How to Set Up an Epson EcoTank Sublimation Printer on Windows
Getting your Epson EcoTank sublimation printer running on Windows 10 or 11 takes about fifteen minutes once you have everything to hand. This guide covers the full process from driver installation through to saving a print preset you can reuse for every sublimation job.
Step 1: Download the Epson Driver
Go to epson.co.uk/support and search for your printer model (ET-2810, ET-2850, ET-2862, ET-16150, or whichever model you have). Download the full driver and utilities package for Windows. Run the installer and follow the prompts. The Epson installer will set up the print driver and the Epson Printer Utility, which you will need later for maintenance tasks like nozzle checks.
Step 2: Connect Your Printer
Plug in the USB cable or connect the printer to your Wi-Fi network. If you are using USB, Windows 10 and 11 will usually detect the printer automatically and finish setting it up within a minute or two. You will see a notification when it is ready.
For Wi-Fi, configure the wireless connection on the printer itself using its control panel, then make sure your PC is on the same network. The Epson setup utility can also walk you through the wireless setup if you prefer. Once connected, open Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners and confirm your printer appears in the list.
Step 3: Install Your ICC Colour Profile
The ICC colour profile is what ensures your sublimation prints come out with accurate colours rather than with a noticeable colour shift. Your ink manufacturer or printer bundle supplier will provide the correct profile for your ink set. If you bought a sublimation printer bundle from Sublishop, the ICC profile is included with your order.
Installing the profile on Windows is simple. Right-click the .icc file and select Install Profile. Windows will copy it to the correct system folder automatically. If that option does not appear in the right-click menu, you can manually copy the file to C:\Windows\System32\spool\drivers\color and it will be picked up by the system.
Step 4: Set Your Default Printer (Optional)
If this is your only printer, or if you use it most often, you may want to set it as the default. Go to Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners and turn off "Let Windows manage my default printer." Then select your Epson EcoTank and click "Set as default." This means every application will default to your sublimation printer when you hit print.
Step 5: Configure Printing Preferences
This is the most important part of the setup. Open Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners, click your printer, and select Printing Preferences. You can also reach this by searching for "Printers" in the Start menu, right-clicking your printer, and choosing Printing Preferences.
Main Tab
On the Main tab, set the following:
- Paper Type: Select Epson Matte or Plain Paper. Which one you choose depends on your ICC profile. Check the documentation that came with your profile or ink, as using the wrong paper type setting will throw off your colours.
- Quality: Set to High. This ensures maximum ink coverage, which you need for vibrant sublimation transfers.
- Paper Size: Match your actual paper size.
Colour Management
You need to assign your ICC profile to the printer. Open Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners, select your printer, then click Printer properties (not Printing Preferences). Go to the Colour Management tab and click the Colour Management button. Select your printer from the list, tick "Use my settings for this device," then click Add and choose the ICC profile you installed earlier. Set it as the default profile.
When printing, you will typically set Colour Management to either "Printer Manages Colours" or let your design application handle it, depending on your workflow. If you are using Photoshop, let Photoshop manage colours and turn off the printer's colour management to avoid double-correction. For Canva and most other applications that lack built-in colour management, let the printer manage colours using your assigned ICC profile.
Step 6: Run a Nozzle Check
Before printing any real projects, run a nozzle check to make sure all the ink channels are flowing properly. Open the Epson Printer Utility (installed with the driver) or go to your printer's Printing Preferences and find the Maintenance tab. Click Nozzle Check and print the test pattern. You should see clean, unbroken lines for all four colours (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black). If any lines are missing or broken, run a Head Cleaning from the same Maintenance tab and check again.
This is particularly worth doing if the printer has been sitting idle for a few days, as sublimation ink can settle in the print head.
Step 7: Print a Colour Test
Print a colour chart or a test image onto sublimation paper and press it onto a blank. This is the only way to confirm your ICC profile is working correctly and your colours are accurate. If the output looks too warm, too cool, or has an obvious colour cast, check that the correct paper type is selected and that colour management is not being applied twice.
Save Your Settings as a Preset
Once everything looks right, go back to Printing Preferences and save your current settings as a preset. This way you can select it from the preset dropdown each time you print, without having to reconfigure anything. Name it something clear like "Sublimation A4 High Quality."
That is your Windows setup complete. If you need to set up on a Mac as well, see our Mac setup guide.