The Business in a Box

The hardest part of starting a product business used to be the setup. With VersiFlex, the setup is the box. The only decision left is what you’ll make.

Ask anyone who almost started a custom products business why they didn’t, and you’ll hear the same answer. Not the selling. Not the ideas. The setup. Which printer, which ink, which paper, which software, whether any of it works together and what happens when it doesn’t. The research phase is where most would-be businesses quietly end.

Sawgrass built VersiFlex to remove that phase entirely. It’s not a printer you build a business around. It’s the business, in a box.

01 |

What’s actually in the box

VersiFlex is one complete system: the printer, the ink, the papers and the software, all designed to work together from the first print.

• One printer, every product line. Decorate cotton tees and hoodies, then switch to sublimation blanks like tumblers, mugs and signage by swapping the paper. Same printer, same ink, no second machine.
• No weeding, no powders, no film. Print, press, peel. Full-color designs without cutting around letters or shaking messes onto your workspace.
• Software that does the technical thinking. Sawgrass Print Utility handles color and print settings so your third print looks like your three hundredth.
• Built to run. The printer self-maintains when it’s plugged in and powered on, and it’s backed by a 3-year or 100,000-print warranty.

That’s the infrastructure question answered before you’ve sold a thing. What the box can’t ship you is the one ingredient that makes a business yours: a niche.

02 |

The one thing not in the box

Our marketing team photographed Charleston’s iconic Rainbow Row, then put the shot straight onto a shirt using VersiFlex.

Here’s the good news. Your niche isn’t hiding in a market research report. It’s outside your front door.

Every town has teams that need jerseys and fan gear. Schools full of teachers who buy personalized everything. A coffee shop, a brewery or a boutique that would love merch with its name on it. A landmark, a lake, a main street or a festival that locals are proud of and visitors want to take home. If you live somewhere with tourist traffic, that’s rocket fuel, because visitors buy the thing that proves they were there. But the principle works anywhere people share an identity, and that’s everywhere.

Starting a business isn’t inventing something new. It’s taking the products VersiFlex already makes and pointing them at something only you can see, because you live there.

Find your niche Not sure where to start looking? We broke down five audiences with real seasonal demand in Summer Sublimation Events: 5 Niches to Sell Now.

Our marketing team also turned a photo of Charleston’s famous Pineapple Fountain into a tote bag design with VersiFlex.

03 |

How we did it in our own backyard

We designed pieces around local landmarks, printed them and put them out into the world in our Strike a Pose series on Instagram.

We didn’t want to just tell you this works. We wanted to show you, so we ran the playbook ourselves.

Sawgrass is headquartered in the Charleston, South Carolina area, so we took VersiFlex to the places that make our backyard recognizable: the landmarks locals point to first and visitors photograph most. We designed pieces around them, printed them and put them out into the world.

Nothing about that process required a marketing department. It required a system that could keep up with the ideas and surroundings we knew well enough to design for. You have both. Your version might be a mountain town, a college campus, a fishing pier or three rec leagues and a farmers market. The playbook is the same: look around, make the thing only a local would think to make, and let the people who love that place find you.

Ready to go deeper? When you’re ready for the step-by-step, from first press to first sale, read How to Start a Personalization Business with VersiFlex.

04 |

The only decision left

Every business starts with a hundred decisions. VersiFlex makes ninety-nine of them for you. The equipment, the workflow, the versatility to follow your customers wherever they take you—it’s all in the box.

The last decision is the fun one. What will you make?

Your business is in the box

Explore the VersiFlex system and see what one printer can turn into.

