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How to Make an Epson Ecotank Sublimation Printer

epson ecotank printer filled with sublimation ink and sublimation paper with the title "epson ecotank sublimation printer"
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Converting an Epson Ecotank printer into a sublimation printer is easy with this guide. Learn which printers work best to make a cheap sublimation printer and what ink to use.

Table of Contents

Note: Some links in this post may contain affiliate links, which means at no cost to you, I may earn a commission.

Are you interested in getting into sublimation to make your own custom shirts and crafts? You can use infusible transfer sheets and cut out designs, but you can also print out your own designs from your computer and transfer them. This way you can transfer photographs and detailed designs that require more than a single color at a time. In order to do this, you’ll need a printer built for sublimation – a sublimation printer.

Stand alone sublimation printers exist, but they can be expensive. Therefore a much cheaper alternative (which is what I did) is to convert a regular inkjet printer to a sublimation printer. It’s incredibly simple to do and the only drawback is it will likely void your printer’s warranty since you’ll be using sublimation ink and not their normal printer ink.

The printer I chose to convert was a refurbished Epson Ecotank 2800 from eBay as it’s one of the cheapest and easiest, but there are a bunch of other options to choose from. I’ve shared the step-by-step instructions on how to convert your own Epson Ecotank sublimation printer. Plus, I share tips on which Epson and other printer models work best, and what kind of ink and paper to use. So get ready for some easy sublimation printing fun!

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What is a sublimation printer?

A sublimation printer is a type of printing machine that uses special ink to transfer designs, words, or photographs onto fabric and other materials. The ink used for sublimation printers is what’s known as “sublimation ink“, which is designed to turn into gas when heated. Then as it cools, it dyes the fibers of the fabric or material, making a permanent transfer that you can’t feel such as with this Harry Potter sublimation shirt.

A sublimation printer is the same as a regular printer, aside from the fact that it uses sublimation ink instead of regular printer ink. (I have a full guide on the best sublimation ink)

holding the finished sublimation shirt on the heat press with the borgin and burkes logo
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Why is an Epson Ecotank good to convert to a sublimation printer?

The advantage of an Epson Ecotank sublimation printer is it doesn’t use ink cartridges. You simply add the ink directly into the printer. This makes it easy to set up and refill as needed without having to worry about buying cartridges, filling them, and hoping the printer will scan the chips properly.

The other advantage of the Epson Ecotank printer is that it’s one of the cheaper printers and readily available (I got mine on eBay, but you can also get it from Amazon, for example).

showing the front of a refurbished epson ecotank 2800 printer without any ink in it
Jump to Instructions

Which printers can you convert to a sublimation printer?

There are actually quite a few different types of printers that you can convert to sublimation printers, but Epson is the most popular brand. I chose an Epson Ecotank (refurbished) for the simplicity of the printer and the price, but you can use this same guide to convert any of the other printers.

The main thing is the printer needs to be an inkjet printer and it can’t use heat in the process (thermal printing). The reason is the ink would heat up, sublimate, and dye the inside of the printer before you even get to use it. Therefore you want to make sure the printer you get does not use heat in the printing process. Instead, you want a printer that uses pressure or what’s commonly known as Piezo technology.

Additionally, I recommend using a new printer. It is absolutely possible to get a super cheap used printer, but you’ll have to go through the extra process of cleaning out the lines to ensure there isn’t regular ink left inside. If you do this, I recommend using Koala’s printer flush (which you can get on Amazon) since they’re a brand that also makes sublimation ink. You’ll want to clean the lines a few times to make sure every drop of the regular ink is out.

The Epson Ecotank 2800 is the printer I used, but there are a number of other models that work great as well. All Epson Ecotanks can be sublimation printers, but you can choose from any of the below. The differences will be in the added features and whether you need to purchase cartridges and fill them. So while the Epson Workforce line is cheaper than the Ecotank, you’ll need to get refillable cartridges for it.

