Sublimation Ink - any budget options?

[Daveb]

Hi! I packed in sublimation printing a few years ago, but having moved house I came across my old equipment. I thought I might do a little hobby printing, just for family and friends.

I have the printer, press, paper, mugs and other blanks - but I need some sublimation ink.

I was using some ink I got from the States, but they stopped selling it years ago - I assume because of the SG patent. I have searched the forums on here, but suprisingly, even though I understood that the SG patent stranglehold was supposed to end some years ago, there does not appear to be any new cheap ink options/recommendations. There are plenty on eBay, but I was expecting there to be some modestly priced, mainstream inks available by now.

Can anybody recommend any inks - whether from eBay, or from a known supplier, or a particulat make? My printer is an Epson Workforce B1100.

Assuming the SG patent has run out, why has the ink world not changed?

Sorry if my message is compromising any continuing SG restriction, please let me know if it is. PM me if that helps.

Many thanks
Dave

[Justin]

No more SG restrictions Good question about the Sublimation world not changing rapidly.

[GoonerGary]

Inktec Sublinova Smart.

[MugPrint]

You could also checkout Ink Express as far as i know they sell different types of Epson Printer Ink with refillable Cartridges etc.

[Lucifax]

Inktec Sublinova Smart.

I'll second that.

[pisquee]

Been using Inktec since mid 2011 with no complaints ... plenty of posts on the forum about their ink if you want to search.

[matzy]

I'll also recommend the Sublinova ink, i use the sublinova Sure in my Epson WF-7110 and its excellent.

[Daveb]

All,
Thank you all for the replies. It looks like I will be trying Sublinove.

I went to check and my previous States source is selling their sublimation ink again, so the SG stranglehold does seem to have loosend. It was Cobra Ink, it's a reasonable price still, but postage and import duty can do a lot of damage. A UK supplier is preferable.

Now, can anyone supply/point me at the appropriate ICC profile for sublinova on an Epson Workforce B1100?
Many thanks

[Justin]

I emailed Cobra as I was interested in importing 9 colour ink-sets but they couldn't even get back to me.

SG patent is no longer in force so no stranglehold

I would get the SubliNova (and do) You won't look back. Only comment I can add, the B1100 is hands-down the worst sublimation printer I have ever used. Slow, noisy and print quality average.

I have an iPhoto Pro 2 on the way for creating professional profiles, hope to be up and running for the weekend but can't offer the service just yet.

[Daveb]

I emailed Cobra as I was interested in importing 9 colour ink-sets but they couldn't even get back to me.

SG patent is no longer in force so no stranglehold

I would get the SubliNova (and do) You won't look back. Only comment I can add, the B1100 is hands-down the worst sublimation printer I have ever used. Slow, noisy and print quality average.

I have an iPhoto Pro 2 on the way for creating professional profiles, hope to be up and running for the weekend but can't offer the service just yet.

.
The last Cobra contact I had 4 or 5 years ago, was Richard. He had been extremely helpful when I was setting up c2010. Of course he has probably moved on now - I've lost his contact details, but could look them up if you are interested.

The sublim ink was very well thought of on a couple of USA forums I used. As at thr time was the B1100 printer, or whatever it was called in the States. True it was/is slow, and noisy but well priced and it did the job OK for me. It even fired up OK and started printing with the old cartridges back in - after they had been in storage for a couple of years, just sellotaped up. If I get back into printing more seriously, I would probably upgrade though - the world of printers has definitely moved on!

Dave