Explore VersiFlex

How to Turn Summer Events Into a Sublimation Revenue Stream |   Pick one niche. Build your anchor product. Launch inside a community you already know. That is how a printer becomes a business. The hardest part of starting a custom products business is not the printing. It is knowing who to sell to. Below are five specific audiences with real seasonal demand, natural repeat-order behavior and products that showcase exactly what a Sawgrass system does best: vibrant sublimation on drinkware and no-cut, no-weed cotton decoration with VersiFlex. Top 5 Categories This Summer 01 |   Teachers and Back-to-School | Start with a grade-level team order. Post the finished shirts, tag the school. Word travels fast in a teacher’s lounge. Products to Start: Cotton Tees, Custom Tumbler, Subject Tote & More. Teachers buy for themselves, then tell every colleague on their hall. One sale in a school building becomes five without you doing anything. The back-to-school window is predictable every summer, and teacher appreciation plus holiday gifts extend the cycle well into the year. Start with a signature name tee on cotton. VersiFlex prints directly onto cotton fabric with no cutting, no weeding, no transfer film. Add a sublimated tumbler with the teacher’s name or classroom number and you have a two-product bundle most teachers will grab without thinking twice.   02 |   Youth Sports, Camps and Rec Leagues | Land one coach and you have a reorder every spring. That is the whole model. Products: Cotton Tee, Parent Fan Shirts, Drawstring Bags, Sublimated Water Bottles. A roster tee on cotton is the entry point, with names, numbers, team logo, all printed with VersiFlex. No cutting around player numbers, no weeding between letters. If you are still weighing decoration methods, the comparisons are worth a read: VersiFlex vs HTV, VersiFlex vs DTF and VersiFlex vs white toner. From there, parent fan shirts and sublimated water bottles add up fast with different buyers, same conversation. Did You Know: VersiFlex can sublimate on cotton AND traditional substrates   03 |   Family Reunions and Group Trips | Reunion planners live in Facebook groups and share everything. One good photo travels further than any paid ad. Products: Reunion Cotton Tees, Sublimated Koozies, Organizer Tote. A “[Family Name] Reunion 2026” tee on cotton is the natural anchor. VersiFlex handles the full size run from toddler through 3XL without any additional setup. Offer the organizer a sublimated koozie as a party favor option and a tote for themselves. Show them the full package and most will take all three.   04 |   Lake and Outdoor Recreation | Most custom product sellers are not actively targeting this crowd, which means there is room. Products: Custom Can Cooler, Custom Cabin Slides, Sublimated Koozies, Cotton Tee. | Drinkware that gets tossed in a cooler, left on a dock needs ink that actually holds. Build the offer as a drinkware set: tumblers and koozies branded with the lake name, cabin name or GPS coordinates. Add a cotton crew tee with VersiFlex for the group. One thing worth knowing about this audience: specificity is the product. “Lake Murray Since 2003” outsells a generic lake design every time. Ask for the details.   05 |   Pet Owners | Pet owners buy for themselves, buy as gifts and buy again when something wears out or a friend gets a new dog. Products: Pet Portrait Drinkware, Breed Tee on Cotton, Holiday Keepsake and more. Sublimation is uniquely good at pet portrait work. It captures fur texture and coat color the way a photograph does, because the process is closer to photo printing than anything else in this industry. A well-executed portrait on a mug or tumbler is something a pet owner keeps. Pair it with a breed-specific tee on cotton using VersiFlex and a custom bandana and you have a full gift set most buyers will not split up. One Printer. Five Product Lines. VersiFlex covers every cotton product in this guide with no cut-and-weed setup. Sublimation covers drinkware and hard goods with photographic color accuracy. You do not need separate machines. | Pick the niche you are already connected to. Build one product. Sell it to ten people you know. That is the whole starting point. Still sorting out which decoration method makes sense for your workflow? The side-by-sides are worth reading: VersiFlex vs HTV, VersiFlex vs DTF and VersiFlex vs white toner.   Want to Learn More? Explore Sawgrass printers, inks and the VersiFlex system built for creators who want to print on cotton without the mess. Learn More

 