  • Epson Ecotank (any model number) – Amazon
  • Epson Workforce ST / ST Pro (any model number) – Amazon
  • Epson Workforce WF / WF Pro (any model number) – requires ink cartridges – Amazon
  • Epson Workforce Pro WP (any model number) – requires ink cartridges – Amazon
  • Epson Artisan 1430 – large format printing and requires ink cartridges – Amazon
  • Epson Expression XP (any model number) – requires ink cartridges – Amazon
Epson EcoTank ET-2800 Wireless Color All-in-One Cartridge-Free Supertank Printer with Scan and Copy – The Ideal Basic Home Printer - White, Medium
Epson EcoTank ET-2800 Wireless Color All-in-One Cartridge-Free Supertank Printer with Scan and Copy – The Ideal Basic Home Printer - White, Medium
Epson Workforce ST-C2100 Wireless Inkjet Multifunction Printer - Color
Epson Workforce ST-C2100 Wireless Inkjet Multifunction Printer - Color
Epson® Workforce® Pro WF-3820 Wireless Color Inkjet All-in-One Printer, Black Large
Epson® Workforce® Pro WF-3820 Wireless Color Inkjet All-in-One Printer, Black Large
Epson Expression Home XP-4100 Wireless Color Printer with Scanner and Copier
Epson Expression Home XP-4100 Wireless Color Printer with Scanner and Copier

Don’t forget to pin it so you can easily come back to it later!

epson ecotank printer filled with sublimation ink and sublimation paper with the title "DIY tutorial - sublimation printer - how to convert an epson ecotank into a sublimation printer, abcrafty.com"

What you need to convert an Epson Ecotank Sublimation Printer

Thankfully making an Espon Ecotank sublimation printer (or converting any inkjet printer to a sublimation printer) doesn’t require any fancy tools – it’s simply a matter of replacing the ink with sublimation ink. Therefore all you need is the printer, the sublimation ink, and then you’ll want to pick up some sublimation paper to print on (this is the type I use by A-Sub).

    • InkJet Printer (I used the Epson Ecotank 2800, which I got refurbished from eBay for over $50 cheaper than a new one – I highly recommend going this route)
    • Sublimation Ink (this is the type I use by A-Sub)
    • Printer Paper
    • If the printer is used, you’ll need printer cleaner (Amazon)
Epson EcoTank ET-2800 Wireless Color All-in-One Cartridge-Free Supertank Printer with Scan and Copy – The Ideal Basic Home Printer - White, Medium
Epson EcoTank ET-2800 Wireless Color All-in-One Cartridge-Free Supertank Printer with Scan and Copy – The Ideal Basic Home Printer - White, Medium
A-SUB 600ML Autofill Premium Sublimation Ink for F170 ET 2400 ET-2803 ET 2850 ET 2800 ET-2720 ET-2760 ET-4800 ET-15000 ET-3760 for Transfer T-Shirts Mugs Tumblers (Autofill/ICC-Free/Anti-UV)
A-SUB 600ML Autofill Premium Sublimation Ink for F170 ET 2400 ET-2803 ET 2850 ET 2800 ET-2720 ET-2760 ET-4800 ET-15000 ET-3760 for Transfer T-Shirts Mugs Tumblers (Autofill/ICC-Free/Anti-UV)
A-SUB Sublimation Paper 8.5x11 Inch 110 Sheets ONLY Compatible with Sublimation Printer and Sublimation Ink 125g
A-SUB Sublimation Paper 8.5x11 Inch 110 Sheets ONLY Compatible with Sublimation Printer and Sublimation Ink 125g

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Instructions to Make an Epson Ecotank Sublimation Printer

It’s incredibly easy to convert to an Espon Ecotank sublimation printer – all you need to do is replace the ink with sublimation ink. Therefore to start, you of course need the printer (I got mine refurbished from eBay). I chose this printer because you add the ink directly to the printer instead of having to use cartridges. You can see in the bottom right of the printer, the four columns are empty because I have yet to add the ink.

Start with the printer unplugged. You want to fill it with the sublimation ink before you plug it in and turn it on.

Note: If you’re using a used printer, you’ll first need to flush the lines using a printer cleaner such as this one. It’s best to clean it a few times to be 100% certain their is no more residual ink.

showing the front of a refurbished epson ecotank 2800 printer without any ink in it

The only other thing you need is the sublimation ink. I used A-Sub sublimation ink (which you can get on Amazon). I really like it because you can load the cartridge directly from the bottle. You can also review my guide on the best sublimation inks so you can choose the right one for you.

There are other inks where you may need to use a syringe to fill the printer cartridge. If so, the kit should come with the syringes, but just in case you can pick up a set on Amazon.

A sub sublimation ink in yellow, pink, blue, and black

To load the ink into the printer, unscrew the top and remove the seal. For the A-Sub inks I used, you need to remove the main top and unscrew the inner lid.

removing the cap of the black a sub sublimation ink

Then on the front of the printer, locate the columns that show you how much ink is left. There you’ll see BK, Y, C, M which stands for Black, Yellow, Cyan, and Magenta. Open this front panel of the Ecotank to access the ink loading area by pulling that front piece forward.

