I thought I would do a sublimation paper comparison after converting an Epson printer to a sublimation printer. I have really enjoyed getting into sublimation crafts and wanted to make sure I was using the best paper possible. Is there any difference between sublimation papers? Does one work better than another? Let’s find out!
Can’t watch the video or missed some of the steps? You can also read more about the comparison below.
Supplies needed:
I am comparing three different brands of sublimation paper. They are as follows:
- A-Sub
- Printer’s Jack
- DyeMaster (no longer available)
The other supplies I am using for this comparison are:
- Shirt Blank
- Protective Paper
- Heat Resistant Tape
- Heat Press
- Hiipoo Sublimation Ink
- Free Unicorn Image (the one used below is no longer available, but you can search “Unicorn” and find something similar)
How I Compared the Papers
Here are the steps that I used to compare the three papers:
- Print the same unicorn design on each of the three papers using the same printer with the same settings. I mirrored all three as well.
- Took note of any issues with printing as well as how the unicorn looked when printed.
- Pressed all three unicorns on the same blank with the same heat press.
- I pressed these one at a time with exactly the same settings and was very careful not to get the heat press on the unicorns that were already on the shirt.
- Then compared the unicorns themselves to each other to look for differences in appearance and quality.
What is the best sublimation paper?
So, after pressing, what are my results? Let’s take a look at each paper and how it performed:
- A-Sub – paper has writing on the back so you can tell the difference between the front and back. I had zero issues with printing and pressing. Overall, great quality.
- Printer’s Jack – paper is a different color on the back which helped to tell the difference between the front and back. Again I had zero issues with printing and pressing.
- DyeMaster – this paper has no way to really differentiate between the front and back when you take it out of the package. The print looked a little weird when printed but it pressed fine.
Overall I didn’t have any major differences between the three brands. So, which should you choose? Which is the best paper for sublimation? With current pricing, Printer’s Jack is more affordable than A-Sub so that is what I would choose currently. I am NOT a fan of the DyeMaster simply because it is hard to tell the front from the back.
Hopefully, this sublimation paper comparison helps you decide what paper to use in your printer.
If you haven’t already, check out my conversion of an Epson Eco-Tank printer to a sublimation printer. You can also see my favorite sublimation blanks here as you get started with dye sublimation. Between all of those posts and this sublimation paper comparison, you should be ready to jump in!
Love this post and want more sublimation ideas? Try the links below as well!
