The Benefits of Sublimation Ink from AM.CO.ZA: Which Ink to Choose, How to Set Up Your Printer, and How to Get Lasting Results

This page started as a short 2023 sublimationinks.co.za post listing seven reasons to buy sublimation ink and products there: quality, a wide product range, expert guidance, cost-effectiveness, shipping, environmentally friendly options, and community resources. It now explains what AM.CO.ZA sublimation ink actually is, which bottle sizes and colours are in the range, which printers it works in, how to set up an office printer for it, how to press it, and what AM.CO.ZA's own videos show about each of the original benefits. The original post is kept at the bottom.

Product facts come from the AM.CO.ZA product data behind buythis.co.za (product JSON on am.im, dump dated 2026-10-19) and AM.CO.ZA's own YouTube videos, mainly AM.CO.ZA Sublimation Inks: Neon Fluorescent, 6 Colour CMYK/LM/LC & Easy Refill Nozzle for 100ml Ink (2021-07-18). Prices change, and the ink product data says the prices are linked to foreign exchange rates and adjusted every week or two, so check the current price on each linked buythis page. Stock is not shown here.

Quick answer

• What it is: AM.CO.ZA sublimation ink is a water-based dye ink that is printed onto sublimation paper and then transferred with heat onto polyester fabric or sublimation-coated items such as mugs, plates and phone cases.
• Which printers: it works in printers with a piezoelectric drop-on-demand printhead, which includes Epson inkjets. It is not suitable for thermal (heat-expansion) printheads, because the ink is activated by heat. AM.CO.ZA suggests a brand-new Epson EcoTank printer for the best result.
• Bottle sizes: 100 ml bottles with an easy-refill nozzle for office printers (H-INK/COMBO/100 gives all four colours), 1 kg bottles for bulk and large format use (H2-INK/COMBO/CMYK), and fluorescent magenta and yellow in 1 kg bottles (H2-INK/COMBO/NEON).
• What it prints on: white or light polyester and sublimation-coated blanks. AM.CO.ZA's FAQ video shows that the cotton part of a blended shirt loses its ink in the wash.
• Basic press settings for a polyester T-shirt: about 200 °C for 60 to 90 seconds at light to medium pressure, with Teflon above and below, according to the Heatware T-shirt demo. Follow the paper and blank's own guideline where it differs.
• Consumables terms: the product data says AM.CO.ZA gives no warranty and no refunds on consumables such as ink; unused, intact (unopened if sealed) consumables may be exchanged for a different size, model or package by written agreement.

What sublimation ink is, and why the printer matters

The AM.CO.ZA ink product data describes sublimation ink in three short points, repeated on every ink page:

1. It is a water-based dye ink, suitable for office and home inkjet printers.
2. It is activated by heat, so it suits piezoelectric drop-on-demand (DOD) printheads but not thermal or heat-expansion printheads. A thermal printhead heats the ink to fire it, which is exactly what sublimation ink must not experience inside the printer.
3. AM.CO.ZA suggests a brand-new Epson EcoTank series printer for the best printing result.

In #SortIT, Choose EPSON EcoTank Bulk Ink Printer for Sublimation Printing for Our Heat Press Machine (2018-10-30), AM.CO.ZA explains that for most heat-press applications a normal office printer with a bulk ink system is enough. The printer must be able to print dye ink and should reproduce colour at a minimum of 600 dots per inch. AM.CO.ZA recommends Epson inkjets because most of them can print dye ink at competitive prices.

For production volumes, the FastCOLOUR ONE roll-to-roll sublimation printers use a sealed Epson XP600 printhead. F2-1801/SUB prints 1,800 mm wide at up to 720 by 1440 dpi, comes with 1 litre of each CMYK sublimation ink plus cleaner, and includes InkRIP software with a built-in colour profiler.