The Print Shop & Sublimation Glossary Every craft has its own language, and the print shop is no different. Whether you are pressing your first shirt or running a full production schedule, these terms will help you quote faster, run cleaner and waste fewer blanks. Built for beginners and seasoned pros alike. |   Sublimation Basics The foundation everything else is built on Sublimation   A printing process where solid dye turns into a gas under heat and pressure, then bonds directly into polyester fibers or a polymer coating. The design becomes part of the item instead of sitting on top, so it will not crack, peel or fade with washing. Color Separation   The process of dividing a full-color design into individual color layers for printing. Critical for multi-color production and ensuring accurate color reproduction. Sublimation Paper   A coated transfer paper that holds your printed design until heat releases it onto the item. You will also hear it called transfer paper. Weeding   The manual removal of excess material after cutting or printing. VersiFlex technology eliminates the need for weeding, streamlining the workflow. DID YOU KNOW?   With true sublimation, the design does not sit on your shirt. It becomes part of the fabric — which is exactly why it will not peel or crack. Cure Time   The time required for ink or adhesive to fully set and become permanent on a substrate. Varies by material, ink type, and application method. Polyester   The fabric sublimation loves. The higher the polyester content, the brighter and more durable the result. Lower poly counts give a softer, more vintage finish. Polymer Coating   A special coating applied to hard items like mugs, tiles and metal so the ink has something to bond to. Without it, sublimation will not take on a hard surface. Ghosting   A faint, blurry double image caused by the transfer shifting during pressing. Heat tape and a steady hand prevent it.   |   Heat & Pressing Where the design actually moves onto the item Heat Press   A machine that applies heat and pressure to transfer designs onto substrates. Essential for sublimation, HTV, and direct-to-transfer printing. Heat Platen   The heated lower plate of a heat press that makes direct contact with the substrate. Temperature control and even heating are critical for quality results. Dwell Time   The length of time a substrate stays in contact with the heat press. Affects color saturation and transfer quality; varies by material and ink type. PSI   Pounds Per Square Inch – the measure of pressure applied by a heat press. Proper PSI is critical for effective dye sublimation and design transfer. Clamshell Heat Press   A press where the upper heating element closes down onto the lower platen like a clamshell. Compact and user-friendly for small to mid-volume production. Transfer Paper   Specialized paper that holds sublimation ink and transfers designs to substrates under heat and pressure. Quality paper ensures crisp, vibrant results. Bleed Area   The extra space beyond the trim line in a design that ensures color extends to the edge after cutting. Prevents white borders on finished products. Pressing Pillow   A cushioned insert that lifts your design above seams, zippers and buttons so pressure stays even across the print. |   Print Shop & Production The words you will hear on the production floor Short Run Printing   Producing a small quantity in a single run. Digital decoration shines here because there are no screens or plates to set up, so even a run of one stays cost-effective. Gang Printing   Placing several different designs on a single sheet so they print in one pass. A simple way to cut both time and material per piece. DID YOU KNOW?   Because digital decoration skips screens and plates, a short run of one can be just as cost-effective per piece as a run of hundreds. Nesting   Arranging designs as tightly as possible on one transfer sheet so you use every inch and waste as little as you can. Proof   A test version of a design, on screen or pressed, that you review before the full run to catch errors and confirm color. Color Management   The process of ensuring accurate color reproduction across design software, printers, and prints. Critical for consistent, professional-quality output. |   Design & File Prep Getting what you see on screen onto the item ICC Profile   A small file that tells your printer exactly how to reproduce color for a specific ink and substrate combination. Think of it as the recipe behind accurate color. Resolution (DPI)   Dots per inch, a measure of how much detail an image holds. Higher resolution means sharper, cleaner prints. Raster & Vector   Raster images are made of pixels and lose quality when enlarged. Vector graphics are built from math and scale to any size without blurring. Bleed   Extending your design slightly past the trim edge so there are no unprinted slivers after cutting. Crop Marks   Small lines that show where a sheet should be trimmed. Your map for clean, accurate cuts. |   Substrates & Blanks The things you actually decorate Substrate   The blank item you decorate, whether a shirt, a mug, a coaster or a phone case. Blanks   Undecorated products waiting for your design. The raw material of every order. Hard & Soft Substrates   Hard substrates are rigid goods like mugs, tiles and keychains. Soft substrates are apparel and textiles. |   The Sawgrass Ecosystem The gear and software, defined Sawgrass Print Utility (SPU)   The color management and print control software for Sawgrass systems. It is the engine that turns your file into an accurate, repeatable print. Sublijet UHD   Sawgrass’s ultra high definition sublimation ink, engineered for vivid color, smooth gradients and reliable, low-maintenance performance. VersiFlex   Sawgrass’s patented system that sublimates on cotton, a fabric sublimation was never able to decorate before. You print, press and peel, and the design lives in the garment with a soft hand and full color. DID YOU KNOW?   SPU stands for Sawgrass Print Utility — the color brain behind every Sawgrass print. Keep this glossary handy. Learning the language is the first step. Once the words make sense, the craft opens right up. Explore Sawgrass

Every product starts with an idea. Sawgrass builds the tools that bring it to life.

Every big idea starts somewhere small. For Sawgrass, it started with a single question. How do you make a sublimation ink that performs better?

More than 35 years later, that question has grown into a complete digital decoration ecosystem trusted by creators in over 115 countries. Whether you have run a Sawgrass printer for years or you are just discovering sublimation, here is the story behind it, with a few things you might not know along the way.

The Sawgrass Roadmap

The Journey So Far

35+

Years of Innovation

30+

Years of Ink R&D

200K+

Creators & Businesses

115+

Countries

01

The FoundationDid You Know?

It Started With Ink

Sawgrass began with sublimation ink chemistry, the part most people never see.

Great color starts in the lab. Sawgrass formulates ink to bond into the material, not just sit on top of it.

02

The StandardDid You Know?

Refining Sublijet UHD Ink

Decades of development produced ink built to flow smoothly and hold color for years.

More than 30 years of research go into ink that resists clogging and stays vibrant wash after wash.

03

The IntegrationDid You Know?

The First Integrated Sublimation Printer

The Sawgrass printer line arrived, with the SG500 and SG1000 built specifically for the job.

These are not converted office printers. They are engineered from the ground up for sublimation.

04

The WorkflowDid You Know?

A Connected Software Suite

Sawgrass Print Utility and MySawgrass tied design, color and printing into one flow.

Color profiles and print settings are handled for you, so your results stay repeatable.

05

The BreakthroughDid You Know?

VersiFlex: Sublimation on Cotton

A patented system that opened sublimation up to cotton, with no weeding and no powder.

One award-winning system handles cotton, soft goods and hard goods alike, all from a single desktop.

06

TodayDid You Know?

200,000+ Creators in 115+ Countries

A complete decorating ecosystem, headquartered in Charleston with operations in Sheffield, England.

Printers, inks and software are all designed and developed in-house, by one team.

It Started With Ink

Did You Know?

Sawgrass spent more than 30 years perfecting its sublimation ink.

Long before there were printers, there was the ink. Sawgrass started with the chemistry of sublimation itself, and spent more than 30 years getting it right.

