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I’m sure you just finished comparing sublimation printer pricing and have fumes shooting out your ears. They’re incredibly expensive and difficult to get by. So you’re probably wondering what other options are available and less expensive that you can use to your advantage. Why are you here in the first place? But don’t worry, I’ve got something special in store for you. You may simply and easily convert your HP printer to a sublimation printer.
We all know that sublimation printers are quite expensive and difficult to come by these days. We also understand your desire for a different option; after all, who doesn’t want their own? So, there’s excellent news! All it needs is a little know-how on how to convert an HP printer into a sublimation printer in under five minutes without breaking a sweat or investing any extra cash.
I changed my HP printer to a sublimation printer and was able to achieve the results I desired. The entire procedure was a success, and it cost me less than fifty dollars. So I chose to share my experience with you so that you can benefit from it as well. The entire process is quick and simple, so if you have the appropriate printer, you may complete it at home. Continue reading my essay for more information.
The components and processes for converting an HP printer to a sublimation device are listed below. To achieve the best result, follow all of the steps precisely.
1. Start With A New HP Printer
First and foremost, if you have decided to convert your HP printer to a sublimation printer, make sure that it has never been used before. To get the required sublimation results, it must be in tip-top shape. Otherwise, the sublimation ink will become confused with regular ink and lose its vigilance.
2. Fill The Ink Tanks
The following step is to remove the ink tanks and fill them with sublimation ink. This is when you understand that HP printers that use ink cartridges can’t be converted to sublimation printers since compatible ink cartridges packed with sublimation ink are impossible to come by. The ink tanks may be simply removed and refilled.
3. Download The Desired Image
The next step is to locate the ideal image for sublimation. It’s free to download and use in the Silhouette Studio app. This program is available for free download and use. After you’ve opened the image in this program, you’ll need to alter the size and dimensions of the image. It means you can have your favorite image sublimated onto a t-shirt of your choice in the size you want. You should also change the size of your page to letter size for best results. In the app’s settings, you may easily switch the orientation from portrait to landscape.
4. Proceed To Print
After you’ve finished altering the image’s size and orientation, you’ll need to print it onto paper. You don’t need any specific paper for this task. A standard letter-sized piece of paper will suffice. Select Print from the drop-down menu after clicking the File button in the top tab. A new print window will appear on the screen. A drop-down arrow will appear next to the printer option. Choose a sublimation printer from the drop-down menu. Then, at the bottom, click print.
5. Inspect The Printed Image
Closely scrutinize the printed image when it comes out of the printer to ensure that there are no lines or holes in the image. If there are any, throw the image away and print another until you get a crisp image with no gaps or lines. If the picture appears to be a little light in hue, don’t worry; when heat is applied to the fabric, the sublimation ink improves the coloration.
Then, on the t-shirt, you’re about to sublimate and smooth out the crease lines. This is a crucial step that many people neglect because it impacts how the final image will appear. There is a good chance that the resulting image will have lines in it if the fabric is not ironed properly. As a result, you must iron your t-shirt before moving on to ensure a nice and clean output.
7. Heat Press
You may now heat press the image on your t-shirt after it has been ironed. To avoid the dies sticking to the other side of the garment, put butter paper under the t-shirt immediately underneath the location where the image needs to be sublimated. Then tape the printed page on the back of the garment. Tape another piece of butter paper to the top of the page. After that, start ironing the image using a hot iron. The heat from the iron will melt the colors on the page, transferring them to the t-shirt.
8. Hold For Sixty Seconds
You don’t want to pull off the paper in a hurry to view the results after all your hard work. Take your time and iron the entire thing for at least 60 minutes. After sixty minutes, repeat the process by pressing the iron to the image for another sixty seconds. After that, let it cool down to allow the colors to settle before peeling the picture away. Now you may wear the t-shirt that you made yourself!
You have a comprehensive understanding of converting the HP printer to a sublimation printer if you have attentively read this guide. Because a sublimation printer is so expensive, it’s best to buy a conventional printer and convert it to a sublimation printer.
However, you must be cautious when purchasing a printer because not all printers can be converted to sublimation printers. Furthermore, the most crucial thing to note when purchasing a sublimation printer is that it must feature Piezo print technology.
1. Is it possible to sublimate with an HP printer?
HP produces some of the best sublimation printers on the market. They are highly compatible with both sublimation and UK inks. They are, however, exorbitantly priced and not as widely available as other simple printers. However, the cost is well worth the output quality, and you can rest assured that you will have the greatest experience possible with those printers.
2. Is it possible to sublimate with an HP Officejet?
Few HP printers can be converted to sublimation printers, owing to the fact that they use thermal inkjet technology, which does not work well with sublimation ink. Iron-on HP printers, on the other hand, can print graphics and texts on garments and bags. As a result, you can use the HP Officejet printer for sublimation, but it is costly.
3. What steps do I need to take to convert my HP printer to a sublimation printer?
Your HP inkjet printer can easily be converted to a sublimation printer. All you have to do is replace the ink cartridges with sublimation ink instead of the printer’s ink. After that, you must switch to sublimation printing mode. After you’ve finished tweaking the parameters, print the image on standard paper. Then iron the fabric on which the sublimation print will be applied. Place the printed page upside down on the material where you want the pattern to appear, and heat press it for sixty seconds.
4. Is it possible to turn any printer into a sublimation printer?
In order to be turned into a sublimation printer, your existing printer must feature ink tanks rather than ink cartridges so that sublimation ink may be easily inserted. Otherwise, good luck finding sublimation ink cartridges that are compatible with your printer! Furthermore, before filling the tanks with sublimation ink, your printer should be brand new and unused, as impure ink will not provide the desired results.
5. Is there a particular Ink I require for sublimation?
Sublimation does necessitate the use of special ink. The reason for this is that sublimation is essentially a dyeing process, and the ink dye is required to have bonding qualities that are compatible with the fabric. So that the ink adheres to the fabric when it falls on it. These inks are both water and wear-resistant, so you may wash them as many times as you want without the dye fading.
Final Words
The information below should be sufficient to assist you in converting your HP printer to a sublimation device. The procedure may appear hard, but all that is required are a few supplies and a basic understanding of how printers function!
Buying a standard inkjet sublimation printer multifunctional unit can be pricey. Which will only be used to print onto t-shirts using heat transfer films. However, there are several special aspects to look for when making a new buy.
