The Epson EcoTank ET-2400 (ET2400) Sublimation Printers work great as converted sublimation printers. This review will show you how easy it is to convert and how well it works when it’s converted for sublimation printing.
This low cost inkjet printer from Epson can be converted for sublimation and will let you create custom t-shirts, sublimation tumblers, personalized Christmas ornaments, and more! Your friends and family will love all the custom and unique sublimated gifts you can make with this.
It can also work as a sublimation printer for your very own home-based business. Starting one with this low cost sublimation printer will be easy.
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Epson Ecotank ET-2400 Review
- Lowest cost Epson printer to convert to sublimation
- Easy to convert for sublimation printing
- Prints up to 8.5 x 14 inches (legal size) or up 47.2 inches (paper roll)
About the Epson Ecotank ET-2400
This ET-2400 was released by Epson in October 2022 as one of their Ecotank models.
Ecotank printers are cartridge-free so they’re easy to fill with sublimation ink. Their lack of cartridges make this model an easy one to convert for sublimation because you won’t get the chip errors like you would with WorkForce models.
Find out why Epson WorkForce Printers are harder to convert and use for sublimation printing. The Epson Ecotank ET-2400 is very simple to convert!
It is the model C11CJ67201 and available in black only. According to the Epson website, there are only 2 authorized retailers for this model: Target and Walmart but are also found at Best Buy. So if you see this for sale from any other websites, there’s a chance that they are purchased by a reseller and being sold at a higher cost.
Features
The ET-2400 printers are capable of printing, copying, and scanning. This “no frills” printer is perfect for sublimation printing as it doesn’t have any extra features such as duplex (auto 2-sided) printing which is not necessary for sublimation.
The printer has a small footprint so you won’t need a large space for it. When the input and output trays are out, it measures 15” x 22” x 10” (W x H x D). And when both trays are tucked in, it measures 15” x 7” x 13.7”. It’s a lightweight printer since it’s less than 9 lbs in weight.
The input paper tray is at the back so don’t forget that you’ll need a few inches of space there for when you have your sublimation paper loaded. It can hold a maximum of 100 sheets.
Print Resolution
Epson’s proprietary MicroPiezo inkjet technology gives this low cost inkjet printer, the ET-2400, a max print resolution of 5760 x 1440 dpi.
It even has a better print resolution than some of the more expensive Ecotanks. The ET-3830 and ET-4850 both only have max print resolutions of 4800 x 1200. So paying more does not give you better prints!
Print Sizes
This printer is capable of printing various paper sizes to include:
- 4 x 6”
- 5 x 7”
- 8 x 10”
- 8.5 x 11” (US letter size)
- 8.5 x 14” (US legal size)
- 8.5 x 47.2” (paper roll)
When it comes to sublimation printing, both the letter (8.5 x 11”) and legal (8.5 x 14”) are primarily used. They are adequate for printing various sublimation designs that you can sue to make:
- Earrings
- Keychains
- Ornaments
- Drink Coasters
- Ceramic Mugs
- 20 oz Tumblers
- Baby bodysuits
- Kid’s shirts
- Adult shirts (XL and larger sizes may need a wide format printer)
OS compatibility
For larger sublimation prints, you’ll need a Wide-Format Sublimation Printer that are capable of printing wider than 8.5 inches.
The ET-2400 has drivers for both Windows and Mac OS. The printer’s drivers are available from Epson’s website.
Control Panel
The control panel on the Epson ET-2400 is a simple one. It does not have an LCD display unlike the other EcoTank models.
This simple set of buttons is what brings the cost down and makes the printer affordable. But the lack of the LCD display has no effect on the printer’s capabilities. If you need to run test pages or nozzle check, you can access the printer’s function through your computer or app.
Connectivity
The standard connectivity for this printer are both Hi-Speed USB and Wi-Fi. It also includes Epson’s Mobile App (Smart Panel App for iOS and Android) and Epson Connect Solutions (Epson Remote Print).
From our experience, the USB is the best way to connect when you’re using it as a sublimation printer. When you set up your ET-2400, you’ll need a USB Printer Cable since it isn’t supplied by Epson.
Wi-fi connection can be unstable at times and any lag or hiccup will cause your sublimation printing to stop.
