Sawgrass vs Epson Sublimation Printer

Do you want to know what the difference is between sawgrass vs epson sublimation printer? This article contains all the necessary information.

Are you worried about picking between Sawgrass and Epson sublimation printers? This decision can be tough, especially when debating the “Sawgrass vs Epson sublimation printer” topic. Don’t worry, we have the solutions! This comparison breaks down the details to look at costs, color quality, and user experience directly.

Find out which printer is the best choice for your sublimation needs without any sales pressure, guiding you through a detailed analysis to make your decision easier in the Sawgrass vs Epson sublimation printer discussion.

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Key Takeaways:

Sawgrass excels in vibrant colors and speed, while Epson EcoTank offers efficient ink use and wide formats.
Sawgrass has higher upfront costs; Epson EcoTank saves on ink.
Sawgrass is user-friendly with robust support; Epson may need extra steps for sublimation.
Sawgrass is specialized for sublimation; Epson requires adjustments for optimal results.
Consider print quality, cost, user-friendliness, and support when choosing between Sawgrass and Epson.

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Sawgrass Printers: Features and Overview

Sawgrass is a popular brand in the world of sublimation printers, known for its vibrant colors, reliability, and ease of use. Sawgrass printers cater to a wide range of users, from hobbyists to businesses. They feature patented eco-friendly water-based sublimation inks and DesignMate software, offering users hundreds of free designs.

Additionally, Sawgrass printers have self-cleaning print heads that ensure efficient use of paper and ink while improving maintenance. With strong support throughout the printer’s life, including global dealer support, the Sawgrass Care program, and a reliable warranty, these printers offer a hard-to-beat package.

Sawgrass SG400:

The Sawgrass SG400 is well-known for its dependability and fast printing speeds in the sublimation printer market. Here are some key features of the SG400:

Maximum paper size of 8.5×11 inches (and up to 8.5×14 inches with an extended tray)
Supports a variety of projects
Print speed of up to 156 prints per hour
Almost twice as fast as the older Ricoh SG 3110DN model

These features make the SG400 a popular choice for businesses needing quick turnarounds.

Despite its high performance, the SG400 is also priced attractively. At a discounted sale price of $495, down from its original price of $599, the SG400 offers a good balance of quality and affordability.

Sawgrass SG800:

The SG800 is an advanced model in the Sawgrass range, offering larger print sizes, supporting up to A3/Tabloid size paper in the main tray. For even larger prints, the SG800 can handle up to A3+/13”x19” with an optional bypass tray.

As part of the Virtuoso HD Product Decorating System, the SG800 works best with SubliJet-HD inks. This makes it perfect for high-definition digital decorating, giving your designs extra detail and vibrancy. The SG800 is priced higher at $1,599 for a new unit, but you might find it in the market for around $1,250.

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Epson Printers: Features and Overview

Next, let’s look at Epson, another major player in the printing industry. Epson printers, including the WorkForce and EcoTank series, are known for their multiple connectivity options and can be converted for sublimation printing.

Consider the Epson WorkForce ET-16500 EcoTank, one of the most efficient inkjet printers available. This printer stands out due to these features:

Comes pre-loaded with up to two years of ink, removing the need for ink cartridges
Offers significant ink savings, up to 80 percent compared to traditional cartridges
Features supersized, easy-to-fill ink tanks designed for better efficiency
Boosts productivity with wide-format prints, scan and copy functions, a 500-sheet capacity, and automatic 2-sided printing and copying

The ET-16500 not only saves money but also conserves resources and enhances productivity.

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Epson WorkForce Line:

Within the WorkForce series, the Epson WorkForce Pro WF-4730 All-in-One Printer stands out. It includes:

PrecisionCore Heat-Free technology for high performance
Fast color print speeds of 20 ISO ppm
A 500-sheet capacity across two paper trays
Professional quality graphic and text printing capabilities

The WF-4730 is notable for its productivity-boosting features, such as:

A 35-page Auto Document Feeder
Auto 2-sided printing
Multiple wireless printing options, supporting devices like iPad, iPhone, and Android
A 2.7-inch color touchscreen LCD
Voice-activated printing with Alexa

These features make it a reliable choice for any office setting.

