Article: Ink Sets Explained: Which One Should You Choose for a Craft Business?

Share

Jan 26, 2026

Ink Sets Explained: Which One Should You Choose for a Craft Business?

If you are building a craft side hustle or small business, choosing the right ink set is not just a technical decision. It directly affects what you can sell, how fast you can fulfill orders, and how much profit you keep. The right ink set helps you say yes to more customer requests, avoid wasted materials, and produce consistent results you can confidently charge for.

This guide breaks down the most common ink sets used in craft businesses and helps you choose the one that aligns with your hustle goals, not just your printer.

Why Ink Choice Matters for Makers Who Sell

When you are crafting for fun, mistakes are learning experiences. When you are crafting for customers, mistakes cost money, time, and trust.

Your ink set determines:

Which products you can sell
What materials you can decorate
How durable your finished items are
How much trial and error you deal with

Choosing the right ink early helps you streamline your workflow and build a product line that is easier to repeat and scale.

The Three Main Ink Sets and What They Mean for Your Hustle

Sublimation Ink: Great for Speed and Soft Results

Sublimation ink turns into a gas when heat is applied and bonds directly with polyester fibers or coated surfaces. Because it becomes part of the material, the finished product has no texture.

Sublimation is best for:

Polyester apparel
Sportswear and performance shirts
Mugs, tumblers, and coated hard goods
Bright, full color designs on light backgrounds

From a business perspective, sublimation is ideal if you want:

Fast production
Minimal pressing steps
Long lasting, wash proof results

The limitation is that sublimation does not work on cotton or untreated natural materials. That means turning away customers who want cotton tees or rustic products.

VersiFlex Ink: Best for Expanding What You Can Sell

VersiFlex ink is designed for porous, natural surfaces. It creates a transfer that bonds with heat and pressure, allowing you to decorate materials that sublimation cannot.

VersiFlex works well on:

Cotton and cotton blend apparel
Canvas bags and fabric decor
Unfinished or lightly sanded wood

For hustlers, VersiFlex is powerful because it lets you:

Sell cotton shirts without pretreatment
Offer rustic wood signs and decor
Accept a wider range of custom orders

VersiFlex does require more attention to pressure and pressing technique, which is why a reliable press from Craft Express heat presses is especially important if you are producing items for sale.

Standard Inkjet Ink: Not a Business Tool for Transfers

Standard inkjet ink is designed for paper printing only. It is not heat resistant and not durable enough for apparel or product decoration.

Standard inkjet ink is fine for:

Stickers
Paper planners
Art prints

It is not suitable for:

Heat pressed products
Apparel
Items you plan to sell as finished goods

If your goal is to build a craft business, standard inkjet ink should stay out of your production workflow.

Never Mix Ink Sets if You Want Consistency

One of the biggest mistakes hustlers make is trying to switch ink types in a single printer.

Mixing ink sets can:

Damage your printer
Cause clogged print heads
Create inconsistent color results
Void warranties

From a business standpoint, consistency is everything. Each printer should be dedicated to one ink type. Many sellers eventually run two printers so they can offer both sublimation and VersiFlex products.

Choosing the Right Ink Based on What You Want to Sell

If You Want to Sell Cotton Shirts

Choose VersiFlex ink.

Cotton tees are one of the most requested custom products. VersiFlex lets you sell cotton without pretreatment and without investing in DTG equipment.

Pair VersiFlex with quality blanks from Craft Express blanks and apparel to keep results consistent across orders.

If You Want to Sell Drinkware and Sports Apparel

Choose sublimation ink.

Sublimation is ideal for:

Team apparel
Event merchandise
Tumblers and mugs

It produces fast, durable results and is easy to scale once your workflow is dialed in.

If You Want Maximum Product Variety

Many profitable makers eventually use both ink sets.

This allows you to:

Sell cotton and polyester apparel
Offer hard goods and wood decor
Say yes to more custom requests

The key is keeping your systems organized and dedicated.

Ink Choice and Profit Margins

Ink affects more than color. It affects cost per item.

Sublimation:

Lower labor time
Fewer steps
Faster fulfillment

VersiFlex:

Slightly more hands on
Higher perceived value on cotton and wood
More unique product offerings

Both can be profitable. The right choice depends on your target customer and how much variety you want to offer.

Supporting Tools That Help You Scale

Ink alone does not create a sellable product. Supporting tools matter just as much when you are fulfilling orders.

Helpful tools include:

A reliable heat press
Heat resistant tape
Blowout or protective paper
Pressing pillows for seams and layers

You can find many of these essentials in Craft Express heat press accessories to support repeatable results.

Testing Is Part of the Business

Even experienced sellers test.

Before launching a new product:

Test on the exact blank you plan to sell
Wash test apparel
Record settings that work

Testing saves you from refunds and reprints, which protects your profit and reputation.

Final Thoughts

Choosing the right ink set is about choosing what kind of business you want to build. Sublimation is fast and efficient for polyester and hard goods. VersiFlex opens the door to cotton, wood, and natural materials that customers love. Standard inkjet ink belongs in personal printing, not product sales.

When you match your ink choice to your product strategy, your workflow becomes smoother, your results become more consistent, and your craft hustle becomes easier to grow.

FAQ: Ink Sets for Craft Sellers

Can I start with just one ink type?
Yes. Many sellers start with one and expand once demand grows.

Which ink is best for beginners who want to sell shirts?
VersiFlex is a strong option for cotton shirts without pretreatment.

Do I need separate printers for each ink?
Yes. Dedicated printers protect consistency and equipment.

Which ink lasts the longest?
Both sublimation and VersiFlex are durable when pressed and cared for properly.

Written by meghan Craft Express