from my catalogue.

I also want to have some mugs because tourists complain that they can't ever find any. But I don't think it would be worth it to buy a printer just for mugs. If I can't do both my shirts and mugs with one printer then I will just forget mugs for now or else order them already made.
You might want to backup and research a little more and then consider your options. There is a lot on here to read about all the options and products and processes and their limitations.

Sublimation is for white polyester garments. Not cotton and not black or dark.

At this point in time, in my opinion, inkjet transfer papers for dark garments leave a lot to be desired. They have a heavy hand feel and tend not to be very durable. This has to do with the necessity of having a white layer under the ink to block out the color of the shirt.

JPSS is a paper for light/white garments. It works well, has low hand, and is durable. You use pigment inks with it. The colors will be true only when used on a white garment. Ash gray is as dark as you can go and reasonably reproduce the colors in a photograph, or the like.
I'm definitely holding off for the time being, there is so much to know about this business.

I was probably incorrect when I said most of my shirts will be black. I happen to like black but it really depends on what people want. I can definitely stick with lighter colors for the most part if the image will translate better.
To sublimate mugs you'll need a printer with sublimation inks (usually a Ricoh or Epson) and a mug press or oven.

The minimal setup, pricewise, would be to buy a cheap halogen oven (less than £50 here in the UK) and some silicone mug wraps from ebay (around £5 each) and outsource the printing. It's very easy to sublimate mugs in a halogen oven and, unlike a mug press, you can produce full area, top to bottom, handle to handle prints on your mugs. Make sure you buy the best quality mugs or you will end up with poor prints caused by barreling, tapering, indentations, black specks, snd poor coatings. Good mugs and prints made with decent inks will be microwave and dishwasher safe for a long time.
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