Printers for Makers & Etsy Sellers: Print on Demand Sublimation Printers for Beginners & Small Business

Meet Dye-Sublimation Printing

Here you’ll find a go-to guide for dye-sublimation printing with MakeON, a portfolio of printers for makers like you. Learn the process, uncover the possibilities, and get all the tips to help you get started.
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How Dye-Sublimation Works

Dye-sublimation printing makes it easy to turn bright ideas into bold, totally personalized products using a simple and straightforward process.
Sunset landscape illustration.

Design Your Graphics

Create your artwork using your favorite design software, whether your project is something bold and colorful or simple and clean.
Dye-sublimation transfer film with reversed sunset landscape illustration.

Print Your Transfer

Print your design onto dye-sub transfer paper using your MakeON desktop printer. (Your design will be mirrored and look less vibrant. That’s normal!)
Three tumblers printed with sunset landscape illustration.

Press & Reveal

Place the transfer paper on your polyester blank, apply heat, and watch the magic happen as your design becomes part of the finished product.
Tumbler printed strawberry pattern.
Bone-shaped pet tags with fruit and outer space patterns.
Tumbler printed with sunset landscape illustration.
Woman holding socks with candy pattern.
Drink can koozie with surf dog mascot design.
Tumbler printed strawberry pattern. Bone-shaped pet tags with fruit and outer space patterns. Tumbler printed with sunset landscape illustration. Woman holding socks with candy pattern. Drink can koozie with surf dog mascot design.

Get Started with Dye-Sub

Find out what you can make with dye-sub and what you'll need to get started printing your own full-color durable designs on custom goods.

What can I make?

What can I make?

Polyester or polyester-coated goods like totes, socks, scarves, towels, koozies, ornaments, keychains, pet tags, drinkware, and so much more.

What else will I need?

What else will I need?

Design software, transfer paper, a heat press, and blanks.

Polyester fabrics and polyester-coated hard goods lock in the ink, giving you crisp colors and professional-quality results that don’t peel or crack.

What else do I need to know?

What else do I need to know?

For best results, stick to white or light-colored polyester fabrics.

Avoid cotton or dark fabrics and using dye-sub for long-term outdoor applications.

Meet the Products

Ready to start creating? Explore MakeON dye-sublimation printers—compact, capable of pro-quality results, and backed by a leader in print technology to help you level up your business.

What Else Can You MakeON?

Dye-sublimation is just one way to take on whatever you MakeON. Check out the full printer portfolio—including DTG, DTFilm, and UV printing—and unlock even more creative printing possibilities.
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Commonly Asked Questions

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No. Dye-sublimation only works on polyester fabrics or hard surfaces with a polyester coating. Since dye-sublimation doesn’t use white ink, blanks are typically white or light-colored for optimal color results.
No. For sublimation, drinkware must have a polyester coating that allows the inks to permeate and dye the surface. It’s important to purchase drinkware specifically designed for dye-sublimation.
You can find sublimation blanks both online and in retail stores. When shopping online, search for “dye-sublimation blanks” to see a variety of options. For fabrics, choose white or light colors. A higher polyester content will produce more vibrant results. For hard goods, ensure they are specifically designed for dye-sublimation.
Yes. For T-shirts or other textiles, follow the manufacturer’s washing instructions. For hard goods, you can clean and wash them as you normally would.
Epson paper is precisely formulated for your printer to deliver accurate color—no adjustments needed.
No. You don’t have to use a special file type for dye-sublimation printing.