Best Sublimation Ink For Epson Ecotank & Sawgrass For Cotton

It is said that sublimation ink is the blood of a sublimation printer that revolves in the printer’s lines and printhead. What if you choose non-compatible sublimation ink that clogs the printhead of your printer? Before getting started with sublimation printing, it is essential for you to choose the best sublimation ink compatible with your sublimation printer to provide you with flawless transfers with vivid outputs.

To get you to select the superlative quality sublimation ink, we tested and tried a wide range of sublimation inks and selected the top 8 out of a wide range list that provided us the durable and vibrant prints that were not prone to fade or wash out.

Best Sublimation Ink

Best Sublimation Ink In 2024

Our chosen sublimation inks are compatible with Workforce, Ecotank, and other wide ranges of Epson sublimation printers. But before getting sublimation inks for your printer, check thoroughly whether they are compatible with your printer or not.

Hiipoo 580ML Sublimation Ink
Hiipoo sublimation
ink
  • ICC free printing
  • Easy to refill
  • Long-lasting
LNKCOS 600ML Sublimation Ink
Lnkcos 600ML Sublimation Ink
  • Sleek ink texture
  • 24 months shelf life
  • Best For ET-8550
Printers Jack Sublimation Ink
Printer Jack sublimation ink
  • UV-resistant
  • Nozzle-based bottle
  • Auto refill and stop

Image Product Name Benefits Price
Top Pick
 
Hiipoo 580ML Sublimation Ink
1-hiipoo sublimation ink
  • Print DIY projects
  • Long-lasting
  • no syringes required
  • ICC Free profiles
Printers Jack Sublimation Ink
2-Printer Jack sublimation ink
  • Nozzle-based bottle
  • UV-resistant
  • Water-resistant
  • Auto-Refill
LNKCOS 600ML Sublimation Ink
3- Lnkcos 600ML Sublimation Ink
  • Long-lasting
  • Resistant to water, and UV rays
  • ICC-free Profile
  • Sleek ink texture
Sawgrass SG500 Sublimation Ink
4- Sawgrass SG500 Sublimation Ink
  • ICC free profiles
  • Pack of heat-resistant tapes
  • EASYSUBLI sublimation cartridges
  • Best quality prints on HTV
5. Tonha Sublimation Ink Refill
5- Tonha Sublimation Ink Refill
  • Air-tight bottles
  • Auto-filling and stop
  • DIY gifts
  • Decent color accuracy
INKXPRO 4 X 100ml Professional True Color Sublimation Ink
6- INKXPRO 4X 100ML Sublimation Ink
  • Supreme results
  • ICC free profiles
  • Smooth texture
  • Best for ceramics
Xcinkjet Sublimation Ink
7- Xcinkjet Sublimation Ink
  • ICC free profiles
  • Air-tight bottles
  • Eco-friendly
  • Wide applications
E-Z Ink (TM) Autofill Sublimation Ink
8-E-Z Ink (TM) Autofill Sublimation Ink
  • Affordable price
  • UV and water-resistant 
  • ICC free profile
  • DIY gifts

1. Hiipoo 580ML Sublimation Ink for EcoTank Supertank Inkjet Printer – Best For Shirts

Hiipoo 580ML Sublimation Ink
  • ICC free printing
  • UV and water-resistant
  • Great page fields
  • Durable color printing
  • Easy to refill
Why Our Top Pick?

The top pick Hiipoo sublimation ink is versatile to print DIY projects on a number of different types of substrates including polyester, hard surface substrates, acrylic keychains, mugs, and almost every substrate that you desire to sublimate. The print quality especially on the polyester fabric turned out tremendous and I was really impressed with the vibrancy.

print quality especially on the polyester fabric
print quality especially on the polyester fabric was outstanding
UV-Resistant & Long-Lasting

The ink was suitable for me to bring my artistic imagination into real life and I often utilize it in my various projects. The color it provides are long-lasting and are not prone to fading even after a hundred washes. Additionally, the UV rays also didn’t impact its intense colors.

The texture of the inks was smooth and the viscosity was also moderate so I didn’t notice any clogging in the printer’s printhead.

The Great Page Yield

With the great page yields, I printed a decent number of pages before refilling was needed. And yeah! Refilling was quite straightforward with the provided ink bottles in the Ecotank printers so no syringes were required.

Although I observed the ink is not suitable for high printing demand. Also, you need to configure the printer and pressure settings properly otherwise they might affect the vibrancy of the ink.

