How to Convert an Epson EcoTank ET-2980 Series Printer for DTF Printing

Direct-to-film printing has become an increasingly popular way to produce full-color garment transfers without relying on traditional screen printing. Although dedicated DTF printers are available, many people also convert compatible Epson EcoTank printers for DTF use because their tank-based ink systems and piezoelectric printheads can make them suitable candidates for this type of printing.

In this project, we work with an Epson ET-2988, which belongs to the ET-2980 family. However, many of the concepts discussed here also apply to other four-color Epson EcoTank models. The exact construction, sensors, waste-ink system, and paper-feed components can vary between models, so you should always inspect your particular printer before assuming that every modification will be identical.

At BCH Technologies, we approach a DTF conversion as more than simply replacing regular ink with DTF ink. A practical conversion involves waste-ink management, ink-channel planning, paper-feed modifications, film handling, software configuration, and routine white-ink maintenance.

We also have a video below to show how it's done, including the mechanical modifications, ink configuration, waste-tank setup, RIP software installation, and initial printing process.

Understanding What a DTF Conversion Changes

A standard EcoTank printer was designed to print ordinary documents and photographs onto paper. DTF printing asks the machine to do something quite different.

Instead of standard dye or pigment ink, the converted printer uses DTF-compatible inks. More importantly, it needs white ink in addition to cyan, magenta, and yellow. The RIP software controls how these colors are combined and determines where the white underbase is printed.

The printer must also transport DTF film through a paper path originally designed around regular paper. Because film behaves differently from paper, some feed components and sensors can create problems.

A successful conversion therefore addresses several systems:

• Ink-channel configuration

• White-ink delivery

• Waste-ink collection

• Paper and film transport

• Printhead clearance

• RIP software

• Printer driver installation

• Routine priming and maintenance

It is also important to understand that converting a printer can void its manufacturer's warranty. DTF ink, particularly white ink, also requires substantially more maintenance than ordinary desktop printer ink.

For that reason, a converted printer should generally become a dedicated DTF machine rather than something you expect to switch frequently between normal office printing and DTF production.

Setting Up an External Waste-Ink System

One of the first areas to address is the waste-ink system.

During head cleaning, priming, and normal maintenance cycles, an Epson printer pumps ink away from the printhead and into a waste-ink container or maintenance box. DTF printing can generate considerable waste ink because white ink often requires more frequent maintenance.

On printers that use a replaceable maintenance box, the box may contain a chip that tracks its estimated remaining capacity. On other models, the waste counter may be managed through the printer's firmware instead.

For a conversion, an external waste bottle can make waste management easier. The objective is to route the printer's waste tube into an accessible container while preserving whatever components the printer needs to recognize the maintenance system correctly.

On the ET-2988 conversion shown here, the original maintenance-box assembly is opened so its chip-containing section can remain installed. The internal absorbent material is no longer relied upon as the primary waste reservoir. Instead, an adapter and external tube direct waste ink into a clear external container.

When attaching an extension tube, insert it securely onto the adapter without pushing an excessive amount of tubing inside the printer. Too much tubing can interfere with nearby mechanisms.

The external bottle should remain upright and below the waste outlet whenever possible. It should also have sufficient ventilation. Never seal the bottle into a completely airtight container because the waste system needs to move air as ink enters.

Additionally, check the bottle regularly. An overflowing waste bottle can create an enormous mess and may allow ink to migrate back toward areas where it does not belong.

Choosing the White-Ink Channel

The next major decision is determining which original color channel will become the white channel.

A four-color desktop printer normally contains:

• Black

• Cyan

• Magenta

• Yellow

DTF printing still needs cyan, magenta, and yellow, but the RIP software can generate dark areas by combining those colors while one original channel is reassigned to white.

Before filling the printer, print or inspect the model's normal nozzle-check pattern. Look at the physical sequence of the channels rather than relying solely on assumptions about the ink-tank labels.

On many four-color Epson desktop printers, yellow occupies the uppermost position in the nozzle arrangement. For those printers, the yellow channel is commonly reassigned to white.

However, do not treat that as a universal rule for every printer ever manufactured. Confirm the nozzle arrangement for the exact model you are converting.

