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Epson Surecolor F170 Sublimation Printer Review: Specs, Pros and Cons, Price and More

Updated: July 30, 2023 by Julie Kendrick | Leave a comment

Key Points

Sublimation printing is a printing process for transferring designs from sublimation paper onto a variety of materials using a carrier material.
Sublimation printing is used to make coffee mugs, t-shirts, signs, and home decor.
The Epson Surecolor F170 came out in 2008 and costs $399 USD.

Printers are an essential part of work life for most industries. They are an excellent means of design, and as such, this device has seen its fair share of evolution. What started off as a block printer in the early 15th century is now a lot smaller and easier to use. One of the printer types used popularly today is the sublimation printer. Is Epson Surecolor F170 Sublimation Printer worth buying? Read on to find out.

Sublimation is the process of converting solid materials directly into the gas phase without passing through the liquid state. The same process takes place in sublimation printers. Sublimation printers are used to transfer images or text from sublimation paper onto another article, which could be paper, a mug, a shirt, or anything else. The ink from the sublimation paper is sublimated and transferred to the target object.

Epson (full name Seiko Epson Corporation) is a Japanese company founded on 18th May 1942 as Daiwa Kogyo, Ltd. This 80-year-old company is one of the largest manufacturers of computer printers and information- and imaging-related equipment in the world. With its latest release of the Epson Surecolor F170 Sublimation Printer, Epson has made its mark in sublimation printing.

Epson Surecolor F170 Sublimation Printer Overview

Epson’s Surecolor series is one of the three series of sublimation printers. F170 is a relatively new printer that can be employed for sublimation printing. Epson Surecolor F170 sublimation printer works brilliantly for personalizing awards, mugs, mouse pads, shirts, and many more articles. The printer delivers remarkable and professional prints using powerful PrecisionCore® technology. Another impressive feature of this sublimation printer is that it is compact and takes up minimal workspace.

Epson Surecolor F170 Sublimation Printer: Features

Epson Surecolor F170 sublimation printer has the following set of impressive features:

It uses the advanced printing technology of PrecisionCore microTFP® printhead which allows it to provide a maximum resolution of 1200 x 600 dpi.
It has a display of 2.4″ color LCD with buttons that allows you to load paper, select horizontal and vertical spacing, etc.
The power consumption during operation is 13 W, approximately 4.1 W when ready, and merely 0.7 W when in sleep mode.
Epson Surecolor F170 sublimation printer has a weight of 10.2 lb (equivalent to 4.62 kg).
It has a remarkably compact size with dimensions 13.7″ x 13.7″ x 7.4″ (W x D x H) when stored and an increased size of 14.8″ x 19.8″ x 7.4″ during its printing operation.
The printer has a limited warranty of a standard 1-year unit exchange.
The maximum paper size to be used with the printer is 8.5″ x 47.2″.

Release Date and Price

Epson had been working on sublimation printers since the late 2000s, with its release of the WorkForce series in 2008. This series was the first among the three series of Epson’s sublimation printers. It was followed by EcoTank, which came out in August 2015.

Epson’s Surecolor series consisting of F170 and F570, appeared in the market in 2021. The F170 sublimation printer was made available for purchase in January 2021. The latter came out in the fall of that same year.

Epson Surecolor F170 sublimation printer, with its compact size and remarkable printing quality, boasts a retail price of $400 ($399 to be precise). The price for a single bottle of ink can range anywhere from 30$ to 40$. There are combo packages of ink available with a lesser net price.

The F170 sublimation printer is easily available as compared to F570, which is not only hard to find in the market but also costly, ranging from $2000 and above.

Epson Surecolor F170 Sublimation Printer Review

Over the years, Epson has produced convertible, inkjet, sublimation, and many other types of printers. There is no doubt that the quality of work that Epson’s sublimation printers offer is rare to see anywhere else in the market.

Especially with the Surecolor F170 sublimation printer, it is hard to find a good rival. While most Epson printers are hard to set up and can offer a complicated set of functions, the F170 made a huge improvement in terms of ease of use. The process of setting up the printer isn’t the only thing that is simple, you also won’t need to worry about lengthy ink-swapping processes. It is also very easy to load paper and set specifications using the small display on the printer.

There are many good sublimation printers in the market, which are faster and even easier to use than F170, like Sawgrass printers. But the F170 sublimation printer is a great or even perhaps the best option when it comes to customizability, price, and convenience.

Epson Surecolor F170 Sublimation Printer Pros and Cons

Like every other device, the Epson F170 sublimation printer has both the good and the bad.

Pros

It is easily accessible anywhere in the market.
The printer is very easy to use and set up.
The F170 printer is compatible with both Windows and Mac OS.
It is budget-friendly.
It has a high print size and resolution.
It is eco-friendly and approved by many international authorities.

Cons

F170 sublimation printer requires frequent troubleshooting, which can cost time.
The warranty option provided with the device is mediocre and not very long.
While Epson ink isn’t very costly, it can be tedious to have to replace it so often.

Epson Surecolor F170 Sublimation Printer: Is it a Buy?

Keeping the pros, the cons, and the features in mind, the F170 sublimation printer might be a great investment.

Buy it if…

You don’t mind a little bit of troubleshooting action. The Epson F170 sublimation printer is the best option if you’re looking to work with a budget. Other alternatives aren’t easy to get by, especially on an economically friendly basis. Epson has affordable ink packages and combos available for its users. These ink packages are not very costly. That is not the case with most other alternatives you might find in the market.

Don’t buy it if…

You don’t want the hassle of engaging in complicated functions. It might not be your cup of tea if you are not tech-savvy. Moreover, if you want a smooth performance without going through the trouble of maintenance once in a while, topped with a lifetime warranty, then the Epson Surecolor F170 sublimation printer really isn’t for you. There are better options available in the market that you should start considering.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is it worth getting a sublimation printer?

A sublimation printer is a great investment if you are into crafting, not just on fabric and apparel but also mugs, posters, decals, etc.

Is F170 the best sublimation printer?

Epson’s Surecolor F170 might not be the best sublimation printer in terms of its color trueness, consistency, and convenience, but it is definitely a close second.

Is the Epson Surecolor F170 sublimation printer easy to use?

Yes, among the other Epson printers, F170 is definitely one of the easier ones to use. However, like most sublimation printers, it requires troubleshooting and regular maintenance.

What size paper can the F170 print on?

The dimensions of paper that are workable with the Epson F170 sublimation printer are 8.5″ x 47.2″.

Can you use any sublimation paper with F170?

The printer itself doesn’t come with any sublimation paper. You’ll need to purchase it separately. The only thing you need to remember is the size of the paper and you can use any sublimation paper.