Even if you’re a novice to sublimation, the Hiipoo sublimation ink will prove itself convenient in your creative journey. I created my own ICC profiles with the Hiipoo sublimation ink and I used to print with A-sub sublimation paper with Ecotank printer 15000. Although I’m giving the link to my ICC profiles here.

Advantages
  • Smooth texture
  • Free-clog printing
  • Vigorous color printing
  • 5 ink bottles along with extra black ink
  • Eco-friendly
Disadvantages
  • Not suitable for commercial basis

ET-3700 seriesET-3800 seriesET-16000 seriesET-5000 series
ET-2400,2700 seriesET-2800 seriesET-4800 seriesET-4700 series
ST-2000,3000,4000WF-7000,3000,4000ET-15000ET-L series

2. Printers Jack Sublimation Ink

Printers Jack Sublimation Ink
  • 1-year plus life shell in the tanks
  • Auto refill and stop
  • Suitable for DIY projects
  • Latest technology to prevent clogging
  • Best to use with Ecotank and WF series
The All-In-One Solution

An all-in-one solution for almost every Epson sublimation printer’s series, the second top pick sublimation ink is also easy to fill without syringes. The bottle design is nozzle-based so you don’t need to fill manually.

Printers jack sublimation ink is suitable for ceramic, metal, tumblers, and almost every polymer-coated substrate that I desired to print, I also got some superior results with poly-blended fabric that I used more than 70% of polyester.

superior results with poly-blended fabric
superior results with poly-blended fabric
Best For DIY

The prints it produces are UV-resistant and should not be worried about drying the apparel in direct sunlight additionally you can make your own DIY hats, face masks, socks, and much more to wear outdoors. Additionally, your DIY apparel prints will be durable because the printer jack is water-resistant.

Create your fun for a long time because they won’t require to be refilled often. You might get nervous when the prints on the sublimation paper will be a bit light as I also got nervous and I thought I’d messed up with the ICC profiles but after transferring with a suitable temperature the color became aesthetic and perfectly accurate.

No Clogging

The viscosity of the ink was decent and didn’t cause any clog to my printer’s printhead. But a running cleaning kit is essential to prevent any possible cloggings.

Advantages
  • Equipped with 3-layer filtration
  • Water and UV-resistant
  • Smooth viscosity
  • Best dry time
  • Best for 70% polyester
Disadvantages
  • clogging if not used within 1 year

3. LNKCOS 600ML Sublimation Ink for Epson EcoTank ET-8500 ET-8550

LNKCOS 600ML Sublimation Ink
  • Fine art like colors
  • Perfect for all desired substrates
  • Anti-UV and water resistant
  • Best to print 13”x19” substrates
  • 24 months shelf life
A Wonderful Gift For 6-Colored Sublimation

Have you got ET-8550 and 8500 and wondering which ink will provide the enhanced colors to produce vivid gradients? One of my ideal series by Epson that I always love to utilize with LNKCOS is the best sublimation ink for Epson 8550 however I also love to use L&C sublimation ink for mugs.

The six-colored sublimation ink is specifically designed for ET-8500 and 8550 to produce durable prints for long-lasting. Other than this ink, I recently tested 6-color Hiipoo sublimation ink which was also suitable for all types of substrates.

Rich-Hued Results

Print your creative dreams using the six colors with 2 additional black colors to enhance the depth of colors. The prints they produce are resistant to water, and UV rays, and also won’t fade. The nozzle design was convenient to fill and refill the Ecotfit ink tanks effortlessly and you won’t need to squeeze the bottles.

When Compared With Other 6-Colored Printers

Other than that, the results on apparel and DIY substrates were robust and tremendous to wear without any fear of fade even if you can wash the sublimated mugs in the dishwasher. Comparing its results with the CoYlBod 6 Colors Sublimation for Epson Artisan 1430 the LNKCOS gave me better results with more precise dot printing.

ICC-Free Creation

Although the inks are ICC-free I created my custom ICC profile with the LNCKOS, A-sub paper, and ET-8550 and installed it on my Windows 10. I also suggest you use these 3 combinations and you won’t regret it to be honest.

However, I’ve also tried L&C sublimation ink to print mugs, tumblers, and phone cases. Purge cleaning was needed before using another sublimation ink brand. Both gave me accurate and almost similar results but my priority is LNKCOS due to great page yields for small substrates. However, if you intend to print 13×19 prints which Epson 8550 can print then you might get a poor page yield.

