For those who haven't read my previous blog post, I am making an attempt to start my own at-home sublimation printing service. Well, hubby got me the equipment for my birthday. Let's see what arrived shall we?
*Please note: I haven't been asked to promote or sell items that I mention on this page. These have been purchased based on personal research. Please do the research to find the right equipment for your*
Equipment list:
The Printer
And here we have the Epson SureColor F100. One of the few printers out there that are recommended for sublimation printing. The first thing I noticed is how light it is. All printers I have used before now have been heavy-duty office-type laser printers that require super strength to lift. This was very light and easy to move around. I moved my old HP printer from years ago and nearly collapsed under the weight.
It also has set up instructions that look like it is guiding you to Mount Doom. But it was actually very easy to set up.
What's also great about this printer is, at the front, you can see the actual ink levels. No longer requiring that infuriating 'printer ink is low' message on the desktop.
Speaking of Ink
Good lord, who gave these guys steroids?
Seriously, 4 of these bad bays came with the printer. These bottles are specifically designed to work with this printer as they have specific connectors. It's worth noting here that these inks WILL stain so you need to be very careful when handling them.
You simply connect them to the appropriate hole in the printer and just sit back and let it fill the printer itself. It will even stop filling once the container is filled. There are specific sections for each colour so you do need to be careful that you put the right colour into the right section.
As you can see the black (BK) section is bigger so it took a lot of ink and almost emptied the bottle but still have plenty of ink in the other colours. Will see how long it lasts before I need to refill. I have been told that these inks are cheaper than the average printer inks so that will help keep costs down.
The software installation and printer setup were also very easy. The printer showed very simple instructions on the printer display and it literally took a few minutes to download the software from the Epson website.
As for printer paper, I have a box of these designed for sublimation printing. I just need to remember to print on the correct side
Multifunctional Heat Press Machine
So this came with various attachments that aren't in the picture. You can just see the mug and flat press along with the control box.
The instructions for operating this are confusing and a bit intimidating, especially for a novice like me. It takes a bit of tinkering, but be careful this thing heats up fast. It is giving off a smell when it heats, but I understand that it is normal and should hopefully go away soon.
For now, it is set up in our utility room. I bought some heatproof mats from Amazon for extra protection but the machine and attachments are already heatproof.
I am hoping to move the set-up out to the garage but for now, this is more convenient while little man naps.
The Products
Now, what am I going to print on?
Mugs seem to be the first step here. And I have a box of about 30 of the little buggers, each with their own little box.
These are standard 11oz mugs. Pretty sure I will go through about half just by practicing, I hope my friends and family like mugs.
My husband also got me one of these rock slates with a stand to try out. This would be ideal for photos and motivational quotes. So another idea to think about.
Finally, some boxes to put the mugs in for delivery to customers. Not assembled one yet but supposedly they will keep the mugs safe without the need for bubble wrap/additional protection. But we will see. I have ideas for branding and little things to go with the products when shipped out.
Again important to note that this is just an example of some of the basic equipment and items needed to start out in sublimation. I have not been asked to promote or sell any items nor do I get a commission. This has been based on several hours of research.
And that's it for now folks. My house is full of boxes and foam so need to get all of that cleared away. Next time I will make the jump into making my own mugs.
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