Dye-sublimation printing has become a widely popular decorating technique, offering decorating shop owners a broader selection of colors, patterns, and versatility. Printers can also decorate a variety of materials, from apparel to promotional items and banners, and quickly expand their product line.
However, print shop owners often face the challenge of choosing the right printer to meet their needs, based on customer job requests and volume. Read on to learn how to evaluate printers and see what dye-sub printers Arcus Printers has to offer.
What’s So Great About Dye-Sublimation Printing?
Dye-sublimation printing is a process that uses heat and pressure to transfer ink onto materials like polyester fabric or polymer-coated surfaces. During this process, the ink transforms from a solid to a gas, bonding permanently with the material.
This technique offers numerous advantages for print shops:
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Vibrant, High-Quality Prints: The process produces rich, durable colors with stunning clarity, ideal for apparel, promotional items, and signage.
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Design Versatility: Sublimation allows for full-coverage, edge-to-edge printing, opening the door to bold, creative designs and trending styles, with apparel and hard goods.
- Eco-Friendly Benefits: Compared to some traditional printing methods, dye sublimation uses less water and generates minimal waste, making it a more sustainable choice.
What to Consider When Purchasing a Dye-Sublimation Printer
There are several key factors to keep in mind when selecting a dye sublimation printer. Here’s a breakdown to ensure the printer meets your needs:
- Print Width: What products do you plan to print? A larger print width lets you produce items like banners, tablecloths, or textile rolls. A smaller print width limits you to items such as mugs, phone cases, or small fabric patches. Take your current market into consideration, but look at your production space and the possibilities of expansion in the future to determine which is best for you.
- Production Speed: Time is money, and a faster print speed makes your production more efficient. Wide-format printers allow you to print multiple smaller designs simultaneously on a single sheet, reducing setup time and boosting output. They can also produce large-scale items in a single pass, avoiding the need to piece together smaller sections. Narrow-format printers may require multiple runs to print large designs or cut and align separate pieces, increasing labor and production time.
The Arcus Squid 1802 Sublimation Printer has a print width of 72” and maximum production speeds of 807 square feet/hour, making it a wise investment that will save you time and materials. The Arcus Squid 1804 has the same print width, but with maximum production speeds of 1,600 square feet/hour, it can get the job done nearly twice as fast! Both machines offer quality and speed to enhance your printing business.
- Media Handling: High-volume printing requires speed and efficiency. You can’t afford to have a machine that compromises on quality. The SQD 1802 printer’s smart straightforward design reduces maintenance and downtime. This dye-sub printer’s heavy-duty steel frame, built-in leveling features, and precision-machined aluminum components ensure an incredibly stable platform, resulting in little or no vibration.
The SQD 1804 features an advanced heavy-duty media handling system, allowing extended long runs with precision rewinds. Arcus printers’ thoughtful design ensures minimal maintenance and high reliability, offering solid dye=sublimation printing options.
- Maintenance and Durability: The structural stability of the SQD 1802 and 1804 models’ steel frame provides a rigid foundation that reduces vibration during operation. This guarantees high-quality printing. Precision-machined components ensure the printer operates smoothly, maintaining consistent pressure and movement throughout printing. Quality design and construction in a printer produce better prints and reduce downtime, increasing profitability.
- Print Quality: Producing high-quality, consistent prints is a huge part of your shop’s success. The quality of your work speaks to the standard of business you operate. Printers made with low-quality materials or ineffective design produce low-quality prints, which not only gives a bad look to theprodualso to your business as well. The old saying, “You get what you pay for,” truly applies when selecting a dye-sublimation printer. Investing in a high-quality printer, with a comprehensive warranty, is an investment in the quality of your work.
- Setup and Training: Choosing a dye-sublimation printer that includes onsite installation and comprehensive training is key to getting the most out of your investment. Onsite installation helps avoid any operational hiccups and minimizes downtime, while personalized training gives your team the knowledge they need to use the machine effectively. With Arcus Printers, you'll get hands-on support tailored to your specific needs, so you can start producing high-quality prints right away. This level of support can boost efficiency, improve output, and keep your production running smoothly from the start.
Arcus Printers Offers the Quality and Construction You Need in a Printer
Arcus Printers offers two fantastic dye-sublimation printers thatprovider reliability and high performance. Meet the Arcus family of dye sublimation printers:
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Arcus Squid 1802 Dye Sublimation Printer: Do you want a printer that can print small and large format jobs with relatively little maintenance and paramount reliability? The SQD 1802 printer is a roll-to-roll dye sublimation printer ideal for a wide variety of print jobs. With a print width of 72” a and maximum print speed of 807 square feet/hour, it can handle the most demanding production, from apparel and promotional items to banners and signage. A fusion of robustness and ingenuity, the SQD 1802 printer is a smart choice for your dye-sublimation printing needs.
- Arcus Squid 1804 Dye Sublimation Printer: Like the SQD 1802, the SQD 1804 is a rugged machine that can produce high-volume printing, but its industrial design and enhanced capabilities allow you to print faster, at 1,600 square feet/hour. It offers the same 72” width and roll-to-roll media handling. Still, it offers more advanced technology with an Intelligent Control Dual Power Wind/Unwind system that allows for precision rewinds and extended long runs.
Why Choose Arcus Printers?
All Arcus Printers come with unmatched customer support and a one-year, warranty and software to run the machine. Serving the garment decorating industry for over 20 years, Arcus is known for delivering high-quality, user-friendly equipment backed by expert assistance.
Choosing the right printer for your shop is an important decision and having the right guidance is key to optimizing the quality and performance of your production. Get to know the Arcus family of printers better and find the perfect fit for your shop! The team at Arcus Printers is dedicated to offering you our expertise and assistance – reach out to our team for a personalized consultation.
Contact Arcus Printers if you’re ready to elevate your print shop’s capabilities with a high-performance dye-sublimation printer. Let us help you choose the right equipment and ensure your business stays ahead in this competitive market.
Learn more at arcusprinters.com.