Sublijet UHD ink is engineered to flow smoothly through the print head, resist clogging and hold vibrant color for years. It is patented ink technology, and that engineering is the difference between a print that lasts and one that lets you down.

Get the ink right and everything downstream gets easier.

Sublijet UHD ink, the product of more than 30 years of chemistry.

From Ink to a Complete System

Did You Know?

Sawgrass printers are built from the ground up for sublimation, not converted from general-purpose printers.

Great ink needed great hardware to match. So Sawgrass built it. The Sawgrass printer line became the industry’s first fully integrated desktop solution designed specifically for sublimation. The SG500 and SG1000 are purpose-built from the ground up, not adapted from general-purpose hardware.

Then came the software. Sawgrass Print Utility and MySawgrass connected design, printing and production into one smooth workflow. Piece by piece, a printer company became a complete decorating ecosystem. Every part is designed and developed in-house, so it all works together right out of the box. And the technology behind it is patented, from the ink to the VersiFlex system to the ecosystem that connects them.

The SG500 and SG1000, engineered from the ground up for sublimation.

The Breakthrough: VersiFlex

Did You Know?

VersiFlex lets you sublimate on cotton with no weeding and no powder.

For years, one material stayed just out of reach. Cotton. Traditional sublimation loved polyester and coated hard goods, but natural fabrics meant extra steps. VersiFlex changed that.

It is the only patented decorating system in the world that lets you sublimate on cotton and sublimation blanks at the same time, with no weeding and no powder. It earned the 2026 III Award for Best New Heat Press Decoration Technology. Soft goods, hard goods, cotton and classic blanks all run through one compact desktop system.

What began as a question about ink became a new way to decorate almost anything.

A live VersiFlex demonstration from FESPA 2026 in Barcelona. No weeding. No powder.

Why the Integrated Path Matters

Did You Know?

Every Sawgrass printer comes with a 3-year warranty.

Every step on this journey had the same goal. Make the work simpler. In digital decoration, consistency is everything. One weak link can undo your work. Incompatible ink, poorly calibrated software or unreliable hardware can wreck product quality and break customer trust.

An integrated system removes those variables. Sawgrass technology is designed to work right out of the box, so you spend less time on setup and more time creating, selling and growing. For entrepreneurs and small shops, that is the difference between turning a job away and saying yes. And every Sawgrass printer is backed by a 3-year warranty, because the gear is built to last.

The Road Ahead

The roadmap does not stop at today. The market wants more material versatility with less complexity. One compact system that handles cotton, hard goods, specialty materials and traditional blanks, without swapping equipment or adding chemical pre-treatment steps. VersiFlex already points the way.

The next frontier is smarter software. Think better color management across substrate types, more automated production workflows and tighter e-commerce integration. The goal is simple. Go from online order to finished product with as few touch points as possible. As demand for personalized, on-demand products keeps climbing, Sawgrass is focused on helping creators reach new product categories and grow.

From a single idea about better ink to a complete decorating ecosystem, this journey was built with the creators who work alongside us every day. There is a lot of road left, and we are glad you are on it. Thank you for being part of the story.

– The Sawgrass Team

Be Part of What Comes Next

Explore the VersiFlex decorating system and the inks behind the journey.

Explore VersiFlex

FESPA Barcelona 2026 The Sawgrass booth at FESPA Global Print Expo 2026 Sawgrass brought VersiFlex to FESPA Global Print Expo 2026, and for four days we watched people lean over the press to see something they did not think was possible. Cotton, sublimated in full color. No weeding. No powder. The booth stayed busy from open to close. VersiFlex, which debuted at FESPA 2025, just picked up a 2026 III Award for Best New Heat Press Decoration Technology, so plenty of people came by to find out if it lives up to the name. It does. Sublimating On Cotton Stole the Show Live photos of the wow factor of VersiFlex at FESPA 2026 Here is the thing about cotton. For years it meant heat transfer vinyl, weeding tiny letters by hand, or fussing with powders and extra steps. VersiFlex skips all of that. You print. You press. The color settles into the fabric like it belongs there. Once people experienced VersiFlex on a soft cotton tee or tote bag the wow factor was made even better in learning it is all done with a single desktop system. | The question we kept hearing was not “does it work.” It was “how soon can I get one.” One System, Less Complexity Talk to anyone running a print shop and you hear the same frustration. One machine for shirts. Another for hard goods. A different process for every material. It adds cost, wasted time and extra steps, ultimately slowing down the everyday workflow. VersiFlex was built to end that juggling act. Soft goods, hard goods, cotton and classic sublimation blanks all in one compact system that fits on a desk. For a solo maker or a print shop, that is the difference between turning a job away and saying yes. VersiFlex showed attendees that Sawgrass has raised the bar for sublimation yet again. Photos provided by attendees at FESPA. Each sublimated on cotton shirts and tote bags using VersiFlex. What’s The Next Stop For Sawgrass? If you are in North America, you do not need a passport to see VersiFlex in person. We will be at ISTELive 26 in Orlando from June 28 – July 1, running live demos and showcasing how VersiFlex can be a great way for our youth to start thinking like entrepreneurs. Can’t make it to Orlando? Explore our upcoming events and see VersiFlex in person. Upcoming Events   Thank You to Our Partners Some of the best moments happened away from the demos. Our partner event filled a room with the people who push this industry forward, and we loved every conversation. We are just getting started. We are grateful for your continued support as we keep empowering end users around the world. Thank you for building this alongside us! – Sawgrass Technologies See What VersiFlex Made Possible Explore the system and the inks behind the show. Explore VersiFlex

