Last Updated on January 23, 2024 by Fredrick Miller
The selection of even small parameters affects the economy of business to a great extent. It’s right when choosing one of the best sublimation paper for your business or hobby. Selecting a quality sublimation paper will help you create vivid, bright, and colorful prints on fabrics and other objects.
And most probably, this selection depends on conditions, i.e., the printer or inks you are using for sublimation, and of course, your budget.
Yes! Your budget also affects your preferences about which sublimation paper you are using. In this regard, some sublimation papers offer average quality at an economical price. But, if you spend some bucks more, you will get high quality sublimation paper that offers excellent print quality. The dye transfer rate of sublimation paper is high, with zero wrinkles or bends.
With that saying, the brands that offer quality sublimation papers include A-SUB and Koala. These brands’ paper is compatible with most sublimation printers and other equipment. So my first choice is paper from these two brands.
Moreover, if you are a novice in sublimation printing, and do not know which paper is most suitable for you, go through the buyer’s guide. It will help you to make good decisions in the sublimation printing business.
Table of Contents
5 Best Sublimation Papers In 2023
| Image | Product | Details | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
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A-SUB Sublimation Paper | Sheet Size: 8.5X11 Inches Paper Finish: Coated Item Weight: 125 grams |
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Koala Sublimation Paper | Sheet Size: 8.5X11 Inches Paper Finish: Coated Item Weight: 105 grams |
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Printers Jack Sublimation Paper | Sheet Size: 8.5X11 Inches Paper Finish: Coated Item Weight: 1.36 pounds |
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MECOLOUR Sublimation Paper | Sheet Size: 8.5X11 Inches Paper Finish: Matte Item Weight: 0.6 Kg |
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Siser Glitter HTV sublimation paper | Item Dimensions LxWxH; 60x12x1 inches Item Weight: 9.1 ounces Unit Count: 5 Foot |
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1. A-SUB Sublimation Paper
In my list of best sublimation papers, the A-SUB paper got priority because of all the ease it offers in sublimation printing. Create high quality prints on any material in much less time as it dries quickly.
Regarding the transfer rate of sublimation dyes onto the paper, it is also good as it is now known through statistics that A-SUB paper empowers a 98% dye transfer rate. WOW! This is the maximum rate I have ever encountered.
While considering the A-SUB paper for your business, evaluate its suitability for the materials. You can use this paper for all those materials cotton content of 30% or more, polyester fabrics (mostly effective for light colored polyester), phone cases, metal plates, luxury ceramic or tiles, etc.
Moreover, using this sublimation paper for heat transfer, you will never encounter fractures. Kudos! While printing your favorite pattern, this paper is less prone to wrinkle and more resilient than thinner paper. It retains the sublimation ink well enough, enabling excellent clarity and accuracy transfers.
The A-SUB brand offers printing paper in a variety of weights. Specifically, this sublimation paper by the brand is among the thickest available. And we all know that graphic transfers work much better on thicker paper. It weighs about 125 grams.
Further, these are plain, white colored papers. And or effective printing, these have a coating finish so that the dye sticks easily.
Additionally, the A-SUB sublimation paper comes in a variety of sizes. A-SUB will undoubtedly have the size you need, whether you’re working with little designs for caps and scarfs or are seeking to make large graphics for t-shirts and hoodies. One pack contains 110 papers.
Due to its widespread availability, A-SUB Sublimation Paper is also the best sublimation paper. You can order it straightforwardly from Amazon. With extra fast delivery, you will never experience any delay in starting your business work.
Moreover, making holiday gifts for your loved ones on your own is best. But, it would be great if it worked with all kinds of dyes. It is only compatible with sublimation inks.
Why should one buy this?
One should consider the A-SUB sublimation paper as your prints will not experience any fracture when using this paper. Whether utilizing the sublimation paper for business or creating your favorite artworks as a hobby, these papers are best. These dry quickly and are available in a variety of sizes.
Pros
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2. Koala Sublimation Paper
The Koala Sublimation Paper is another of the best quality sublimation papers as it has all the features to satisfy your business needs. It is a high quality paper with high ink compatibility.
The Koala sublimation paper is user friendly. Even a novice can do an influential sublimation paper with this paper, marking no problem. With that saying, it is very straightforward to use and handle. Also, make sure to use the white side of the paper for printing.
Moreover, the Koala paper features rapid drying of inks so that you can wrap all your work in less time. The transfer rate of this paper is also reasonable. The dye sticks to it well. And, there will be no bleeding of ink through this paper. You need to adjust the temperature and timing of your heat press machine correctly.