USB Printer CAble
Stop the printer errors from wireless printing lags with this USB 2.0 Printer cable. It offers a more stable printer connection from your computer to your sublimation printer.
Borderless Printing
The only type of borderless printing this printer is capable of is for the 4×6” Photo setting.
So if you want to print a sublimation design that’s 8.5 x 14 inches, your full design will not be printed. This is when you’ll have to get a Large Format (Wide Format) sublimation printer such as the Epson ET-15000, the Sawgrass SG1000, or the Epson F570 Pro Printer.
What’s In The Box
Inside the box, you’ll get the following:
- Black Ecotank ET-2400 Printer
- Manual – gives you a step-by-step, illustrated instructions on how to set up your printer
- Power Cord
- 1 bottle of each T522 CMYK Ink
Tip: Set aside the inkjet ink that came in the box so you don’t accidentally use it instead of your sublimation ink.
Sublimation Ink
To convert this ET-2400 for sublimation, you’ll have to purchase sublimation ink from a third party.
And a word of caution, once you install that third-party ink, your warranty is void and Epson will no longer provide tech support for this printer.
Most sublimation ink comes from the same place but are sold under different brands by different sellers. Prices can vary from the different sellers but that is dependent on demand and the amount of customer service they provide.
Printers Jack Sublimation Ink
For this converted ET-2400, we installed Printer’s Jack Sublimation Ink. It’s a popular sublimation ink used by many and it’s an ink we haven’t personally tried and tested.
We purchased it from Amazon and with their Prime Delivery, we received it in 2 business days.
Printers jack Sublimation INk
- Easily pours into the Ecotank’s ink reservoir
- 100 ml for each CMYK ink bottle
- Can be used without an ICC profile
There are also other brands of sublimation ink you can choose from:
HTVront Ink
Hiipoo Ink
Sublimation Paper
A regular copy paper does not work well for sublimation. Sublimation papers are specialty papers that are designed to hold the ink on its surface and release to your sublimation blank when heated.
For this ET-2400 sublimation printer review, we used the Texprint DT Heavy Sublimation Paper. This paper performed well in our previous Sublimation Paper Comparison Testing and have been using it for our sublimation business.
Texprint Sublimation Paper
Premium paper with proven history of performance.
There are also other types of sublimation papers in the market with many happy customers. These include:
A-Sub Sublimation Paper
Koala Sublimation Paper
Printer’s jack Paper
How To Convert the ET-2400 for Sublimation
The Epson ET-2400 printer is easy to convert to sublimation. It’s as easy as substituting the sublimation ink for the inkjet ink that it came with. As soon as you unpack the ET-2400 printer, set those inkjet bottles to the side so you don’t accidentally add it to your printer.
For the complete instructions on How to Convert the Epson Ecotank ET-2400 to Sublimation, see our easy to follow, illustrated guide. It’s 7 quick steps so you can get started on sublimation today when you follow our guide.
Test Prints
Sublimation requires a ton of patience when running test prints!
Some people get lucky and their sublimated colors match the designs on their screen while others need tons of setting changes to get the right colors. This is especially true when you’re trying to figure out what print settings you need in order to get the sublimated results you are looking for.
Some sublimation ink companies provide their own ICC profile while others don’t. With Printer’s Jack, the ink we used for this converted Epson printer, they advertise it as “ICC-free printing”. See below for the results.
Image Used
This is the actual image used for our print tests. It’s our own design created in Adobe Photoshop with a 300dpi and saved as a jpg file.
We designed it in a way that has a wide range of vibrant colors, a range of white to black, and also a range of red colors. When sublimated, the pressed and final image will show how well the ink, the paper, and/or the printer works for sublimation.
Print Settings
Starting settings are suggestions only. The final setting that works for each person varies because everyone has different computer configurations, monitor resolutions, designs colors, heat presses brands, and sublimation blanks used.
It is always a good idea to test print and press until you have your desired outcome.
To test your prints on your new printer, buy a polyester bed sheet as a test piece to sub on. They are more economical than buying fabric from the local fabric store.
A California King Flat Sheet typically meaures 102 x 110″ (11,220 square inches) which is approximately 6.92 yards of a 45″ fabric (11,210 square inches).
