Sublimation is a popular technique for printing on light materials, where colors vibrantly transfer into fabrics or hard substrates. However, sometimes it seems that this technology is limited when we want to print on dark or complex surfaces or when the material or surface is not polyester. If you’re wondering how you could further expand your product personalization capabilities, we invite you to join us at the event Sawgrass and Chromaluxe Sublimation Day, which will take place on February 19, 2025, at GAJCOM from 10 AM to 12 PM. Sign up via email: oblikovanje@sitotisk.net

This time we are taking a step forward and seeking solutions for when sublimation “fails.”

Sublimation with Sawgrass printers and Chromaluxe products

Sawgrass is a leading manufacturer of sublimation printers, cartridges, and paper designed for printing on smaller items such as puzzles, keychains, t-shirts, and other promotional products. At the event, you will have the opportunity to learn about the operation of Sawgrass printers and see a wide range of products that are ideal for sublimation.

We will pay special attention to Chromaluxe photo panels, which are made from high-quality aluminum or MDF boards, coated with a multilayer sublimation coating. These panels provide exceptionally vibrant and long-lasting color transfers, perfect for creating high-quality photo gifts or artwork.

Sublimation and its limitations

While sublimation is excellent for many applications, you may encounter limitations when printing on dark substrates. Have you ever thought about wanting to print on black mugs or dark blue t-shirts and bags? Here, DTF (Direct to Film) printing can help, a technology that allows printing on almost all types of materials, including dark surfaces.

DTF: An upgrade for dark and complex substrates

Sublimation is excellent for light materials, but DTF opens the door for printing on dark substrates where sublimation does not apply. At the event, we will also introduce DTF solutions that offer easy, fast, and high-quality printing on dark t-shirts, bags, caps, and other products that sublimation does not support. DTF provides a wide range of possibilities for those who want to personalize darker or more challenging items. You can also order only DTF transfers from us, which you can transfer yourself. What about products that you cannot “press”? Onto various notebooks, keychains, mugs, USB sticks, umbrella handles, and more, you can easily apply UV DTF transfers as they are applied just like a sticker, without heat treatment. You can now order these “stickers” from us as well.

You are invited to the event!

At the Sawgrass and Chromaluxe Sublimation Day, you will have the opportunity to learn about technologies that are leaders in the personalization industry and acquaint yourself with the new possibilities that DTF brings. On this occasion, you will be able to gain valuable knowledge on how to find the right solution for your printing needs. You can ask us anything you want. As always, we will make an effort to ensure you learn everything that truly interests you, perhaps even something you didn’t know you would find interesting 🙂

Don’t miss the opportunity to expand your printing capabilities and discover new technological solutions!

1. In February 2025, we will discontinue CreativeStudio and Sawgrass Print Manager (SPM). To ensure a smooth transition to MySawgrass Design Tool and Sawgrass Print Utility, follow the steps below.

First Step
Create an account on My Sawgrass. Use the same email address as you use for CreativeStudio to retain all data.

Second Step
Click here to join the workshop “Meet My Sawgrass (Design Tool and Sawgrass Print Utility)” for an easier start.
In these recordings, you’ll get acquainted with the platform, learn to perform basic tasks, and boost your productivity. All video workshops are in English, and subtitles are available in multiple languages.

Third Step
Design | Print | Download
Enjoy the enhanced features of My Sawgrass, developed based on your feedback.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I export my designs from CreativeStudio to MySawgrass?
Yes, you can now export existing designs from CreativeStudio and use them seamlessly in Sawgrass Print Utility. This functionality allows you to print your products directly or download them as PNG files to upload to the MySawgrass tool.

Why not develop these features in CreativeStudio and Print Manager?
The existing platform is not suitable for further development and does not accommodate users’ needs effectively. The new platform is built with advanced technology, allowing for long-term upgrades and flexibility.

Yes, we gladly accept feedback as it is crucial for improvements. Please submit your opinion here: Submit Feedback (Submit Your Feedback).

For more details, check out the latest articles in the Sawgrass knowledge base or follow the detailed instructions available in CreativeStudio, Print Utility, and MySawgrass. As always, our dedicated Sawgrass Care team is here to assist you at every step.

Instructions for Saving Graphics and Transitioning to the New Platform:

1. Open CreativeStudio and select Creations (Creations).
2. Open the folder and select the design you wish to open and export.
3. Once the design loads, click the Export (Export) button to save the file to your computer.

5. Open Sawgrass Print Utility, select Create (Create) and then Add Files (Add Files).

6. Locate and select the Sawgrass file that we just exported from CreativeStudio.

7. The exported design will now load as a task. From here, you have two options:

Since the uploaded PNG file will have a white background, you can use the Remove Colour (Remove Colour) tool to eliminate the white parts of the image. For more information, see the guide How to Remove Colour from an Image (How to Remove Colour from an Image ).

Note: You can only export one creation at a time from CreativeStudio. If you want to export multiple creations, you will need to repeat the steps above.

Read More

We are pleased to invite you to our events where we will showcase various segments of our offer. In addition to interesting presentations, you will also have the opportunity for one-on-one questions and discussions with our experts.

Event Location:
Gajcom d.o.o., Pot heroja Trtnika 45, Ljubljana – Vevče

Schedule:

• Presentation: 10:00–11:00
• Q&A Session: 11:00–13:00

Event Topics:

• January 15, 2025: Open Day for DTF Printing
  Description: DTF (Direct to Film) is a modern printing technique that allows for the transfer of colorful designs onto various textile and other materials (DTF transfers). The process involves printing the design directly onto a film, which is then transferred onto the product using a heat press. DTF technology offers vibrant colors, high durability, and versatility for printing on various materials. During the event, we will showcase products from Hanrun Paper and Unity, featuring high-quality films, inks, and powders for DTF printing.

• February 12, 2025: Sublimation Day with Sawgrass and Chromaluxe
  Description: Sawgrass is a leading manufacturer of sublimation printers, cartridges, and paper designed for personalizing smaller products such as puzzles, keychains, T-shirts, and other promotional items. Chromaluxe offers premium photo panels made from high-quality aluminum or MDF, coated with multi-layered sublimation coatings for exceptionally vibrant and durable color transfers. At the event, you can see the Sawgrass printers in action combined with top-quality sublimation products.

• March 12, 2025: Open Day for Screen Printing with Grafco
  Description: Grafco is an Italian manufacturer specializing in high-quality screen printing inks, cleaners, and accessories for textile products. Their inks are known for exceptional coverage and ease of use, suitable for both beginners and experienced printers. Did you know that Grafco can create a custom ink specifically for your needs, enabling you to print using various techniques and on materials that may currently pose a challenge?

• April 16, 2025: Open Day for DTF Technology
  
  

• May 14, 2025: Sublimation Day with Sawgrass and Chromaluxe
  
  

• September 17, 2025: Open Day for DTF Technology
  
  

• October 15, 2025: Open Day for Screen Printing with Grafco
  
  

• November 12, 2025: Sublimation Day with Sawgrass and Chromaluxe
  
  

Event Registration

Due to limited availability, we kindly ask you to confirm your attendance at gajcom@sitotisk.net. If there is significant interest, additional dates will be organized as needed.

Do you have additional questions?
If you would like to explore a specific topic in more detail, you are always welcome to schedule a personal meeting. We are here to provide you with advice and support in your work.

We look forward to meeting you!

We will offer more ideas for using Chromaluxe outdoor panels in the coming months. If you have not yet subscribed to our newsletter, we invite you to do so now. Write to us, and we will add you to the list.

Our partners’ representatives also send their greetings – Andrea Evans from Sawgrass and Berno Klunder from Chromaluxe. Both were impressed with Slovenia, the fair, and its visitors. We are convinced they will visit us again.

Highlights from the Print21 fair – Gajcom.

We look forward to meeting you at the Print21 fair at the Ljubljana Exhibition and Convention Center on April 20-21, 2023.

We will be showcasing:

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The fair is organized by PrintMagazin, well-known for its quality and diverse content among all printers. We are glad to be participating this time, in collaboration with our suppliers Universal Woods and Sawgrass.

More information about the fair can be found at the link: https://print-magazin.eu/si/eventi/print21-promodays-ljubljana/

Tickets are free; simply register online.

Gajcom, in collaboration with Universal Woods and Sawgrass, presents a well-established concept of small-scale sublimation systems.

****************************************************************************************************

Take your sublimation business out of the frame, set it free,

use Chromaluxe photo panels
– aluminum photo panels for outdoor and indoor signage
– usable completely frameless, but with the option to add one

– ideal for photo exhibitions and pictures in hotels
– easy installation
– unlimited usage possibilities
– vibrant colors
– superior durability
– wide selection of sizes, shapes, and coatings

and Unisub products for unique sublimation for souvenirs and gifts.

… take your sublimation outdoors
– printing souvenirs on the spot
– when something is happening, be present
– diversity and consistent product quality with top coatings, ensuring every souvenir’s success

Sawgrass ensures very easy sublimation

– A4 and A3 size printers

– closed systems (gel cartridges)

– easy to use and low maintenance

– always shiny and vibrant prints.

We look forward to meeting and chatting with you!

****************************************************************************************************

Gajcom, in collaboration with Universal Woods and Sawgrass, presents an established sublimation system concept.

You can find more in the online store www.sitotisk.net.

Take your sublimation business outside the box, take it to the open,

use Chromaluxe photo panels

– aluminum photo panels for outdoor and indoor signage

– usable without a frame, but upgradeable

– also ideal for photo exhibitions and pictures in hotels

– easy attachment

– unlimited use possibilities

– shiny colors

– superior durability

– a large selection of sizes, shapes, and finishes

and Unisub products for unique sublimation of souvenirs and gifts.

… take your sublimation into the field

– printing souvenirs on the spot

– when something is happening, be there

– diversity and at the same time constant quality of products with top-quality coatings, which is why

– every souvenir comes out perfect

Sawgrass makes sublimation really easy

– A4 and A3 format printers

– closed systems (gel jet)

– easy to use and low maintenance requirements

– always glossy and vibrant prints.

****************************************************************************************************

Gajcom, in cooperation with Universal Woods and Sawgrass, presents an established concept of systems for sublimation.

You can find more online www.sitotisk.net.

Take your sublimation business out of the box and into the open,

use Chromaluxe photo panels

– aluminum photo panels for external and internal marking

– usable without frames, but with the possibility of adding them

– ideal for photo exhibitions and wall decorations in hotels

– easy attachment

– unlimited possibilities of use

– shiny colors

– superior durability

– a large selection of sizes, shapes, and finishes

and Unisub products for unique sublimation of souvenirs and gifts.

… take your sublimation into the open

– souvenir and gift printing on site

– when there is an event, be there

– diversity and at the same time constant quality of products with top-quality coatings, which is why

– every souvenir will be printed perfectly

Sawgrass makes sublimation really easy

– A4 and A3 size printers

– closed systems (gel cartridges)

– easy to use and low maintenance requirements

– always glossy and vibrant prints.

We are looking forward to seeing you soon!

 

Which tools do you need at the beginning?

• products (cup, t-shirt, magnet, clock, keychain, pillow with cover, etc.)
• transfers (made on a Sawgrass printer and TruePix paper)
• heat-resistant adhesive tape
• cloth for cleaning smooth surfaces
• multi-purpose cleaner
• gloves for handling hot items
• scissors
• protective paper
• heat press

Press

A heat press is crucial for ensuring print quality. You can find our selection of heat presses here.

Heat presses for sublimation must ensure an even distribution of heating elements across the entire surface. The heating surface must be larger than the print area, and for sublimation printing, you need a press that allows for a longer pressing time – usually up to 180 seconds is sufficient.

We recommend that the sublimation press does not open automatically, but instead, it should be opened and closed manually. Automatic opening creates a vacuum when lifting, which can cause the transfer to shift, ruining the print.

Sublimation is a special type of printing, which actually isn’t printing. On one hand, you could say it’s printing with transfers, because the color is first printed on a sheet of paper, and then using a heat press, it is transferred onto the substrate that we want to print on. But in reality, it isn’t printing, it’s DYEING. The color evaporates and fuses with the substrate. We can only sublimate products that are made of polyester (shirts) or those that are coated with a quality polyester coating (mugs, photo panels …). It is important that the material is originally white or light-colored, as sublimation printers do not print white color.

At Gajcom, we use Sawgrass sublimation systems}

Sawgrass is a leading company in sublimation printing, specializing in creating systems and especially inks that enable top-quality prints on smaller items, specifically prints of A4 or A3 size. The entire system works reliably, and the printer prints accurate colors. Moreover, Sawgrass also thinks in the direction of making the printer’s job as easy as possible, even when it comes to preparing files for printing.

You can find more products that you can sublimate here.

You can address all your questions to us via email at oblikovanje@sitotisk.net. You can also directly contact Sawgrass’ free support, which currently offers information in multiple languages (unfortunately, not in Slovenian yet).

Sublimation has recently become a very popular term for practically all printing techniques. Have you perhaps already encountered systems for sublimation on cotton? You probably have, but you certainly did not let yourself be misled. As mentioned, sublimation is only possible on polyester. For printing on cotton, other systems are used, for example, DTG, DTF, screen printing, or Sawgrass Chromablast – this system is the most similar to sublimation, but it uses special inks for cotton and different paper.

Sawgrass is not the only provider of sublimation products, but it is certainly the most reliable. After all, this is the company that invented sublimation and still owns the majority of patents related to sublimation.

MAIN ADVANTAGES OF Sawgrass VIRTUOSO SUBLIMATION SYSTEMS

• Sawgrass uses special gel technology with closed cartridges. This essentially means that the printer requires minimal cleaning. The head stays clean for a long time, even if you don’t use the printer every day. Even after several weeks, the first print you make will be perfect. All you need to do is keep the printer plugged in. Automatic cleanings are not as frequent as they need to be with other printers.Consequently, the printer wastes very little ink. Although the system is very stable, we recommend using it regularly and occasionally checking or cleaning it.
• ink consumption is lowcompared to other systems (such as Epson with its ink refill system). The biggest differences occur during cleaning because Sawgrass wastes almost no ink, so you’ll use most of it effectively. Moreover, since each print is perfect, you won’t need to print repeatedly to get a good result – this again means savings on ink and of course paper, and notably, the waste will be exceptionally low, so you will use fewer products.
• Official distributor for Slovenia for Sawgrass systems is Gajcom d.o.o. Our team also uses all the systems we market – we know why they are good and what advantages they offer, and we can advise you firsthand., if anything goes wrong. We also occasionally organize open house days, where you can socialize with us and other printers who use Sawgrass. You are always welcome to visit us and see everything in person and ask anything you are interested in.
• Good products are also crucial for good sublimation. We market products for sublimation Promattex (quality mugs and other sublimation products) and Unisub and ChromaLuxe (photo panels), all these products are of top quality.
• TruPix paper is currently the cheapest sublimation paper on the market. Funny, because it is also the best. You can also use it with other sublimation systems.
• And the most important fact – the Sawgrass sublimation system comes with a free Colour Management program. It is the only system that includes a free PowerDriver, which is one of the key elements for printing quality sublimation.

Sublimation of unique items

To offer your customers and yourself something beautiful, new, unique, we present sublimation products, which will make printing unique items a pleasure.

Why choose Sitotisk.net mugs?

The mugs are premium of high quality, which in practice means they are nicely coated, without defects, spots, lines …, allowing for an ideal print, they sit well in the press… when we compare our cups with others on the market, the basic advantage, which at least to us means a lot, is that every cup after printing is perfect – no need for repetition, virtually no waste.

WHAT IS SUBLIMATION?

Technically, sublimation is the phase transition in which a substance goes directly from a solid to a gaseous state.
Hmm, very technical, isn’t it? Let’s say it in a simpler way. In the process of creating unique items it’s the transition of special sublimation ink to a product that is coated or made from polyester. So sublimation is not printing, but dyeing 🙂

Items that can be used for sublimation include: cups, t-shirts, plush toys, pillows, puzzles, frames… if the items are made from polyester or coated with polyester, they are likely suitable for sublimation printing. If the items are not specified as sublimation items, you should of course test them first. There are many possibilities.

SAWGRASS Sublimation SYSTEM

Because for our customers only the best is good enough, we use the SAWGRASS  system, which is a leader in the production of sublimation inks in the world. Their system is easy to use and cost-effective.

Sawgrass is an ink designed with gel technology, packaged in sealed cartridges. This ensures maximum reliability and smooth printing. The ink in the printer doesn’t dry out, so the output is 100% perfect even after several days of use. No need for pre-cleaning the printer head.

Thanks to a special free color management system colors are exceptionally vibrant, exactly as they should be, and the resolution is at a level that other printers simply cannot achieve.

In combination with Sawgrass Virtuoso sublimation systems and high-quality products the prints are eternal! The hard surfaces of the prints will not crack, peel, or scratch. Prints on textile products will not fade, no matter how many times you wash them.

Since the printer does not include white ink, sublimation is primarily used for printing on white or light surfaces. However, this does not mean you cannot print on dark surfaces; you just need to adjust the design so that it does not contain white colors.

The system is truly simple, efficient and reliable and that is why we are happy to offer it to you as well.

Whether printing unique items or larger quantities, make it easy and fun.

What comprises a sublimation system?

A good sublimation system includes these basic components:

• A4 or A3 printer
• sublimation ink
• sublimation paper
• products suitable for sublimation printing
• high-quality press

In the market, you can find a variety of inkjet printers – from A4 (SG500) to wide-format printers. You can also choose the method of ink delivery – from closed cartridges that you cannot refill, to hybrid systems.

You can watch an interesting comparison of various small sublimation printing systems in this video. The video is in English.

However, the most important part of a good sublimation system is a quality press. The market offers a wide selection; we advise you to choose presses based on the kind of products you will print, how often, and in what quantities.

How will you know which system is best for you amidst this abundance of options?

Of course, you need to consider financial and spatial constraints, but you should also ask yourself the following questions:

• What products will you be printing?
• What quantities will you be printing?

If you can honestly answer these two questions, you will significantly narrow down your choices. This way, you can select your system based on the following factors:

You can watch an interesting comparison of various small sublimation printing systems in this video. The video is in English.

Print size

The size of the print that your printer allows determines how large a surface you can print on a single product or how many products you can print at once. For example, if you want to print glass tiles of size 30×30 cm, you won’t be able to do this on an A4 printer. If you need fast production of smaller products, you will buy a printer that will allow you to print multiple designs at once.

Type and size of the press

You will choose the printer based on the size of the print you need, and it is the same with the press. You need to pay attention to the size of the printing and heating plate and the quality of construction and robustness. If you print large products or large print surfaces, you must also have a press that can handle such print sizes. For printing on T-shirts, for example, you need a press that will allow you to print on small children’s T-shirts as well as large 3XL adult T-shirts.

For sublimation products, you must press the product in one piece. Find a press that has evenly distributed temperature, heats up quickly, has an accurate thermostat, and a plate on which you can place the products you want to sublimate. When buying a press for sublimation, choose one from the upper third of the price range.

The Sawgrass SG500 and SG1000 sublimation printers are always in stock, as well as cartridges, paper, and many high-quality products for sublimation.

You can see the Sawgrass SG500 sublimation printer live at our location from Monday to Friday between 7 AM and 3 PM – please schedule your visit in advance via email..

For more information about the Sawgrass sublimation printers, inks, paper, and products, visit our online store.

For sublimation printing on mugs, you need:

– SG500 or SG1000

– heat press for mugs,

– paper (you receive 100 A4 sheets in the package when you purchase the printer, but you can also buy additional paper specifically for mugs),

–heat-resistant adhesive tape,

– sublimation mugs: white,, colored, with spoon,, fluorescent.

You bought a Sawgrass sublimation printer. Now what?

You finally received your new Sawgrass sublimation system. You probably opened the box with great excitement, and maybe a bit of apprehension. Carefully you take the printer out of the box and place it on the table. It’s beautiful. But how do we make it print something beautiful? 🙂
No worries, the setup and basic settings for the Sawgrass printer are really easy. In fact, there are several ways you can do this.

If you are technically skilled and like to do everything yourself (mostly without even looking at the instructions), join Sawgrass Academy and check out our Video Training courses, where we describe everything from setting up the printer to making your first products.

If you prefer live instructions, you can connect with our technical team. Here: Sawgrass Setup sign up for a live meeting with our sublimation technical expert, who will call you and guide you through the entire process. Of course, all this is in English. If you’re not confident in your English, you can call us at Gajcom at 01 54 22 300 and schedule a phone call with Darinko

Whichever way you start, don’t delay. Using Sawgrass printers is very easy, and above all, you have to try it yourself – you can only earn money with it by actually using the equipment.

As for the business itself, we advise you to start by setting one of two strategies. The first strategy is to consider various products that you will print. Of course, do not choose just anything, as these products are not free. Decide on products that will help you tell an interesting story and that you also find interesting.


Choose the market that interests you. And now create some designs, which can include fictional names, captions… Think about what might interest your customers. And then print some samples. There doesn’t need to be many; seven is usually a good number. Be creative and above all, have fun creating. Include some photos and a lot of imagination. Make an impression on people!

The second strategy is more focused on productivity. If the products are not printed as you envisioned, write down all the details of the process. Save them for future attempts. Over time, you will acquire recipes for various products, which will represent great value for you.

Both strategies can be supported by our webinars – The Top 10 Mistakes That New Sublimators Make and How to Avoid Them. Sign up today.

After you have printed your first sample pieces, where you will learn how to sublimate, you will surely become best friends with the Sawgrass printer. And then the time comes to monetize your experience and equipment.

Check out our Premium Designs from Premier Artists. Here you will find hundreds of different themes you can use as a basis for your new business.

Congratulations on your purchase and welcome to the Sawgrass team. We at Gajcom are always happy to assist with any questions. You can find the products here.

In the name of Sawgrass, we welcome you, Jimmy Lamb

Follow us here and @SawgrassInk on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest!

Sawgrass – new version SPM Print Manager 10.0.4

What’s new?

• SPM version 10.0.4 is the new version of Sawgrass Print Manager
• It provides compatibility with SG500/SG1000 printers, which we expect to ship from May 1, 2021
• For all printers, this version fixes some bugs and improves the user experience. Who needs it? We recommend SPM 10.0.4 to all users, but it is essential for users of SG500/SG1000 printers

• All SG500/SG1000 printers will receive the required Ricoh firmware update, which takes into account both Apple and Microsoft’s system updates
• Older versions of SPM will not work with printers shipped after May 1, 2021. Does this affect my colors? This version does not interfere with the printer’s color scheme and CreativeStudio

How does it work?

All SG500/SG1000 printers shipped after May 1, 2021, will have updates pre-installed.

Users will need version 10.0.4 to use the Print Manager with these printers

Users who do not have the new version 10.0.4 installed must install it themselves

• After you update SPM to version 10.0.4, Print Manager will perform a quick (2 – 3 minute) firmware update on existing SG500/SG1000 printers

When will it be available?

• April 30, 2021

How can users download the update?

• Download the SPM update from Sawgrass here:

sawgrassink.com/software

When should users download the update?

• We recommend all users download the update as soon as possible.