Print Smarter, Faster, and With More Control |   The sublimation printer software built to take friction out of your workflow, from setup to final print. Sawgrass Print Utility (SPU) simplifies setup, streamlines preparation, and delivers reliable output every time you hit print. Here is a closer look at what makes Sawgrass Print Utility one of the most powerful sublimation design software platforms available to creators today. Watch Now   Smart Print Settings: Remove the Guesswork | The result is a faster, more responsive print experience with lower system load and higher confidence in what lands on your substrate. Choosing the right print settings for consistent, high-quality results is one of the trickier parts of sublimation printing. Smart Print Settings take that off your plate. Smart Print Settings are presets that automatically apply the recommended configuration based on your product and material. With a single selection, Sawgrass Print Utility sets print quality, color handling, and mirroring for you. “Reliable, high-quality output with less manual setup. Smart Print Settings help you reduce errors, save time, and print with confidence.” – Pavlo, Software Engineer at Sawgrass This works across both the Sublijet System and the VersiFlex System, giving you a consistent starting point for every job regardless of which Sawgrass system you are running. You still have full control when you need it. Printing on a glass cutting board and want to turn mirroring off for reverse-side application? Easy adjustment. The presets are your reliable starting point, not a lock-in. Learn More   Print Preview: Confirm Every Job at a Glance | Catch issues before they become wasted prints and products. Reduce errors, save time, and move every job to press with confidence.     The updated print preview in Sawgrass Print Utility (SPU) gives you more visibility and control while keeping the interface clean and familiar. Watch how to use Print Preview in SPU to see it in action. All in one screen, you can check layout, positioning, page selection, and press settings. The preview ruler shows you exact page size so you can confirm paper dimensions and design placement. Cursor position tracking shows you precisely where elements sit on the page. “You can check key details at glance and move to print with confidence. Print preview helps you reduce errors, save time, and stay in control of your output.” – Pavlo, Software Engineer at Sawgrass Running a multi-page job? Page thumbnails let you scroll through the full set and select which pages to print or skip. Suggested press settings appear at the bottom of the preview with recommended configurations for your chosen product. Need a different view? The settings menu lets you show or hide elements and adjust measurement units to suit how you work. Click the settings icon in the top right corner to customize.   Custom Colors: Make Once, Reuse Everywhere Custom Colors in Sawgrass Print Utility lets you create, save, and manage color settings without opening a new print tab every time. It is a faster, more efficient way to fine-tune color output and keep results consistent from job to job. HOW TO GET STARTED Open Custom Color Management In Three Steps | 01   Go to Settings, then Custom Color Management. | 02   Work from the default preview image, or load your own image to make adjustments against real artwork. | 03   Save multiple adjustments and reuse existing ones as a starting point for new variations, so you are never building from scratch. “The result is simple. You can fine-tune your color, save your preferred settings, and reuse them wherever you need them.” – Pavlo, Software Engineer at Sawgrass Once saved, your custom color adjustments are available across all Sawgrass Print Utility workflows. Use them when printing directly from a print tab, from a Quick Print folder, or through the Send to Sawgrass Print Utility virtual printer. Getting the right color often means making small adjustments. Saving those adjustments should not slow you down. Watch how to use Custom Colors in SPU to see how easy it is to manage. Learn More   Why It Matters For Your Business Every feature in Sawgrass Print Utility ladders up to the same goal: removing friction from your print process so you can focus on what actually grows your custom products business. consistency and repeatability are everything. Faster file processing. Smoother previews. Smarter presets. Reliable color. Lower system load. Sawgrass Print Utility is continuously evolving with ongoing improvements to performance, usability, and output quality, and this latest release delivers across every one of those fronts. It works seamlessly with the rest of the Sawgrass ecosystem too, including MySawgrass, our design platform with ready-to-use templates and resources to help you create faster. If you are already running a Sawgrass system, Sawgrass Print Utility is ready to make your day easier. If you are evaluating sublimation printing as a path for your business, Sawgrass Print Utility is one of the reasons Sawgrass customers print with confidence at every scale. Check out our YouTube to become a Sawgrass Print Utility expert today!   Sawgrass Print Utility Essentials

