[DexManRay]

Hello all, I am looking for some advice regarding Sublijet. I have been printing personalized transfers on my Epson 620 that uses dye inks and have been getting away with it. My commercial stuff is plastisol and I am in the process of ording a vinyl cutter. (still not sure on whether or not I need optical registration and just how big of a cutter I need) I want to use the cutter to its maximum ability.

My problem is that I want to be able to do bigger transfers than 8.5 X 11 so I bought an Epson 1400...I know the ink isnt pigment but I got it for $179! anyway I am going to get a bulk system for it and I am not sure of which system I should use. I am considering the Sawgrass sublijet and I wanted some opinions before I buy. I am not sure of the capabilities of the Sublijet (materials I can sublijet to) and if it woudl be best for tshirts...

PLEASE give me your opinions....

 

[jpkevin]

Hi Ray,

The 1400 has been a pretty good sublimation printer. It will print up to 13"x19", and the Sublijet inks will work for any of the sublimation products on the market from shirts to any of hard products. Let me know if you have any other questions.

 

[PressForProfit]

... I am in the process of ording a vinyl cutter. (still not sure on whether or not I need optical registration and just how big of a cutter I need) I want to use the cutter to its maximum ability.

....I am not sure of the capabilities of the Sublijet (materials I can sublijet to) and if it woudl be best for tshirts...
PLEASE give me your opinions....

Definitely get a cutter with optical registration. A must if you want to do print and cut. Roland GX-24 has this feature.

Sounds to me like you are looking for a replacement ink system. The Sublijet dye sublimation inks are not appropriate for 100% cotton or 50/50 shirts. Non sublimation inks for inkjet heat transfers are available. Look into a bulk ink system for your printer.

 

[charles95405]

I have a 1400 with sawgrass artianium ink...it like sawgrass sublijet is ONLY for sublimation...on 100% polyester, some pastels like you see from vaporware, polymer coated products...If is NOT for ordinary transfers. Sublijet comes an ICC Profile program, IQ print..and is easier to set up for first time users of sublimation ink.

Do a search for Claria Ink (the ink that comes in the 1400) and you can see some members have had success with JPSS and Claria inks. If you switch to a bulk system I would suggest getting the ink/system from the same source.

 

[DexManRay]

Thanks for all the replys. I guess it comes down to whether or not I want to do regular transfers or sublimation... So is that a rediculous question.. I mean sublimation is hands down better and I should just go with it......right?

MIKE.... As far as the cutter goes I have decided to either buy a Roland or a Graphtec with the ARMS. I just cant decide on the size. I may want to do signs and window tint.. but I have noticed that alot of the material only comes in only 24" so do I really need a bigger cutter. I guess I could do larger window signs in multiple cuts instead of trying to do it all in one peice...? So do I need anything bigger than a 24" or not????????????????

CHARLES.......You said that you use the artainium instead of the sublijet..whats the differance and why would you go that route.... Ans as for the sawgrass system, am I right to think that it will give me the best t shirts when applied by heat press?????

 

[PressForProfit]

Thanks for all the replys. I guess it comes down to whether or not I want to do regular transfers or sublimation... So is that a rediculous question.. I mean sublimation is hands down better and I should just go with it......right?

MIKE.... As far as the cutter goes I have decided to either buy a Roland or a Graphtec with the ARMS. I just cant decide on the size. I may want to do signs and window tint.. but I have noticed that alot of the material only comes in only 24" so do I really need a bigger cutter. I guess I could do larger window signs in multiple cuts instead of trying to do it all in one peice...? So do I need anything bigger than a 24" or not????????????????

It does get more expensive as the cutter width increases. In the case of the GX300 at 36" width, the street price jumps about $1100 to $1200 over the 24" GX-24.

It is always better to buy a tool or system that will let you expand in the future. Of course, you must balance that with your budget for the cutter.

A sublimated shirt has many benefits over a heat transfered shirt. The main challenge is your cost of goods to make the shirt. Sublimatable 100% poly shirts are typically 2 to 4 times the cost of a comparable 100% cotton shirt. Ink and paper costs tend to be about even.

A lot has to do with the market and price you can get for your shirts.

 

[charles95405]

Ray...why I went with Artainium??? very simple...at the time no choice because when the 1400 came out last jul/aug, the only sublimation ink and bulk system available was Artainium.. Even though both inks from from same company their makeup is from different formula..Sublijet came out with bulk system about 3-4 months later. I like both...Sublijet is easier to set the ICC profile as it comes with CD for that. I had been using 1280 for sublimation with sublijet and was sick and tired of the 1280 and clogging..

Sublimation does give much better shirt..but more expensive...You will have at least $7 or so for shirt and ink...but you should upsell that shirt for $15-$25 Vaporware and some others have the 100% polyester in pastel colors as well..

I have the GX24 and it is more than adequate for me. I don't have a lot of room in the shop so 24 is sufficient for me...especially since I do mostly heatpress vinyl ...very little signs

 

[DexManRay]

Thanks guys. Wow is the GX 300 that much better of cutter or just the cutting size??? I guess I will stay with the 24" cutter, Roland GX 24 here I come, And as for the sublimation........I didnt realize the cost would be so much higher...... Maybe I'll try some transfers with the ink that comes with the 1400 and see how they turn out.(I have been using JPSS and have been really happy with it)

Although the sublimation would be nice, especially if I could cut out the use of plastisol on light color shirts.... I have been cutting and pressing ganged plastisols all morning!

Thanks again

 

[charles95405]

if you are doing a lot of transfers that you have trim..you will like the gx24 optic eye.. good choice and I think the GX 24 from roland will come with 2 year warranty

 

[Conde_David]

I think the 1400 with the Artainium inks is a good solution. I would strongly recommend the bulk ink system also know as the Easy Flow. I think epson is running some excellent direct specials on the printer.