Epson’s Surecolor F170, also known as the F100 in Europe is a dedicated dye sublimation printer. It is set up for sublimation out of the box and ships with Epson’s sublimation ink. A very capable printer, slightly more expensive than some compatible Eco Tanks but with its benefits. The ink is fairly affordable and the results overall came out quite well. The one surprise I had was with the flimsy-feeling, plastic chassis.
- DESCRIPTION You will receive: 1 Original F170 sublimation printer. 100 Sheets of original sublimation Paper for polyester garments 3 sheets Forever Subli-Flex 202 for 100% cotton dark garments (sublimation to Black cotton) 5 Sheets Subli Light Cotton for 100% cotton light color garments (sublimation to white cotton) 1 sublimation mouse pad 1 Thermal Tape 1 full set of sublimation Inks. User guide and AC power cable SCF170
Pros
- Dye-Sub printer – already ready to go for sublimation, just add ink
- Warranty covers ink-related issues- unlike converted Epson printers
- Produces excellent, vibrant prints
- Easy to use and cost-effective (ink tank)
Cons
- Not suitable for wide-format printing
- Flimsy plastic build – solid enough though for regular use
- No touch screen – less convenient for setup
Sublimation project results
The Epson SureColor F170 brought in some surprisingly good results. On sublimation paper, the results appeared more vibrant compared to the ET-15000, out-of-the-box settings anyway. Is the quality of the results worth the price? That depends on your needs but I’d say yes. Many may be quite happy with something similar to an ET-2820 or other affordable A4 printing unit but this is simply better. The added bonus of being a dedicated dye sub will naturally attract a few beginners too.
The unit I purchased came with Epsons DS ink, something I’ve been wanting to try for some time and it held its own in the final product. The added benefit of using Epson’s own is that you have no need for syringes or refill bottles, their keyed ink is ready to go. The only downside during use was in the initial setup from the fiddly buttons. A touchscreen is so convenient by comparison, especially when navigating the OS or typing a wifi password in.
It may be hard to share the vibrancy and color saturation but it really was superb out of the box. While ink and heat press settings go a long way for the end results, bright colors popped and deep blacks appeared as they should – making this ideal for intricate designs, photos, and logos.
This is extremely cost-effective like all ink tank printers but it is only capable of A4 prints, so cheaper ET-2800/ ET-2803/ ET-2820 EcoTank printers could be a serious option to consider for those on a stricter budget.
Epson SureColor F170 vs SG500
The major difference between these dedicated dye-sub printers is the ink systems. The SG500 requires proprietary cartridge ink sets which unfortunately raise the running costs by comparison. The F170 is an ink tank printer, a well-renowned cost-effective printing solution and you have the added benefit of selecting your preferred ink brand.
While the maximum resolution of the SG500 matches that of the ET-15000, which is more than the F170 – the quality of results is basically the same. So the SureColr F170 offers the same quality for less? This makes it a no-brainer for those in the market for dedicated DS printers. For more savings, I’d even recommend converting an affordable EcoTank over a Sawgrass. It is worth noting that Sawgrass printers work well for the most part, they are quality printers, but it’s just that they are beaten from a value perspective.
Ink recommendations for Epson SureColor F170/ F100
As mentioned, I used Epson’s own sublimation ink to test this printer but any of the recommended brands will suffice here. The results were good enough to recommend using the Epson DS ink but Cosmos, Printer Jacks, or A-Sub will also all do very well here.
It is worth noting that you can buy Epson branded DS paper (or buy it as a bundle) but many other sublimation paper alternatives work just fine too. I used A-Sub A4 and everything turned out as expected.
How to setup Epson SureColor F170/F100 printer
Before turning the printer on and completing the setup, you first need to fill your ink tanks. You need to lift the top lid of the printer’s chassis to reveal the tank lid, before flicking open each individual tab (color-coded).
- Step 1: If using Epson’s own ink, the bottles are keyed and simply slot into the relevant ports, however, if using a different ink brand, you can fill each tank via a syringe or fill bottle. Make sure you give each ink bottle a little shake before filling.
- Step 2: Now you can plug the printer in, switch on, add paper, and complete the setup. Follow the instructions on the display all the way through, including any installation wizards or maintenance checks (see included manual). This will include connecting the printer to your local network, setting the date and time, and ensuring the printer head is aligned correctly.
- Step 3: If you used syringes/ fill bottles you should rinse out any ink residue and label for later use. Now you can begin printing your designs.
In summary
For smaller projects like shirts, mugs, and keychains, Epson’s dedicated dys sub SureColor F170 series is a great choice. This printer may not have the build quality of some similar-priced EcoTanks but the proof is in the eating as they say, with this delivering high-quality prints and vibrant results. No conversion needed, no warranty issues – perfect.
