What Ink Does the Epson SureColor F170 Use?
Last Updated:Quick answer: The Epson SureColor F170 uses Epson T49M dye-sublimation ink bottles — Black (T49M120), Cyan (T49M220), Magenta (T49M320), and Yellow (T49M420) — each holding 140ml of ink.
EPSON SURECOLOR F170 INK BOTTLES AT A GLANCE
| Bottle | Color | Size |
|---|---|---|
| T49M120 | Black | 140ml |
| T49M220 | Cyan | 140ml |
| T49M320 | Magenta | 140ml |
| T49M420 | Yellow | 140ml |
Like all sublimation ink, the F170's ink prints in muted tones on transfer paper and only becomes vibrant once heat-pressed onto a polyester or polymer-coated item. Each bottle refills the printer's built-in ink tank rather than swapping in a cartridge, and a full CMYK set is included with the printer.
IS THERE COMPATIBLE OR THIRD-PARTY T49M INK?
Not from Castle Ink. Epson strongly recommends genuine ink for this printer, noting it's calibrated specifically for the F170's PrecisionCore printhead. Some experienced sublimation users report success refilling with third-party sublimation ink, but doing so may affect print quality and isn't something Epson recommends or supports.
SAVE ON EPSON T49M INK
Genuine Epson T49M bottles run $24.95 each (about $99.80 for a full CMYK set) directly from Epson. As of this writing, Castle Ink doesn't stock this specialty sublimation ink family. If you also own a standard Epson inkjet printer, check our Epson ink cartridges collection for savings on those.
HOW TO REFILL INK IN THE EPSON SURECOLOR F170
- Open the ink tank cover on the front of the printer.
- Check the ink level window for each color to see which tank needs refilling.
- Unbox the correct color bottle and remove the cap.
- Align the bottle with the tank's fill port and let it drain — Epson's bottles use an auto-stop design so they won't overfill.
- Remove the empty bottle once it stops draining and close the tank cover.
TROUBLESHOOTING TIPS
- Colors look muted right off the printer: normal — sublimation ink only shows true color after heat pressing.
- Grays printing green or brown: try switching the color-correction setting from ICM to no color correction in printer preferences, then run a nozzle check.
- Can't connect over WiFi: connect via the included USB cable or an Ethernet cable as a reliable fallback.
- Nozzle check shows gaps: run a print head cleaning cycle, and if that doesn't resolve it, a power cleaning cycle.
OFFICIAL EPSON RESOURCES
For setup help, drivers, and ink ordering, see the official Epson SureColor F170 product page.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Can I use any ink in the F170? No — it's designed for Epson T49M dye-sublimation ink bottles specifically.
Does sublimation ink work on cotton shirts? No — you need light-colored fabric with high polyester content, or a polymer-coated hard good like a mug or tumbler.
How long does one set of ink bottles last? It depends heavily on print coverage — full-bleed, photo-style designs use far more ink than simple text or line art.
Do I need special paper? Yes — sublimation transfer paper is required; regular paper won't work with this ink.
BOTTOM LINE
The Epson SureColor F170 uses Epson T49M dye-sublimation ink bottles (black, cyan, magenta, yellow), refillable directly into the printer's built-in tank. There's no mainstream compatible alternative yet, so budget for genuine Epson ink as an ongoing cost alongside your heat press and blanks.
SHOP INK FOR YOUR OTHER PRINTERS AT CASTLE INK
Castle Ink doesn't currently stock T49M sublimation ink, but if you also own a standard inkjet or laser printer, we can save you 50–70% off OEM pricing on those:
Brother ink cartridges · HP ink cartridges · Canon ink cartridges · Epson ink cartridges
Buy the Epson SureColor F170 on Amazon: Epson SureColor F170 on Amazon
See also: Our full Epson SureColor F170 review | Best Sublimation Printer for Tumblers & Mugs