Most importantly, this sublimation paper features a wide range of compatibility to be used on multiple objects that include;
- Light color fabrics containing polyester
- Fabrics containing not more than 30% cotton content
- Ceramic plates
- Bags, socks & t-shirts
- Mugs
- Phone cases
- Puzzles & skates
- Mousepads
- And many more
These sublimation papers are economical and excellent for preparing gifts on occasions such as Halloween, Easter, November, birthday, Father’s Day, and Mother’s Day. Also, they are compatible with Epson and other inkjet printers.
Further, Koala papers are available in varying thicknesses. You can select a suitable one according to your needs as follows;
Paper of weight 105 grams
It is thin paper. And will be suitable for those images with pleasing graphics and thin lines. The paper of this thickness will be easy to put around the tumbler.
120 grams’ Koala paper
It is suitable for an adequate saturation for both light and heavy inks.
123 grams koala paper
It is the thickest available Koala paper. It will ensure zero fractures.
Why should one buy this?
The Koala printers are the best sublimation papers and offer high ink and printer compatibility. With their availability in various thicknesses, you can have a sublimation paper of your choice, from thin to thick. The paper does not fold up or have fractures.
Pros
Cons
3. Printers Jack Sublimation Paper
When you are looking for sublimation papers and are low on budget, you can give Printers Jack Sublimation Paper a try. Although they are not as good in quality as A-SUB sublimation paper, they are budget friendly and have high transfer rates.
When listing good points of this sublimation paper, I must say that this paper is suitable for sublimation printing on different medias i.e.,
- Polyester coated products
- Light colored polyester fabrics
- Materials containing not more than 30% cotton
The different sizes that are available by printers jack sublimation paper are 8.5″x11″, 11″x17″, 13″x19″. You can use any of your inkjet printer including Ricoh, Epson, or Sawgrass for sublimation printing using the printers jack paper. Such an advantage!
Before making a purchase, make sure to check that if your HP or Canon printer has a piezoelectric printhead. These papers are effectively compatible with sublimation inks.
Moreover, the Jack sublimation paper has a high dye transfer rate of about 98%. You will never experience any fracture on your printing with this paper. Also, the prints created with this paper lasts for a long time, and does not fade away even upon washing again and again.
Further, your prints will dry out quickly. The prints will be ensuring vivid and bright colors. Save a lot of money by buying these papers for sublimation printing. You can create personalized gifts for your loved ones on special occasions using this paper. As it works well on t-shirts, ceramics, phone cases, and other materials, you will have a lot of business opportunities.
Why should one buy this?
If you are running low on budget, you can consider this one. It has high dye transfer rate and is compatible with most of the sublimation printers.
Pros
Cons
4. MECOLOUR Sublimation Paper
Are you looking for one of the best sublimation papers for t-shirts to grow your business? Here is the MECOLOUR sublimation paper that is considered excellent in this category.
Now you can sublimate print on multiple objects, including; light colored t-shirts of polyester, fabrics containing only up to 30% cotton, ceramics, puzzles, key chains, phone cases, pillows, mugs, canvas totes, metal plates, and many more.
Mecolour sublimation papers are an excellent choice for everyday festivities and seasonal projects. These papers are compatible with any inkjet printer, including Epson, Ricoh, and Sawgrass with Sublimation Ink. Suppose you have HP, Canon, or another inkjet printer. In that case, you must ensure that your printer has a piezoelectric printhead before making a choice.
Moreover, the prints created with these sublimation papers are in deep and brilliant colors so you can have your favorite artwork according to your demands. The transferred picture will be resilient and won’t flake, peel off, or break. Also, the paper will ensure a 98 percent transfer rate, saving the sublimation ink.
You will get your printing work done in less time to improve the business economy. It is because these sublimation papers have a drying time of about 30 seconds. So the printing designs will dry rapidly.
Make sure you use a heat press with the MECOLOUR Sublimation Paper, as it is incompatible with a domestic iron. The papers are available in a range of varying sizes and thicknesses. So that you can select the most suitable one according to your demands; also, it has a matte finish. Your design will adequately stick to it.
Why should one buy this?
You can consider the MECOLOUR sublimation paper to create prints on t-shirts and other fabrics. With a 98% transfer rate, prints will be bright and clear.
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5. Siser Glitter HTV Sublimation Paper
Most of us look for a sublimation paper compatible with an iron press along with a heat press. In this regard, the Siser glitter sublimation paper is a good option. It is user friendly and sticks well to almost all media.