Might Be Downside

It is famous that more ink tank colors mean more clogs and problems but, to be honest, I didn’t get any single issue with the printhead because the ink texture was sleek. But it might create a hassle for you if you’re a novice.

Advantages
  • A pack of 600 ml
  • Syringe-free filling
  • Accurate dot printing
  • Perfect for DIY and business
  • Great page yield
Disadvantages
  • Might clog printhead

4. Sawgrass SG500 Sublimation Ink Cartridge Sublijet UHD – Best For Cotton & Black Color

Sawgrass SG500 Sublimation Ink
  • Sawgrass print manager color correction
  • Great value with the package
  • Wide substrate printing
  • Superior prints
  • Wash-resistant
Dedicated Sublimation Cartridges

When investing a decent amount into a dedicated sublimation printer, you also need to get the essential equipment that the company has suggested. We cannot use third-party inks or cartridges with sawgrass sublimation printers. Here comes the need for original Sawgrass UHD ink cartridges filled with original sublimation ink.

Provides Value

The package is pricey but worth the value because you’ll get an additional pack of heat-resistant tapes and sublimation paper.

I also got EASYSUBLI sublimation cartridges, I used to print black color polyester and cotton fabric other than traditional substrates because the sawgrass print manager allowed me to choose the material of substrates although you can use sawgrass UHD for those both too.

Versatile

But EASYSUBLI printables are more specific to them. However, for mugs, tumblers, polyester, and other wide range of substrates, the Sawgrass UHD is a perfect choice.

Sawgrass UHD is a perfect choice result producer
Eliminate The Use Of ICC-Profiles Using Print Manager

Sawgrass print manager also eliminated the hassle of using ICC profiles because it corrected the colors accordingly.

No Smear

The ink on the sublimation paper was drying out fast. Smearing ink after printing was zero and the quality after heat transferring was decent on hard as well as soft substrates. The inks are suitable to deliver the best quality prints on HTV but you might be annoyed with running costs which can be high because their page yield is poor.

The UHD inks are also suitable for SG1000 along with SG500 but don’t ever try to use them with SG800 or 400.

check Best 13×19 Sublimation Printer

Advantages
  • Suitable for polyester printing
  • CMYK cartridges
  • Perfect for hard or soft poly-coated substrates
  • Smudge-resistant
  • Won’t peel off
Disadvantages
  • Poor page yields

5. Tonha Sublimation Ink Refill – Cheap Option

5. Tonha Sublimation Ink Refill
  • Cheap to buy
  • ICC-free inks
  • Resistant to water and fade
  • Best for DIY gifts
  • Wide range of compatibility
The Cheapest Option

One of the cheapest yet quality-maintained sublimation inks on our list. Its compatibility with almost every Epson series makes it a prominent and cheap choice to get started. However, the air-tight bottles don’t provide auto-filling and stop like the above-mentioned sublimation inks.

The Downside

The tonha sublimation ink comes in simplified bottles and we need to use either washed bottles that we received with the Epson printer or the syringes that we get with the tonha sublimation inks.

Perfect Quality

Apart from filling, the perfection in the printing impressed me, my tumblers came out with true-to-life colors. Along with that, the t-shirt printing also came out decent which cannot be ignored.

Although I found it suitable for almost every substrate that I desired to sublimate including ceramics, wood, apparel, DIY gifts, decorations, pet tags, and even cotton sublimation also turned out fabulous.

vibrant color accuracy
vibrant color accuracy
No Clogging

Its low viscosity was suitable for all Ecotank model’s printheads and the printing was smooth. I tried tonha for the first time and was not expecting the colors will be that vibrant but so far I was satisfied with the color accuracy.

But you might find it hard to refill into the printer if you’re a novice due to syringe headaches, as you need to compromise on some factors keeping in mind the price tag.

Advantages
  • Anti-UV prints
  • Low viscosity
  • Vivid color prints
  • Air light bottles
  • Clear instructions in the box
Disadvantages
  • Refilling was messy

6. INKXPRO 4 X 100ml Professional True Color Sublimation Ink

INKXPRO 4 X 100ml Professional True Color Sublimation Ink
  • Smooth printing
  • Impressive print quality
  • Affordable option
  • Best for ceramics especially
  • Air-tight bottles
Another Cheap Option

Another best choice on our list is to provide you with a great experience of sublimation printing. Although they also don’t come with auto-refill bottles so you might need to engage with the syringes you can use original bottles of Epson alternatively. Thanks to the print quality, the transfer quality was something that cannot be ignored.

