cheapest supported printer

[scottmurray89]

thanks for the replies

just another quick question, if i go with an epson printer, what ink is it i require from the bms website, as there is 2 types there and im really not sure, is it the artainium ink? or the sublijet iq ink?

thank you

[pisquee]

InkTec's are only licensed to make/supply sublimation ink in 1 litre (or greater) quantities, or in cartridges that will only work in large format printers, and only for supply to people for use in large format printers.

By large format printers, this would be Sawgrass' definition of being 42" or greater carriage width, rather than the printer manufacturer's definition.
InkTec have some ICC's for their sublimation inks on their website, but all of them are for large format printers (expect one!)

Their inks will work well in a smaller format printer, however, you won't be a licensed user, and will definitely need an ICC creating for your printer, if it isn't one of the few that they have an ICC that they supply for.

If you wanted to source large format inks in smaller than litre quantities for use in a small format printer, then this is something you would have to research yourself, as it is not something we can discuss here.

[scottmurray89]

on that bms website its got the option to purchase the inks in 125ml, 250ml and 500ml, although it does seem rather expensive as its 50 quid for just 100ml of one colour,

so if im not a licenced user is it illegal for me to use it or will i just not get support if something goes wrong?

[scottmurray89]

also whats the difference between the artainium ink and the sublijet iq ink?

[viccar]

They are for large format printers as said above, they wont/cant sell you it (due to sawgrass licence) if you havnt got a lrge format printer.

[scottmurray89]

so what inks will i need to buy? thank you

[viccar]

The ricoh @ £300 + would be your cheapest supported printer with inks.

[pisquee]

so if im not a licenced user is it illegal for me to use it or will i just not get support if something goes wrong?

In a strict sense, no, it is not illegal to use them, but it would open you up to the possibility of Sawgrass taking legal action against you. Which then you would have to ask on the likelyhood of them doing this in terms f their legal costs against the size of your business, and equally how well a case would stand up in court when judged on the validity of their patent claims.

[scottmurray89]

what about the Epson WorkForce 30 thats on the sawgrass website? is that printer any good? also whats the difference between artainium and subliejet iq as you have the option to buy that printer under both sections, thank you

[pisquee]

They are for large format printers as said above, they wont/cant sell you it (due to sawgrass licence) if you havnt got a lrge format printer.

There is no way every dealer can check to see whether you actually have a printer you claim to have, unless they come round your house/studio and see for themselves. Some people say dealers will ask for the serial number of the printer they are using, but even this won't prove whether it is a printer that they are actually using for sublimation - maybe they're using it for pigment inks, or maybe it's a broken one they got for 99p on Ebay, and have a small Epson A4 sat in the corner churning out mug transfers.