Epson EcoTank Printer Settings: How To Get Beautiful Prints Every Time
Have you ever printed a gorgeous set of journal pages… only for them to come out looking dark, dull, or strangely flat?
It’s one of the most common frustrations I hear from crafters who use printable papers.
The colours aren’t as vibrant as they look on screen, the details seem muddy and the finished print just doesn’t look as beautiful as you expect.
The good news is that Epson EcoTank printers are capable of producing beautiful, vibrant printable papers, but the secret is using the right combination of printer settings and paper type.
Since I’ve been designing my own printable papers since 2023, you can imagine how much printing and testing I’ve done in that time.
Now, I’m very happy with my setup that consistently produces rich colours, crisp detail and much more vibrant prints than the default printer setup.
I’ve found that the biggest improvements in the quality you get from your printouts usually come from three simple changes:
- Installing and using Epson’s Universal Print Driver rather than the default driver
- Printing with a high quality setting rather than a standard setting
- Using 100-120 GSM Presentation Paper rather than standard copy paper
And here’s how all of that looks in practice…
✨ Just so you know: I don’t work for Epson and this isn’t a sponsored post. Everything you’re about to read comes from my own trial and error since buying my first EcoTank back in 2021, plus what I’ve learned designing my own papers to print at high quality. In other words, oodles of testing (and a fair few wasted sheets!) so you don’t have to.
My Epson EcoTank Setup
Install & Use Epson’s Universal Print Driver
One of the most important improvements you can make is installing the Epson Universal Print Driver (free from their website).
You’ll need to search for your printer model e.g. ET-2861, select the “Drivers” dropdown and install the Universal Driver from there.
This driver unlocks additional printer options and ensures that your system has access to the full range of print settings available for EcoTanks.
Once it’s installed, make sure you select that driver whenever you print, especially when printing from programs like:
- PDF viewers
- Image viewers
- Cricut Design Space for your Print then Cut projects
To do that, you’ll need to choose the Universal Driver as your printer and open up additional settings. Often, this will say something like “Print using system dialog”.
Using the correct driver ensures the High Quality print options appear correctly in your settings menu.
With this driver, you also get access to other fun settings like “2-up”, which is a “2 to a page” setting, giving you even more creative freedom when using printables in your projects.
Print Quality: High
Most printers default to Standard or Draft print quality because it saves ink and prints the pages faster.
But these modes are designed for everyday documents like letters or worksheets, not artwork. These lower-quality settings make printed artwork less vibrant and causes them to appear grainy.
The High Quality mode uses more ink, simply because the printer is laying down more colour to produce those richer results.
However, this is one of the big advantages of using an EcoTank printer. Because EcoTank printers use refillable ink tanks instead of traditional ink cartridges, the cost per page is dramatically lower.
Even when printing in High Quality mode, you’ll still go a very long time before needing to refill the ink.
I probably print somewhere in the region of 100+ full-colour sheets every month and I’m still using the original ink my printer came with when I bought it back in August 2024.
Whereas the Inkjet printer I was using before getting an EcoTank needed new ink cartridges every month. That was upwards of £30 per month on ink cartridges alone. Ouch!
For crafters like you and me who regularly print journal papers, printable kits, or ephemera, this is one of the reasons EcoTank printers are such a good investment. A higher upfront cost, sure. But it’ll save you hundreds in printing costs!
Anyway, the exact option you choose for the High Quality setting may vary slightly depending on the file type you’re printing.
If you’re printing PDFs, simply choose High Quality mode in the printer preferences. Don’t forget to use the Universal Print Driver and open the additional dialog menu to get to this setting!
If you’re printing JPEG images directly from Windows, you may see a slightly different interface. Either way, you’re still looking for the High Quality setting to get the same result: clearer and more vibrant prints.
Recommended Printer Paper For Artwork & Paper Crafts
The paper type also makes a surprisingly big difference to the quality of your printouts.
Standard copy paper tends to absorb ink very quickly, which can cause colours to appear muted and slightly dull.
That’s why I recommend using Navigator’s 100 GSM Presentation Paper (for general use) or their 120 GSM Colour Document Paper (for journal pages).
These papers have a light coating, which helps the ink sit on the page instead of immediately soaking in as standard copy paper would, keeping the colours brighter, sharper and more detailed.
Another reason I recommend these particular papers is that they work beautifully for journaling projects.
They’re thicker than standard copy paper but still flexible enough to fold easily to make journal pages, decorate ephemera and use in collages.
Heavier cardstock can make journals too bulky, while thinner paper can be flimsy and tear (especially if you’re binding your journals with a needle and thread).
100-120 GSM paper tends to sit right in that perfect middle ground: sturdy enough, but not too thick.
Bonus Paper Types To Play With
A few other paper types worth experimenting with in your journals include:
- Linen paper: for a textured, vintage feel
- Parchment paper: for a rustic and aged look
- Mulberry paper: for a textured, handmade feel
- Sticker paper: for obvious reasons!
- Tea-stained or painted paper: to help you make your own fun and unique designs
- Paper that’s already been printed on: also gives you fun and unique results!
Check The Paper Type Settings – Especially For Thick Papers
I’ll be honest, I don’t change this setting very often. For my usual 100-120 GSM papers, the default plain paper setting does the job just fine.
But if I’m printing on something thicker, like a textured linen paper or cardstock, I’ll switch the paper type setting to “Epson Matte”.
