7 Best Sublimation Printer for Cricut in 2023

Last Updated on February 4, 2023

Sublimation printing is a great option for creating customized gifts such as mugs, t-shirts, and hats. Sublimation printing involves the transfer of dye from paper to fabric using heat and pressure, resulting in vivid and beautiful prints.

You click on an idea, get an SVG file, and print any design of your choice on your wearable or another item. The Cricut machine alone cannot sublimate. The combination of a sublimation printer and a Cricut maker is required to print and cut sublimation projects.

If you want to create custom clothing or accessories, then sublimation printing is the way to go! It involves using special ink that turns into a gas when heated so that it can be transferred to various surfaces.

But how do you know which printer will give you the best quality prints? We’ve spent hours researching and testing the sublimation printers for Cricut. Here are the top 5 sublimation printers today, with information on pros and cons.

Let’s take a moment to discuss the reasons why a sublimation printer Cricut is needed before we get to the details.

Why Do You Need the Best Sublimation Printer for Cricut?

If you have a Cricut sublimation machine, you know how much work goes into making each Cricut sublimation project look just perfect. But if you want to take that extra step and create a personalized gift card for someone special, you need to get a sublimation printer.

Using a Cricut to create designs for sublimation printing requires the best possible quality. A high-quality printer will produce accurate and consistent prints that are great on all sorts of materials, from clothing to paper; it can even be used as an ideal way to transfer pictures onto your shirt!

A sublimation printer is necessary to create high-quality prints. Secondly, a quality sublimation printer will produce vibrant, life-like prints that are sure to impress.

Best Sublimation Printers for Cricut

There are two options available for using a sublimation printer with Cricut projects. You can either buy a dedicated sublimation printer or convert an inkjet printer for Cricut sublimation. We will discuss both options.  

1. Epson ET-3760 Cartridge-Free Printer

What we liked most about Epson EcoTank ET-3760 is its low running cost because it is a cartridge-free printer. It uses a low-cost ink replacement bottle system that saves up to 90 percent compared to inkjet cartridges. ET-3760 is a great option if you’re looking for a reliable, eco-friendly alternative to cartridge printers. Why did we call it eco-friendly? Just because of its EcoTank ink system. It saves a lot of waste that cartridge printers could not avoid.

We found this printer quite efficient because it saves time from frequent paper loading. A higher capacity tray allows printing for longer periods without worrying about feeding the paper repeatedly. It has an impressive 150-sheet paper tray that makes it fast, efficient, and easy to print large designs.

This printer offers a variety of features such as wireless connectivity, automatic duplex printing, and 4x optical zoom. You can also use the scanner to scan documents, photos, or art. It can connect to your home network via a wired or wireless connection, and the built-in Ethernet port allows you to connect it directly to your computer.

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2. Epson EcoTank ET-4760 Cartridge-Free Printer

ET-4760 is a one-step advanced printer to the first printer we discussed above. It has a 250 paper handling capacity tray. We have found it worth buying for business owners and those running Etsy shops.

Printing with the EcoTank ET-4760 printer reduces the environmental impact. It’s built with a large ink capacity, and each tank contains a different color, so you won’t need to replace any of the ink tanks. The printer has various refill options so you can easily refill your tank with the appropriate color.

You can save both time and money on printing with its cartridge-free technology. We can refill ink tanks instead of replacing or buying ink cartridges.

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3. Epson Artisan 1430 Wireless Color Wide-Format

We were looking for a high-performance, high-quality printer and found Artisan 4130 as the best of the bunch. Although it may not be the cheapest model on the market, it is one of the best. This is because it can produce stunning prints as large as 13″ x 19″, and it’s fast too.

Artisan-1430 can also print images in almost any format and produce professional-quality CDs and DVDs. And, with wireless connectivity, you can easily share your results with others.

This printer has handy features like dual ink tanks, advanced color correction, a 5-year warranty, and is compatible with both Windows and Mac computers.

If you’re looking for a printer that delivers top-notch results, then the Artisan 1430 is the way to go.

