I have a question. When I was reviewing videos for the htvront phone case heat press it kept say to use sublimation film. Now I keep hearing about sublimation paper and DTF transfer film. What is the differences and can all 3 be printed on my Epson 2803. Which one yields the best results?
Sublimation film becomes pliable when warm and lets it be vacuum sealed around your project to let the image go on to your blanks that curve. You pint on the matte side and have the shinny side up matte tide terms the project. Sublimation paper is is a type of paper and will hold your ink and allow it to be released when hated to go into your project blanks that can be sublimated on mugs tumblers shirts. DTF film is a different medium it’s a different ink that is opalescent and need to have the adhesive added after done then heated to set it to be able to put it onto blanks. There is a sublimation hack but it still doesn’t allow you to print white colors.
Slot of people get Epson eco tank printers then out sublimation ink into it not the ink that comes with printer to make it into a sublimation printer. Converted printers last about 3 years.
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Welcome to the community. We are so glad you are here and diving into your new projects. That is a great question, and it is completely normal to feel confused when you start hearing terms like sublimation film, sublimation paper, and DTF film all at once. They are not the same thing, and they are not interchangeable.
Let’s break it down:
Sublimation paper
Sublimation paper is a coated paper designed to hold sublimation ink until heat is applied. When you press it with a heat press, the ink turns into gas and bonds with polyester fabric or a polymer coated surface. This is the most common and traditional method for sublimation. If you are using an Epson 2803 that has been converted to sublimation ink or is dedicated to sublimation, then sublimation paper is what you would use.
Sublimation film
Sublimation film is similar in purpose but is made from a thin plastic film instead of paper. It is sometimes used for specific applications where you want less paper texture or certain specialty effects. Not everyone uses it, and many crafters stick with high quality sublimation paper because it is more widely available and consistent.
DTF transfer film
DTF stands for direct to film. This is a completely different process. DTF uses special DTF ink and a powdered adhesive that is cured before pressing. It does not use sublimation ink. It also does not rely on polyester content the way sublimation does. If your Epson 2803 is set up for sublimation ink, you cannot print true DTF transfers with it unless you convert it to a dedicated DTF ink system. Sublimation ink and DTF ink are not the same and should never be mixed in the same printer.
Can your Epson 2803 print on all three?
If your Epson 2803 is running sublimation ink, you can print on sublimation paper and sublimation film. You cannot, however, properly print DTF transfers unless the printer is specifically converted for DTF ink and paired with the powder and curing process.
Which yields the best results?
That depends on your blank and your goal.
If you are decorating a sublimation ready phone case that has a polymer coating, sublimation paper with quality sublimation ink will usually give you vibrant and permanent results.
With the H17 Phone Case Heat Press, we use sublimation film that is specifically designed to work in machine like the H17.
If you are decorating cotton materials, sublimation alone will not bond properly unless you use a sublimation coating or blend fabric. That is where DTF would have an advantage, but that requires a different ink setup.
For most beginners working with sublimation blanks like phone cases, tumblers, and polyester shirts, high quality sublimation paper paired with proper time, temperature, and pressure settings will give the most reliable results.
We are here to help you through the learning curve. Once you tell us what type of phone case you are pressing and what ink is currently in your Epson 2803, we can guide you even more specifically. And we cannot wait to see what you create once you get everything dialed in.
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Thanks so much. I converted an Epson 2803.
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Thank you so much for a total breakdown. I actually bought all this stuff to make my own magnetic toppers for my pair eyewear glasses and to make my own phone cases. I plan on using sublimation phone case blanks and the one with the metal blank. So I have both the h17 phone press and the h10 flat press. In future, I might try some tshirts or slate items. I am thinking of the possibilities. I converted an Epson 2803.
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