sublimation ink for Epson and sawgrass. sublimation ink is said to be the blood of a sublimation printer. It flows in the printer’s lines and print head. What if you choose ink that doesn’t work with your printer? It could clog the print head. Before starting sublimation printing, you need to choose the best sublimation ink. It must work with your sublimation printer. It gives you flawless transfers with vivid colors.
We tested many sublimation inks to get you to select the best one. We picked the top 8 from a long list. They gave us durable and vibrant prints that did not fade or wash out.
Best Sublimation Ink In 2024
Our inks work with Workforce, Eco tank, and other Epson sublimation printers. But before getting sublimation inks, check if they work with your printer.
1. Hippo 580ML Sublimation Ink for Eco Tank Super tank Inkjet Printer – Best for Shirts
Why Our Top Pick?
The top pick is Hippo sublimation ink. It can print DIY projects on many types of substrates. These include polyester and hard surfaces. Also, acrylic keychains and mugs. They work on almost any surface you want to sublimate. The print quality was great, especially on the polyester fabric. I was impressed with the vibrancy.
UV-Resistant & Long-Lasting
The ink was good for me to bring my imagination into real life. I often use it in my projects. The colors it provides are long-lasting and are not prone to fading even after a hundred washes. Its vibrant colors were likewise unaffected by the UV radiation.
The inks were smooth. Their viscosity was moderate. So, I didn’t notice any clogging in the printer’s print head.
The Great Page Yield
I was able to print a respectable amount of pages before needing to refill thanks to the excellent page yields. And yeah! Refilling was easy. It used the provided ink bottles in the Eco tank printers. No syringes were needed.
Although I observed the ink is not suitable for high printing demand. Also, you need to set up the printer and pressure settings right. Otherwise, they might affect the ink’s vibrancy.
Even if you’re new to sublimation, the Hippo ink will be handy for you. I made my own ICC profiles with Hippo sublimation ink. I used to print with A-sub sublimation paper on an Eco tank printer 15000. Despite this, I’ve provided a link to my ICC profiles here.
2. Printers Jack Sublimation Ink
The All-In-One Solution
It’s an all-in-one solution for almost every Epson sublimation printer’s series. It’s the second-best sublimation ink. Also, it’s easy to fill without syringes. Since the bottle is nozzle-based, filling is not necessary.
Printers use sublimation ink. It is suitable for ceramic, metal, and tumblers. It’s also good for almost any polymer-coated substrate that I want to print on. I also got great results with fabric that was more than 70% polyester.
Best For DIY
The prints it makes are UV-resistant. You should not worry about them drying in direct sunlight. You can also make your DIY hats, face masks, socks, and more to wear outdoors. Also, your DIY apparel prints will be durable. This is because the printer jack is water-resistant.
Create your fun for a long time because they won’t need to be refilled often. You might get nervous if the prints on the sublimation paper are a bit light. I got nervous too. I thought I’d messed up the ICC profiles. But, after transferring at the right temperature, the color became beautiful and accurate.
No Clogging
The viscosity of the ink was decent and didn’t cause any clog to my printer’s print head. But a running cleaning kit is essential to prevent any possible clogging.
3. LNKCOS 600ML Sublimation Ink for Epson Eco Tank ET-8500 ET-8550
A Wonderful Gift For 6-Colored Sublimation
Do you have the ET-8550 and 8500? Are you wondering which ink will give better colors for vivid gradients? One of my ideal series by Epson that I love to use with LNKCOS is the best sublimation ink for Epson 8550. But, I also love to use L&C sublimation ink for mugs.
The six-colored sublimation ink is made for the ET-8500 and 8550. It has produced durable prints for a long time. Other than this ink, I recently tested 6-color Hippo sublimation ink. It was also good for all types of substrates.
Rich-Hued Results
Print your creative dreams using the six colors. Also, use 2 extra black colors to deepen the colors. Their prints are not only fade-resistant but also resistant to water and UV radiation. The nozzle design was easy to use. It made filling and refilling the Outfit ink tanks effortless. You won’t need to squeeze the bottles.
When Compared With Other 6-Colored Printers
Other than that, the results on clothes and DIY materials were strong. They were great to wear without fear of fade. You can even wash the printed mugs in the dishwasher. The LNKCOS gave me better results. They beat the Coalbeds 6 Colors Sublimation for Epson Artisan 1430. Its dots were more precise.
ICC-Free Creation
The inks are ICC-free. But, I made my own ICC profile with the LNCKOS, A-sub paper, and ET-8550. I installed it on my Windows 10. To be honest, you won’t regret using these three combos, which I also recommend.
But, I’ve also tried L&C sublimation ink to print mugs, tumblers, and phone cases. It was necessary to purge before using a different brand of sublimation ink. Both gave me similar, accurate results. However, I prefer LNKCOS because of its high page yields for small substrates. But, if you intend to print 13×19 prints which Epson 8550 can print then you might get a poor page yield.
Might Be Downside
More ink tank colors are known to equal more clogs and issues. But, to be honest, I didn’t get any issues with the print head because the ink texture was sleek. But it might create a hassle for you if you’re a novice.
4. Sawgrass SG500 Sublimation Ink Cartridge Sublimed UHD – Best For Cotton & Black Color
Dedicated Sublimation Cartridges
When investing a lot in a sublimation printer, you need to get the recommended gear. We cannot use third-party inks or cartridges with sawgrass sublimation printers. Here come the original Sawgrass UHD ink cartridges. They are filled with original sublimation ink.
Provides Value
The package is expensive but worth it. You’ll get an extra pack of heat-resistant tapes and sublimation paper.
I also got EASYSUBLI sublimation cartridges. I used them to print black on polyester and cotton fabric, not on traditional things. I could do this because the sawgrass print manager let me choose the material. You can use sawgrass UHD for those too.
Versatile
But EASYSUBLI printables are more specific to them. But, it is a perfect choice for mugs, tumblers, and polyester. It also works on other types of substrates.
Drop the Use of ICC-Profiles Using Print Manager
Sawgrass print manager also eliminated the hassle of using ICC profiles. It fixed the colors instead.
No Smear
The sublimation paper’s ink was quickly running out. Smearing ink after printing was zero. The quality after heat transferring was decent on hard and soft substrates. The inks make high-quality prints on HTV. But, you might be annoyed with their high running costs. This is because they have a poor page yield.
Along with SG500, the UHD inks are also compatible with SG1000; however, never attempt to use them with SG800 or 400.
Asked Questions
Are all sublimation inks the same?
No, not all sublimation ink brands are the same. Their manufacturing substances can be the same. But, they cannot give you the same results and performance.
Can any sublimation ink be used with an Epson printer?
With the Epson printer, no sublimation ink may be used. Always check. Check if the inks work with your printer model or not. If not, and you fill them too much, it will bleed on the paper. Or it won’t produce the expected outcomes. Also, ICC profiles are a factor in management. They 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 want to change the ink brand, clean the print head. Use the purge cycle of the cleaning kit.
Can I combine two different sublimation ink brands?
You should only use individual printers with the 2 brands and should not mix them. The sublimation inks are different to ensure good quality. Never mix them.
Should you shake sublimation ink?
You should not shake the ink bottles. Shaking makes bubbles. Bubbles cause uneven filling and printing.
Conclusion
Now you’ve found the best sublimation inks for your printing needs. Sublimation ink is essential to a printer as the blood to the human body. Sublimation ink does yield a shelf life to the vibrancy of sublimated substrates. So always choose it with thorough research. Still, you’re confused about which sublimation ink to use with your Epson Eco tank. Here are some quick suggestions:
Read More: Best Printer For Sublimation Printing?