Why bother? Because the paper type setting tells your printer two important things: how much ink to lay down and how far down to lower the printheads.
If your printer thinks it’s printing on plain copy paper when there’s actually thick linen paper or cardstock in the tray, the printheads will sit too low and churn up your paper inside the printer, causing clogs and a bit of a mess.
Matching the setting to your paper also means the printer applies the right amount of ink for that paper, so you won’t end up with over-saturated (or flat and faded) prints.
An Important Note About Printable Quality
Even the best printer setup can’t completely fix a low-quality printable file.
For your printables to print clearly and at the highest quality, the original file should be:
- 300 DPI resolution
- Exported at the correct size
- Clean and sharp rather than blurry
- Properly colour balanced
Some printables generated purely by AI or without careful editing can sometimes contain soft edges, strange colour blending, or low-resolution areas. Those issues will absolutely show up when printed.
Ultimately, a good printer setup will help you get the best possible results from your printables, but the quality of the original design still matters.
How To Set Up Your Epson EcoTank for High Quality Prints
You know the why now, so here’s the how!
Here’s a quick checklist for getting your Epson EcoTank printer settings right for artwork, journal pages and printable kits:
- Install the Epson Universal Print Driver. You can download it for free from the Epson website. Once installed, it’ll appear as an extra printer option on your computer.
- Select the Universal Print Driver whenever you print. If the standard driver is selected instead, some of the higher-quality options won’t appear.
- Open the additional Printer Preferences (or Print Settings) menus. Check this every time you print because the settings often reset to their defaults.
- Set the print quality to “High”.
- Choose the paper type that matches the paper in your tray. This one’s especially important for thicker papers like linen paper or cardstock. Otherwise, your printer might chew up the corners!
- Print, print, then print some more! The best way to see the difference is to print a few pages and compare them with your old printouts. I reckon you’ll spot the difference straight away!
And that’s it! Install the Universal Print Driver, switch the quality up to High and treat your printer to some decent paper. Three small changes that make a world of difference to your prints.
Itching To Get Started With Your Printing & Crafting?
All you need now is something beautiful to print!
My nature-inspired printable papers are designed for exactly this: high-quality designs created by me (a human!) at 300 DPI specifically for junk journals, art journaling and other creative journaling and paper craft projects.
With your new settings dialled in, they’ll print beautifully at home, again and again.
Ready to put your new printer settings to the test? Have a browse of my nature-inspired printables and pick something pretty for your first high-quality print.
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Psst! Are you reading this and wondering why an EcoTank deserves a spot on your craft desk? Check out my detailed EcoTank printer review to see the pros, cons, 5-year cost breakdown and my top printing tips.
Read More About Printables
- Introducing The Mahalo Designs Digital Library: The Clubhouse Collection
- The Mahalo Clubhouse Membership (Free Digitals Every Month!)
- Recommended Junk Journal Printables (Tried & Tested!)
- Free Printable Junk Journal Pages from House of Mahalo
- Free Printable Letter From The Bookmaker For Junk Journals
- How To Get Free Junk Journal Printables & Ephemera
- Introducing My New Tool: The Digital Kit Catalog
- How To Organise Your Digital Kits (3 Ways!)
- Is An EcoTank The Best Printer For Junk Journaling? (My Honest Review)
Junk Journal Toolkit
📦 What do I need to get started?
If you’ve got paper, glue, scissors and something to bind your pages with (like a needle, thread and an awl or pokey tool), you’re good to go! Check out my essentials vs. nice-to-have supply list for more info.
🤯 I’m overwhelmed by tutorials and ideas. Where should I start?
Start with my free Mini Junk Journal Masterclass. It walks you through the process step-by-step. Even though it focuses on a mini journal, the same tips apply to any size journal.
❓ I don’t understand the terminology. Can you help?
Absolutely! My A–Z Junk Journal Glossary breaks down all those confusing terms and acronyms. Jargon be gone!
🪡 How do you keep your binding neat?
I use my bookbinding cradle to line up my holes and avoid punching too far through the pages. Smaller holes give a neater and more secure binding, and I use this thin upholstery thread for a cleaner finish.
🧵 Do I need a sewing machine?
Not necessarily! A basic sewing machine is helpful for making fabric-covered journals, but strong fabric glue can work just as well. If you stick to paper-based journals or folios, you don’t need one at all. I like the sewn look and making fabric-based journals, so I personally use a simple machine (similar to this) that’s lasted me over 10 years – it’s a trusty part of my toolkit.
🖼️ What digital papers do you use?
I use a mix of my own designs and other favourites. You can see examples here. New to digitals? Check out my mega bundle for a big saving on some of my designs or sign up for my Mahalo Clubhouse membership to get brand new digitals sent to you every month.
📜 What’s the best paper for printing digitals?
I use this 100 GSM Presentation Paper for vibrant and high-quality prints.
🖨️ What printer do you recommend?
I love my Epson Ecotank. It’s affordable, reliable and the ink lasts ages. I used to spend £30 a month on ink – now I refill just once or twice a year for under £30. Check out my detailed review of EcoTank printers to see how much you could save!
🖇️ What glues do you use?
My go-tos are Collall All Purpose, Cosmic Shimmer and Beacon 3-in-1. Here’s how I use each one.
📖 What books are best for junk journaling?
I love using second-hand nature and botanical books. Here are some great titles to look for next time you’re thrifting.