For the ET-2988 configuration in this project, white ink is placed into the tank that normally carries yellow. The original colors are then reassigned so the RIP software can correctly map the resulting physical channel sequence.

In the configuration demonstrated here, the working color arrangement becomes:

Yellow, Cyan, Magenta, White

The important point is not simply memorizing that sequence. Your RIP configuration must match the actual physical ink order inside the printer. If the software and printer disagree, colors and the white layer will be sent to the wrong channels.

Filling the EcoTank System With DTF Ink

Once you have established the correct channel arrangement, you can fill the tanks.

A refill bottle can be modified into a simple funnel for transferring ink. However, cross-contamination can quickly create color problems, so wash and dry reusable filling equipment carefully between colors. Separate filling tools for white ink are preferable because even a small amount of colored ink can contaminate the white supply.

White DTF ink deserves special attention.

Unlike ordinary dye ink, white DTF ink contains a heavy pigment load. Titanium-dioxide pigment tends to settle when the printer sits. Consequently, white-ink maintenance becomes one of the most important differences between an ordinary EcoTank printer and a DTF-converted machine.

Gently agitate the white ink according to the ink manufacturer's recommendations before use. Avoid creating excessive foam or air bubbles.

Also, do not allow a DTF printer to sit unused for extended periods without following an appropriate maintenance routine. Settled white pigment can restrict dampers, tubing, and printhead nozzles.

Preparing the Printer's Paper-Feed Path

DTF film does not behave like ordinary paper. It is smoother, more flexible, and often harder for the printer's sensors and rollers to detect consistently.

Therefore, mechanical modifications are frequently necessary.

Before working around the carriage, move the printhead away from its parked position. One simple method is to power the printer on, allow the carriage to unlock and move, and then disconnect power at the appropriate moment so the carriage can be positioned manually.

Never force a carriage that is mechanically locked in the parking station.

During this ET-2988 conversion, several pieces around the paper-exit and paper-feed mechanism are removed. The original tubing guide is also replaced with a conversion rail designed to provide more appropriate routing for the ink tubes.

Particular care is required around the PF encoder system.

PF stands for paper feed. The encoder disc, sensor, motor, shaft, and associated gears allow the printer to determine how far the paper-feed mechanism has rotated. If the encoder disc is dirty, bent, improperly seated, or positioned outside its optical sensor, the printer can report feeding errors or move the media incorrectly.

When reassembling this system, confirm that:

• The encoder disc passes correctly through its sensor.

• Gears rotate without binding.

• Wiring does not rub against moving components.

• The replacement retainer sits securely.

• The feed mechanism turns smoothly before the side panel goes back on.

This is an area where patience is far more valuable than force. A misaligned encoder component can stop an otherwise successful conversion from operating.

Installing the DTF Tubing Rail

Ink tubing also requires enough freedom to follow the carriage without catching, folding, or placing excessive tension on the printhead.

The factory guide was designed for the printer's original ink system and movement range. For the conversion shown here, it is replaced by a DTF-oriented tubing rail.

The replacement rail uses its own mounting arrangement, and each tube should sit naturally in its assigned slot.

A clear retaining cover and tubing clip secure the assembly. Pay attention to the clip orientation because its two sides are not identical. After installation, move the carriage slowly from side to side by hand.

Watch the tubing throughout the entire travel.

The tubes should remain reasonably flat and should not:

• Pull tightly at either end of carriage travel

• Form a large loop that catches the housing

• Rub heavily against moving components

• Fold sharply

• Restrict carriage movement

If the tubing loop is too large, gently pull some tubing back through the guide and test again.

This seemingly small adjustment matters. Poor tubing routing can eventually lead to carriage errors, tube wear, inconsistent ink flow, or printhead strikes.

Initializing the Printer After the Conversion

After completing the mechanical work, power the printer on and proceed through its normal startup screens.

Depending on the model and whether it is being initialized for the first time, Epson may ask for language preferences, mobile setup options, usage-data participation, and ink initialization.

Before allowing the printer to perform a major initialization or cleaning cycle, verify that the external waste tube is correctly attached and that the waste container is ready.

A large initial ink charge can move a surprising amount of fluid through the waste system.

At this stage, also check for mechanical errors before reinstalling every cosmetic cover. If an encoder, cable, feed gear, or sensor has been installed incorrectly, discovering it while the printer is still accessible will save considerable time.