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4. Mitsubishi CP-K60DW-S Eco-Value Dye-Sub Printer

With the K60 Dye-sublimation, you can easily print t-shirts and create cute labels. Being a DIYer, I use the Cricut printing feature regularly.

It’s a full-featured photo printer that produces high-quality prints with impressive detail and smooth edges. This dye-sub printer comes in two print sizes, 6×8 inches and 4×6 inches, so you can easily create both large and small prints.

The dye sublimation print head offers 96% less power consumption than conventional inkjet heads, and it has a unique print head design that produces sharp edges.

It comes with the ability to produce both matte and glossy prints. Matte finishes are duller and smoother, and they can look more natural. Glossy prints are more vibrant and reflect light, but they may not have as smooth a finish.

It also includes useful features, including a paper feeder and a one-touch power switch. You can easily set up the printer with a single touch of a button.

Unlike the Cricut infusible ink concept, dye-sublimation photo printing uses sublimation ink for hard and soft applications. When it goes through the high-temperature transfer, the ink becomes solid state on the paper.

We found Eco-Value Dye Sub as a great printer that makes high-quality prints without climatic chaos.

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5. Canon SELPHY CP1300 Wireless Printer

While you will transfer a label or design on a first T-shirt, mug, or hat using Cricut print then cut, an excellent combination would be a sublimation printer with it. We can transfer detailed and beautiful full-color designs using the best sublimation printer for Cricut.

We’ve been testing the Canon SELPHY CP1300 for a while now and concluded that it is a good option to cut budget and paper costs.

The CP1300 is a low-cost, small, and portable printer. It comes with a 3.2-inch LCD screen so you can easily view and edit your designs before printing. The touchscreen is very responsive and easy to use.

The only downside is that it doesn’t come with any paper, but we think that’s a minor issue since it’s easy to order online and inexpensive.

It can print on different paper sizes, such as postcards with a size of 4.0 x 6.0 inches, cards with a size of 2.1 x 3.4 inches, and square labels with a size of 2.1 x 2.1 inches.

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6. Brother MFC-J995DW

The MFC-995 does not function as a true sublimation printer. It is an inkjet printer that can be converted to a sublimation printer for use with Cricut machines. Now, this printer can provide you with high-quality results and customizations.

I never felt the need to worry about running out of ink as its tank technology allows you to print almost endlessly for almost a year without purchasing more ink. The re-engineered INKvestment tank cartridge includes an internal ink storage tank that allows you to run the printer without buying any more ink.

The Brother MFCJ995DW is compatible with wireless technology, so you can easily print from a mobile device without any cables. This makes printing easy from an iPhone, iPad, or Android device.

This printer can produce a whopping 7,200 pages per month at 600 x 1200 dpi resolution. You can also print on both sides of the paper, and you can print multiple pages on a single sheet.

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7. Canon Pixma MG3620 Wireless printer

Note: It is an Inkjet printer that can be used as a sublimation printer with conversion steps

The Pixma MG3620 is a compact device that can print photos and even scan and copy documents. It has all the necessary connectivity options for printing from your smartphone or tablet, including Wi-Fi, NFC, Bluetooth, and AirPrint. The Pixma MG3620 also supports Google Cloud Print and Canon Print.

Canon Pixma 3620 printer is quite powerful, especially regarding its print speed. It can print up to 16 pages per minute in black and white and 9.9 pages per minute in color. It can also print double-sided with automatic 2-sided printing.

The Pixma MG3620 comes with a built-in battery that allows it to work on its own for approximately 8 hours before needing a recharge. You can easily charge this printer using its USB cable or use the included AC adapter.

If you’re looking for a mobile printer that can print, copy, scan, and fax documents, then the Pixma MG3620 is a great choice.

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Best Sublimation Printer for Cricut Buying Guide

When you’re printing your artwork on T-Shirts, posters, or other printed items, you need a high-quality printer. Choosing the right type of printer can be overwhelming, especially if you don’t know much about printers or printers and inkjet technology.

