One of the best printers for T-shirts allow you to create your individual bespoke clothes with out counting on third-party companies or investing in a DTF or DTG printer.
When you’re been impressed to create your individual bespoke T-shirts, there are a variety of choices obtainable to make them. Many use third-party corporations with heavy-duty T-shirt printers and screen-printing services. It’s an particularly fashionable selection whenever you want bulk orders or extremely correct, high-resolution pictures on T-shirts and different clothes. Alternatively, you can too get your individual Direct to Material or Direct to Garment printer – though this may show costly, notably for limited-run prints.
As an alternative, most house or small enterprise setups select a devoted inkjet or laser printer which is appropriate with switch paper particularly designed for warmth switch functions. As soon as the design is printed onto the switch paper, it may be warmth pressed onto the T-shirt, permitting the design to switch and bond with the material.
Usually talking, all of the greatest printers help warmth switch however how do you select the perfect printers for T-shirts? Nicely, we’ve put the gadgets to the check. Throughout our rigorous testing and overview course of, we’ve assessed the highest T-shirt printers in relation to velocity, accuracy, and worth for cash.
What’s the very best printer for T-shirts in 2023?
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Greatest printer for T-shirts general
The ‘EcoTank’ vary of Epson printers has a quite simple premise : they supply a whole lot of printer ink the field, obtainable in bottles. In our unique overview of this all-in-one printer we discovered that the equipped ink was sufficient to print 14,000 black and white pages, or 5,200 shade, equal to round 70 common print cartridges.
Alternative bottles are additionally cheap to purchase. This goes a great distance in the direction of justifying the upper price ticket for this EcoTank mannequin relative to different all-in-one printers, particularly as creating T-shirts can eat giant quantities of ink.
The EcoTank is particularly designed for warmth switch printing. It accommodates an ADF (Auto Doc Feeder), that means it may possibly deal with a number of warmth switch sheets (as much as 250 at a time). Its high velocity is rated at 15 ppm (pages per minute) which is not very spectacular in comparison with its opponents however the picture high quality is superb, which is most essential when creating your individual T-shirt design.
From doing on-line analysis we additionally found that it is comparatively straightforward to transform your EcoTank right into a “sublimation” printer, by including specialist inks. This may end up in higher picture high quality however keep in mind sublimation solely works on polyester, while warmth switch works on every kind of cloth.
The one actual draw back to this printer is a few corners have been reduce : the display is evident and straightforward to make use of however it’s important to navigate it utilizing the printer buttons. This may make coming into WiFi passwords very impractical given there is no onscreen keyboard. Fortunately you can too use the companion app ‘Epson Good Panel’ to attach the EcoTank to your property wi-fi community.
Learn our full Epson EcoTank ET-3850 overview
Greatest photograph printer for T-shirts
Canon first launched the Professional mannequin in 2012, designed particularly for printing high-quality images. It achieves this by an 8-ink dye primarily based system which ends up in skilled high quality prints.
There are two paper trays although – one for photograph papers and a handbook feed. Most significantly to your T-shirt tasks, it helps printing to each switch paper and printable vinyl on sheets of as much as 13 inches x 19 inches (33cm x 48.26cm).
In addition to supporting print through WiFi & USB the PRO-100S can also print straight from cloud-based and on-line photograph storage providers such Fb, Dropbox, Google Drive and OneDrive through PIXMA Cloud Hyperlink.
As a premium printer, the Professional-100S is designed for high quality not velocity. Nonetheless, if it may possibly produce one borderless 6″ x 4″ photograph in simply 34 seconds, that bodes nicely for operating off a number of high quality warmth transfers.
This mannequin has truly been outdated by the Canon Pixma Professional-200, which presents increased picture high quality however availability just isn’t pretty much as good.
The one actual disadvantage to this printer is the very excessive value it’s important to pay as a way to have this type of print high quality. Nonetheless, it may be funding should you wish to print images in addition to T-shirts.
Learn our full Canon Pixma Professional-100S overview
Greatest for printing T-shirts quick
When you wish to maintain your printing easy then the HP Officejet Professional 8034e may be for you. This cheap printer can churn out pages at an astonishing charge (as much as 20 per minute for black and white). After all this velocity might fluctuate should you’re printing high-res T-shirt designs onto specialist paper.