It only took a couple of pressed samples to be satisfied with the final pressed image! This is the final sublimation image on a sublimation coaster.
If you’re wondering why it does not look as bright as the image above that is a screenshot of our computer screen, it’s because the computer screen is backlit. The screen light makes all images brighter and the actual, real-life image is not.
Mac Print Settings For Converted ET-2400 Sublimation Printer
Our recommended printer settings for the Converted ET-2400 using Printer’s Jack Ink printing from a Mac desktop or laptop is as follows:
- Computer: iMac Retina
- OS: macOS Monterey, Version 12.5.1
- Color Matching: Epson Color Controls
- Print Settings: Premium Presentation Paper Matte, Quality, Mirror Image
Steps To Use Our Settings
1. Open the sublimation design jpg
2. Click on File → Print → Choose the ET-2400 Printer
3. Choose the appropriate paper size and scale to 100%
4. Click on the arrows to the right of Preview to open the drop down menu and select “Print Settings”
5. Click on “Print Settings” 1b
6. Choose “Premium Presentation Paper Matte” for Media type, “Quality” for Print Quality, and add a check box to “Mirror Image” if you need it mirrored.
7. Open the drop down menu again and choose “Color Matching”
8. Choose “Epson Color Controls”
9. Save these settings as a default so you don’t have to redo all the steps again. Click on the arrow to the right of Presets: Default Settings
10. Select “Save Current Settings as Preset” and name it whatever you want. Then click “OK” and hit print to send it to your ET-2400 printer.
Windows Print Settings for ET-2400 Sublimation Printer
Coming Soon.
Screen Images Versus Sublimated Images
Just a quick note that what you see on your computer screen will not be exactly the same as your final sublimated image.
It should be close but it may not be 100% the same.There are various reasons for this including: screens project a brighter image because it’s backlit, sublimation blank quality plays a large role, sublimation design software/app you used, and heat press settings.
Learn more about why your sublimated images are different from your monitor screens in our Sublimation Design Image And Color Basics You Need To Know.
Updates & Social Media:
We often post on our social media channels when there are updates, tips and tricks, behind the scenes, and even great deals on sublimation blanks and equipment. You can also ask us your sublimation related questions too.
Facebook Page | Youtube | Pinterest | TikTok
Converted ET-2400 vs SureColor F-170
We tested the converted ET-2400 against the Epson Surecolor F-170 Printer. The F-170 is a true sublimation printer from Epson that does not need to be converted.
The F-170 printer is more than double the price of the ET-2400 and its ink is about 3-4x the cost of the Printers Jack Ink we used to convert this ET-2400. The one advantage of getting the F170 over the ET2400 is the warranty and tech support from Epson. This can be helpful for someone who’s new to sublimation as they may need someone to walk them through a problem or may need a replacement printer if it’s defective.
Final Thoughts on the Converted ET-2400 Printer
As we have been in the sublimation business for years and have used all kinds of printers, both converted and regular sublimation printers, we are surprised by the quality of sublimation prints from this Epson ET-2400.
- The colors that printed using the Printers Jack Ink came out beautiful with rich, vibrant colors.
- The cost of the printer is under $180 (price at time of publication and subject to change without notice).
- The prints can compete with the Epson SureColor F-170 Sublimation Printer as seen in the below image. This F-170 printer is a true sublimation printer and costs more than double the ET-2400.
- The lack of the LCD display on the printer has no effect on how this is used for sublimation. If you want to use the printer functions (i.e. print nozzle checks), just open the Printer Utility from your computer’s printer settings.
Converted ET-2400 versus ET-2800, ET-2803
When comparing the two small format printers, Epson ET-2800 (ET-2803 is the retail model) and the the ET-2400 , both have very similar features.
Their max print resolution and max paper size are the same. The only difference is the LC display panel that the ET-2800 has while the ET-2400 lacks. This LCD display panel lets you access the printer’s functions such as test page print and nozzle check print. The ET-2400 works great for sublimation despite the lack of this LCD Panel.
The absence of the LCD panel gives the ET-2400 a lower price than the ET-2800 printer. Which means the ET-2400 is the more affordable sublimation printer! Our comprehensive Converted EcoTank ET-2800 Sublimation Printer Review details how easy it is to convert, the sublimation ink we used, the print settings, and even the final pressed images of our test pieces.
