Update: Hiipoo now has their sublimation ink in autofill bottles so no more need for the syringes when adding the ink to the Epson Ecotank printers! Find the new product here. Note: We will not be using the ink that comes in the printer box! Hiipoo has a few different lines of sublimation ink so make sure it says it works with the printer you get. I am using an Epson Ecotank ET-2760 and Hiipoo sublimation ink (or this one is in new bottles to directly transfer) that is specific for my model of the Ecotank that Hiipoo sent me to try out. So make sure you are getting a printer specifically for sublimation and you won’t be using it for anything else.Ĭonverting a printer for sublimation is actually pretty easy only requires two supplies – an Epson Ecotank and sublimation ink.
Just as a reminder, anytime you convert anything into something the printer wasn’t intended for, you void all rights to warranties and such.
How to Convert an Epson Ecotank into a Sublimation Printer
If you want to get all the specifics and full details on how the process of sublimation works, check out Wikipedia here. Simply add sublimation dye into the ink cartridges and it’s ready to go! You can buy specific sublimation printers but they can be pretty pricey – around $800!īut you can easily convert a relatively inexpensive printer into a sublimation printer! Epson Ecotank printers use the correct piezo pressure and are also pretty affordable. Printers that use piezopressue technology (getting too technical for me!) are the types of printers that can handle sublmiation dyes. The majority of printers use thermal or heat technology which will bake the sublimation dye right into the paper. You need special dyes to print on the paper and not all printers play nicely with them. Can Any Printer Be Used for Sublimation Printing? You can find some of my favorite sublimation products at my Amazon storefront here. Make sure to check out my post all about sublimating on shirts for more info. The higher the polyester the brighter the ink will come out. When it comes to fabric or shirts, you can use most light-colored polyester shirts or shirts with high polyester to other material ratios. These products have a type of poly coating that the sublimation dye sublimates into.
You need to use products that are specifically designed for sublimation ink. I love Infusible Ink for mugs and other projects, but you can only cut out images out of specific colors and can’t use photos or specific multi-color designs. In essence, Infusible Ink transfer sheets are sublimation sheets that have already been printed. There is no thickness to it since it actually embeds into the poly surface of the material. There is also no cracking or peeling like you sometimes get when applying iron on vinyl to shirts. The heat transfers are full color and pretty permanent. The ink actually infuses into the shirt, fabric, mug, bag, phone case, etc and creates a seamless design from seam to seam. In short, sublimation printing is transferring specific or sublimation dyes to a transfer sheet that then are imprinted or “sublimated” into textiles or other compatible materials by adding heat.