5 Heat Press Settings Tips With   |   Pressure, press type, and calibration do more for your VersiFlex transfers than temperature ever will. Five tips for dialing in your heat press, with quick videos for VersiFlex success.   | 01 Use A Manual Heat Press     Clamshell or swing-away, the shape does not matter. What matters is that you control the pressure by knob. “Manual presses give the operator direct control over the pressure settings” – Pauline, R&D Chemist at Sawgrass   Spring-loaded presses change pressure with garment thickness, and automatic or pneumatic presses are usually pre-set outside the medium-pressure window VersiFlex needs. A manual press keeps that decision on your side.   >Watch Now>   | 02 Dialing In Medium Pressure   Too light and the transfer sits on top of the cotton instead of bonding into the fibers. The customer washes the shirt once and the design starts cracking at the edges. Too heavy and the edges blur, and you can sometimes see the transfer outline pressed into the fabric. Medium pressure, held steady, by feel. Once you find the sweet spot for a given garment weight, write down the knob position.   | A cotton t-shirt and thick hoodie will not have the same pressure settings.   >Watch Now> | 03 Calibrate Your Heat Press Temperature   The number on your press display is not always the temperature your heat plate is actually putting out. If your VersiFlex transfers are fading, scorching, or coming out inconsistent, the press itself may be off. A simple thermo label test confirms the real temperature against what the display claims. Run the check before you trust the settings chart and your transfers will line up with what the chart promises.   | Overtime heat presses can drift or heat unevenly. This small difference can affect your results” – Pauline, R&D Chemist at Sawgrass   >Watch Now> | 04 Check The Whole Heat Press Plate   The center of your heat press is usually the hottest part of a press. The center tells you the best-case temperature, not the average one. Your transfers don’t all sit in the center. They cover the whole plate, and a corner that runs 20 or 30 degrees cooler is going to ruin transfers pressed in that zone while the ones in the middle come out perfect. Checking all five zones tells you what every transfer is actually getting, not just the lucky ones.   | Calibrating your heat press eliminates a whole category of finishing problems. | 05 Keep A Settings Log   Save what works so you never have to re-figure it out. A settings log turns every successful press into reusable knowledge instead of a one-time win. Every time you press a substrate and get a clean result, write down what worked. Next time that substrate comes through, you skip the test press and go straight to production.   | Keep A Log With The Following • Type of product • Temperature, time and pressure settings Want to learn more? Check out our YouTube to become a VersiFlex master today! >Master VersiFlex>

 

Announcement

We Lowered The Price.
The Standard Stays.

|Something is changing. And something is not. New lower everyday pricing on our printers, inks, and ink sets. Same standard. Same Sawgrass.

---

Effective May 13, 2026

Pricing Varies by region

| 01 Same Product. Same Standard.

If you’ve been watching the sublimation printing market, waiting for the right moment to upgrade your setup or finally make the leap into professional-grade dye sublimation, that moment is here. Sawgrass, the brand behind the industry-leading SG500 and SG1000 sublimation printers, has introduced new everyday lower pricing on VersiFlex systems, inks, and papers. This isn’t a sale. It isn’t a promotion with an expiration date. It’s a permanent pricing shift, and understanding what it means, and what it doesn’t mean, is worth your time whether you’re a seasoned sublimation business owner or just getting started.

| 02 How to Take Advantage of New Everyday Pricing

The new pricing is live globally as of May 13, 2026, with no purchase code required, no minimum order, and no end date. It applies to: SG500 and SG1000 sublimation printer systems VersiFlex system VersiFlex ink  VersiFlex Media You can see the current pricing on all Sawgrass products below. For businesses looking to understand total cost of ownership, including cost-per-print projections based on your expected volume, the Sawgrass ROI calculator has been updated to reflect new everyday pricing for VersiFlex product lines.

See New Pricing

| 03 Built Into Your Bottom Line

For shops already running daily volume, that pricing shift shows up fastest in one place: cost per print. Lower pricing on inks and ink sets means your cost per unit drops across every order, every shift, and every fulfillment cycle. Margin that used to disappear into consumables now stays in your business. |That means every print becomes a little more profitable. If you’ve been thinking about scaling, expanding product offerings, or increasing capacity, that path just became a lot more approachable. New printer bundles are more affordable. Adding VersiFlex to expand into cotton without taking on an entirely separate decoration method becomes easier to justify. Replenishing VersiFlex  inks at volume costs less while still delivering the consistency your production workflow depends on.

The color, quality, throughput, and support stay exactly the same. The difference is what’s left over afterward. More room to grow. More flexibility to reinvest. More margin back in your business.