If you want to convert a sublimation printer that’s also low cost but has an LCD display panel, the ET-2800 or ET-2803 is a great alternative.
Our detailed Converted ET-2800 ET-2803 Printer Review has the full information that you need to get started on converting a printer for sublimation.
Summary
The Epson Ecotank ET-2400 inkjet printers can be converted to sublimation printers. The only thing you need to do is to fill their built-in ink tank with your choice of sublimation ink. We used the Printers Jack Ink brand for our testing.
Please note that you will void the warranty when you convert it for sublimation as Epson does not promote this for sublimation. They do have the Epson F170 as their sublimation printer that includes a warranty.
Because this is an ecotank, you won’t run into a cartridge chip error when refilling your ink, unlike WorkForce printers.
It’s a great sublimation printer that is the lowest cost (at time of original publication) and won’t break the bank. It has a small footprint so it won’t take up much room. This converted sublimation printer will let you create custom t-shirts, home decor, unique gifts, custom sublimation tumblers, and even Christmas Ornaments for your friends, family, or small business.
Now that you have your printer, this list of the basic equipment you need to get started on sublimation will help with your shopping list. It includes the basics such as heat presses for flat sublimation blanks and mug and tumbler presses too.
When your printer is all set up, you’ll need to create your sublimation designs using one of these graphic design softwares and apps. You can also check out our free sublimation designs and free fonts category to help you get started on creating your own personalized and custom sublimation images.
We used this Converted ET-2400 Sublimation Printer for this Video Tutorial on How to Sublimate on Kitchen Towels. We used a funny sublimation design that we designed using Canva. As you can see from the images on the final sublimated kitchen towels, the colors are rich and vibrant, even without using any ICC profile with the Printer’s Jack Sublimation Ink. So this Ecotank ET-2400 that’s been converted for sublimation is a great buy and works well as a sublimation printer.
Frequently Asked Questions about ET-2400
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Hello! Quick question. During my 2400 sublimation conversion, all of my printer lights started to blink and continue to do so. I can print from it, but the lights continue to blink. Any suggestions?
Did you charge the ink? It’s an 11 minute process that primes the lines and ink head with the ink. After you fill the tanks, you turn it on and when the blinking starts, you press the “stop” button for about 5 seconds (triangle inside a circle button).
Hi! I converted my printer already, but it is printing out very light/dull colors. I used the Hiippo ink and paper. Any suggestions?
Hi Elsie,
Have you pressed it on a sublimation blank? Sublimation transfers are dull when printed but when it’s heated and pressed on a blank, it should be bright and vibrant. You can also check out this post about troubleshooting your light/dull printed designs:
https://sublimakersacademy.com/most-common-sublimation-problems/#printed-transfers-are-not-vibrant
I have read when you convert an Epson ET printer to sublimation the ink line will clog if you do not print every couple of days. Is this true and if so can it be prevented. I really what to try sublimation but hate to have something like this happen and lose all the money invested to try this. Thank you for your help.
I’ve gone without printing for up two weeks at a time and have not had a problem. I have a lot of printers so it’s not always every day that I get to use one or more of them. I have my favorites that I use a lot.
Your nozzles can get dried and clog up but this also depends on the temperature and environment where you have the printer. To be on the safe side, you can always run a simple nozzle check (print) every few days to make sure the nozzle heads are good to go.
I am updating the “Most common sublimation problems” post to include an easy fix to the clogged nozzle head problem. Bookmark that page so you know what do in case you ever run into that problem.
Thank you for your comment. I am about to try. Wish me luck! Thank you again.
If your printer has been used with regular ink can you switch it to sublimation ink?
Yes, you just have to completely drain the regular ink out of it. Method of draining it out depends on what you have. Do you have an ecotank or workforce?
Does the et-2400 have any sort of serviceable waste ink box/pad/cartridge?
Hi Terry,
Unfortunately, the ET-2400 printers do not have a user-replaceable waste ink pad. Only the Epson authorized service providers can replace them. See bottom of page 159 and top of 160 of the ET-2400 User Manual from Epson.