Installing the Correct Epson Driver

Windows can automatically install a printer when you connect a USB cable. While convenient for ordinary use, automatic installation is not always ideal for a DTF workflow.

Windows may assign a generic or built-in printer driver before the manufacturer's package is installed.

Instead, download the correct printer driver from Epson's official website for your exact printer model and operating system.

Avoid unofficial websites that imitate driver-download pages. Printer drivers operate deeply within the operating system, so obtaining them from the manufacturer's official domain reduces unnecessary security risk.

A useful installation approach is to leave the printer's USB cable disconnected until the Epson installer specifically asks you to connect the machine. Once prompted, connect USB and allow the installer to detect it.

After installation, verify that Windows recognizes the correct Epson model rather than a generic printer.

Configuring RIP Software for DTF Printing

A normal Epson printer driver does not understand the white-underbase requirements of DTF printing. That is why RIP software becomes an essential part of the converted system.

RIP software controls several important variables, including:

• Printer model

• Ink-channel sequence

• White underbase

• Ink density

• Resolution and print quality

• Image placement

• Image size

• Mirroring

• Color management

BCH Technologies uses a DTF RIP workflow that can be configured for converted four-color printers such as the ET-2980 series.

During printer setup, first select the correct model. Next, specify the physical ink sequence you established during the conversion. Finally, choose appropriate ink and print-quality settings.

Those settings can be adjusted later, so your first setup does not have to become permanent.

When importing artwork, pay attention to the X and Y position values as well as width and height. These determine where the artwork will physically appear on the film.

For normal DTF transfers, the artwork also needs to be mirrored before printing because the printed surface eventually faces the garment during heat transfer.

Always verify the preview and media orientation before starting a production print.

Helping the Printer Detect DTF Film

One challenge with some unmodified desktop printers is that their paper-detection system may not reliably recognize transparent DTF film.

A straightforward workaround is to attach an opaque paper leader near the front of the film. In the demonstrated setup, the film begins roughly 50 to 70 mm behind the leading edge of the paper.

The printer detects the paper first and begins feeding normally. The attached film then follows through the print zone.

This method can also allow the paper leader to be reused.

Some advanced conversions alter how the printer detects media so the machine can feed film directly. However, modifications involving the mainboard or firmware are substantially more technical and carry a greater risk of damaging the printer.

For many first-time conversions, the paper-leader method provides a much more approachable starting point.

Keeping the Film Level to Prevent Head Strikes

DTF film must travel through the printer as flat as possible.

This point is extremely important.

If the film rises as it exits the machine, it can touch the bottom of the printhead. This produces what DTF operators commonly call a head strike.

A head strike can smear wet ink across the film. More seriously, repeated or severe strikes can contaminate or damage the printhead.

The printer's output tray or an external support platform should therefore remain approximately level with the paper-exit path.

For longer prints, extend the support so the film does not hang down under its own weight. At the same time, avoid raising the platform above the natural exit level because that can push the film upward into the printhead.

Observe the first several prints carefully.

If scratches consistently appear on one side, examine the media path rather than immediately assuming there is a printhead problem. A very small height difference in the support platform can change how the film passes underneath the carriage.

Adjust the support gradually until the media remains flat.

Understanding Black in a Four-Channel DTF Conversion

When the original black channel is reassigned as part of a four-channel conversion, the RIP may create dark areas by combining cyan, magenta, and yellow.

In printing terminology, this is a composite black rather than a dedicated black-ink channel.

The quality of the resulting black depends on ink density, RIP profiles, color balance, film, curing, powder, and the garment itself.

Therefore, do not judge the final garment appearance solely from the uncured image on the film.

A good test image should include strong cyan, magenta, yellow, black or dark neutral areas, gradients, and fine details. This provides much more information than testing with a single-color logo.

Priming the White-Ink Channel

White ink is usually the channel that requires the most attention.

If white stops printing correctly, repeatedly running head cleanings is not always the best solution. Excessive cleaning wastes substantial ink and fills the waste system quickly.

A controlled manual prime can help restore the white-ink path.

In the method demonstrated in the video, a syringe is connected at the waste side of the system and approximately 2 to 4 mL is drawn slowly. The operator watches the ink advance gradually rather than pulling aggressively.