One of the best things I like about Siser glitter is that it is approved by the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) so that it can be used for sublimation printing on child clothing and other accessories without worrying about hazards.
You can quickly line up this paper onto different media owing to its sticky pressure-sensitive backing. The paper is 325 microns thin.
Develop eye-catching artwork with intricate glitter flakes that don’t peel off even after multiple washes. The Siser heat transfer vinyl range now includes gorgeous sparkle in the form of Siser Glitter HTV. It is the most straightforward approach to give HTV masterpieces gloss.
Siser Glitter HTV comes in more than 50 striking, brilliant hues and is perfect since it has the most sparkle without shedding any clumps of difficult-to-clean glitter. It is suitable for t-shirts, hoodies, jeans, and many other objects.
Most importantly, the Siser Glitter sublimation paper also sticks well to cotton fabrics, polyester, and leather. You have to heat press it for only 15 seconds at 320°F temperature and moderate pressure.
Make ordinary designs more appealing by embellishing them with the greatest glitter HTV available! Children and adults of all ages enjoy a little touch of sparkle and glitz in life. It may be applied easily to materials made entirely of polyester, cotton, or blends of polyester and cotton, as well as leather.
Why should one buy this?
It is one of the all-rounded sublimation papers. Most papers for sublimation printing don’t offer compatibility with cotton and leather fabrics. In contrast, the Siser glitter is effective to use with these fabrics.
Pros
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Best Sublimation Papers Buying Guide
When buying sublimation paper for your artwork business, you should consider some factors that will affect a lot on the economy of the business. These are as follows:
Compatibility with Printers
One of the prerequisites of buying sublimation paper, whichever paper you are considering, make sure it is compatible with the other sublimation equipment you own. Otherwise, it will be a waste of money and time if you get to know that the sublimation paper you are trying to use does not work well with the heat press of the sublimation printer.
Additionally, most of the sublimation papers are compatible with Epson printers. So if you have an Epson printer, you will not have to worry about compatibility.
Time of Drying
A significant problem with sublimation papers is a delay in prints’ drying. On some sublimation papers, the sublimation ink/dyes take a very long time to settle and dry. Therefore, you should always pick a paper that dries quickly since the sooner the paper dries, the earlier you can complete printing your products.
Rate of Dye Transfer
The transfer rate makes the design more aesthetically pleasing and uses less ink. To achieve a satisfactory task, the sublimation paper must have a necessary transfer rate of 95%.
A reasonable transfer rate also produces prints with high clarity and brightness and lessens the possibility of color distortions. Luckily, many modern sublimation papers, i.e., A-SUB, Printers Jack sublimation papers, have a high transfer rate of 98%.
The thickness of paper
When printing saturated artwork with lots of ink or toner, thin sublimation paper will bend and warp. A thicker piece of paper can sustain pressure and is less prone to bend or creases.
Papers used for sublimation typically have a thickness of 23 GSM, while some varieties can reach 30 GSM. Always choose thicker paper while making your selection.
Budget
It is also a crucial factor when looking for the best sublimation paper. Get yourself the quality sublimation paper within the budget. In this regard, you can go with Printers Jack Sublimation Paper.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best sublimation paper for t-shirts?
A-SUB sublimation paper is considered best for t-shirts and all other materials containing polyester and up to 30% cotton content.
Are sublimation papers reusable?
No. the sublimation papers are not reusable.
Which sublimation papers are considered suitable to use with Epson printers?
You can use A-SUB Sublimation Paper, Koala Sublimation Paper, and Printers Jack Sublimation Paper with Epson printers.
Are thick sublimation papers better than thin ones?
For some primary reasons, thick sublimation papers are preferred over thin ones. The reasons include thick paper can withstand mechanical stress and does not fold during printing. It also ensures zero fractures.
What is the best sublimation paper to use for cotton fabrics?
The Siser glitter sublimation paper is compatible with fabrics containing 100% cotton. It is also suitable with leather content.
Final Verdict
Summing up, the sublimation papers play a major role in creating patterns via sublimation printing. You can select them according to your top preferences. For example, if you want to print on 100% cotton fabrics, you can go with Siser glitter sublimation paper.
Fredrik Miller is the Founder of PrinterLake.com, a platform dedicated to providing information on sublimation printing. With a Master’s degree in Information Technology from Reputed University, Fredrik brings a wealth of technical knowledge and expertise to the site.
He leads a team of writers who are experts in the field and strive to deliver the best and most comprehensive information on sublimation printers, inks, and paper.