If you're hearing about the new Sawgrass Versiflex system and have more questions than answers ... you're in the right spot.
Sawgrass has dubbed it's new Versiflex system as a self weeding, "cost saving" all-in-one transfer system that's changing the game...but I have to be honest, I'm not so sure about all that.
Before we get started, I will say I have had Sawgrass sublimation printers for years. I started with the Sawgrass SG400 and I currently use the Sawgrass SG1000. I use both with the UHD ink and I have been successfully using Sawgrass Print Utility which supports both the sublimation printers and the new Versiflex system.
Versiflex is not a new sublimation printer, it's a new ink formulation that, when paired with new Versiflex transfer materials, creates the new Versiflex system. At this point, I haven't gotten my hands on it but I've done a lot of research, and I have a lot of knowledge about digital printing and that's where my list of 8 things to be aware of before you buy comes from.
1. You Need a New Sawgrass Printer, Too
If you currently have a Sawgrass printer that you've been using UHD, Siser sublimation ink or Chromablast ink, you can not switch to the Versiflex ink. You'll need a new designated printer. Sawgrass says the specialty formula is not compatible with existing printers already filled with sublimation inks.
2. What's the Initial Investment?
The lowest price package to jump into using Sawgrass Versiflex is just shy of $900. On their website, Sawgrass claims users can expand their product range "without high start up or operating costs" (more on refill ink prices in section 4) - but I guess that's relative.
The lowest priced start up package starts at $899.95 and includes the SG500 printer, a set of 31ml Versiflex Ink, a 100 sheet pack of 8.5" x 11" Versiflex transfer paper and sublimation transfer paper.
There are also packages with the SG1000 and they start at $2399.95.
3. What's the Volume of Versiflex Ink Cartridges?
The Versiflex Ink package is a set of 4 31ml inks - however it's not CMYK like you might expect. Instead it's CMY + an Expander cartridge. That means there's no black cartridge and the blue, pink and yellow will likely have to mix together to form black. My fear with this, having another printer that only uses CMY is that the color range can be limited and your black can some out looking blue.
I have reached out to Sawgrass for information on what the Expander cartridge does, but have yet to hear back. Based on one of the Sawgrass videos however, it seems the Expander cartridge is needed when transferring to non-coated surfaces like cotton shirts. I'm not 100% sure but it seems like it's almost like a sublimation pre-treat spray that mixes in with the ink.
4. What's the Price of Sawgrass VersiFlex Ink?
Despite the promises of "expanding your product range without high start-up and operating costs," the Versiflex Ink has now become the most expensive Sawgrass ink on the market. Each of the replacement 31ml CMY and Expander cartridges retail for $99.95. Per mL that comes out to $3.22.
As a comparison, the Sawgrass Sublijet UHD sublimation ink retails for $77 for a 31 mL cartridge or $2.56 per mL.
And we'll go one step further...and just point out that Epson sublimation ink retails for $49.95 for a 140mL bottle which comes out to 0.35¢ per mL.
As a bonus I added a Versiflex option with up-to-date ink and material prices to my free sublimation cost calculator so you can see how printing with Versiflex compares on each material type and against traditional Sawgrass ink and paper and Epson sublimation ink.
5. What Materials Can Be Used with Sawgrass VersiFlex?
The ink is only part of the VersiFlex system - the specialty materials make up the other part of the system.
Sawgrass' Versiflex system uses three different types of material:
- Traditional sublimation paper for sublimation printing
- Versiflex Light transfer paper for transferring to cottons and wood
- Heat transfer vinyl for transfers that need to go on dark and smooth surfaces
The all in one claims come from the fact you can do all of this with one printer by simply switching out the material. That is all true. However, Sawgrass also promises "VersiFlex System’s self-weeding technology ensures only your design transfers—no cutting, no extra film, no unwanted edges."
When you print on the Versiflex Light Transfer Paper with Versiflex ink, which retails for 50 sheets for $49.95 ($1 per sheet basically), you then have to quickly (while the ink is still wet) press the transfer onto the surface with a heat press and then peel away the paper. The process is similar to traditional sublimation, but the Versiflex ink and transfer paper allow you to transfer onto cotton, wood, and sublimation blanks. It is also the same process used with inkjet printable transfers for lights. There is no cutting or weeding in either of these two processes when it comes to light colored surfaces.
But when you want to apply transfers to darks with the VersiFlex system, you would need to use heat transfer vinyl and that would require contour cutting and weeding.
6. What is the Longevity or Washability of VersiFlex?
I'll just let this one speak for itself straight from the Sawgrass website: "It maintains the wash fastness you expect from high-quality prints, ensuring your designs stay vibrant, soft, and intact up to 30+ washes."
Keywords here: up to.
7. Best Of Multiple Decorating Methods
Sawgrass' website touts Versiflex as a "completely new technology, designed from the ground up to offer the best of multiple decorating methods—including DTF, DTG, sublimation, and HTV—while eliminating many of their limitations."
Let's break this statement down bit by bit:
- "Completely new technology" - I will give them that there's no other printer or ink that claims it can be used on cottons, wood, and poly-coated sublimation blanks. All of these processes and technologies are available, Sawgrass has just combined them into a single machine.
- "To offer the best of multiple decorating methods—including DTF, DTG, sublimation, and HTV". There's a lot to unpack in this section.
- The "best of DTF" is that you can print any full color image and apply to any color shirt without the need for cutting or weeding. This is achieved by using CMYK+white ink. On DTF transfers, the white creates a base layer so even on a black shirt the colors pop. I struggle to understand how the Versiflex system can claim it offers the best of DTF but yet does not print black or white - all without cutting - and therefore does not offer cut-free transfers for darks.
- The "best of DTF". DTG literally stands for "direct to garment". It's when the printer prints directly onto the shirt (any color and fabric type) with no transferring required. Again, it requires both CMYK and white ink. The white ink creates a base so the colors pop on any color shirt including black. No idea how Versiflex could come anywhere close to this process as it claims.
There is a small blurb on the Sawgrass website that states with Versiflex: heat transfer vinyl is used for applying your designs to dark fabrics or smooth surfaces.
In all the years I've been doing this, the only printable HTV I have come across is the type that needs to be contour cut. No matter if you're printing HTV transfers with an ecosolvent printer like a Roland or doing print and cut using inkjet printable heat transfer for darks, you always have to contour cut.
8. What Software Does the VersiFlex Run on?
Like the Sawgrass sublimation printers, the Sawgrass Versiflex runs on Sawgrass Print Utility.
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