 

| 04 Permanent, Not Promotional

This is permanent lower everyday pricing. Not a limited-time promotion. Not a seasonal sale. Not a discount code with an expiration date. The price you see across Sawgrass bundles, inks, and accessories is the price designed to stay. Confidently plan production and pricing for your products with consistent everyday lower pricing and scale over time. Whether you are purchasing your first system, adding a second printer, or expanding into a new product category months from now, the pricing remains built for long-term growth rather than short-term urgency. |The Barrier Shrunk. The Dream Did Not. For the people still on the outside looking in, the math shifts too. That gap is where a lot of good ideas die. The maker with a notebook full of designs who cannot justify the jump. The side business that cannot quite scale into a real one. The shop owner adding sublimation t-shirts, tumblers or mugs to their lineup who has to choose between doing it well and doing it at all.

| 05 VersiFlex, More Accessible

And if you’re already a Sawgrass customer running a Sawgrass system, this also opens a clearer path into VersiFlex. If you have been printing on polyester and watching the cotton conversation from the sidelines, the door is wider now. Same brand. Same support. New territory. |With VersiFlex there are no powders, no weeding or mess like with DTF, HTV or white toner.

| 06 The Bottom Line

Sawgrass has been the professional standard in dye sublimation printing for years. The product quality, the software ecosystem, the no-clog technology, and the brand reputation have not changed. What has changed is what it costs to run on the standard. For production shops focused on margin and operations ready to scale capacity, the investment math is more favorable than it was.

Ready to see what new everyday pricing looks like across the lineup?

Learn More

 

A strong Sawgrass Print Utility workflow helps you print faster, stay organized, and repeat successful jobs with confidence. Here we will cover best practices for organizing, importing, and reusing files in two key platforms:

• Sawgrass Print Utility (desktop app): your production control center
• My Sawgrass Design Tool (web-based): your design, templates, and file library

If you are comparing Sawgrass with maker printers like Epson, this is one of the biggest differences in day-to-day business use. Sawgrass is built around repeatable decoration workflows, so you spend less time rebuilding settings and more time producing sellable results.

Sawgrass Print Utility workflow tips that save time

Ultimately, your Sawgrass Print Utility workflow supports different production styles because everyone prints differently. The goal is simple: get files into production quickly with the right settings every time.

Use Create and Add File for ready-to-print art

Specifically, this is the simplest method when your art is already sized and print-ready:

1. Click Create
2. Click Add File
3. Select one or multiple files to bring into a tab

Pro tip: Import multiple files at once. If they fit on the same sheet, arrange them together to conserve paper and ink. Think of each tab as one production job.

Best for: exported PNGs or finalized files from Illustrator, CorelDRAW, or other design software.

Why file naming matters

Print Utility displays your file name. In fact, generic names like “final” or “3” slow you down when you are busy.

Instead, use a consistent naming structure such as:

• Customer or project name
• Product type
• Quantity
• Date (optional)

Example: Smith_Family_15ozMug_2pcs_2026-01-05

Treat tabs like jobs and keep settings consistent

Remember: everything inside one tab should share the same core settings because the tab is one job.

For example, group items together when they match:

• Same product or substrate
• Same paper size
• Same color management needs

Example: If you are printing cotton shirts and some files are photo-heavy while others are simple graphics, separate tabs can help you keep output consistent.

Quick Print Folders for fast batch production

If you do repeat work or have multiple people running production, Quick Print Folders can be a major time saver.

Quick Print Folders let you:

• Create folders by product type or workflow
• Assign default settings per folder (substrate, paper size, mirror, printer, color management)
• Drop files in and open them with the right settings automatically

Smart folder setups:

• Ceramics 8.5×11
• Acrylic vivid
• 11×17 projects
• Uncoated wood tabloid
• Cotton photos
• Cotton graphics

Bonus controls: retention and automation

Additionally, quick Print Folders also help you control:

• Whether jobs are saved
• How often they delete
• Whether the folder is actively watching for files

Pause and Play tip: If you are not ready for files to open immediately, choose Pause. Files can sit in the folder until you hit Play.

Important: Anything added while a job tab is open will be added to that same job. If you want a fresh job, close the tab first.

Send to Sawgrass Print Utility for direct handoff from design programs

This method works like a virtual printer with preset settings.

Set it up in Print Utility:

• Choose substrate, paper size, and other settings
• Save the preset

Then in your design program:

• Go to File > Print
• Select Send to Sawgrass Print Utility
• Print

Your job opens in Print Utility with saved defaults applied.

Best for: teams that want a clean handoff from design to production without resetting options every time.

5) Use Recent Print Jobs to repeat best-sellers

If you repeat the same types of orders, Recents can save significant time.

When you reopen a recent job:

• Layout repeats, including multiples per page
• Settings repeat
• Production stays consistent

Note: Recents are stored locally on your computer and do not follow you to another machine.

My Sawgrass Design Tool organization tips

My Sawgrass Design Tool is web-based and ideal if you:

• Do not use another design program
• Want built-in templates so designs fit the correct size and shape

The most common confusion is where designs are stored. Here is the simple breakdown.

My Studio is what you saved

My Studio contains designs you created and clicked Save on.

From My Studio you can:

• Open in Designer to edit
• Manage post details
• Print and send to production

Important: Save overwrites the existing file. If you want a variation, use the Galleries approach below.

