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Current HP LaserJets
HP LaserJet P1505 - This is a very inexpensive
printer which produces a good sublimation image. The cartridge is
very small and will only hold 70 grams. At this time, aftermarket
supplies are not available, and new cartridges have to be modified
to make SubToner cartridges. This makes our cartridges considerably
more expensive. The SubToner 70 gram cartridge is available for
$229.
Overall - ** Two Stars
HP LaserJet P2015 -This printer is well-built and
has a duty cycle of 15,000 pages per month, so it's durable. It
produces a very fine, high resolution image, which means that the
dots remain small, and the overall appearance can look light. This
LaserJet doesn't have a density control anywhere, which is very
unusual for an HP. Still, it produces a very nice sublimated image,
including decent solids. We produce SubToner cartridges in 150 grams
for $225 and 240 grams for $299.
Overall - *** Three Stars
Almost-Current HP LaserJets
HP LaserJet 1020 - In December '07 these printers
were selling at office supply stores for $129 and less. This is
the printer we used to make over 32,000 plate transfers from a single
150 gram cartridge. The same cartridge is used in the HP 1012, 1018,
1022, 3020 and 3022. This produces a good sublimation image.
Overall - *** Three Stars
HP LaserJet 1022 - Basically the same printer as
the 1020, but with a better paper feed tray. About $20 more than
the 1020. They were selling for $150 or so in December '07. Many
are still available new (as of Feb, '08) on the internet. For quite
some time, this was our recommended current model HP LaserJet for
sublimation. We still prefer it over the new current models in terms
of image quality (except perhaps for b/w photography) over the P2015.
Overall - ***½ Three and One-Half
Stars
HP LaserJet 5100 - An excellent 11 x 17 printer.
Probably not available new any longer. Available from Inkworksinc.com
for about $675 nicely refurbished. This printer does a nice job
with sublimation. We make SubToner cartridges in 180 grams for $239
and in 240 grams for $299
Overall - **** Four Stars
Less-Than-Current HP LaserJets
HP LaserJet 4200/4300 - These are really intended
for high volume office work, and they have high speed (45 pages
per minute) and other features which add to their cost without adding
to the quality or efficiency of sublimation work. Available refurbished
for about $525. The output quality is no better than the HP 1022.
We make SubToner cartridges in 180 grams for $239 and 240 grams
for $299.
Overall - ***½ Three and One Half
Stars
HP LaserJet 4100 - Like the 4200 and 4300, this
printer was intended for a high volume office, but it is a very
reliable printer with good output and a minimum of unnecessary bells
and whistles. This printer had its lineage from the excellent 4000/4050
printers, and it is one of those products which made the HP brand
shine. Durable and reliable with a good sublimation image. Available
refurbished for about $450. We make SubToner cartridges in 180 grams
for $239 and 240 grams for $299.
Overall - **** Four Stars
HP LaserJet 4000 & 4050 - Solid and reliable. The
4000 is the printer I got for my wife's office use six or seven
years ago and she still doesn't want to change it. The 4050 is basically
the same printer with a newer name plate. Good image for sublimation.
Available refurbished foraround $350. We make SubToner cartridges
in 180 grams for $239 and 240 grams for $299.
Overall - **** Four Stars
HP LaserJet 5000 - An excellent 11 x 17 printer.
Pretty much the same machine as the HP 5100. Very good for sublimation.
Available refurbished for about $500. We make SubToner cartridges
in 180 grams for $239 and 240 grams for $299.
Overall - **** Four Stars
HP LaserJet 1300 - A small, inexpensive printer
with a tendency to print a grayish background, even with new OEM
cartridges. We've got that mostly tamed with our SubToner cartridges,
but it's still not the first printer we'd recommend for sublimation.
Available refurbished for around $230. We make SubToner cartridges
in 90 gram for $179, 120 gram for $209 and 180 gram for $239.
Overall - ** Two Stars
HP LaserJet 1000 & 1200 - Earlier models of the
1300. Available as refurbished or used only, for about $175. We
make SubToner cartridges in 90 gram for $179, 120 gram for $209
and 180 gram for $239.