Choose The Right Type of Printer

Whenever you buy a printer for sublimation projects, you can buy a sublimation printer or convert an inkjet printer into a sublimation for your projects. If you buy an inkjet printer, convert it and then use it for Cricut sublimation, the warranty will get invalid.

However, if converted rightly, an Inkjet printer can save costs and efficiently execute sublimation tasks.

Consider How Fast You Need the Printer to Work

Sublimation printers work by transferring heat into the ink and causing the ink particles to sublimate into a vapor, then deposited onto a record.

But there are several factors you should consider when buying a sublimation printer. First, you need to consider how fast you need the printer to work. Printer speed can be anywhere between 50-100 prints an hour. Choose the speed according to your work requirements.

Required Heat presses

Sublimation printers use heat to create the image, and since the heat is applied at a controlled temperature, you can create your own custom prints.

In order to do this, you’ll need to pick a heat press that has the right amount of heat and pressure to achieve the desired effect.

There are several factors to consider when choosing a heat press. You’ll want to choose a model that offers the following features:

Temperature control

This is the most important feature because if the heat isn’t at the correct temperature, the ink will never turn into gas, and you’ll end up with a poor-quality print.

Pressure

The heat press should have enough pressure to apply the heat properly. You don’t want the heat to be too weak, or you may end up with fuzzy prints. If the heat is too strong, you may also end up with blurred edges.

Heating elements

This refers to the surface of the heat press, which heats up the ink. The best models have two heating elements, while cheaper models usually have one. If your printer has multiple heating elements, it means that it can have more than one print job going at once

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Can I use my Cricut easy press for sublimation?

You can, but I wouldn’t recommend it. I’ve gone through 2 bad presses and had to get a replacement each time. Cricut said it was so rare it was like being struck by lightning twice. After the second I found a press on the marketplace for my area and haven’t looked back.

Is any Inkjet printer convertible for sublimation?

Ideally Yes;

you can use an inkjet printer for sublimation projects. You just need to find a compatible toner cartridge for the printer you’re using. Some good convertible printers are Epson, Brother, and HP.

What kind of projects can I execute using a sublimation printer with Cricut?

Here are a few popular items that can be created using Sublimation printing with Cricut;

• A T-shirt.
• Bags.
• Glassware, ceramics, and metals; and drinkware.
• Boots.
• Laptop Screen cover.
• Metal photo panels.
• Any special day gift.
• Ornaments.

Do I Really Need to Buy Specific Sublimation Blanks?

In addition to purchasing a printer, mug press, or sublimation heat transfer machine, you will need some great blanks for sublimation printing. Drinkware and Mugs are two popular sublimation blanks that you can get from almost any dollar store.

You can easily print vibrant images of yourself or friends, artwork, logos, or brand taglines on them, and they are customizable enough so that the print transfers will last a long time. You can transfer the sublimation to any of the mugs, bottles, tumblers, or shot glasses. The very best sublimation transfer works with hard or soft blanks.

Can I go with both Cricut and Sublimation?

I do both. They have different possibilities. I prefer Cricut crafts for my kids classes and parties and selling on holidays. But I like sublimation for fundraiser items and gifts and stuff. You have to bear with vinyl, weeding and layering while using Cricut.

How do I do sublimation on my Cricut?

You need Cricut if you plan on using HTV (glitter, easy subli, glow in the dark) first and then subbing over that.

Do you have to have a sublimation printer for Cricut?

yes, you must have a printer compatible with sublimation for Cricut sublimation printing. You can opt to buy a true sublimation printer or use an inkjet printer with sublimation ink and paper.

Final Verdict

We have shared our detailed experiences and research results about various printers to work on sublimation printing. Some of them are already sublimation printers like CP-K60DW, and you get started straight away. An excellent Inkjet printer that stands out is Brother MFC-J995DW, and it be can be confidently converted to the best printer for Cricut sublimation. If you are still under analysis paralysis, the Canon Selphy sublimation printer is an all-rounder and can handle your projects whether you are a DIYer, hobbyist, or a professional business craft.