You even have the choice to enroll to HP’s “Instantaneous Ink” service, which implies the system will inform HP whenever you’re operating low on ink and mechanically order extra cartridges for you. The fee consists of transport and recycling of outdated cartridges.
You are mechanically given a 6 month subscription to Instantaneous Ink should you purchase direct from HP – unusually the itemizing on Amazon exhibits this to be one yr, so it might be greatest to verify with the retailer straight earlier than shopping for.
After checking the HP web site, we have been capable of affirm that the 8030 collection of OfficeJet Professional do help warmth switch printing. The official HP web site even has a useful information on how to do that.
You can too use the HP+ Good App to scan/print your T-shirt designs from wherever. The printer additionally consists of “self-healing” WiFi, which seemingly mechanically diagnoses and fixes connection points. When you choose peace of thoughts, you can too plug into the 8034e straight through USB or Ethernet cable.
As handy because the Instantaneous Ink program is, you’ll be able to nonetheless set up cartridges your self however HP warns the printers are solely designed to be appropriate with their very own, not these manufactured by third-parties and can search to dam cartridges utilizing non-HP chips or circuitry.
The web site additionally warns that HP iron-on transfers for inkjet printers can’t be used with LaserJet printers, or with copy machines and inkjet printers which have a heating ingredient. These merchandise can soften the switch and trigger injury to the {hardware}.
Greatest mono laser T-shirt printer
This small, dependable laserjet printer is ideal to your house or small enterprise. If you may get over the actual fact there is no wi-fi printing (USB 2.0 solely), you may begin to see among the advantages of utilizing this system to run off your warmth transfers.
This printer is quick. It may run off as much as 30 sheets a minute and even has a devoted “straight by paper path.” In plain English this implies a handbook feed slot and rear paper exit so you’ll be able to simply verify on designs as they print. The paper tray can take as much as 250 sheets, so that is positively one for mass T-shirt manufacturing. This capability is mirrored within the “starter toner” packages which in idea accommodates sufficient for 250 pages, although it’s possible you’ll discover your T-shirt designs are extra thirsty.
Even considering the sharper pictures produced relative to inkjet printers, high quality continues to be glorious with a decision of as much as 2400 x 600 dpi.
For a laser printer, that is additionally glorious worth for cash. It is solely actually let down by the actual fact you’ll be able to print solely in black and white. Nonetheless, should you do not thoughts specializing in monochromatic T-shirt designs you are able to do a lot worse.
Learn our full Brother HL-L2300D Mono Laser Printer overview
Greatest for giant codecs
Just like the P700 and P800 collection earlier than it, the P900 is designed with graphic artists in thoughts. That is most evident from its measurement, given the printer can output on pages as much as 17 inches (43.18cm) broad.
Epson’s web site particularly states its capable of print on numerous kinds of media, and it may possibly deal with media as much as 1.5mm thick which ought to embody practically all kinds of warmth switch paper.
Departing from the standard 4 shade cartridge CMYK setup the P900 comes with no fewer than 10 shade cartridges. Epson describes this as: a “10-color archival pigment ink with an expanded shade gamut”.
In plain English this implies it makes use of a particular printhead with a variety of nozzles, every able to capturing out ink droplets of three various sizes. The printer additionally has separate channels for each photograph and matte black ink, which might make for a a lot sharper image. The “Carbon Black expertise” could make for a lot deeper shades of black, notably when utilizing warmth switch paper for T-shirt designs.
After all having 10 cartridges, every of which can be utilized for various quantities by differing print jobs means there is a price by way of velocity. Bigger images can take as much as two minutes to print totally however naturally speeds for operating off T-shirt designs could also be slower.
The one actual query stays whether or not you’ll be able to justify the hefty value for having such excessive print-quality to your T-shirts.
Greatest printer for T-shirts: FAQs
Can I print T-shirts with any printer?
In idea you could possibly attempt to insert warmth switch paper into any inkjet or laserjet printer, then hope for the very best. In apply it is best to make use of a printer which the producer has confirmed is particularly appropriate with “warmth switch” paper. Bonus factors if the producer can advocate a selected print medium for his or her printer.
Is it costly to print T-shirts?
