Cosmox Subli-Jet Sublimation Printer | Dye-Sublimation Printing System
Vibrant dye-sublimation printer — permanent, never-fade prints for polyester apparel, mugs, phone cases, and promotional products.
Create mirrored artwork in RIP software
Print design (mirrored) onto sublimation transfer paper
Align paper on polyester fabric or coated substrate
Press at 200°C for 30-90s — dye turns to gas, bonds permanently
Let substrate cool for 30 seconds
Remove paper — vibrant print is permanent part of product
Dye penetrates into the material at a molecular level. The print IS the product. Unlike DTF or screen printing, there is no layer on top to crack or peel.
The dye becomes part of the fabric fibers. You literally cannot feel the print. This is the #1 choice for performance sportswear where breathability matters.
Dye-sub ink is transparent — white in your design comes from the white substrate. No white ink means no clogging, no circulation, no sedimentation. Much simpler maintenance.
Print polyester apparel AND polymer-coated mugs, phone cases, mouse pads, puzzles, coasters, and more from the same printer. One machine, endless product catalog.
Ink: $0.15-0.30 per A3 print. Paper: $0.05-0.10. Heat press electricity: negligible. Total ~$0.25-0.40 per print — the cheapest digital decoration method.
Sublimation naturally produces smooth gradients and photographic quality. The gaseous transfer creates seamless color transitions impossible with ink-on-surface technologies.
| Specification | Subli-Jet A3 | Subli-Jet A2 |
|---|---|---|
| Print Technology | Dye-Sublimation Inkjet | Dye-Sublimation Inkjet |
| Print Head | Dual XP600 / I3200 | Dual I3200 |
| Print Width | 33 cm (A3) | 42 cm (A2) |
| Ink Configuration | 4-color (CMYK) | 4-color (CMYK) |
| Ink Type | Dye-Sublimation Aqueous Ink | Dye-Sublimation Aqueous Ink |
| Maximum Resolution | 1440 × 1440 dpi | 1440 × 1440 dpi |
| Print Speed | 2-4 min per A3 | 3-5 min per A2 |
| Transfer Method | Heat press (separate machine) | Heat press (separate machine) |
| Transfer Temperature | 190-210°C | 190-210°C |
| Transfer Time | 30-90 seconds | 40-120 seconds |
| Fabric Compatibility | 100% Polyester (or polyester-coated) | 100% Polyester (or polyester-coated) |
| Hard Goods | Requires polymer coating | Requires polymer coating |
| RIP Software | Maintop / AcroRIP (included) | Maintop / AcroRIP (included) |
| Connectivity | USB 2.0 / Ethernet | USB 2.0 / Ethernet |
| Power Supply | 110-220V, 50/60Hz | 110-220V, 50/60Hz |
| Power Consumption | 80W | 120W |
| Machine Dimensions | 85 × 55 × 35 cm | 95 × 60 × 40 cm |
| Machine Weight | 25 kg (net) | 35 kg (net) |
| Warranty | 12 months | 12 months |
| Certification | CE, RoHS | CE, RoHS |
| Feature | Sublimation | DTF | DTG | Screen Printing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Works on Polyester | Yes (excellent) | Yes | No | Limited |
| Works on Cotton | No | Yes (excellent) | Yes (excellent) | Yes |
| Works on Dark Fabrics | No (white only) | Yes | Yes (with pretreatment) | Yes |
| Hand Feel | Zero (part of fabric) | Good | Excellent | Good |
| Crack / Peel Resistance | Never | Very Good | Very Good | Good |
| Equipment Cost | $800-3,000 | $1,200-5,000 | $3,000-8,000 | $500-5,000 |
| Per-Print Cost | $0.25-0.40 | $0.30-0.50 | $0.60-1.20 | $0.10-0.30 |
| White Ink Required | No | Yes | Yes | Optional |
| Hard Goods Capable | Yes (coated) | No | No | Limited |
| Color Vibrancy | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent | Good |
Sublimation is a printing process where dye turns directly from solid to gas when heated (skipping the liquid phase). The gaseous dye penetrates into polyester fibers or polymer coatings, then re-solidifies inside the material. The result is a print that becomes part of the product — it can't be felt, cracked, or peeled because there's no layer on the surface.
Sublimation dye only bonds to polyester/polymer molecules. Cotton is cellulose — the dye doesn't stick. When you heat press a sublimation print onto cotton, the dye will wash out in the first laundry cycle. For cotton printing, use DTG or DTF. Some shops use polyester-coated cotton (spray coating), but results are inferior to true polyester.
Sublimation ink is transparent. "White" in your design comes from the white substrate showing through. This means sublimation works best on white or light-colored polyester blanks. You cannot sublimate white text onto a black shirt. For dark substrates with white ink, use DTF or DTG instead.
Yes — the sublimation printer only prints onto transfer paper. You need a heat press to transfer the image from paper to the product. We offer compatible heat presses (flat, mug, cap, and 3D vacuum presses) as part of a complete solution.
Effectively forever. Because the dye is part of the material (not on it), it cannot crack, peel, or wash out. The only factor that degrades sublimation prints is UV exposure breaking down the dye molecules. For outdoor use, polyester fabric with UV inhibitors is recommended. Indoor use: lifetime of the product.
Polyester fabrics: sports jerseys, activewear, t-shirts, hoodies, tote bags, flags, banners, socks, scarves. Polymer-coated hard goods: mugs, phone cases, mouse pads, puzzles, coasters, keychains, ornaments, photo panels, aluminum sheets, ceramic tiles. Any product with a polyester or polymer coating is sublimatable.
They serve different markets. Sublimation: permanent feel, best on polyester, lowest cost, no white ink, requires heat press, light substrates only. DTF: works on cotton and all fabrics, prints white, darker hand feel, more expensive consumables. Many shops own BOTH — sublimation for sportswear and promotional products, DTF for cotton tees and dark garments.
Approximately $0.15-0.30 per A3 sheet for ink, plus $0.05-0.10 for transfer paper. Total material cost: $0.25-0.40 per print. This is the lowest digital decoration cost per print. Bulk ink systems (CISS or refillable cartridges) reduce ink cost further to $0.08-0.15 per A3.
We include Maintop or AcroRIP with sublimation-specific ICC profiles. The RIP handles color management, mirroring (essential — you print reversed so the transfer is correct), and ink density control. For production environments, Wasatch and ErgoSoft are popular paid alternatives with advanced color tools.
Yes — water-based dye-sub inks contain no harmful solvents or VOCs. The process uses less water and energy than screen printing. Transfer paper is recyclable. The only environmental consideration: polyester is plastic-based, so sublimation is tied to synthetic fabrics. Recycled polyester (rPET) is an increasingly popular eco-friendly substrate.