Overall - ** Two Stars
HP LaserJet 2300 - A small office printer which
doesn't give a fantastic image as a regular printer. Solids are
weak. Available as a refurbished printer for about $225. We make
SubToner cartridges in 90 gram for $179, 120 gram for $209 and 180
gram for $239.
Overall - * One Star
HP LaserJet 2100 & 2200 - Earlier models of the
2300 with same difficulties. Available refurbished for under $200.
We make SubToner cartridges in 90 gram for $179, 120 gram for $209
and 180 gram for $239.
Overall - * One Star
HP LaserJet 4 & 5 - A real workhorse until around
100K pages. Then problems start piling up and repair or replace
will be a real question. This has been a favorite printer for sublimation,
and for many situations repair is a better option than replace.
It's a case-by-case decision, and we'll be glad to help. I would
NOT recommend buying a used or refurbished 4 or 5 to start sublimating
with. Although the river might be smooth at first, there are rapids
and steep waterfalls ahead. Translation: major repairs ahead with
a used 4 or 5. Available refurbished for under $100, and definitely
worth it if you're just trying to use up existing SubToner cartridges.
We make SubToner cartridges in 90 gram for $179, 120 gram for $209
, 180 gram for $239, and 240 gram for $299.
Overall- **** Four Stars to keep, * One
Star to buy.
HP LaserJet 1100 - The sublimation prints from
this printer (and also its parents, the 5L and 6L) are consistently
among the best available with any printer. Clean, crisp, bold. Just
beautiful prints. We used to market a Laser Sublimation Starter
Package, which featured a printer and a SubToner cartridge, and
the 1100 was the printer we selected to include. The printer featured
a bad OEM separation pad. So, after a few thousand prints, EVERY
1100 would start to pick up and feed more than one page when printing.
It's a fairly easy and inexpensive repair, and once the aftermarket
separation pad is in, the printer is durable and reliable. The original
separation pads were awful, but the aftermarket ones last forever.
So a refurbished 1100 is better than a new one. And a used (but
not refurbished) 1100 is not a good idea - it either multi-feeds
already or it will soon. The 1100 uses a "mini-centronics" cable,
which is not the standard cable and may be difficult to locate.
We always keep a few in stock if needed. The 1100 is available refurbished
for around $100. We make SubToner cartridges in 90 gram for $179,
120 gram for $209 and 180 gram for $239.
Overall - ****½ Four and One Half
Stars
HP LaserJets 5L & 6L - See LaserJet 1100 above.
The 5L and 6L use a standard parallel cable, but have the same separation
pad difficulty as the 1100. Even easier to fix, repair kit costs
about $7 and it takes about half an hour. 5L's and 6L's are available
refurbished for around $69. We make SubToner cartridges in 90 gram
for $179, 120 gram for $209 and 180 gram for $239.
Overall - ****½ Four and One Half
Star
HP LaserJet 4P & 4L - These are basically the same
printer, except that the 4P has a full read-out display and the
4L has only idiot lights. The output is surprisingly good. For sublimation
the 4P is really a good choice. Since they are now priced the same
I wouldn't bother with the 4L. Available refurbished for around
$89. We make SubToner cartridges in 90 gram for $179, 120 gram for
$209 and 180 gram for $239.
Overall - **** Four Stars
HP LaserJet 5P and 6P - These printers are slightly
larger versions of the 4P. Output is good in quality. Available
refurbished for under $100. We make SubToner cartridges in 90 gram
for $179, 120 gram for $209 and 180 gram for $239.
Overall - ***½ Three and One Half
Stars
HP LaserJet II and III - There are still a lot
of these museum pieces out there, making sublimation plates. This
was the original sublimation laser printer, and it still does a
superb job. Hilton Images has vowed to keep supporting this printer
through 2008 and we hope to continue through '09. HP stopped making
these printers in early 1991, and stopped making the cartridges
in November '07. New parts stopped being available in late '06.
We are maintaining a shelf of good, tested used part and we will
continue making SubToner cartridges as long as we are able to get
cartridge components.We make SubToner cartridges in 90 gram for
$179, 120 gram for $209 , 180 gram for $239, and 240 gram for $299.
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Hilton Images, Inc. Finest Quality Laser Sublimation Products