However, converting an older Epson WorkForce printer to sublimation printing involves buying the correct cartridge, filling it with sublimation ink, and inserting it into the printer.

Epson EcoTank Series:

The built-in tank system of the Epson EcoTank series stands out, making sublimation conversions user-friendly. Consider the Epson EcoTank printer WorkForce ET-16500. This model is equipped with office-friendly features like wide-format printing and large paper capacity, enhancing the EcoTank’s ability for high-volume and low-cost ink replacement.

For small format sublimation printing, the EcoTank ET-2800 and its Walmart and Target exclusive version, ET-2803, are excellent options, handling up to 8.5 x 14 inches. For wide-format sublimation printing, the EcoTank ET-15000 is a top choice, producing prints as large as 13 x 19 inches. The ET-8550 goes even further, offering 6-color ink support for high-quality photo prints up to 13 x 19 inches.

Sawgrass vs Epson- Color Management

In sublimation printing, effective color management is crucial. Sawgrass printers excel in this aspect with their built-in driver that includes color profiles, ensuring simplified and accurate color control. They also offer features like ‘Color Mode‘ for selecting optimal settings for different design types and ‘Color Adjustment’ for fine-tuning color output.

In contrast, Epson sublimation printer models provide drivers with features such as PhotoEnhance for automatic color adjustments and support for various color management systems like ICM for Windows, ColorSync for Mac OS, and ICC profiles tailored for each printer model and paper type.

However, converted Epson printers for sublimation require additional third-party ink profiles to achieve precise color output, as the built-in drivers are optimized for Epson-original inks, not sublimation inks.

Sawgrass and Epson Offer Diverse Pricing Options:

The Sawgrass SG400 is priced starting at $550, while the SG800 starts at $1500. Epson EcoTank printers suitable for sublimation can be found starting as low as $199, with simple conversion processes beginning around $170.

However, the cost of ink for Sawgrass printers is significantly higher compared to Epson. Non-industrial sublimation inks for Sawgrass printers can cost upwards of $130, whereas a set of four inks for converted printers costs about $24.

Sawgrass printers deliver high-quality prints and robust support but require special sublimation ink and paper, which can increase production costs. Additionally, if not used regularly, Sawgrass printers may use more ink in cleaning cycles.

Considerations for Conversion: Pros and Cons

Converting an Epson printer for sublimation offers potential benefits but involves several important considerations:

Converting voids the manufacturer’s warranty and eliminates access to technical support.
However, the conversion can potentially enhance print quality, producing vibrant colors and sharp details.
On the downside, there are risks such as overheating and clogging.

Additionally, converted sublimation printers may require more frequent maintenance, including manual head cleaning, and they may have a shorter lifespan due to the modifications from their original design.

Performance Comparison: Print Speed and Quality

When comparing performance, Sawgrass printers demonstrate impressive print processing speeds thanks to built-in processors and memory modules. Both the Sawgrass SG400 and SG800 offer the following print speeds:

15 seconds for high-speed printing at 600 x 600 dpi
29 seconds for high-quality printing at 600 x 600 dpi
48 seconds for advanced photo printing at 1200 x 600 dpi

Epson printers, on the other hand, vary in print speeds and resolutions depending on the model:

The Epson Workforce 7710 and 7720 models print monochrome documents at a rate of 18 pages per minute and color documents at 10 pages per minute.
The EcoTank ET-16500 matches this speed.
The Epson EcoTank ET-2650 has slower print speeds, at 10 pages per minute for monochrome and 4 pages per minute for color.

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Factors to Consider When Buying Sublimation Printers:

Print Quality and Resolution:

A good sublimation printer offers adjustable resolution settings for controlling print quality. This flexibility is crucial because different printing tasks require varying levels of detail. For example, printing a photo onto a mug may demand a high resolution like 4800 x 1200 dpi to preserve image clarity, while simple text on a sign may suffice with 600 x 600 dpi. Higher resolutions deliver sharper images but consume more ink and slow down printing speed.

