What Sublimation Printer Prints 11×17? Top Picks 

Are you looking to print vibrant, full-color designs on larger formats like 11×17-inch paper or fabric?

Sublimation printing is the ideal solution, allowing you to transfer photographic images onto materials like metal, wood, acrylic, fabric, and more using heat and pressure.

But first, you need the right sublimation printer capable of handling 11×17-inch paper. I’ve researched ‘What sublimation printer Prints 11×17?’ along with the key factors to consider while buying the best 11×17 sublimation printer for your needs.

Whether you’re a small business owner, creative entrepreneur, or hobbyist printer, read on for my top recommendations.

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What Sublimation Printer Prints 11×17?

Here are my picks for the top 7 best sublimation printers capable of 11×17 printing:

1. Epson EcoTank ET-15000

The Epson EcoTank ET-15000 tops my list for the best balance of value and versatility. It uses a refillable ink tank system instead of disposable cartridges, letting you potentially save up to 90% on ink costs over the printer’s lifetime.

It delivers excellent print quality with a resolution of up to 5760 x 1440 DPI. You can easily print vibrant designs and photos at speeds up to 12 ISO pages per minute in black and 10 ISO ppm in color.

Key Features:

• Prints up to 13”x 19” paper (11×17 supported)
• Refillable ink tanks provide ultra-low-cost prints
• Yields approx. 6,000 pages in black/color (included)
• Print resolution up to 5760 x 1440 DPI
• Built-in auto duplex printing
• Wireless printing and Ethernet connectivity

Price: Check the latest price on Epson

2. Epson WorkForce WF-7720

For those requiring speedier print jobs, the Epson WorkForce WF-7720 is a feature-packed choice.

It delivers ISO print speeds up to 24 pages per minute in black or 22 ppm in color. So you can churn through multiple prints without slowing down your workflow.

The WorkForce series utilizes Epson’s PrecisionCore printing technology for vibrant and detailed image quality even when printing fast.

It can output borderless prints at up to 13 inches x 19 inches for panoramic photos or super oversized designs.

Key Features:

• Fast print speeds up to 24ppm black/22ppm color (ISO)
• Borderless printing on media up to 13”x19”
• PrecisionCore printhead technology
• Auto 2-sided printing
• Wireless/Wi-Fi Direct/Ethernet connectivity

Price: Check the latest price on Epson

3. Sawgrass Virtuoso SG1000

The only printer purpose-built specifically for sublimation printing, the Sawgrass Virtuoso SG1000 prints gorgeous, saturated colors onto polyester fabrics, ceramics, metal, wood, and more.

Its high-resolution printheads lay down 4.5 trillion spots of ink per second at up to 1440×1440 DPI.

It uses Sawgrass’ specialized sublimation inks designed for permanently bonding with polyester fibers during heat transfer. So you can achieve photographic image quality when printing 11×17 transfers, garments, home goods, and crafts.

Key Features:

• Purpose-built for dye sublimation printing
• Vibrant color reproduction with sublimation inks
• Swift print speeds up to 55 seconds (4×6 print)
• Handles media up to 11” x 17”
• High print resolution up to 1440×1440 DPI

Price: Check the latest price on Sawgrass

4. Epson Expression Photo XP-15000

For photographers and artists demanding museum-grade print quality, Epson’s 13-inch Expression Photo XP-15000 delivers incredible color accuracy and detail thanks to its wide color gamut.

It utilizes a 10-cartridge ink system with dedicated photo black for richer blacks on photo paper alongside gray, red, orange, and more.

Combined with a print resolution of up to 5760×1440 DPI, it creates gallery-worthy portraits, landscapes, and fine art reproductions.

Key Features:

• 10-cartridge ink system for exceptional print quality
• Wide color gamut and 5760×1440 max print resolution
• Borderless photo printing up to 13”x19”
• Outstanding print permanence
• Wireless connectivity & auto duplex printing

Price: Check the latest price on Epson

5. Epson WorkForce Pro WF-7820

For offices needing an affordable but reliable 11×17 printer for high-volume document printing, invoices, architectural plans, and more, the Epson WorkForce Pro WF-7820 fits the bill.