The AM.CO.ZA sublimation ink range

A few notes on the range:

• Light cyan and light magenta. The 2021 ink range video says the 1 litre bottles come in six colours (black, cyan, magenta, yellow, light cyan and light magenta). The current buythis product data lists only the CMYK and fluorescent 1 kg bottles, so ask AM.CO.ZA sales whether light colours are available before planning a six-colour setup.
• Easy-refill nozzle. The 100 ml Heatware bottles have an easy-to-pour refill cap, which makes topping up an ink tank neater.
• Locally produced ink. AM.CO.ZA's 2023 ink announcement introduced locally produced, water-based sublimation ink designed for coated and uncoated transfer paper, with high-density colour that reduces ink consumption, fast drying for higher print speeds, and a wide colour gamut. Because it is made locally, AM.CO.ZA says it reaches customers fresher than imported ink.
• Fluorescent ink needs a profile. The fluorescent inks glow under UV or club lighting, as shown in the fluorescent ink UV video. To print with them, you need a colour profile; AM.CO.ZA's neon ink ICC profile teaser covers profiles made in InkRIP software.

The original seven benefits, explained with AM.CO.ZA facts

Setting up an Epson printer for sublimation ink

#SortIT, Change Printer Setting for Better Colour While Using Heatware Sublimation Ink from AM CO ZA (2018-10-30) shows how to set the Epson printer driver so it does not change the colours of your design:

1. Open Devices and Printers, right-click the printer and choose Printing preferences.
2. Set the paper type to Plain paper and the quality to High.
3. On the More options tab, change colour correction from automatic to Custom, click Advanced and choose No colour adjustment. This stops the printer from editing the colours that come from your design software.
4. Under additional settings, tick Mirror image so the design prints backwards and reads correctly on the finished item. If you mirror it here, do not also mirror it in your design software.
5. Save these settings as a preset with its own name and icon, so you can pick it the next time you print for sublimation.

Then print the design on the shiny (coated) side of the sublimation paper.

Choosing the right paper

Pressing sublimation ink for lasting results

The ink only becomes permanent when the heat press releases it from the paper into polyester fibres or the coating on a blank. AM.CO.ZA's guidance from T-Shirt Sublimation Printing by Print on Office Inkjet Printer and Press on Heatware Heat Press Demo (2018-11-09) for a T-shirt is:

• Use 100% polyester or spandex, or at least 75% polyester with 25% cotton, and use white shirts only.
• Set light to medium pressure first.
• Place the print face down on the shirt and hold it in place with heat-resistant thermal tape.
• Use Teflon sheets above and below the shirt.
• Press at 200 °C for 60 to 90 seconds; the video describes the ink releasing at about 200 °C and needing that time to embed in the shirt.
• Peel the sublimation paper off immediately after pressing.

Sublimation Printing FAQ, Large Format Sublimation Printer and Roller Heat Press Usage Guide (2025-02-10) adds three useful explanations:

• Why not cotton. On a 60% polyester and 40% cotton shirt, the cotton part loses its ink once the shirt is washed, so the share of cotton is lost from the print. Stick to synthetic, polyester-rich fabrics.
• Why protection paper. When pressing edge to edge, or on fabric with holes such as mesh, tissue or liner paper behind the fabric stops ink from passing through and permanently staining the press blanket.
• Why print on paper, not straight on fabric. Paper always absorbs ink at the same rate, while different fabrics spread ink differently, so printing to paper first gives consistent results.

For other fabrics and papers, AM.CO.ZA's SortIT temperature and press time guideline lists settings by material.

Large format sublimation printers and changing ink type

• The FastCOLOUR ONE sublimation printers, such as F2-1801/SUB, ship with sublimation ink and cleaner and print onto paper rolls that are transferred on a roller heat press such as H-ROLLER/1600/E6.
• UV Ink, ECO-Solvent Ink and Sublimation Ink Options for Large Format Printer Explained (2024-06-23) compares the three ink types AM.CO.ZA offers for large format printers: UV, eco-solvent and sublimation.
• Changing a large format printer to sublimation ink means replacing the ink tubes and dampers, flushing, cleaning the printhead and doing a test print. How-to Convert Printer to a Different Ink Type (Demo on ECO-Solvent to Sublimation Ink Conversion) (2020-07-05) shows the steps, but AM.CO.ZA strongly recommends booking one of its technicians to do the conversion.

Looking after ink and printheads

• Keep a bottle of F-AQUA/CLEAN or F-AQUA/CLEAN/100 for routine cleaning. The product data says it dissolves dried ink and residue that restrict ink flow, which helps prevent nozzle blockages. The 100 ml bottle is described as a clog-dissolving liquid that works with soaking of less than two hours.
• H2-INK/COMBO bundles the four 1 kg CMYK inks with 1 litre of this cleaner.

