Sublimation Printing - What You Need

Considering the potential return on investment, entering the sublimation printing business requires very little in investment. This section examines the types of equipment needed to being your sublimation printing business.

1. Computers -Very few programs that are worth having require less than 166 MZ and 32 Megs of RAM, but you don't have to have a "warp speed" computer. Talk to your local computer store or us.

2. Programs - Many already have programs like Corel or PageMaker, but almost any type of graphics or desktop publishing will work, as long as the program will allow you to print a reverse image. We recommend Coreldraw as the best program to use on the PC; Quark or Photoshop on the Mac.

3. Printer - There are two ways to approach sublimation printing; Inkjet or Laser. The former is cheaper to set up and well-suited to a small starting out business. The latter is the ultimate tool for the professional sublimation printer. We support both methods at SublimationSupplies.Com. See the article on this website for a comparison between the two in a whimsical fashion!

4. Sublimation Cartridges / Toners- The special toner in this cartridge is what produces the transfers for sublimation. You will need suitable cartidges for your Inkjet, or toners for your laser printer, depending on which method you choose.

5. Scanner - Scanners have gotten pretty inexpensive these days! You won't need one unless you think there will be a need to sublimate a lot of logos on what you do.

6. Paper - Plain copier paper can be used for both the Inkjet and Laser sublimation systems. However, coated inkjet paper will produce better results and most companies choose to use this, particularly when you have bought an inkjet printing system. With the laser system standard copier paper is quite acceptable.

7. Heat Press - You use the heat press to put your colour image onto the object you are printing. With the laser system this takes 20 seconds, with the inkjet system it takes 40 seconds.

8. Guillotiine - If you are planning to print signs, nameplates etc. on metal, you may want to buy a guillotine to cut the plate sizes from the 2ft x 1ft sheets. Alternatively, you can purchase pre-cut metal sheets in a bunch of common standard sizes and avoid the need for a guillotine altogether.

9. Corner Rounder - Again, only if you want to print metal plates, this is a useful tool for trimming the sharp corners of a piece of aluminium into a smooth, attractive corner shape. Not absolutely necessary, but a nice extra to have.

10. Supplies - Sublimation metal, Polyester-based fabrics, coasters, badges, plaques, wooden boards, mouse mats and the like, to print onto.