Create custom products, including mugs, tumblers, and keychains. The Epson ET-15000 has piqued the interest of small businesses and serious hobbyists.
It’s a true sublimation printer designed for dye-sub-transfer printing on polyester fabrics or polymer-coated rigid materials like glass, metal, and wood. Click Epson Dye Sublimation Printer to learn more.
Designed for round-the-clock productivity and industrial reliability, it delivers stunning print quality with a low total cost of ownership. Features include 4.7″ wide PrecisionCore microTFP printheads, extreme drop placement accuracy, and built-in redundancy.
Getting Started
Unlike traditional inkjet or laser printers, dye sublimation printers are designed to print images on fabric and coated substrates. They use a process that heats solid ink to a gas so the surface of materials such as mugs and mousepads can absorb it. Using them for regular document printing could damage the printer and create poor print quality.
Purchasing an Epson dye sublimation printer is a big investment, so it’s important to make sure the device is configured for sublimation straight out of the box. Before you start printing, you’ll need to remove all the tapes from the box, including one inside of the top printer cover. Once that’s done, you’ll need to plug in the printer and turn it on. It will take a few minutes for it to go through its first ink charging cycle. This uses up some of your ink, but it’s a necessary step to ensure the print head can charge properly and deliver high-quality results.
You’ll also want to download and install the latest drivers and utilities from Epson. You can do this by clicking on the Windows or Mac button and selecting “Settings”. Then, click on the “Drivers and Utilities Combo Package Installer”. Once this is installed, you’ll be able to set up your printer. The exact settings will vary depending on your computer and design program software.
When setting up your sublimation printer, be careful not to overfill the ink tanks. You can tell if you’ve added too much ink if the colors look faded or uneven. Ink Experts recommends adding only as much ink as indicated on the printed guidelines located in the user guide.
Another key factor is the print resolution. Higher resolutions provide better print quality, especially when working with large-format designs. The maximum print size of an epson dye sublimation printer is 8.5″ x 14″, which is perfect for most items like awards, tumblers and mugs. For larger-scale designs, it’s a good idea to consider a larger sublimation printer such as Sawgrass’ SG1000. This printer can print ultra-wide designs up to 5760 x 1440 DPI.
Printing Options
Using a dye sublimation transfer printing process, a full-color image is infused onto printing paper before being transferred to a polyester or polymer-coated item. This printing technique is often used to decorate apparel, signs and banners, and other novelty items like mugs, mouse pads, and trophies. This type of digital printing also allows users to customize items with their own images and text.
Epson offers a wide selection of color printers that are well-suited for this application. These color printers are typically designed for use with dye-based inks and can produce a wide color gamut, making them well suited to a variety of printing applications. Many of these printers are also equipped with an auto-feed tray that can handle a large volume of printed material, reducing the amount of manual intervention required for a print job.
Additionally, many of these dye sublimation printers are designed to work with specific types of paper and ink. This can ensure that the printing quality and durability of the end product are optimized for the type of product being printed.
For example, the SureColor F170 is a great choice for personalizing awards, tumblers, mugs, and other gifts, as it can print up to 8.5 x 14. It is designed with a compact footprint that allows users to maximize workspace efficiency while still offering high-quality prints. Additionally, this model is compatible with both Mac and Windows operating systems, allowing it to be used by a wider range of customers.
Once you have mastered the basic functions of your new dye sublimation printer, it is time to explore some advanced settings. Just like a superhero fine-tunes their powers over time, you will need to adjust your printer’s settings for different substrates. In addition, it is important to correctly align your print heads for optimal results.
For added peace of mind, many of these dye sublimation printers come with a limited 1-year onsite warranty and include access to Epson’s world-class support team. In addition, some of these models are equipped with low-cost, high-capacity replacement ink packs, reducing downtime and saving you money over time.
Printing Speeds
Dye sublimation printing is a high-temperature process that transfers artwork to an object in a gas state, using a specialist dye-sublimation printer. This process is used to create a wide variety of personalised products, including t-shirts, ceramic mugs, awards and more. It is an incredibly versatile and efficient method of personalisation, and can be used to help you expand your business by offering a wide range of options.
Designed by an industry leader, the SureColor F9470 delivers breakthrough productivity with exceptional color and quality for demanding applications. This powerful 64″ professional-grade dye-sublimation printer is ideal for a diverse range of apparel, soft signage, and decor printing applications in high-volume factory environments. Featuring a compact footprint and an advanced, user-replaceable 2.6″ PrecisionCore Micro TFP printhead with Nozzle Verification Technology and UltraChrome DS ink technology, the SureColor F9470 is able to achieve outstanding-quality prints at speeds up to 1,590 sqft/hr2.
The advanced, patented Epson Precision Dot produces high image quality with smooth tones and minimal grain. It uses three dedicated technologies to vary the size of the ink droplets based on their distance from the print head, which allows them to adjust to the thickness of the media and achieve optimal print quality.
With a 4.3″ touchscreen control panel, an easy-to-access maintenance area and a built-in cutter for roll-to-sheet convenience, the SureColor F9470 is designed with ease of use in mind. The built-in cutter helps to streamline workflows, while a media take-up reel system provides unattended operation and improved productivity.
The F9470 is compatible with a range of Epson software to help you streamline your workflow and enhance productivity. Streamline production with Epson Edge Print software, which features Adobe(r) PDF Print Engine and live monitoring of your printer fleet with Epson Cloud Solution PORT2.
Each SureColor F-Series large format dye sublimation printer is meticulously engineered by an industry leader1 to deliver a combination of performance and reliability that is ideal for demanding applications. Get the most out of your investment with comprehensive support and a limited warranty that covers all components, including the print heads.
Maintenance
Whether you’re using a sublimation-specific printer or one that has been converted to use sublimation printing, there are some steps you must take to ensure that your prints continue to look great. As with all technical equipment, your sublimation printer requires regular maintenance to keep it running and in top shape.
The frequency with which you perform maintenance depends on many factors, from how often you use the printer to how long it sits between uses. These factors, along with temperature and humidity, are all related to the longevity of your printer’s print head nozzles. The more frequently you use the printer, the less likely the nozzles will become clogged.
You should also avoid storing the printer for extended periods of time, especially if you haven’t used it recently. This will cause the ink in the reservoirs to dry out, which will also lead to a clogged print head. If possible, try to print something at least once a week.
Another thing to be aware of is that the nozzles on your sublimation printer will sometimes get clogged. When this happens, the best way to test if they’re still functioning properly is by running the Print Head Cleaning Utility in the printer. To do this, you’ll need to turn on your printer and then select the Print Head Cleaning Utility from the Settings menu. Then, follow the on-screen instructions to run the cleaner. After the process completes, you can print a nozzle check pattern to see if your nozzles are still functioning properly.
Finally, you should remember that the capping station and wiper blade are important components for sublimation printers. These components play a crucial role in the proper function of your sublimation printer. For this reason, it is essential to regularly clean them with a capping station cleaner and a lint-free cloth. This will ensure that your prints are always flawless and professional. This is the simplest step to help prevent any potential problems from occurring in your dye sublimation printer.