Getting started: three simple setups

Frequently asked questions

Can I use AM.CO.ZA sublimation ink in any inkjet printer? Only in printers with a piezoelectric drop-on-demand printhead, such as Epson inkjets. It is not suitable for thermal printheads. AM.CO.ZA suggests a brand-new Epson EcoTank printer.

Can I put sublimation ink into a printer that has used normal ink? AM.CO.ZA's product data suggests a brand-new Epson EcoTank printer for the best printing result, so a new printer dedicated to sublimation ink is the safer choice.

Does sublimation ink work on cotton? Not lastingly. AM.CO.ZA's FAQ video shows the cotton share of a blend loses its ink in the wash. For cotton-rich fabric, look at H-PAPER/A4L or H-PAPER/A3L transfer paper instead.

What is the difference between the 100 ml and 1 kg inks? The 100 ml bottles (Heatware with an easy-refill nozzle, or SubliNova DT104) suit office printers and occasional use. The 1 kg Heatware Premium high-density bottles suit busy bulk-tank printers and large format sublimation printers.

Why do my colours look wrong? Check that the printer driver is set to no colour adjustment and high quality, as in the driver settings video, and that the design is printed on the coated side of the paper. Fluorescent inks need a matching colour profile.

Can I return ink I did not use? The product data says consumables carry no warranty and no refunds. Unused, intact (unopened if sealed) consumables may be exchanged for a different size, model or package by written agreement, with any difference paid or given as credit.

Can I sublimate without a printer? Yes, for hand-drawn designs. AM.CO.ZA's sublimation pen video shows designs traced with sublimation pens on sublimation paper and pressed onto a mug.

Videos

• AM.CO.ZA Sublimation Inks: Neon Fluorescent, 6 Colour CMYK/LM/LC & Easy Refill Nozzle for 100ml Ink (2021-07-18)
• Affordable Sublimation Ink for Sublimation Printing from AM CO ZA for Office Inkjet Printer (2018-10-30)
• #SortIT, Choose EPSON EcoTank Bulk Ink Printer for Sublimation Printing for Our Heat Press Machine (2018-10-30)
• #SortIT, Change Printer Setting for Better Colour While Using Heatware Sublimation Ink from AM CO ZA (2018-10-30)
• T-Shirt Sublimation Printing by Print on Office Inkjet Printer and Press on Heatware Heat Press Demo (2018-11-09)
• New Locally Produced Sublimation Ink for Vibrate Colour, Fresher Stock Than Any Imports (2023-01-21)
• Fluorescent Sublimation Yellow and Magenta Inks Glow Under UV Lights (2025-06-30)
• Neon Sublimation Ink ICC Colour Profiles by InkRIP Software (2025-11-18)
• Sublimation Printing FAQ, Large Format Sublimation Printer and Roller Heat Press Usage Guide (2025-02-10)
• UV Ink, ECO-Solvent Ink and Sublimation Ink Options for Large Format Printer Explained (2024-06-23)
• How-to Convert Printer to a Different Ink Type (Demo on ECO-Solvent to Sublimation Ink Conversion) (2020-07-05)
• Pens with Sublimation Inks Draw on Sublimation Paper, Sublimation Printing Without Printer (2024-10-27)
• #SortIT, Sublimation and Heat Transfer Paper Temperature and Press Time Guideline for All Fabrics (2020-03-17)
• Introducing Heat Sublimation and Label Making Printing Papers for Office Inkjet and Laser Printer (2020-09-06)
• F1-1804D/SUB: AM.CO.ZA Double head Sublimation printers printing rolls of sportswear on H-PAPER/ROLL/1600 sublimation paper in Windhoek Namibia. (2025-04-24)

Related pages

• Sublimation printing business offerings
• 5 sublimation printing projects
• Heat Press SKU Guide
• Heat Press Machine Gallery Images

Original post (2023, sublimationinks.co.za)

Source: https://sublimationinks.co.za/benefits-of-sublimation-ink

• published: 2023-12-07 20:59:31
• modified: 2023-12-25 16:09:26
• youtube:
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1yiK9gtICNc

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https://youtu.be/1yiK9gtICNc?si=9XdzdTufxNSGQpLT

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Community and Resources:

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Video

• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1yiK9gtICNc