Epson EcoTank printers, also known as ink tanks, are renowned for their low running costs and quality printing capabilities but did you know they can also be used as sublimation printers? Epson EcoTank printers offer a cost-effective solution for many looking to get into sublimation without having to overspend on a dedicated dye-sub model. The beauty is that these can be converted to sublimation in mere minutes and we are going to show you how.
Our Recommendation
Epson ET-2800 and Hiipoo 4 set sublimation ink is a good choice of printer and sublimation ink combination for bright, vivid transfers on blanks.
What you need before converting your EcoTank
All you’re going to need to convert your Epson EcoTank into a sublimation printer is a brand-new unit (not old or second-hand), a pack of sublimation ink, and some test paper to calibrate your new printer. There’s no expensive kit involved (at least, not the way we’re doing it), and the best part is you’ll spend a maximum of an hour making the conversion itself.
Here’s what you need to convert your Epson EcoTank into a sublimation printer:
- A brand new Epson printer that has never been plugged in or switched on.
- The printer shouldn’t have been filled with ink before you make the conversion either.
- Sublimation ink and Sublimation paper
Also, once you’ve converted it, the printer won’t be covered by Epson’s warranty anymore.
Which Ink to use?
We’ve got one last tip before we get started – and it’s one that makes all the difference. Instead of buying the cheapest option, you’ll want either the Hiipoo Sublimation Ink, Cosmos, or A-SUB. Hiipoo and Cosmos come with the EcoFill cap that makes it way easier to fill up the ink tanks, but others come with syringes which are also easy to use, just slightly more time-consuming.
Step-by-Step Conversion of an Epson Printer to Sublimation
While you have to convert an EcoTank, they are still regarded as some of the best sublimation printers money can buy. Many assume that the conversion process is difficult but it is as simple as adding sublimation ink into the tank before plugging in and setting up the printer.
When that’s done, you just need to run a few tests to calibrate how much ink you’ll need, align the printer head, and voila, your printer’s good to go! Here’s how you get started with filling your ink tanks the easy way:
Step 1: Filling your tanks
First, lift up the top of the printer and lean it back. Open the ink reservoir lid, and lift up the blue (they were blue for us, at least) covers one at a time. Next, it’s as easy as tipping over your ink bottle into the appropriate tank. The EcoFill cap we mentioned fits into the tank hole easily, and you shouldn’t need to squeeze it. Of course, if your sublimation ink set comes with syringes, load them up and slot them into the small hole on top of the cap.
Give the ink reservoirs a tap to see if it’s really full. Sometimes the ink sticks to the walls and makes it appear full when it isn’t. Once it’s at the top line, you’ll want to wipe off any drips. This stuff stains in no time at all, and we doubt you want that on your brand-new printer!
Step 2: Printer setup
Once your ink tank’s filled, it’s time to set up your printer and test out the print quality. You’ll be surprised how important this part is: without testing, you might be wasting almost as much ink as you’ll use for printing! Here’s what you’re going to do after you’re done filling your ink tanks:
Connect the power cord that came with the printer to the little plug for it in the back of the printer, and connect it to an outlet. Don’t connect it to your computer yet though. Next, raise the control panel and power your EcoTank on. This could be a touchpad or a couple of buttons (it depends on the model you bought, really.)
Your printer will ask you to confirm that the tanks are filled up. Run a second check to make sure that they are (remember how we said they might look, but actually aren’t?), and press “Okay”.
The EcoTank will show that it’s “initializing”, which means it’s drawing the ink up into the printer. Once it’s done initializing, you’re going to insert the paper into either the front tray or the back loader. Most printers have instructions printed on the tray itself, but you’ll generally want to put your paper face down.
it’ll print a series of test lines on the first sheet. You want unbroken, clean lines from all four colors: if they appear broken, take the sheet out first and press the cross. The printer will clean the print head (it might be anywhere from 1-3 times), and print again. Repeat this process until you get unbroken, vibrant lines.
There are a couple more tests left, like the Alignment and banding test. These are easy enough to do yourself, so just follow the instructions displayed on the printer screen and you’ll be good.
Step 3: Connect your printer and start sublimating!
Complete the tests and use a standard USB cable to connect your printer to your computer. The cable might or might not come with the box. They don’t cost more than a couple of bucks anyway, not a big deal.
Next, we’re going to get the drivers. You’ll get the drivers for your model at epson.com/support: enter your product name, choose your operating system, and you’ll find a combo drivers-and-utilities package installer.
Converting an Epson EcoTank vs dedicated
We’ll compare the prices to show you how much you’ll save through this trick. Something like an Epson SureColor F170 Dye-Sub hovers around $450 on Amazon – it’s a reliable purpose-built printer and one that a lot of sublimation printing hobbyists use.
- Sublimation Printer SC F170 Original
- Printing size 8.5×11 or 8.5×14
- Free 100 sheets Sublimation Paper 8.5″x 11″ + 1 hot tape.
- Ideal for personalizing awards, mugs, mousepads, shirts and more
- High-performance dye-sublimation printer delivers professional-quality prints.
On the other hand, the regular printer we’re converting, an Epson EcoTank ET-2800 is just $199 on Amazon. The few hundred big ones you’re going to save will go a long way towards making this a more affordable hobby, though you could probably save more if you get lucky to get some deals. The upside to the dedicated primer is of course the warranty will not be voided when sublimation ink is added.
- For wider format printing (13×19) you may want to consider the Epson ET-15000.
Final Word
Converting your new Epson printer to sublimation could not be easier. As long as you buy the correct tink and use a brand-new unit, you have nothing to worry about – fill the ink tanks, load up the sublimation paper, and start the sublimation journey today!
