Why are manufacturers branded start up cartridges not included in a sublimation printer bundle?
When purchasing a printer as part of a sublimation printing bundle, you may notice that the manufacturer’s original start-up cartridges are not included. There is a very important reason for this: the ink contained in standard manufacturer start-up cartridges is not sublimation ink.
Sublimation printers need sublimation ink from the start
A standard inkjet printer supplied by manufacturers such as Epson will normally include start-up cartridges containing conventional ink intended for everyday printing.
Sublimation printing requires a completely different type of ink.
For this reason, when a compatible printer is supplied as part of a HobbyPrint® sublimation printing bundle, the manufacturer’s standard start-up cartridges are not intended to be used with the printer.
Instead, the printer is prepared to be used with the sublimation inks and compatible ink system supplied as part of the bundle.
Why shouldn’t I use the original cartridges first?
It can be tempting to use the manufacturer’s start-up cartridges before changing over to sublimation ink. We strongly recommend that you do not do this.
Once standard ink has entered the printer’s ink system and print head, changing to sublimation ink can result in the two different ink types mixing together.
This is known as cross contamination.
Even relatively small amounts of conventional ink remaining within the printer can contaminate the sublimation ink and potentially affect:
- Colour accuracy
- Print quality
- Sublimation transfer results
- Colour consistency
- The performance of the sublimation ink
For the best results, a printer intended for sublimation printing should therefore be used with sublimation ink from the outset.
Why are the manufacturer’s start-up cartridges removed?
The original start-up cartridges are deliberately not included because they contain ink that is unsuitable for the purpose for which the printer bundle is being supplied.
This helps prevent the cartridges being installed accidentally and avoids unnecessary cross contamination between conventional and sublimation inks.
It also means that your printer can begin its life as a dedicated sublimation printer rather than first being used as a conventional inkjet printer and subsequently converted.
What is included with a HobbyPrint® sublimation printer bundle?
HobbyPrint® sublimation printer bundles are put together to provide a complete package for sublimation printing.
The exact contents depend upon the printer model and the type of sublimation system being supplied, but a typical package may include a combination of:
- Sublimation inks
- Refillable or pre-filled cartridges or ink tanks (CISS) where required
- Sublimation transfer paper
- Heat-resistant tape
- Other accessories appropriate to the particular printer or bundle
Not every printer requires the same components, so the contents will vary between packages.
The complete contents of each HobbyPrint® bundle are listed in detail within the individual product listing.
This applies whether you purchase the bundle directly from the HobbyPrint® website or through one of our marketplace listings.
Always check the bundle contents
We recommend checking the product description before purchasing so that you know exactly what is included with the particular package you have selected.
If an item is not shown as being included in the product description, it should not be assumed to form part of the bundle.
The manufacturer’s standard start-up cartridges are specifically excluded from our sublimation printer bundles because they contain conventional ink rather than sublimation ink and should not be installed in a printer that is going to be dedicated to sublimation printing.
In summary
The manufacturer’s start-up cartridges have not simply been forgotten or removed to reduce the contents of the package.
They are excluded for a technical reason.
Using conventional ink before changing to sublimation ink can introduce contamination into the printer’s ink system. Starting with sublimation ink helps keep the ink system dedicated to sublimation printing and provides the best foundation for consistent, high-quality sublimation results.
HobbyPrint® sublimation printer bundles are therefore supplied with the components appropriate to the sublimation system being offered, with the exact contents clearly detailed in each individual product listing.
