Please recommend an A3 printer for sublimation

[gazfocus]

Back when I started out with sublimation last year, I bought a Ricoh SG2100N printer that was very disappointing. It never printed properly and dispite a number of profiles being made, the colours were always way off. So, I ditched the Ricoh and started using my Epson WF3640 and have been doing quite well with it (apart from the blacks never being quite right - although greys are fine).

Anyway, I want to move into making larger items like cushions and such, so want to find a good A3 printer for sublimation. I'm not fussed on brand as long as sublimation Ink is widely available.

I would really appreciate some advice on which printer to go for so that I don't make the same mistake I made with the Ricoh, so any recommendations welcome.

Thanks

[Justin]

Ricoh is the obvious answer, Epson 1500 would give a better print.

[gazfocus]

Ricoh is the obvious answer, Epson 1500 would give a better print.

which Ricoh? As I said, had problems with the last Ricoh I bought and it ended up in the bin. Any downside of the Epson?

[Justin]

2100 was never a 'supported' printer and whilst members report that they have them working ok I wouldn't personally recommend them.

Ricoh SG800 is the current A3 option. Same print quality as the 3110 which is acceptable for most but if you want decent gradients, skin tones etc. you'll struggle a little. The 6 colour Epson is far superior in print quality.

Epson would use (ideally) a CIS bulk system. Get a decent one to try and avoid air locks, I've used City Ink Express in the past with good results.

[bigj2552]

2nd / highly recommend the epson 1500w.....

highly DONT recommend ANY ricoh for anything other than hammer practice, when one is stressed

[pisquee]

most likely, If you had problems with colours after numerous ICC profiles, then most likely something was wrong with your colour management settings - either in creating the test swatches, or in using the resulting profile, or the inks you were using weren't good (or a mixture of the above)
That being said, you'll get better results with a 6 colour printer from Epson, and I'd recommend going with their pro level printers rather than office/consumer level ones.

[MojoImagery]

I don't use my 1500w for sublimation but i do use to for photo prints and the reality is that it is a first class printer. I guess that the ink options are tank based as that would be only concern for heavy usage as the carts are quite small.

[gazfocus]

2100 was never a 'supported' printer and whilst members report that they have them working ok I wouldn't personally recommend them.

Ricoh SG800 is the current A3 option. Same print quality as the 3110 which is acceptable for most but if you want decent gradients, skin tones etc. you'll struggle a little. The 6 colour Epson is far superior in print quality.

Epson would use (ideally) a CIS bulk system. Get a decent one to try and avoid air locks, I've used City Ink Express in the past with good results.

Thanks Justin. Do you use City Ink Express inks too or which brand of ink do you use? Bought City Ink Express stuff for the Ricoh and it didn't work.

[gazfocus]

most likely, If you had problems with colours after numerous ICC profiles, then most likely something was wrong with your colour management settings - either in creating the test swatches, or in using the resulting profile, or the inks you were using weren't good (or a mixture of the above)
That being said, you'll get better results with a 6 colour printer from Epson, and I'd recommend going with their pro level printers rather than office/consumer level ones.

believe me, I tried everything. The main issue was banding which would be fine for the first couple of prints and then would start banding as the printer gets used. For this reason I completely gave up on the printer.

[mags1892]

epson 1400 or 1500 is first class . just steer away from chinese inks if theyre unfeasible cheap theyre generally not good inks even though sometimes they give decent colour the cleaning agents and other agents aremissing hence theyre cheap ;)