Sawgrass SG500 review
A desktop sublimation printer that starts when you turn it on, which is not a given in this category.
A compact desktop sublimation printer with a full starter set of 20ml SubliJet UHD CMYK ink cartridges, paper, and the MySawgrass online design platform.
Check price on AmazonSpecifications
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Ink | Full starter set of 20ml SubliJet UHD CMYK cartridges |
| Bundle | Includes ink and paper |
| Size | Compact, desktop dimensions |
| Software | MySawgrass platform, an all-in-one online design tool |
| Positioning | Professional-grade sublimation output for custom products |
Specifications above come from Sawgrass's published specifications. Treat pricing as approximate, since Amazon pricing moves.
What it does well
- It is designed for sublimation rather than converted to it, so the inks, profiles and support all line up, which is where converted desktop inkjets fall apart.
- The MySawgrass platform handles colour management, which is the single hardest thing for a beginner, because sublimation colours change completely when pressed.
- A complete starter bundle with ink and paper means the first product can be made the day it arrives.
- Desktop footprint, so it fits in a spare room or a corner of a workshop rather than needing a dedicated bench.
- It is the cheapest honest entry into sublimation that is not a converted printer with a voided warranty.
Where it falls short
- Print size is the limit, and it is the reason people upgrade. Mugs, tumblers, coasters and standard chest prints fit; larger apparel graphics and panels do not.
- Sublimation ink is expensive per millilitre, and 20ml cartridges are a starter set rather than a working stock. Budget the second set at the same time, and model it in our ink cost calculator.
- Polyester and polymer coatings only. Cotton does not work and nothing in the settings changes that.
- You need a heat press, transfer paper, tape and blanks. The printer is a minority of the startup cost.
- Any sublimation printer left idle risks clogging, and while Sawgrass machines are the most tolerant in the category, they are not immune. Our printhead cleaning versus new printer comparison covers the repair economics.
What owners report
Owner reports are consistently positive about reliability and about the software, which beginners repeatedly credit with getting colour right faster than they expected. In a category where the main complaint is clogged heads, a machine people describe as simply working is the recurring theme.
The consistent limitation is size. A meaningful number of published reports come from people who bought the SG500, grew, and moved to the SG1000, which is the most useful signal available about which machine to buy if you already know where you are heading.
Who it suits
- New sublimation businesses making mugs, tumblers, coasters and small apparel prints.
- Anyone who wants colour management handled rather than learned by wasting blanks.
- Crafters who want a supported machine rather than a converted printer.
Who should skip it
- Anyone needing tabloid or wider output, who should buy the SG1000 or the Epson F570 now.
- Cotton apparel businesses, which need DTG or DTF.
- Anyone who has not budgeted a heat press and blanks.
Alternatives worth considering
Tabloid output at 11 by 17 inches, automatic maintenance that runs even when idle, and a larger 31ml starter ink set. The machine to buy if you already know your products need the size.
Check price on Amazon24 inches with roll feed, a cutter and nesting software that reduces transfer paper waste. This is the machine a sublimation business grows into, and it ships as freight rather than as a parcel.
Check price on AmazonCommon questions
Can I convert a normal printer for sublimation instead?
You can, and it voids the warranty, offers no colour management for sublimation, and leaves you unsupported when it clogs. It is cheaper up front and it is the reason a lot of people give up on sublimation. A purpose-built machine costs more and removes the most common failure point.
What size can the SG500 print?
Desktop sizes, which covers mugs, tumblers, coasters, small signs and standard chest prints on apparel. Larger apparel graphics, banners and panels need the tabloid SG1000 or a wide-format machine. Decide based on the products you intend to sell rather than on the ones you might.
How much does sublimation ink cost?
Per millilitre it is one of the more expensive inks you can buy, and the 20ml starter cartridges are a starter set rather than working stock. Model your ink cost per product with our ink cost calculator, because it is a real component of your margin rather than a rounding error.
What else do I need to start?
A heat press sized for your products, sublimation transfer paper, heat-resistant tape, protective butcher paper, and polyester or polymer-coated blanks. Most people spend more on those than on the printer, so budget the whole setup before ordering the machine.
Will sublimation work on dark shirts?
Not well. Sublimation dye is translucent and has no white, so it relies on a light-coloured polyester substrate to show correctly. On dark garments the design largely disappears. Dark cotton and dark polyester need DTF, DTG or vinyl instead.
Keep reading
- Best sublimation printers
- Printhead cleaning vs new printer
- Ink cost calculator
- Sawgrass SG1000 review
- Epson SureColor F570 review
This review draws on published specifications, manufacturer figures and the consensus of verified owner reviews. We have not tested this product ourselves, and we say so rather than implying otherwise. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.