Galleries are your Save As system and your organization hub

Galleries help you:

• Create categories (mugs, ornaments, bags, notebooks, seasonal)
• Store reusable artwork
• Duplicate and repurpose designs without losing the original

Example workflow:

• Create an ornament design you love
• Place it onto a mug template
• Adjust it for the mug
• Save the new version into the correct gallery

Now you have:

• The original ornament design
• A new mug design based on the same artwork

Keep things searchable with naming conventions

Your naming system should match how you use the tool.

If you sell designs:

• Use searchable product-based names Example: Friends_15ozMug_Snowflake_Winter

If you fulfill customer orders:

• Use production-friendly names Example: Garcia_Mug_15oz_1pc_2026-01-05

Goal: find the right file fast without opening multiple designs.

The biggest workflow wins to implement this week

If you want a quick start list, begin here:

• Create Quick Print Folders for your top products
• Separate tabs by product, paper size, and color management needs
• Standardize file naming across your business
• Use Send to Sawgrass Print Utility if you design in other programs
• Use Recents for repeat jobs and best-sellers
• Organize My Sawgrass designs with Galleries so you can reuse artwork easily

Learn More

• Learn More About Sawgrass Print Utility
• Explore our Education Hub
• View Upcoming Workshops

Personalization business with Sawgrass is all about speed, consistency, and products people buy again. Not 500 of the same item. You win by delivering the right design for the right person, on time, with results you can repeat.

If you are deciding between Sawgrass and other maker options like Epson, here is the practical difference. Sawgrass is built for product decoration workflows, not casual printing. That means fewer surprises, a smoother process, and more confidence when you are selling, not just testing.

This recap breaks down what we covered in Learn with Sawgrass Live. You will learn why shirts and drinkware are the easiest categories to launch first, how VersiFlex expands what you can sell, and the workflow habits that help you produce reliably.

Why Sawgrass fits a real personalization business

When customers pay for custom, they expect it to look right every time. Consistency protects your reputation and your margin.

Sawgrass supports that with a setup designed for makers who sell:

• Desktop-friendly footprint for small studios and home businesses
• Production flexibility for one-offs and daily orders
• Tools built around product decoration, including Sawgrass Print Utility and the My Sawgrass Design Tool
• Support and education that helps you keep moving when deadlines hit

If your goal is repeat orders, not repeated troubleshooting, that foundation matters.

One workflow, more products:

Traditional sublimation works best on poly-coated blanks. That is perfect for many bestsellers like drinkware and coated hard goods. But personalization customers also ask for cotton shirts and other popular surfaces.

VersiFlex helps you expand without changing how you work:

• Use your sublimation workflow for coated blanks
• Use VersiFlex Light for cotton and other compatible materials that can handle heat
• Offer more products without outsourcing

That means you can keep your shop simple while increasing what you can sell.

Start Simple

Many makers lose momentum by launching too many product types at once. If you want the fastest path to sales, start with categories that are easy to explain and easy to reorder.

T-Shirts: repeat buyers and event-driven demand

Shirts sell because they are tied to moments. When the next moment comes, customers buy again.

Common shirt orders include:

• Spirit wear and school events
• Teams, camps, clubs, and youth organizations
• Family reunions and vacations
• Holidays and seasonal drops
• Photo-driven gifts and memorial designs

Simple selling strategy: plan a small calendar of seasonal tees and school-event themes so you are ready when buyers are on a deadline.

Drinkware: everyday use plus easy upsells

Drinkware is evergreen. It is useful, giftable, and easy to personalize with names, dates, and patterns.

Drinkware keeps selling because it fits:

• Mother’s Day and Father’s Day
• Graduation gifts and class year designs
• Wedding party sets
• Teacher appreciation
• Birthdays year-round

Pro tip for higher order value: bundle drinkware as a gift set or use mugs as gift containers with small add-ins.

Protect your profit with Sawgrass Print Utility

Even if you design elsewhere, Print Utility helps you keep output consistent by pairing print settings to the substrate you are pressing. That consistency reduces reprints, saves blanks, and protects your time.

If you want business-grade results, this is the step that helps you get them.

What to launch first

If you want a simple plan, start with these two product lanes and build outward:

• Shirts for events, groups, and photo-driven gifts
• Drinkware for everyday use, gifting, and bundles

Once those are dialed in, expand into add-ons like keychains, magnets, puzzles, trays, and more.

Ready to sell personalized shirts and drinkware? Start with Sawgrass printers built for decoration workflows, add VersiFlex for cotton and more surfaces, and use Print Utility plus the My Sawgrass Design Tool to streamline from design to press.

Get Started

The Sawgrass Team is here to support you.

• Check out Sawgrass Printers
• Learn More about VersiFlex
• Visit care.sawgrassink.com for technical support
• Join workshops on Wednesdays at 2:00 PM Eastern hosted live on Youtube
• Watch tutorials on the Sawgrass YouTube channel
• Listen to the Ink Differently podcast on Spotify, Amazon Music, or Apple Music