Best For ET And WF

However, it is suitable for ET and other series too but I got the supreme results with my WF series and I also got the CISS ink system. They provided me with their ICC profiles with Photoshop but still, some colors turned out a bit messy.

Do you know what is the most surprising part? The ink produced more vibrant colors without available ICC profiles. The black color it printed was dense and amazing. Overall the image quality was brighter, especially on mugs. You might check Best Sublimation Printer For Mugs.

brighter image quality
Worth Buying

Page yield is superb and worth the price even if you can use it for a continuous 2 years depending upon the substrate size. 

Weekly maintenance is needed to the printhead if you’re getting the CISS system also the ink has a smooth texture so you won’t face any clogging.

Advantages
  • Bright prints
  • ICC profiles available
  • Best for the WF series
  • Good page yield
  • Low viscosity
Disadvantages
  • Bottles are not auto-refill

7. Xcinkjet Sublimation Ink

 Xcinkjet Sublimation Ink
  • Mediocre color accuracy
  • Best for DIY hobbies
  • No clogging
  • Can be refilled with syringes
  • Non-toxic
Affordable Option For Affordable Printers

Another cheap option out there is to offer wide applications on various kinds of substrates. However, the ink filling is not convenient but there are alternative options like syringes and Epson’s original bottles. Ecotank and WF series are the best ones to use with it. Get the best cheap sublimation printers.

Versatility

It allows you to print on mugs, mouse pads, t-shirts, pillows, and almost every apparel that is polyester and has a hard surface coated with polymer. The colors were less vibrant when I compared them to my cheap option Tonha sublimation ink.

The Downside

I was not that impressed with the color accuracy too. You need to create some ICC profiles for the ink otherwise you might get horrible prints out there. Also, keep an eye on the pressure settings, time, and substrate material to bring out the best results.

Color looks amazing
Color looks amazing
Great Page Yield

I was only impressed with the page yield that offered me a decent amount of printing. Also, the viscosity was low additionally the inks come in air-tight bottles. You won’t have to face any ink spill issues with the ink bottles.

Besides, the ink is eco-friendly and you can use it without any hassle to the environment. Although it’s alternative and cheap option is Tonha sublimation ink.

Advantages
  • Eco-friendly sublimation ink
  • Good page yielding
  • Wide range of application
  • Compatible with Epson Sublimation
  • Air-tight bottles
Disadvantages
  • The colors were messy sometimes

8. E-Z Ink (TM) Autofill Sublimation Ink

E-Z Ink (TM) Autofill Sublimation Ink
  • Compatible with WF and Ecotank
  • Additional pack of syringes in the box
  • Refillable bottles
  • Best for personalized products
  • Vibrant colors
Cheap With Auto-Filling

Didn’t get the sublimation inks that you desired? Get the E-Z sublimation ink with an affordable price tag and you won’t regret it. The filling and refilling are flawless with the auto ink bottle even if you’re a beginner.

Check the Best sublimation printer for beginners

Durable Prints

Equipped with 3-layer printing filters, the E-Z ink ensures accurate heat transfers on a wide range of substrates. The UV and water-resistant features present in the sublimation ink produce durable prints even if you wash them a hundred times, the sublimation ink won’t fade until the substrate is worn and torn.

color comes out nice and vibrant
No Clogging

The intense smoothness of the ink won’t let the printhead clog although weekly maintenance will be needed if you desire to print regularly. While you need to keep an eye on the pressure and time settings but the ink provides a decent transfer rate.

You can use it with Epson workforce or Ecotank printers but custom ICC profiles might be needed although the ink is ICC-free. It will allow you to customize polyester shirts, ceramics, metal, wood, and acrylic keychains, bags, socks, and DIY gifts.

Advantages
  • Anti-clogging technology
  • Easy refillable
  • Anti UV
  • Best for novices
  • High page yields
Disadvantages
  • Sometimes faded results in uneven pressure

What To Look For When Buying The Best Product

What To Look For When Buying The Best Sublimation Inks

New to sublimation? Buying the sublimation inks for the very first time? Here are some of the quick points to consider before diving into the world of sublimation.

1. Compatibility

Not all sublimation inks above mentioned are compatible with all Epson sublimation printers. They might have compatibility issues so when buying the sublimation inks, it is essential to check on the manufacturer’s website whether they are compatible with your printer model or not.