Compatibility with Different Media Types:

Sublimation printers are versatile and capable of transferring images onto a wide range of materials. They are ideal for creating promotional products like coffee mugs, water bottles, custom apparel, and soft signage. These printers work with materials such as aluminum, steel, ceramic, fiberglass, acrylic, wood, polyester fabrics, slate, and more. However, they are not suitable for natural fabrics or porous hard materials.

Sublimation Ink Types and Availability:

Sublimation printer inks are readily available online and in specialty print shops. It’s crucial to use the correct type of ink recommended for your specific printer model—some printers use liquid ink bottles, while others use sublimation ink cartridges. It’s best practice to replace ink with the same type and brand as originally supplied.

Printer Speed and Dimensions:

Print speed and size capabilities are crucial considerations, especially for commercial-scale use. Some sublimation printers achieve high speeds, printing 30 or more pages per minute, while others print more slowly, such as one page every 30 seconds. Pay attention to media size compatibility—some printers handle rolls more cost-effectively than sheets. Ensure the printer accommodates the largest size of media you intend to use.

Connectivity Options:

Most sublimation printers offer Wi-Fi connectivity for easy graphics transfer from computers. They also typically support USB connection. Enhanced user experience is possible with printers that include app connectivity, allowing for easier customization and control via mobile devices.

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User Experiences: Testimonials and Reviews

When choosing between Sawgrass and Epson printers, customer feedback and reviews provide valuable insights. The Epson SureColor F170, for example, often stands out compared to Sawgrass printers due to:

Lower initial cost
The larger amount of starter ink included
Ease of setup
Affordability
High-quality sublimation prints

It caters well to both beginners and experienced users in the sublimation field.

However, it’s important to consider the limitations of each printer. Some users have pointed out drawbacks with the Epson F170, such as the inability to print in wide format or perform borderless printing, which limits the size of potential sublimation projects.

Despite these limitations, consumers generally view the Epson F170 as a worthwhile investment for sublimation purposes, thanks to its included ink supply and comprehensive support services.

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Bottom Line:

In conclusion, both Sawgrass and Epson provide a range of sublimation printers designed to meet diverse needs, budgets, and skill levels. Whether you’re a hobbyist or a business owner, prioritizing speed, print quality, or cost-effectiveness, there’s a suitable printer available. When making your decision, consider factors such as intended usage, budget constraints, availability of technical support, and ease of setup. Happy printing!

FAQ

Sublimation printing revolves around the technology of its ink, as Levy explains. Unlike familiar inkjet or laser printers, sublimation printers are engineered to use ink that undergoes a high heat transfer process. This distinction makes comparing them to other printers like comparing apples to oranges.

However, in terms of durability, media printed with sublimation printers surpasses the longevity of iron-on decals created by inkjet printers. Graphics produced by sublimation printers are expected to endure as long as the item onto which they are printed.

Sublimation printers, according to Tiedeman, allow graphics to be transferred onto a wide range of materials, including coffee mugs, sweatshirts, signage, and more. However, there are significant limitations related to fabric type and material color.

Sublimation printing cannot be used on natural fabrics like cotton or wool; it requires a high percentage of synthetic fabric, typically polyester, for the ink to adhere properly. Whether printing on fabrics or solid surfaces, the base material must be white or very light-colored for the colors to appear vibrant and accurate.

Under normal conditions of use, assuming it is kept in a controlled environment free from contaminants like sawdust or moisture, a sublimation printer typically lasts around 10 years. Intensive or improper use can shorten this lifespan, while careful handling can extend it.

Compared to the average inkjet printer, which typically lasts between three to five years, sublimation printers offer excellent long-term value despite their higher initial cost.

The primary distinction between the Sawgrass 500 and Sawgrass 1000 lies in the sizes of paper they can handle. The SG1000 supports up to A3/Tabloid size paper, whereas the SG500 is designed for up to A4/Legal size paper. Additionally, both printers offer the option to purchase a bypass tray for expanded functionality.

Last Updated on August 9, 2024 by Muhammad Haseeb

Sawgrass vs Epson Sublimation Printer

Key Takeaways: