You don’t need a lot of equipment to get started printing your own photo coffee mugs, but it’s important to have a grip on the technology before you get started.

Here are the basics:

Computer and software
You’ll need a Windows or Macintosh computer with an image editing program such as Corel Draw or Photoshop. (I personally used a Macintosh and Photoshop).

Novachrome Mug Press used by Kevin for mug printing

Ink jet or dye sublimation printer
Although you can buy special dye sublimation printers, you don’t necessarily need one. Many inkjet printers, such as the Epson 1280, can be filled with dye sublimation cartridges or adapted to use higher-volume bulk dye systems. Before you buy a printer, check with your dye sublimation dealer and find out which printers they sell dye sublimation cartridges for.

Dye sublimation cartridges or bulk system
Cartridges look like ordinary ink jet cartridges, and fit into ordinary ink jet printers. Bulk dye systems can be adapted to the printer so that it will be fed from larger vials of dye. This is handy for higher volume operations.

Heat Press or Mug Press
There are dozens of models to choose from, but this is my absolute favorite: Novachrome Mug Pro. Heat presses wrap around the mug and cause the image to transfer permanently to the mug’s surface.

Transfer paper and heat tape
Dye sublimation transfer paper looks like regular inkjet paper, but is slightly thicker. You’ll print onto this paper, and then fix it to the mug with heat tape (should be called “heat proof tape.”) before inserting the mug into a heat press for 4 or 5 minutes depending on the heat press instructions.

Blank mugs
Blank ceramic mugs come in a variety of styles and colors, although the basic background of white is necessary for true color printing via dye sublimation. Mugs are usually ordered in cases of 36.

Where do I get this stuff?
Most of the specialty items on this list are available from Novachrome.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, August 5th, 2008 at 12:03 am and is filed under Photo Mug Business. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.