It has a robust recommended monthly duty cycle of up to 45,000 pages, with affordable replacement ink packs to keep costs reasonable. You can print documents as fast as 25 ISO ppm in black and 21 ISO ppm in color.

Key Features:

• Max paper size up to 13”x19” (full bleed)
• 25 ISO ppm black/21 ISO ppm color speeds
• Reliable high-volume duty cycle up to 45K pages/month
• Low supply replacement costs (ink packs)
• Ethernet/Wi-Fi/Wi-Fi Direct connectivity

Price: Check latest prices on Epson

6. Canon PIXMA Pro-300

For professional and advanced amateur photographers, the Canon PIXMA Pro-300 delivers stunning, highly accurate photo prints when working with media up to 13×19 inches.

It has a wide color gamut covering 99% of the Adobe RGB spectrum. And with a 4800×2400 dpi maximum resolution, it renders incredible levels of detail, perfect color consistency, and three-dimensional photographic textures no matter the print size.

Key Features:

• 8-ink dye system for expansive color gamut
• Stunning detail and accuracy for photo printing
• High max print resolution up to 4800 x 2400 dpi
• Wide range of compatible photo media
• Prints up to 13”x 19”

Price: Check the latest price on Canon

7. HP OfficeJet Pro 7740

For small offices seeking an affordable all-in-one unit to meet scanning, faxing, copying, and 11×17 printing needs, HP’s OfficeJet Pro 7740 is a great choice with its sub-$200 price tag.

Its 225 MHz processor and 256 MB of memory keep things humming along, while the 35-page auto document feeder makes light work of scanning multi-page documents or batches of smaller prints for archival.

Key Features:

• 500 sheet total paper input capacity
• 35-sheet auto document feeder for unsupervised scanning/copying
• Auto duplex printing module included
• Affordable ink costs with HP Instant Ink subscriptions
• Built-in Ethernet and wireless connectivity

Price: Check the latest price on HP

How to Choose the Best 11×17 Sublimation Printer

Here are key factors I recommend considering while shopping:

1. Sublimation Inks – Some printers like the Sawgrass Virtuoso SG1000 utilize sublimation inks explicitly designed to bond permanently to polyester items during heat transfer. Others allow using 3rd third-party sublimation ink brands.
2. Print Resolution – A higher resolution like 5760×1440 or 4800×2400 dpi enables photographic detail critical for printing fine art and complex graphical designs with smooth gradients.
3. Print Speeds – Faster-rated print speeds help maximize productivity when printing batches of 11×17 transfers for garments, merchandise, or decor projects. Look for printers with higher pages-per-minute ratings.
4. Color Accuracy – Models utilizing 6+ individual ink cartridges produce expansive color gamuts with spot-on accuracy for color-critical applications like fine art photography printing onto canvas or archival paper at 11×17”.
5. Paper Handling – Printers with high-capacity paper trays, auto duplexing for 2-sided prints, and support for thick specialty media offer enhanced convenience for 11”x17” sheets.
6. Connectivity – Built-in wireless in particular allows flexible printing from mobile devices while Wi-Fi Direct provides a direct peer-to-peer connection without a router needed.

By weighing factors like print speed, ink costs, color accuracy, and connectivity options against your needs and budget, choosing an exceptional 11×17 sublimation printer ensures beautiful results becomes straightforward.

Frequently asked questions

Below are a few frequently asked questions:

Wrapping Up

I hope this guide has helped demystify finding the best 11×17 sublimation printers for apparel, hard goods, paper, and polyester printing needs.

Just ensure the printer you choose has the right combo of print quality, speed, ink system, and connectivity options essential for your projects.

Sublimation unleashes almost limitless creativity, allowing you to decorate and customize blank items from clothing to phone cases, ceramics, tiles, wood decor and so much more using high-resolution photographic prints.

An appropriate 11×17 printer unlocks bigger print sizes and bolder creative possibilities.

Let me know if you have any other questions in the comments!