If you want manufacturer-supported sublimation printing, compare a purpose-built dye-sublimation printer before buying an ordinary EcoTank to convert. The Epson SureColor F170 is a practical small-format starting comparison. Sawgrass SG500 with a SubliJet system offers another supported route, while Epson’s SureColor F570 Pro serves wider-format work.
An EcoTank’s refillable tanks do not establish sublimation compatibility. A retailer’s conversion bundle or online tutorial is not Epson’s endorsement. This guide explains that distinction and the risks to resolve before spending money on a printer, ink and heat press.
Research checked October 4, 2026, against official Epson and Sawgrass documentation. We have not converted printers, tested color accuracy or measured running costs. Prices and stock are not verified. Product names, regional bundles, software requirements and warranty terms should be checked before purchase.
Ordinary EcoTank versus dedicated sublimation
Epson identifies the EcoTank ET-2800 as a home all-in-one printer in its official specification sheet. It uses specified Epson 522 replacement ink. In contrast, the F170 is explicitly sold as a dye-sublimation printer with its corresponding dye-sublimation ink and transfer-paper workflow.
Our conclusion from those documented intended uses is that the ordinary ET-2800 should not be presented as an Epson-supported sublimation model. The same purchasing check should be made for any other EcoTank: find the exact model’s supported ink and intended application rather than relying on the tank design or a similar model number.
Epson’s ET-2800 ink guidance says damage caused by third-party ink or ink not designed for the printer is outside its warranty coverage. That is a specific damage exclusion. It should not be exaggerated into an unsupported statement that every warranty right automatically disappears when any third-party product is used.
Three supported alternatives to compare
| Printer/system | Documented format | Why compare it | Main buying check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Epson SureColor F170 | Maximum paper width 8.5 inches | Dedicated Epson dye-sublimation system using bottled ink | Printable margins and software-supported sheet length |
| Sawgrass SG500 with SubliJet | North American main tray extends for 8.5 × 14-inch paper | Dedicated printer, ink and color-management workflow | Correct regional model and exact ink bundle |
| Epson SureColor F570 Pro | Rolls and sheets up to 24 inches wide | Wider work, roll handling and production-layout software | Workshop space and heat-press capacity for the output |
Epson F170: the small-format starting comparison
The SureColor F170 includes a 150-sheet auto-feed tray and uses Epson T49M dye-sublimation bottles. Epson lists USB, Ethernet and wireless connectivity. This is a direct fit for researching a supported desktop setup rather than assembling an unsupported conversion.
Its 8.5-inch maximum paper width is not an 8.5-inch borderless image. Epson lists 3 mm left and right margins. Printable length also depends on the application, operating system and driver; verify your intended sheet and artwork in the current documentation. Do not assume a shirt graphic fits simply because the printer accepts letter-size paper.
Tradeoff: this width may limit larger designs. Make a full-size paper template of your intended print area before deciding that a compact printer is enough. Check current drivers for your specific computer rather than treating an older operating-system list on a product page as complete.
Sawgrass SG500: compare the complete SubliJet package
Sawgrass’s SubliJet system pairs the SG500 with SubliJet UHD ink, TruePix sublimation paper and Sawgrass Print Utility in its listed bundle. It is intended for compatible polyester and products manufactured with a sublimation-ready polymer coating.
The manufacturer’s SG500 tray guidance says the North American main tray can extend for 8.5 × 14-inch paper. Optional feeding accessories are separate buying decisions; confirm the supported paper, printable area and regional model before ordering a longer-format setup.
Choose the ink system deliberately. Sawgrass also offers other decoration workflows under the same printer family. An SG500 listing alone does not establish that the included ink and paper are the SubliJet combination you want. Ask the seller to identify every consumable by its exact name.
The current SG500 page states a three-year or 100,000-print warranty period for qualifying printers purchased on or after October 1, 2025, applicable to the original purchaser. Read its linked full terms and local coverage rather than relying on an older two-year description.
Epson F570 Pro: compare when width earns its place
The SureColor F570 Pro supports rolls and sheets up to 24 inches wide, a 50-sheet auto-feed tray and a built-in cutter. Its Epson Edge Print Pro software includes layout, nesting and pattern-repeat tools.
This is worth comparing when your actual products require wider transfers or you need roll-based work. A larger maximum width alone does not establish higher profit or better color. Confirm space for the printer, media handling, cooling finished blanks and a compatible pressing setup. Buying more print width than you can transfer does not remove the production bottleneck.
Why an already-filled EcoTank adds uncertainty
The ET-2800/ET-2803 user guide explains that initial setup charges the printhead with ink. Therefore, an apparently empty tank should not be treated as proof that the ink system is clean or ready for another formulation. Residual ordinary ink is a contamination concern when someone proposes a conversion.
This guide provides no validated flushing or ink-switching procedure. Do not top up ordinary ink with sublimation ink, mix brands or assume a used machine can be returned reliably to office printing. Ask Epson about supported service options and ask any conversion seller exactly which failures, cleanup and support it takes responsibility for.
Check the whole workflow before purchase
- Blanks: confirm the exact garment or object is compatible with the ink-and-transfer process. Ordinary cotton and an uncoated mug are not established as suitable merely because they can be heated.
- Press: match the press type, printable dimensions and blank manufacturer’s required conditions. Use its electrical, ventilation and burn-safety instructions.
- Color: verify the supported software, ink, paper and profiles as a complete combination. Ask for a sample on the actual blank type when color matters.
- Consumables: include ink, transfer paper, blanks, cleaning and maintenance supplies, test pieces and any required tray or stand in the budget.
- Support: identify who handles printer faults, transfer problems and consumable compatibility. Keep the model, serial number, ink names and receipts together.
Frequently asked questions
Which EcoTank is best for sublimation?
We do not rank unsupported conversions as manufacturer-approved choices. Compare the F170 first for small-format work, SG500 for its SubliJet ecosystem, and F570 Pro when wider output is necessary.
Can I use ordinary Epson ink for sublimation?
Use the exact ink specified for a supported dye-sublimation system. Epson’s F170 ink compatibility page identifies T49M bottles for the relevant SureColor printers; an Epson logo alone does not make an ink compatible with every Epson printer.
Does sublimation paper convert a normal printer?
No. A supported process depends on the printer, ink, paper, substrate and heat-transfer setup working together. Changing paper alone does not establish that combination.
Can one setup handle cotton too?
That depends on a separately supported transfer system. Sawgrass offers workflows beyond SubliJet, but their ink, media and substrate requirements must be checked. Do not apply ordinary polyester-sublimation assumptions to a different process.
Image note: AI-generated generic editorial illustration; it does not identify a printer model or demonstrate conversion, ink compatibility or a tested printing result.
