Dye Sublimation Investment Costs

Considering the potential return on investment, entering the sublimation business requires very little in investment. How much you need to invest depends on your desires and goals.

Sources for all equipment & supplies are at the bottom of the following list.

Computers - Any computer in your vinyl sign shop is more than enough computer to produce transfers.

Programs - Many already have programs like Corel or PageMaker, but almost any type of graphics or desktop publishing will work, as long as the program will allow you to print a reverse image. If you do not have a program or want a very simple to learn new one, check out PrintShop Pro Publisher 11. At only $69.95 it is a dandy! You can make 99 copies of an original page, when you just need name changes for a large run, it centers text automatically, has more clipart than you could view in a week and about a zillion fonts. Add the facts of having thousands of templates to create regular documents and 11 MB of free web space and it is quite a package. To learn more, Click here and when you get to their site, scroll down and click on "The Print Shop" listed under software store. If you decide to get it, call us and we will teach you enough in about 30 minutes to have you up and creating layouts.
Printers - The process doesn't require a new or expensive laser printer. You may even have one that will work. Call us to find out. Alpha supplies sublimation cartridges for over 500 different printer types. If you do have to buy one, a refurbished Hewlett-Packard printer is an excellent choice. Depending upon need (post script, IBM or Mac, dpi output wanted, etc.), prices can run from $249 - $899. Believe it or not (as far as transfer print quality goes) the old workhorse HP III, for $219, makes just as good a print as the refurbished $899 HP 4000. The list below has a source for excellent refurbished HP printers.
Sublimation Cartridges - The special toner in this cartridge is what produces the transfers for sublimation. The cartridge itself is custom reengineered to deliver the toner correctly. Our low cost, high yield, quality cartridges are $239 per 120-gram cartridge. One cartridge will make many, many hundreds of transfers. Don’t forget that by taking the sublimation cartridge out and inserting a regular cartridge, your laser printer can now print ordinary documents. Click here for more information.

Scanner - Scanners have gotten so cheap that we have seen them on sale for $59.95. You won’t need one unless you think there will be a need to sublimate a lot of logos on what you do. If you get one you will also need some type of program to import the logos.

Paper - Another plus for the black & white laser printers is that they don't require the expensive, coated paper that inkjets require. Ordinary cheap copier paper (about $25-$30 for a box of 5,000 sheets) is what is used.

Heat Press - A 15 square inch head is recommended, with pressure controls, automatic timer and thermostat. Prices range from $490 - $655. There are two types: swing away and clam shell. We suggest the clamshell (up & down head operation) type. We became a HIX heat press distributor, to be able to provide these top rated presses at a discount to our customers. Average price is wholesale, plus 10%. Check the HIX flatbed, cap and mug heat presses out at our HIX heat press section or call us.
Tabletop Metal Shears - are also called plate cutters. Again, there are several excellent makes and models. Unless you have unusual needs, a 12" cutter is sufficient. We offer the well-known Main Model 9380 for $299. It will last a lifetime.

Hole Punchers, Corner Rounders and Notchers - These tools do exactly what the names imply, to the metal plates you cut, with your metal shear. Depending upon what you are going to do, you can probably wait on getting this tool. If you do decide you need this tool we offer the highly versatile 3-in-1, Model 9353 "Maxi-Press III." It does combinations of all three needs.

Alpha Supply Company - 800-908-9916 - Call Jack or John
HIX flatbed, cap & mug heat presses
Main Model 9380 metal shear
Model 9353 "Maxi-Press III"
Sublimation cartridges

Midwest Laser Specialists - refurbished and new laser printers, mainly HP. Call Russ Brown at 800-965-2737. We buy our printers from them and have found them (printers and company) to be totally reliable. The many customers we have sent them, have enjoyed the same experience. The few pennies you might save from buying a refurbished printer from an unknown source is not worth it, compared to the security and service offered by the pros at Midwest Laser Specialists

Plastics Plus - Sublimation metal (usually aluminum and the type we use, to make our samples), plaques, pin backs for badges, desk name plates, double sided tape and many other accessories - call
800-572-7551

Main Trophy Supply - Excellent sublimation metal, plaques and many other useful items
Call 800-323-6054

Innotec of Wisconsin - Other suppliers we have listed may have good tape. These folks are tape specialists. Whatever you need to know (or want) they will have.
Call 800-776-7194 and ask for Judy. You could also ask for a distributor that might be closer to you.

Johnson's Plastics - Sublimation metal, many types of backs for badges, double sided tape, magnetic tape (for refrigerator magnets) and architectural frames at 800-869-7800

JDS - Same as above - plus the architectural frames (small sign holders) shown on our web site under "examples of sublimated products" at 800-843-8853

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An Overview Of Start-up Costs