Needing advice re printer/inks please

[emt]

This is my First post, hopefully someone can help or advise me? I’m wanting to get into sublimation, mainly for clothing. I’ll only be doing it for family not anything business wise so don’t really want to spend more than I need to.
ive been doing a bit of research and as I don’t want to be buggering about making sure I have polyester I need ink/Transfer paper that will work on cotton.

ill also need a printer for this (I currently have an epson ET 2550) I don’t mind getting a 2nd hand one if I can but I’m unsure which ones I can convert and which are better for sublimation?

Up until now I’ve been using HTV and transfer sheets but finding it’s either not lasting, peeling or more recently the ink from the sheet ran into the T-shirt!

please treat me like a complete numpty as I really don’t know much about any of this

Thanks Estelle

[pw66]

Sublimation only works on polyester or polyester rich white or light coloured garments. Cotton is a non starter.

If the ink from your transfer ran into the shirt then you are probably using dye based ink ( Epsons ET ink is dye based). You need to use pigment based ink, which doesn't run.

[emt]

Thanks for the reply ����
so what are all the transfer sheets? that are advertising They’ll work on cotton??

[pw66]

Are they advertising sublimation transfer sheets toprint onto cotton?

[emt]

I’m thinking of easysubli and there’s also a website sublioncotton that advertise it?

[pw66]

Neither are true sublimation.
Easisubli is a printable vinyl that is then heatpressed onto the shirt. The finish is the same as HTV. Never used easisubli, but some of the similar products don't give a very satisfactory result.
Sublioncotton requires the back of the transfer to be coated in a polymer powder before pressing. The finished image only lasts as long as the powder remains intact on the shirt.

True sublimation penetrates the polyester fibres and permanently dyes them with a very vivid and soft print.

[emt]

Ah ok, so my options are either go with polyester or stick to what I’m using now then?
are you able to recommend a good transfer paper? I’ve been using a brand called Raimarket from amazon

Thanks again ����

[raydavies]

I buy transfer sheets from https://www.photopaperdirect.com/pro...fer-Paper.html (They also do one for white tees) I print using a Canon ip8750 loaded with dye ink and have never had an instance of ink running or fading. My wife wears several different designs and washes them frequently on 30 degrees - never had any peeling.

Ray

[emt]

Thanks Ray, I’ll give them a try! Out of interest do u know if it’s ok in a tumble dryer?

[Gr3g0rs]

I buy transfer sheets from https://www.photopaperdirect.com/pro...fer-Paper.html (They also do one for white tees) I print using a Canon ip8750 loaded with dye ink and have never had an instance of ink running or fading. My wife wears several different designs and washes them frequently on 30 degrees - never had any peeling.

Ray

hi, do you load this ink yourself or is it the standard cartridge ink
i know nothing about printer ink really
is it easy to get hold off
thanks