Cotton sublimation in 2026: what the new primer announcement means
A recent manufacturer announcement expands the conversation beyond polyester. Here is what to verify before changing your garment workflow.
New materials can change the questions a print shop asks about sublimation. They do not remove the need for a controlled sample test. If you are considering a different fabric or treatment, treat it as a new workflow to qualify rather than a drop-in replacement for the process you already use.
The September 2026 announcement
On 23 September 2026, Epson announced its SureColor F370 dye-sublimation printer and a Sublimation Primer for Cotton. The manufacturer describes the primer as enabling sublimation on white and light-coloured cotton garments. Its US announcement gives November 2026 as the planned availability date. Read Epson’s original product announcement.
As of this article’s publication, this is an announced workflow, not a claim that ProlificGeeks stocks the printer or primer in India. Local availability, supported equipment and material instructions must be confirmed separately. Do not interpret the announcement as approval to use an unspecified primer with an existing Audley or Locor setup.
Keep three decisions separate
The substrate: document the actual fibre composition, colour, finish and supplier. A broad description such as cotton shirt is not enough for repeatable production.
The treatment system: ask for the exact primer, application instructions and supported workflow. Record any preparation and drying requirements from its manufacturer instead of adopting settings from an unrelated demonstration.
The printing and transfer equipment: confirm ink, paper, profile and heat-transfer requirements together. Printer width alone does not establish suitability for a new material process.
A practical test record for a new process
Before offering the new application commercially, create a simple job sheet. Include the garment batch, treatment used, artwork file, ink and paper identification, press settings and operator notes. Keep the untreated garment and approved printed sample as references.
- Agree the customer’s target appearance and intended use.
- Produce test samples using the documented workflow and actual garments.
- Inspect fine detail, solid areas, colour consistency and the feel of the decorated area.
- Agree suitable washing and handling checks and record the results rather than making an unsupported durability promise.
- Repeat the trial across the garment sizes or batches you intend to sell.
Compare it with your existing choices
A new primer process should be compared with the alternatives on the same order brief. Ask about preparation time, transfer handling, consumable cost, rejected samples and operator training. Keep those observations separate from purchase price: the least expensive piece of equipment is not necessarily the least costly workflow for your particular job mix.
If you are already using a polyester or coated-substrate process, keep its validated settings separate from any cotton trial. Avoid mixing consumables or changing an established production recipe without checking compatibility and documenting the change.
Find equipment information without assuming compatibility
Our sublimation machine catalogue helps you compare the configurations already documented on this website. The individual brochures remain the source for those machine specifications; this industry-news article does not add a cotton-printing capability to them.
Compare DTF equipment or DTG equipment against your garment brief where relevant, and use the machine buying guide to organise questions. For a technical discussion, send the team your fabric details, design size, order quantities and sample requirements. Ask for a written, model-specific recommendation before investing in an unfamiliar process.