Investment costs of Dye Sublimation

Sublimation Printing Start-up Costs

Considering the potential return on investment, entering the sublimation printing business requires very little in investment. This section examines the types and cost of needed equipment and offers a few suggestions.

Sources for all equipment and supplies are at the bottom of the following list.

Computers -Very few programs that are worth having require less than 166 MZ and 32 Megs of RAM, but you don't have to have a "warp speed" computer. Talk to your local computer store or us.
Programs - Many already have programs like Corel or PageMaker, but almost any type of graphics or desktop publishing will work, as long as the program will allow you to print a reverse image. If you do not have a program or want a very simple to learn new one, check out PrintShop Pro Publisher 11. At only $69.95 it is a dandy! You can make 99 copies of an original page, when you just need name changes for a large run, it centers text automatically, has more clipart than you could view in a week and about a zillion fonts. Add the facts of having thousands of templates to create regular documents and 11 MB of free web space and it is quite a package. To learn more, Click here If you decide to get it, call us and we will teach you enough in about 30 minutes to have you up and creating layouts.
Printers - The process doesn't require a new or expensive laser printer. You may even have one that will work. Call us to find out. Alpha supplies sublimation cartridges for over 500 different printer types. If you do have to buy one, a refurbished Hewlett-Packard printer is an excellent choice. Depending upon need (post script, IBM or Mac, dpi output wanted, etc.), prices can run from $249 - $899. Believe it or not (as far as transfer print quality goes) the old workhorse HP III, for $219, makes just as good a print as the refurbished $899 HP 4000. The list below has a source for excellent refurbished HP printers.
Sublimation Cartridges - The special toner in this cartridge is what produces the transfers for sublimation. The cartridge itself is custom reengineered to deliver the toner correctly. Our low cost, high yield, quality cartridges are $239 per 120-gram cartridge. One cartridge will make many, many hundreds of transfers. Don’t forget that by taking the sublimation cartridge out and inserting a regular cartridge, your laser printer can now print ordinary documents. Click here for more information.

Scanner - Scanners have gotten so cheap that we have seen them on sale for $59.95. You won’t need one unless you think there will be a need to sublimate a lot of logos on what you do. If you get one you will also need some type of program to import the logos.

Paper - Another plus for the black & white laser printers is that they don't require the expensive, coated paper that inkjets require. Ordinary cheap copier paper (about $25-$30 for a box of 5,000 sheets) is what is used.

Heat Press - A 15 square inch head is recommended, with pressure controls, automatic timer and thermostat. Prices range from $490 - $655. There are two types: swing away and clam shell. We suggest the clamshell (up & down head operation) type. We became a HIX heat press distributor, to be able to provide these top rated presses at a discount to our customers. Average price is wholesale, plus 10%. Check the HIX flatbed, cap and mug heat presses out at our HIX heat press section or call us.
Tabletop Metal Shears - are also called plate cutters. Again, there are several excellent makes and models. Unless you have unusual needs, a 12" cutter is sufficient. We offer the well-known Main Model 9380 for $299. It will last a lifetime.

Hole Punchers, Corner Rounders & Notchers - These tools do exactly what the names imply, to the corners of plates you cut, with your metal shear. You can buy a 3-in-1 tool that does all three (for about $295) or you may choose to buy just the cutter holder, and individual cutter dyes, as needed. The holder and individual tools run about $89 each. We do not recommend buying any of them until you are sure about the sizes of the dies you need. You may not even need any of these tools, depending upon how you are going to start up. These days you can get Hi-Tack tape that holds metal plates like super glue.

Supplies - Sublimation metal, sign frames, tape, badge findings, plaques, etc., are supplied by dozens of wholesalers all across the U.S. If one doesn't suit you, we can supply you with several others, in your geographic area.

Alpha Supply Company - 800-908-9916 - Call Jack or John
HIX flatbed, cap & mug heat presses
Main Model 9380 metal shear
Sublimation cartridges

Midwest Laser Specialists - refurbished and new laser printers, mainly HP. Call Russ Brown at 800-965-2737. We buy our printers from them and have found them (printers and company) to be totally reliable. The few pennies you might save from buying a refurbished printer from an unknown source is not worth it, compared to the security offered by the pros at Midwest Laser Specialists

Plastics Plus - Sublimation metal (usually aluminum and the type we use, to make our samples), plaques, pin backs for badges, desk name plates, double sided tape and many other accessories - call
800-572-7551

Johnson's Plastics - Corner rounders, corner notchers, sublimation metal, many types of backs for badges, double sided tape, magnetic tape (for refrigerator magnets) and architectural frames - call 800-869-7800

JDS - Sublimation metal, plaques, pin backs for badges, desk name plates, double sided tape and many other accessories - call 800-843-8853

Communication Resources

E-mail, toll free phone and fax communications are there to help you in your business, not just when you want to order a sublimation toner cartridge. We don't want to give the impression that we are "older than dirt" but we have been around a long time and have a great deal of practical knowledge and experience.

Along with our committed belief that business must always be a "win-win" relationship, is the practical knowledge that we can't succeed, unless you do. If we can help you succeed better, contact us. We will take the time to listen and help find solutions.

We are also contributing writers for the awards business portal, www.my-supplier.com See our sublimation business articles at "2 Minute Tips"

TOP OF PAGE