If you fill the inappropriate sublimation ink then it will create a mess with your printer’s printhead thus you’ll need to clean it thoroughly.

2. Wide Range Of Applications

Some of the sublimation inks produce vibrant prints for apparel and some for hard poly-coated surfaces. Although they are not bound to use with one substrate only several factors force the sublimation ink to produce different results on different substrates.

You’ll find some sublimation inks also compatible with the cotton blended with polyester and producing vivid prints. But always choose according to your needs and the type of substrate that you’re gonna sublimate. Also, ensure to print on compatible and best sublimation paper.

To prevent fading and washing out of the sublimation ink, make sure you’re printing on poly-coated substrates like poly-coated mugs, tumblers, phone cases, glass, and much more.

3. Easy To Refill

While cheap choice sublimation inks don’t provide the refill inks that auto stop when the ink tanks or cartridges get filled. The refillable auto valve of the ink bottles prevents the trouble of getting syringes and ink spilling on hands and printers. Their bottles are airtight and can be stored indoors.

Alternatively, you can wash and fill the sublimation ink into the original ink bottles provided by the Epson printer that you could have received along with the printer.

4. Durability

Some cheap inks might not work best to produce durable prints that won’t be fade-resistant. Also, apparel printing will require a hundred washes. If the sublimation ink is not water or UV-resistant then the prints might fade over time when they are exposed to direct sunlight.


A Quick Brief To ICC Profiles

Many novices don’t know what the ICC profiles are and how they work to get accurate prints produced. Let me clarify in simple words, ICC profiles help you to print and get the exact prints and colors that you design and look at on your computer.

Now the question arises as to why the prints won’t come exactly when you look at the computer screen. Because every monitor has its own color management system when it is bought. Mostly you’ll get the RGB settings.

When you print design from your monitor definitely you’ll be looking and printing into the color profiles that come with the monitor. Even every gadget including your camera and monitor will have its own color profiles.

The printer that you’re going to use to print will have its own color profiles in the CMYK colors. The Epson printers come with the already installed ICC profiles for the inks that are in the box.

Thus using them for sublimation ink means the ICC profiles will be changed, we need to create the custom ICC profiles for that sublimation ink and the software that we use to design on the laptop that we’re gonna use.

Now there is a difference between monitor or laptop color management and printer’s color management, therefore, the custom ICC profiles help the printer to understand the colors and management that you’re looking at on your screen.

Thus using a sublimation printer without any compatible ICC profile will create a significant difference in the output colors as the sublimation printing also passes through various factors including heat transfer, pressure, and time.

You can also get the ICC profiles on sublimation ink manufacturers’ websites. Further, you can create your own ICC profiles for Photoshop, windows 10, or your monitor using multiple tools. Here is the guide on how to create them. Interested in a video? Learn in the video to create ICC profiles.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Ko3R7HQq8ku0026ab_channel=SarahBarsness


Frequently Asked Questions

Are all sublimation inks the same?

No, not all sublimation ink brands can be the same however, their manufacturing substances can be the same but they cannot provide you with the same results and performance.

Can you use any sublimation ink in an Epson printer?

You cannot use any sublimation ink with the Epson printer. Always check thoroughly whether the inks are compatible with your printer model or not. If not and you forcefully fill them to print then it will bleed on the sublimation paper or will not provide the desired results. Also, there is a factor of ICC profiles in management that cannot be ignored when using compatible sublimation inks.

Can I use 2 different brands of sublimation ink?

You should not use 2 different brands of sublimation inks in the same printer. If you desire to change the sublimation ink brand, then clean the printhead thoroughly by using the purge cycle of the cleaning kit.

Can I mix 2 different brands of sublimation ink?

You should only use individual printers with the 2 brands and should not mix them. Since the sublimation inks are different to ensure the best quality results and heat transfers, never mix them.

Should you shake sublimation ink?

You should not shake the sublimation ink bottles because shaking will create bubbles in the bottles and bubbles can create uneven filling and printing results.


Conclusion

Now you’ve found the best sublimation inks for your printing needs. Sublimation ink is equally essential to a printer as the blood to a human body. Sublimation ink does yield a shelf life to the vibrancy of sublimated substrates. So always choose it wisely with thorough research. Still, you’re confused about which sublimation ink to use with your Epson Ecotank. Here are some quick suggestions:

  • Hiipoo sublimation ink
  • Printer jack
  • Tonha sublimation ink (Cheap option)

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