Starting sublimation as a craft hobby or business can range from about $550 all the way up to $3500 or more.

In the $2500+ range, you're looking at printing equipment that produces larger print sizes for things like banners and signage as well as higher speed output for sublimating 100+ items per month.

In the $550-$1000 range you're looking at new equipment to sublimate a wide variety of tumblers and smaller flat items at a rate of up to 100 items per month.

With the ability to convert old inkjet printers to sublimation (doable, but not recommended); or shop brand new sublimation printers as low as $449 and Sublimation ovens as low as $300; it's reasonable to assume, that you can get started with sublimation on a budget of about $550 - $1000.

When getting started your biggest expense is likely to be your equipment.

To sublimate blanks you'll need:

• Computer (to make your designs)
• Sublimation printer (to print your designs)
• Heat source (oven, mug press or flat press) to bake your designs

While your computer and printer can be used to print designs for any type of blank, only limited by size, the type of heat source you'll need will depend on what you want to make.

For flat items (wind spinners, apparel) you'll need a standard heat press.

For cylindrical items like tumblers, you'll need a sublimation oven or mug press.

With sublimation you can make everything from tumblers, mugs, keychains, tee-shirts, to art prints, signage, placemats and more.

Basically any surface that is coated for sublimation is craftable with your own design!

The 4-color printing process of sublimation allows you create personalized and custom designs with photography and artwork, which is what makes it so popular!

How much you make really depends on the effort and time you put into not just making, but selling your crafted items.

As an example a Side-Hustler may sublimate anywhere from 25-100 tumblers per month at a net profit of $15 per cup. That's a monthly net profit of $375 to $1500, per month!

Full time sublimation crafters may craft anywhere from 100-1,000 tumblers (or other items) per month at a net profit of $15 per cup. That's a monthly net profit of $1500 to $15,000 per month!