The SureColor F570 from Epson is a sublimation printer well designed for the Beginner in mind. It is not a top-of-the-line machine, but it has many nice touches that make it better than most competition. They are quite keen to promote this as their first made-for-purpose printer, and they have got it right! It is straightforward to operate and set up.
With few tricky things to do or understand. While the initial cost may be higher than small machines you can buy second-hand, you should consider that this could be your best choice if you want a computer-assisted device with easy operation at an affordable price. If you need something more sophisticated, you may have better options, but this will not be the case for most. In many areas of operation, it is easy to mistake the SureColor F570 as a top-of-the-line machine or one that costs much more. First, however, let’s look at how it compares at a price against some alternative sublimation machines: if you want to read about machine you can check out our best sublimation printer review section.
Let’s have a closer look now at what comes with your SureColor F570 and what type of accessories it uses. In particular, we will focus on those included things that make it stand out from an ordinary printer and more like a specialized device for garment application.
Espon SureColor F570 Dye-Sublimation Printer Review
A Closer Look: At first glance, the SureColor F570 looks just like any other desktop Epson photo printer, which may be just what Epson wants you to think. However, when you look closer, it becomes clear that this is not an ordinary photo printer but a garment sublimation conversion printer with many features designed for easy operation and ease of setup.
The SureColor F570 has a small footprint of 15” x 13” X 12” (WxDxH), which makes it smaller than most comparably specified machines on the market, and small enough for most shops to find storage space for in their work area. It weighs around 21 lbs, so while it will take up some desk space, it won’t be like having a full-sized A3+ inkjet printer sitting on your desk! It does appear well made and sturdy, but there is no denying this is a machine with plastic in its construction. While it would be nice if it were all-metal, I can see why they went for the solid design of plastic over aluminum or steel as it will make the SureColor F570 better at keeping your heat set ink jet head at an even temperature. I think Epson has got just about right here and would not put more weight on top of this unit as anything that may cause it to tip forward should you print on garments while standing next to the machine.
Color Carts
This machine comes with two standard-size color carts and one black, which has both matched my expectations well so far (and made me love Epson’s point system for purchasing). They are easy to replace and even have their little compartment in the back of the SureColor F570. Unlike most photo printers, you are not limited to just Epson inks for your SureColor F570. You can use any ink, including generic brands, which is a big selling point for many business owners who wish to offer a superior product with outstanding value.
Media Trays
There are two media trays on the SureColor F570, one for 15” media and one for 13”, although both will take up to 17” roll widths if required. The tray that can take the largest media has also been designed with an extra flap, as shown here:
Epson claim this makes it easier to get larger formats into position and to help avoid any chance of jams. Unfortunately, while I cannot argue with that, they used the extra space for a third tray instead! ideal For As well as the media trays, there is also an excellent output bin that separates your printed garments from any other materials and gives you easy access to remove completed jobs. The SureColor F570 uses two different types of paper in its printer; one type is for everyday printing, and the other is for sublimation garments. You can quickly identify these papers by their packaging, with standard photo paper packaged in a blue cartridge bag and specialty sublimation paper in a red bag. These bags will hold around 100 sheets each, so don’t feel like you are about to run out any time soon.
Sublimation Inks
The SureColor F570 also comes with its special sublimation ink, slightly different from Epson’s normal range of photo inks but has become synonymous with its garment printer lineup.
In addition, this machine uses the SureJet UltraChrome HDX technology, which gives you better results than an ordinary dye-based ink that requires ventilation due to the fumes it produces during curing. This type of ink does require temperature control.
This unit includes a dedicated chip dedicated exclusively to keeping your SureJet UltraChrome HDX inks at an even 70°C all through your print job.
Final Verdict
As well as the SureColor F570 coming with its specialized sublimation inks, it also has several unique features that are not found in any of Epson’s other SureColor photo printers. For example, F570 has a switch on the top right-hand side used to print directly onto sublimation paper or to transfer your design from your computer to the F570 before printing begins.
This function is brilliant if you are using A0-sized media and wish to print onto roll paper. For example, you can put the SureColor F570 into transfer mode. Print your design on your computer at full size, then feed that printed copy through the SureColor F570. It will then overlay that image over any existing plans in the SureFlow color tubes.
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