Slow movement is important.

Strong vacuum can create unnecessary stress on the printhead, dampers, seals, or tubing. Never apply excessive suction.

After the manual prime, allow the printer to perform its normal head-cleaning cycle. This combination is sometimes referred to as a park-and-prime procedure because the printhead remains parked against the capping station while suction helps restore the ink path.

Use this technique as troubleshooting rather than something to perform constantly.

If white ink repeatedly disappears, investigate the underlying cause. Possibilities include settled pigment, air leaks, restricted tubing, poor capping-station sealing, insufficient ink agitation, or a partially clogged printhead.

Testing White Ink Correctly

A surprisingly common mistake is testing white ink on ordinary white copy paper.

You may actually have a perfectly functioning white channel and simply be unable to see it.

Instead, use dark or colored media when checking white output. A nozzle pattern or small white test area becomes immediately visible against a darker background.

Once the white output appears solid, verify the CMY channels as well. A DTF printer needs all channels working properly because missing color nozzles can cause banding and inaccurate artwork even when the white layer looks perfect.

Resetting the Maintenance-Tank Chip

Eventually, the printer may report that the maintenance box or waste-ink tank has reached its service limit.

That warning does not necessarily mean the external waste bottle is physically full. The printer usually tracks estimated usage through a counter or a chip.

On models that use a resettable maintenance-box chip, a compatible chip resetter can reset the counter.

Remove the maintenance-box assembly and align the resetter contacts with the chip. Hold the resetter firmly in place until its indicator confirms that the reset has completed-commonly with a green light.

Then reinstall the assembly.

Remember that resetting a counter does not remove actual waste ink. Because this conversion uses an external collection bottle, you must still inspect and empty that bottle physically whenever necessary.

Never use a counter reset as a substitute for checking the real waste-ink level.

Daily Care of a Converted DTF Printer

The conversion itself is only the beginning. Long-term reliability depends heavily on maintenance.

White DTF ink contains suspended pigment and is much less forgiving than ordinary desktop printer ink. If the machine sits unused, pigment can settle inside the ink tank, tubing, damper, or printhead.

A practical routine should include regular printing and white-ink circulation or agitation according to the ink manufacturer's recommendations.

Also inspect:

• Nozzle-check quality

• Waste-bottle level

• Tubing movement

• Capping-station cleanliness

• Wiper condition

• Film-feed alignment

• Output-platform height

• White-ink consistency

Avoid performing cleaning cycles automatically every time you see a small nozzle issue. First determine whether the problem is air, sediment, a poor cap seal, contamination, or an actual nozzle restriction.

Preventive maintenance usually consumes far less ink and time than recovering a printer after the white-ink system has been allowed to settle badly.

Building a More Reliable DTF Workflow

Converting an Epson ET-2988 or another ET-2980-series EcoTank into a DTF printer requires several systems to work together.

The ink channels must match the RIP configuration. The waste system must safely collect cleaning fluid and excess ink. The tubing needs enough movement for the carriage. The paper-feed encoder must remain properly aligned. The film must travel through the printer without lifting into the printhead. Finally, the white-ink system requires regular attention to prevent settling and clogging.

For someone performing a first conversion, it helps to work on one system at a time rather than viewing the printer as a single complicated machine.

First understand the waste system. Then confirm the ink-channel layout. Next study the feed mechanism and media path. After the mechanical conversion works without errors, install the proper Epson driver and configure the RIP.

Most importantly, test the printer methodically before moving into production.

Perform a nozzle check, verify white output on colored media, print a small DTF test design, observe the film as it enters and exits, and inspect the finished print for scratches, banding, misplaced colors, and insufficient white coverage.

Once these elements are stable, a compact EcoTank platform can become a capable entry point into desktop DTF printing.

BCH Technologies continues to test printer conversions, DTF components, maintenance methods, and troubleshooting techniques so users can better understand how these machines work rather than simply replacing parts when something goes wrong.

Be sure to use the video below to see how it's done, especially for the mechanical details that are much easier to understand visually, such as removing the feed components, routing the tubing, positioning the encoder disc, installing the replacement rail, setting up the external waste bottle, configuring the RIP, and adjusting the film-support platform.