How One Marker Started a Movement

Chemists Gone Crafters

Long before Artesprix became a craft brand, we were chemists.

Our parent company, Esprix Technologies LP, was the only independent toner manufacturer in the United States. We spent years developing advanced imaging technologies for the printing industry, including sublimation toner. We understood color science, chemistry, and heat transfer long before we ever stepped into the craft world.

But the more we worked with sublimation, the more one thing became obvious...

The technology was amazing.

The experience wasn't.

Sublimation required expensive printers, constant maintenance, software, and technical knowledge that made it inaccessible for most people.

We knew there had to be a better way.

So instead of asking, "How do we make a better printer?"

We asked...

"How do we eliminate the printer altogether?"

That single question changed everything.

In late 2017, after countless hours in the lab, we invented the world's first sublimation marker.

A simple idea that allowed anyone to create personalized gifts with nothing more than a marker, paper, and heat.

What began as one invention became something much bigger.

It became a new way to experience sublimation.

Over the next eight years, we didn't just launch products, we introduced entirely new categories, earned patents, partnered with national retailers, and watched the entire craft industry embrace sublimation.

We like to call ourselves "Chemists Gone Crafters."

Because while we brought the science...

You brought the creativity. We credit some of our best product ideas to the Makers.

Together, we helped transform sublimation from an industrial printing process into a creative hobby enjoyed by makers, educators, artists, summer camps, and families around the world.

Eight Years of Innovation

2017 | It All Began

Fueled by our experience in imaging chemistry and sublimation toner, we invented the world's first sublimation marker, making sublimation accessible without the need for a printer.

2018 | Artesprix is Born

Our first production run sold entirely to our exclusive distributor, Imaging Supplies Warehouse, officially launching Artesprix into the craft industry.

2019 | Sharing Our Vision

Artesprix was featured on PBS's Make It Artsy, introducing our products to makers across the country.

That same year, we pitched our technology to Michaels. Together, we made the strategic decision to bring our patent-pending sublimation marker technology to market through one of their existing vendor partners, helping introduce sublimation crafting to an even larger audience.

2020 | Innovation Recognized

Our sublimation marker technology received its U.S. patent.

We also introduced another industry first, the world's first sublimation ink pad, expanding what makers could create.

2021 | Around the World

Our private-label sublimation markers launched in major retailers across the United States and internationally, bringing our patented technology to millions of makers.

2022 | Innovation Never Stopped

One breakthrough wasn't enough.

In 2022, Artesprix launched the world's first sublimation acrylic paint, once again expanding what was possible with sublimation crafting.

That same year, our groundbreaking sublimation ink pad received its own U.S. patent, becoming our second patented innovation and reinforcing our commitment to developing original technologies, not simply following trends.

As innovation continued, Hobby Lobby selected Artesprix products for not one, but two departments, Wearables and Craft Technology, leading to a nationwide retail launch the following year.

2023 | Nationwide

Artesprix officially launched in Hobby Lobby stores nationwide.

Watching our products reach shelves across America was an unforgettable milestone.

2024 | Our Biggest Opportunity Yet

We received one of the largest purchase orders in company history for a nationwide launch in JOANN stores planned for early 2025.

2025 | The Chapter We Never Planned

Just days before our scheduled shipment, the JOANN order was cancelled. By then, the inventory had already been manufactured. For a small company, the financial impact was devastating.

2026 | Sunsetting Sublimation Crafting

Despite exploring every option available, we ultimately made the heartbreaking decision to wind down Artesprix after eight incredible years. We hope everyone will remember us as the true inventors of the category: Sublimation Crafting.

A Legacy We're Proud Of

When we look back, we don't just see products.

We see firsts.

• The world's first sublimation marker.
• The world's first sublimation ink pad.
• The world's first sublimation acrylic paint.
• U.S. patented technologies.
• National retail partnerships.
• Countless classrooms, camps, small businesses, and creative makers discovering sublimation for the very first time.

Over the years, many of the largest names in the craft industry saw what Artesprix was doing with sublimation and introduced their own products to the market, following our footsteps. Watching the category grow has been incredibly rewarding because it means more people are discovering the creative possibilities we believed in from the very beginning.

We may not have been the biggest company. But we were proud to be among the pioneers who helped make sublimation crafting what it is today.

Thank You

Every order.

Every class.

Every social media post.

Every project you shared.

Every encouraging email.

Every trade show conversation.

Every child who colored with one of our markers.

You helped build this story.

Thank you for welcoming a group of chemists into the crafting community.

It has been the honor of a lifetime.

One Final Chapter

This isn't just a final sale.

It's the final chapter of an eight-year journey built on innovation, creativity, and a belief that everyone should have the opportunity to create.

Everything currently available is part of the inventory we worked so hard to build.

Once it's gone, it's gone forever.

If Artesprix has ever inspired you, taught you something new, or helped you create a meaningful gift, we invite you to be part of our final chapter.

From the bottom of our hearts...

Thank you for believing in us!

– The Chemists Gone Crafters at Artesprix