When you’re planning to run off lots of of T-shirts, it’s essential be ready to pay for ink. We recommend doing a small check run first to be sure you’re proud of the T-shirt design and high quality earlier than going into mass manufacturing. Some corporations like Epson and Brother additionally provide diminished priced ink/ink subscriptions. For extra heavyweight equipment and bigger print runs, search for the very best sublimation printers – they are often dearer, however appropriate for devoted T-shirt printing.
The place can I discover warmth paper for printing?
Fashionable on-line retailers like Avery or Amazon inventory every kind of warmth switch paper for printing. These fluctuate by way of the sort of cloth for which they’re designed, thickness and printer compatibility. All the time verify along with your printer producer earlier than shopping for to verify your media is appropriate.
Which printer is greatest for T-shirts?
Some printers listed right here such because the Epson SureColor P900 are greatest suited to producing small numbers of high-quality designs. When you’re on a mission to print monochromatic T-shirt designs for everybody in your class, it’s possible you’ll choose to avoid wasting money and time with a printer mannequin designed for mass manufacturing such because the Brother HL-L2320D.
Whichever sort of printer you select, keep in mind that outcomes will fluctuate primarily based on the capabilities of your printer, your chosen picture and the kind of media on which you wish to print.
If you aren’t getting the outcomes you want straight away, ensure that to verify the applying settings to your printer to see if there is a particular mode for warmth switch paper. It will optimize it for the duty. Do not be afraid to experiment with several types of media for printing your designs both.
How to decide on the very best T-shirt printers
When you’re deciding which printer for T-shirts is greatest, there are some broad classes to think about:
Inkjet vs. laser
This is without doubt one of the most essential choices you may make. Inkjet printers normally contain much less upfront price however ink can change into costly should you’re producing giant numbers of designs. Laser printers could be dearer however typically produce sharper wanting pictures.
Cartridge array
You may get some glorious outcomes with the common 4-color CMYK setup of cartridges however the perfect printers might use additional cartridges to ship the perfect high quality pictures. You must also take note of the way you load extra ink : as an example the Epson EcoTank entails loading bottles of ink right into a collection of reservoirs.
Picture high quality
In terms of printing onto warmth switch paper, the DPI (dots per inch) of a printer is as essential because the number of colours obtainable. Within the nature of issues because you’re utilizing warmth to switch the picture onto cloth, the upper the standard is earlier than being transferred to the T-shirt the extra doubtless you might be to be happy with the outcomes. Test the printer producer’s web site for the complete technical specs of your chosen system.
Straightforward loading
When you’re producing a number of T-shirt designs, an auto-document feeder might help velocity issues up significantly. Your printer must also have the ability to accommodate totally different thicknesses of paper relying on the fabric you wish to use, comparable to extra-thick warmth switch paper or vinyl paper.
Price range
If value is not any object, there are some premium printers on the market which might run off designs for you with precision element utilizing all hues of the rainbow. Most individuals must be somewhat extra real looking however keep in mind: typically talking the upper the upfront price of the printer, the much less you may must pay for ink down the road. If you are going to make plenty of T-Shirts, ensure that to verify how a lot ink will price you, in any other case a price range printer might be a false financial system.
How we check the very best printers for T-shirts
We have examined lots of of printers for house, workplace, and studio. This consists of the very best all-in-one printers, greatest label printers, and the very best small enterprise printers.
Whether or not we’re testing for the very best T-shirt printers or every other process, we assess a variety of things, from print speeds to print high quality, in addition to value-for-money throughout each the system itself and the ink cartridges.
Whereas we usually carry out detailed comparisons and evaluation, timing the printing speeds in single sheet and duplex mode – it is somewhat totally different when printing T-shirts versus printing paperwork. Right here, we additionally have a look at the constancy of printing onto warmth paper. We’re mainly on the lookout for high-accuracy, high-resolution prints, whether or not you are printing textual content or pictures.
When testing print high quality, we at all times print the identical check paperwork for an correct overview throughout all printers. This doc consists of textual content in numerous font sizes and colours, in addition to pictures. We additionally check patterns, evaluating sharpness and shade constancy.
Lastly, we calculate operating prices, and evaluate the interface, design, and construct high quality to others in the identical class and use-case.
Discover our extra about how we check, overview, and charge printers on TechRadar Professional