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epson ecotank 2800 with labels showing the different ink colors

Then lift the lid of the corresponding color.

pointing to the open ink cartridge to put the sublimation ink

Then flip the bottle of sublimation ink straight up and down and carefully push it into the hole. The ink will automatically begin to fill the cartridge and will stop when the cartridge is full.

Tip: Make sure the bottle is straight up and down. You’ll know the bottle is in far enough when you feel a click or you see/hear the ink start to flow into the cartridge.

If you use ink that requires a syringe, simply load the syringe with the ink and then put the end of the syringe into the hole with the corresponding color. Since you’re the one loading the ink, you’ll want to check from the front of the printer how much you have added. Fill the cartridge only until the max fill line.

placing the black ink into the fillable cartridge on the epson ecotank 2800 printer

Once the first color is filled, remove the bottle by gently pulling it straight up (without squeezing the bottle). Then close the top to the cartridge.

Repeat the process with each color.

yellow sublimation ink filling the cartridge on an epson ecotank sublimation printer

Once you have all of the colors filled, plug in the printer and follow the instructions to set it up.

You’ll go through a process of aligning the inks and making sure the lines are cleaned and printing perfectly! You’ll need some regular printer paper to do the test prints and alignment prints. I don’t recommend using sublimation paper for this since you’ll end up simply throwing them away.

This process fills the lines with ink so chances are you can fill the ink cartridges more if you’d like while you still have the ink out.

Once everything is aligned, your Epson Ecotank sublimation printer is ready to use! Just be sure to pick up some sublimation paper with it (this is the kind I have).

epson ecotank printer filled with sublimation ink and sublimation paper

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a printer for sublimation and regular printing?

No, you cannot use the same printer for sublimation and regular printing. A sublimation printer uses a specific ink – sublimation ink. If you want to be able to switch between printing with regular and sublimation ink, you will need two separate printers (this is the setup I have).

Why would you convert a printer to a sublimation printer?

Converting a regular inkjet printer to a sublimation printer has many advantages. One of the biggest advantages is cost – you can get an inkjet printer for much less than what it would cost you to buy a stand-alone sublimation printer. There are also more options to choose from when getting a printer that you intend to convert.

Additionally, converting a regular printer to a sublimation printer is easy and doesn’t require any special tools or experience. It’s as easy as changing the ink of a printer!

Something to keep in mind, is that once you convert the printer to sublimation printer, you won’t be able to change it back without completely cleaning out the lines. Therefore I recommend having a dedicated sublimation printer, which is separate from your regular printer.

Which printers cannot be used for sublimation?

Any printers that use thermal printing cannot be turned into a sublimation printer. This includes the following brands since their printers use heat in the printing process:

  • Canon
  • HP
  • Brother (some of them)
In the case of Brother, some of their printers do use Piezo technology (meaning they don’t use heat), but you can’t adjust the ink settings so the results will not be good.

Why can't I use my current printer for sublimation?

The key to a sublimation printer is the ink, known as sublimation ink (this is the kind I have). Regular printers don’t use sublimation ink so you need to replace the ink to sublimation ink.

You can absolutely convert your current printer to a sublimation printer, but that means you’ll need to clean out the lines and no longer be able to print with regular ink. Therefore if, for example, you’re an artist who uses a fine art giclee printer – you’ll need to consider whether you want to use the large format for sublimation or for your art prints.

Is it difficult to make an Epson Ecotank Sublimation Printer?

No, it is not difficult to convert an Epson Ecotank printer to a sublimation printer. It’s actually super easy – you just need a printer and some sublimation ink (here’s my guide on the best sublimation inks).

How much will it cost to convert my printer to a sublimation printer?

The cost to convert a regular inkjet printer to a sublimation printer depends on the type of printer you have and the ink that you purchase. However, it’s pretty much guaranteed to be much cheaper than buying a stand-alone sublimation printer.

You can get a super cheap used printer and clean the lines to make the cost even lower. Facebook marketplace is a great place to get a super cheap printer. Therefore you can expect to pay somewhere from $50-$300.

