Not all printers are capable of printing high-quality images on heat transfer paper, so choose one that has the best combination of features for your needs. (BestReviews)

Hobbyists and professionals alike use heat printers to transfer photos or images onto T-shirts or other fabric products, whether for one-of-a-kind memories or promotional merchandise. In order to keep the quality of images throughout the transfer process, you need a special printer designed to handle the high temperatures needed to make the transfer.

Not all printers have the same versatility and flexibility to work with fabric paper or transfer high-quality images, so consumers will need to buy a printer with this capability, such as the Epson Stylus C88+ Color Inkjet Printer. Many of these are also proficient for other crafts, such as screen-printing and creating art prints.

Unless you have a commercial operation and you need a machine dedicated to high-volume heat transfers, you will want to purchase a home office printer with built-in heat transfer ability.

Many consumer-grade printers have 3-in-1 capabilities, allowing them to copy and scan papers as well. Many of these machines are quite affordable and are a good value because of their multi-purpose functions.

For a successful heat transfer, printers need high-quality print resolution so images are kept crisp and clear, with great detail. Printers with high-resolution capabilities can also be used for high-quality photo prints on specialty paper like photo paper or card stock.

Both laser and inkjet printers could be used to perform heat transfers. These types of printers both deliver high-quality images with good resolution, but the way they transfer the image is different, each having benefits and drawbacks.

Laser printers use powdered toner to “burn” the ink onto the paper to deliver a fast, high-quality print performance. However, the laser printer could get easily jammed if it is not loaded correctly, which would destroy the heat transfer paper and could harm the printer.

While not as fast as a laser printer, an inkjet printer produces high-quality heat transfers with top resolution. Because it uses liquid inks instead of a laser, the colors and resolution are more precise, but you need the correct ink in order to avoid a mess.

If you are transferring designs to T-shirts and other fabrics, a higher quality printer will deliver a cleaner product. To determine the printer resolution quality, look for the printer’s dots per inch numbers, which tell you many pixels are in each inch of the image. Generally speaking, higher numbers deliver ever-greater sharpness and detail. The industry defines high-quality as 1440 by 720 dpi whereas photo-quality is even higher at 2880 by 1440 dpi.

Most heat transfer printers can handle sheets of material up to 8.5 by 11 inches, the size of a standard sheet of paper. However, if you want to print larger images, look for printers designed to print in wider formats, like 11- by 17-inch tabloid size and 13- by 19-inch super tabloid size.

The best heat transfers are made with inks that can handle very high temperatures, and different types of ink have different benefits.

The best inks to use for heat transfers are sublimation inks because they stand up to heat and last for a long time. Pigment inks are another good option because they are water-resistant, fade-resistant and durable, but they could be more challenging to work with. If you are using a laser printer, toners, the powdered ink used by laser printers, are decent enough for simple jobs, but better quality results are achieved with liquid inks. Dye-based inks are not recommended for heat transfers because they do not stand up to high temperatures and they have poor UV stability.

Printers have become more high-tech and easy to use. The best models have touch screens, switches and knobs that are well laid out and easy to read, reach and use.

Generally speaking, higher-quality heat transfer images take longer to print than regular pictures. While the faster laser printers will transfer an image, a slower inkjet printer will deliver a better product. If you are not producing a high quantity of heat transfers, look for a slower printer with higher-quality prints

Photo-quality printers are generally in the $200 to $400 range. High-end models with lots of features can easily cost $1,000 or more. Printers under $200 are unlikely to be able to print at the levels of resolution you want for heat transfers.

A. If you will only be printing simple things like large block letters where detail is not important, a regular printer will work fine. However, if your images are photos or highly detailed graphics, a regular printer won't be able to produce the same quality you will get from a heat transfer.

A. Sublimation ink is water-soluble and made mostly of natural materials. Compared to dye-based inks, sublimation ink produces brighter, more vivid colors that last longer.

Epson Stylus C88+ Color Inkjet Printer: available at Amazon

Our take: This is the best printer for heat transfers, screen printing and art prints because the images last a long time without fading or smearing.

What we like: This model produces border-free prints with DURABrite Ultra pigment ink at 5760 x 1440 dpi resolution. It supports Windows and Apple's OSX and iOS, and it is versatile enough to handle all your other printing needs, working with paper sheets, envelopes, photo paper, labels and card stock. This model has a continuous ink supply system, and it is quiet and easy to use.

What we dislike: This product does not withstand heavy, commercial use.

HP Envy 7855 All-in-One Photo Printer: available at HP

Our take: This color inkjet printer comes with the HP Smart App and is configured for Wireless Direct printing.

What we like: Photo-quality printing assures your heat transfers are of the highest resolution possible. This printer has wireless connectivity with dual-band WiFi and Smart Bluetooth. This model prints directly from USB, flash drive, social media and the cloud.

What we dislike: Ink costs will be higher than usual if you buy individual cartridges.

Epson Expression Photo HD XP-15000 Wireless Color Wide-Format Printer: available at Amazon

Our take: This model prints professional-quality ultra HD borderless prints of up to 13 inches by 19 inches.

What we like: This wireless printer is controllable by Alexa and is Amazon Dash replacement-ready. It prints 20 pages per minute, and it features automatic two-sided printing. In addition to a 200 sheet front paper tray, this unit has a rear sheet feeder for gentle treatment of special papers, including cardstock for printing posters.

What we dislike: The toner is expensive.

David Allan Van is a writer for BestReviews. BestReviews is a product review company with a singular mission: to help simplify your purchasing decisions and save you time and money.

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