Epson SureColor F570 review

The machine you buy when a desktop sublimation printer has stopped being big enough, and the freight delivery nobody warns you about.

The verdict: A 24-inch desktop dye-sublimation printer with a PrecisionCore MicroTFP head, roll and sheet support, a built-in cutter and Epson Edge Print Pro with a PostScript engine, sold with two full ink sets. Buy it if sublimation is a business rather than a hobby and you have outgrown a letter or tabloid machine. Skip it if you are still selling mugs and tumblers, where a Sawgrass SG500 costs a fifth as much and does that job properly.
Best wide-format sublimation
Epson SureColor F570 24-inch Desktop Sublimation Printer with two full ink sets
~$2,650

A 24-inch dye-sublimation printer with a PrecisionCore MicroTFP printhead, roll and sheet media support, a 50-sheet auto-feed tray, a built-in cutter and Epson Edge Print Pro software.

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Specifications

SpecDetail
PrintheadPrecisionCore MicroTFP with Precision Droplet Control and nozzle verification
Media widthRolls and sheets up to 24 inches
Sheet feeding50-sheet auto-feed tray
CutterBuilt in
SoftwareEpson Edge Print Pro with Adobe PostScript 3 and the Adobe PDF Print Engine, job layout, nesting and pattern repeat
InkT49M inks, two full sets included
DeliveryShips LTL freight only and requires a phone number to schedule delivery

Specifications above come from Epson's published specifications for the SureColor F570. Treat pricing as approximate, since Amazon pricing moves.

What it does well

Where it falls short

What owners report

Published owner reports on the F570 come overwhelmingly from people running sublimation as a business, and they consistently describe the width as the reason for the upgrade rather than the print quality, which they already had. Nesting and reduced paper waste come up repeatedly as the thing that changed the unit economics.

The recurring warning across sublimation printers generally is idleness. Owners are unanimous that these machines want regular use, and that a printer left for weeks is the one that needs a head clean or worse.

Who it suits

Who should skip it

Alternatives worth considering

Tabloid Step-Down
Sawgrass SG1000 Sublimation Printer with 31ml inks and paper bundle
~$1,700

11 by 17 inches out of the box, automatic maintenance cycles that run even when the printer is idle, and SubliJet UHD inks with the MySawgrass software. Less width, and materially better suited to a shop that does not print every day.

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Where to Start
Sawgrass SG500 Sublimation Printer Starter Bundle with ink and paper
~$600

A desktop sublimation printer with a starter ink and paper bundle, sized for mugs, tumblers, coasters and small apparel prints. The right first machine, and a fifth of the price of the F570.

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Common questions

Can a sublimation printer print on cotton?

No. Dye sublimation bonds to polyester and polymer coatings, so it works on polyester fabric, poly-coated mugs, metal and plastics. On cotton, the dye has nothing to bond to and the print washes out. Cotton needs DTG, DTF or screen printing, which are different machines entirely.

Do I need a heat press as well?

Yes. The printer produces a transfer on special paper; the heat press applies heat and pressure to turn the dye to gas and bond it to the substrate. Budget the press at the same time as the printer, and size it for the products you intend to make, because a 15 by 15 inch press limits what a 24-inch printer can be used for.

Why do sublimation printers clog?

The inks are formulated for transfer rather than for sitting still, and an idle printhead lets ink dry in the nozzles. Regular use is the best prevention. Some machines run automatic maintenance cycles specifically to address this, which is a real consideration if your printing is seasonal.

Is 24 inches worth it over 11 by 17?

Only if you sell products that need it. Cut and sew panels, banners, all-over prints and larger apparel graphics need the width. Mugs, tumblers, coasters and standard chest prints do not, and a tabloid machine at a fraction of the price makes exactly the same money on those.

What does LTL freight delivery mean?

The printer ships as freight rather than as a parcel, on a pallet, delivered by a truck that needs an appointment. You may need a lift gate, help unloading, and somewhere for a pallet to be set down. It is worth arranging before the machine is on a truck rather than after.

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This review draws on published specifications, manufacturer figures and the consensus of verified owner reviews. We have not tested this product ourselves, and we say so rather than implying otherwise. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.