I went with buying a new (refurbished) Epson Ecotank on eBay so I highly recommend doing the same. This way I could be 100% sure it would work and not have to deal with flushing the lines. Then buying it refurbished saved me around $50-100 on a brand new model and it works just the same. Then a set of ink is typically around $20-$30 (this is the one I used).

If you need to flush your printer’s lines, you can get cleaner for $10 on Amazon.

What kind of inks do I need for sublimation printing?

For sublimation printing, you’ll need to purchase a special type of ink called sublimation inks. These are specially formulated for dye-sublimation printing and can be found on Amazon. They offer an all-in-one starter package which makes getting started much easier!

You can also review my full guide to sublimation inks to find the right one for you.

How do I clean my Epson Ecotank sublimation printer after printing with sublimation inks?

If you want to switch back to using regular ink after converting to an Epson Ecotank sublimation printer, you’ll need special cleaners to flush out the remaining sublimation inks from the printer. Koala’s printer flush is designed specifically for cleaning sublimation printers and is the best way to ensure that all of the inks are gone from your printer.

Once you’ve flushed out the lines, it’s safe to replace with regular ink and start printing again as normal. However, it’s important to note that if you’re using your printer for both sublimation and regular printing, you’ll need to flush the lines after each switch.

What type of paper do you use in an Epson Ecotank sublimation printer?

For best results, it’s recommended to use a high quality sublimation paper (this is the one I use). This type of paper is specifically designed for dye-sublimation printing and will help you get the best results from your prints.

You are also able to use regular printer paper, but the results won’t be as vibrant.

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epson ecotank printer filled with sublimation ink and sublimation paper with the title "DIY tutorial - sublimation printer - how to convert an epson ecotank into a sublimation printer, abcrafty.com"

How to Convert an Epson Ecotank Printer to a Sublimation Printer

Converting an Epson Ecotank printer into a sublimation printer is super easy to do - all you need to do is replace the ink with sublimation ink. It's just a few steps and you'll have a fully functioning Epson Ecotank sublimation printer!
Yield 1 Epson Ecotank Sublimation Printer
5 from 1 vote
Print Pin Share Tweet
Project Time 20 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes

Materials
  

  • Sublimation Ink
  • Ordinary Printer Paper

Equipment

  • 1 Epson Ecotank Printer

Instructions
 

  • Get your Epson Ecotank ready. If you bought it new, you're ready. If you bought it used, then you'll need to clean out the lines a few times to make sure there's no residual ink. Leave the printer unplugged and disconnected.
    showing the front of a refurbished epson ecotank 2800 printer without any ink in it
  • Gather the sublimation ink bottles and open them by removing the tops and the seal (these are the ones I used)
    Sublimation Ink
    A sub sublimation ink in yellow, pink, blue, and black
  • Open the front panel of the printer to access the link loading area.
    pointing to the open ink cartridge to put the sublimation ink
  • Find columns that show how much ink is left (BK, Y, C, M) and flip the corresponding bottle of ink straight up and down and carefully push it into the hole. Make sure it’s in far enough when you feel a click or hear/see ink start to flow into the cartridge.
    placing the black ink into the fillable cartridge on the epson ecotank 2800 printer
  • Remove the bottle from the hole by gently pulling it straight up. Then close the lid to the cartridge and repeat for each color.
    yellow sublimation ink filling the cartridge on an epson ecotank sublimation printer
  • Plug in the printer and follow instructions for alignment and printing setup before using it as an Epson Ecotank sublimation printer. Use the ordinary printer paper for the setup so that you don't waste any good sublimation paper.
    Ordinary Printer Paper
    epson ecotank printer filled with sublimation ink and sublimation paper
Keyword Epson, Printer, Sublimation, Sublimation Ink

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Daniela Kretchmer

Daniela is a lifelong crafter who loves to share her passion for crafting. Through classes or learning on her own, she likes to say she'll do pretty much any craft aside from scrapbooking. Her current personal obsessions include garden crafts, felting, and spinning yarn.

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3 thoughts on “How to Make an Epson Ecotank Sublimation Printer”

  2. Josie Jackson

    When it asks to download firmware should I? My last epson sublimation said not to download firmware that it would ruin the sublimation process. Please help

    Reply
    1. Daniela

      I personally have not had any issues with updates. The only concern that I’ve heard that exists is the color profile may change so colors might be off and you’d need to reset them if that happens. Therefore some people choose to update the firmware prior to turning a printer into a sublimation printer and then turn off updates. But I personally allow updates as there are other bugs or issues Epson may be updating.

      Reply

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