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How to set up an Epson Printer (WorkForce 7720) to a Sublimation Printer

What You Will Need:

• A Printer compatible with Sublimation Ink- I use an Epson 7720
  • check out a full list of compatible printers here
• Sublimation Ink
  • The Best Epson Sublimation Ink Comparison, here
• Refillable Cartridges- I used these
  • My favorite refillable ink cartridges are the InkOwl Cartridges here.
    • Updated: Use the code “SUBSTUDIES” for $5 off your InkOwl order
• Sublimation Paper- what I use
  • Another popular here

Let’s Get Started!

A couple of things I want to touch on before we get started. I am using an Epson 7720 WorkForce printer, but the directions are generally the same for other desktop printers. These directions will not work for an EcoTank Printer, which doesn’t require cartridges.

Step 1: Follow the directions provided by the printer’s manufacturer for set up 

Set up the printer as you would with any office printer and install the Epson ink that was provided with the printer.

Print a nozzle check with the Epson Ink to make sure that your printer is working correctly. Once you install sublimation ink into your printer you will void the warranty.

The nozzle check should print with no broken lines.

Print head is clean

To print a nozzle check on the Epson 7710/7720, use the touch screen and scroll left until you get to “Settings”, then click, “Maintenance” >> “Print Head Nozzle Check”

If you have broken lines, run a print head cleaning. Run as many as needed until you have perfectly straight lines.

Print head needs cleaning

On the Epson 7710/7720 go to settings >> maintenance, then click “Print Head Cleaning”

Here are Epson’s set up directions for the Epson 7710/7720

Step 2: Download and Install the print drivers for your printer

The Epson Printer Drivers for the Epson 7710/7720 can be found here under “downloads”.

Step 3: Fill your cartridges with Sublimation Ink

While your software is downloading, fill your cartridges

Some cartridges come pre-filled, if that is the case, then skip these steps.

Step 4: Read the directions provided with your ink cartridges

Each type of ink cartridges is slightly different and the manufacturer may have specific details that you will need to follow(like which plugs to remove and how full to fill them) and they will go over that information. I will be going over the general steps.

Step 5: Put your gloves on and lay down your paper towels

I recommend doing this on a non-porous surface, like the glass desk I am using. Don’t do this on your favorite dining room table, it is messy!

Step 6:  One bottle at a time

Decide what color you want to fill first, for me, it always black. I will take the black sublimation ink bottle, cartridge, and syringe and push the others outside of easy reach. Nothing is worse than filling the cyan with black…. I may or may not know from experience.

Step 7: Remove the necessary plugs

You will need to refer to your specific ink cartridges instructions but remove the correct plugs.

Step 8: Fill Syringe

Open the bottle of Sublimation Ink and take your syringe, putting only the tip into the ink and fill it. You want to make sure that you don’t have any air bubbles in the syringe(See yellow syringe). Air bubbles in your cartridges will cause problems.

These syringes are really short, which means you have to put more of the syringe into the bottle which makes the process even messier because you have ink on the side of the syringe.

Step 9: Place Syringe in Cartridge

Using the fill hole(most cartridges have two holes, a fill hole, and a vent hole) insert the syringe straight into the cartridge. The inside of the cartridges are lined with very thin plastic (think plastic bag) that can easily be punctured with the syringe.

Step 10: Slowly Fill Cartridges

Slowly push down on the top of the syringe to fill the cartridge to avoid overfilling or breaking the cartridge. You want to fill the cartridge 7/8th full. There is no reason to fill fuller than that, as it will only cause problems. Refillable cartridges hold more than genuine Epson Cartridges so your printer will require you to refill them sooner than needed.

Step 11: Close the Bottle and Push Cap Back In

Put the lid back on the sublimation ink, make sure you screw it on tightly. Push the tab back into the ink cartridge and set aside.

Step 12: Repeat Steps 4-9 with Other Ink Colors

Repeat for all of your cartridges.

Detailed instructions on how to fill Ink cartridges here.

Step 13: Remove Epson ink cartridges and load your refillable cartridges.

In order to replace cartridges on an Epson 7710/7720 go to settings>>maintenance, and click “replace Ink cartridges”

Make sure to keep the epson cartridges that came with the printer incase you have any issues with your refillable cartridges in the future.

Lift the lid of the printer and ink cartridge ink holder lever.

Remove the Epson Cartridges

Replace with refillable cartridges. Make sure that you hear the “click noise” and they are secured properly. Close the ink cartridge lever and close the lid.

Make sure that you have followed the directions of your specific cartridges, some have you remove certain plugs when you put them in the printer. If you don’t follow the directions you can risk ruining your print head.

The Try The Ink Cartridges used here, need to have the colorful plugs removed from them.

Step 14: Acknowledge the use of third-party ink

Acknowledge on the printer screen that you have installed third-party ink cartridges. Hit “Ok” and then a screen will pop up explaining that you have voided your warranty, click “proceed” And then click, “yes”

TROUBLESHOOTING

If your printer doesn’t recognize your cartridges, take them out and wait about five minutes and reinstall them. Try that up to three times. If that doesn’t solve the problem, install the Epson Cartridges and start over.

Step 15: Run a minimum of four print head cleanings

Some ink cartridges say to run five and others say run as little as two.

I ran cleaning carts through my printer and it took four cleaning cycles until the printer didn’t have any trace of ink, therefore you will need to run 4 cleanings to make sure that you have removed all the Epson ink.

Step 16: Run a Nozzle Check

Once you have performed adequate print head cleanings, run a nozzle check, you will want perfect lines again. If your lines are broken, keep running print head cleanings until you get a clean nozzle check.

Run up to ten cleanings before waiting 24 hours to run more cleanings. You can break the print head by completing too many print head cleanings.

Optional

Step 17: Install printer profiles if needed by the ink

If your ink needs printer profiles, and you are going to be using programs that support color management(Photoshop, Illustrator, Corel, etc.) then you should install Printer Profiles.

What are printer profiles and how do they work? Here is a full post on sublimation printer profiles. If you are unsure if your ink needs printer profiles, check out the ink comparison here.

The ink company should provide you with the profile files, if your ink needs profiles.  Just because they don’t provide the profiles, doesn’t mean they don’t need profiles. Once you download the profile, you will need to install them correctly. Your computer looks for profiles in a specific folder(that is hidden deep in your computer). You will need to copy the .icc or .icm file to the specific location.

• For further directions on how to install a printer profile on a mac follow my directions here.
• For directions on how to install a printer profile on a PC, here is a link to a video that is really helpful. Skip the first 57 seconds of the video, those do not apply to this.

Step 18: Start Printing!

Make sure that you mirror your image when printing! If you are using a printer profile, use a software that uses color management(photoshop, illustrator, Corel etc.) and that you select the profile during printing.

Use the print settings button to change any of the other needed printer information such as paper size and qaulity of printing.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to comment below!

As a general rule of thumb, I press items at 400 degrees for 60 seconds. If you bought sublimation blanks from a blanks company, then they should provide directions. Here is a link to our sublimation blank company directory.