Banging my head against a brick wall

[Brixhamboy]

That's the same price I paid for my test pack of sublinova inks.

If this is the actual advert for your inks might I observe it says, in the item specifics, these inks are for Epson printers. I am not trying to open up a new topic here and it's probably not even the same ad but doesn't the Ricoh printer use gel ink? I have no first hand experience with Ricoh so could not comment on what ink is 'correct' to use.

I assume the ICC profile provided as part of the deal was not a 'generic' but resulted from you returning several test prints for CityInk Express to measure?

In my limited experience the image spread I perceive on your mugs might well be overcooking. I achieved something similar when testing a faulty MP160 press. Do you keep a sheet of plain paper between the heat wrap and the sublimation paper around the mug?

[Justin]

Lol, £50 for a full set is cheap That looks like either a profile or software setup issue to me. How many charts did you provide to them to make the profile?

[gazfocus]

Lol, £50 for a full set is cheap That looks like either a profile or software setup issue to me. How many charts did you provide to them to make the profile?

I did say I was new to this so I wasn't aware that £50 was cheap.

The company only requested a single chart. How many should I be sending them?

[Justin]

We're not having a go, just an observation

I'd heard they ran them with a single chart, I'm not sure if this is enough, I've always supplied 3/4 for profiles in the past. I'd have a word with Paul (username Paul) as he creates profiles and could probably check the one you have for you.

[GoonerGary]

The item specifics in that link states Epson might just be a mistake. It states gel ink so that will be for Ricoh. I got a profile from Cityinkexpress, but it was completely wrong. The instructions they gave for printing the sample sheet were wrong too.

I don't have any experience of your ink, but it might be ok. I own one of those mug presses too, but ditched it the other day after 100 or so mug pressings. The blanket was leaving scorch lines on the mugs. Another variation of that blue signzworld press failed also because the blanket creased after short use. The press might be ok for a while, but they are not to the same standard as their previous black presses which work great! Your times are about right for that press.

Get a profile done by moderator Paul on here and that should improve the colours. Switch to Trupix paper before you get your profile made and download Adobe Printer Utility to do the test sheets.

[Brixhamboy]

I had a good long look on the City Ink website and on ebay and I struggled to find any reference to ink specifically for Ricoh printers. There was a general statement saying they made ink for Epson and ricoh but nothing to convince me a specific bottle of ink was for a specific ricoh printer. I found it all very confusing really - but not to say City Ink is at fault - just very unclear indeed.

You also mentioned you were going to use your Epson but received Ricoh refill tanks. Might there have been confusion over the type of ink supplied? My 'Epson' ink is as runny as water if that helps . . . is your ink watery? I'm guessing it should be thicker if it is a gel ink. That might be worth confirming.

Is there a possibility the transfer paper is not remaining in close contact with the mug?

Nobody on here is having a go - I can assure you of that. You can be certain that anyone who replies has viewed your post and is trying their best to help find a solution. For me, the best way forward would be to see a print of something slightly less busy and more objective with some white spaces - just to highlight the effects.

Oh, and purely out of interest because I don't recall it being mentioned, what software are you using?

[gazfocus]

I had a good long look on the City Ink website and on ebay and I struggled to find any reference to ink specifically for Ricoh printers. There was a general statement saying they made ink for Epson and ricoh but nothing to convince me a specific bottle of ink was for a specific ricoh printer. I found it all very confusing really - but not to say City Ink is at fault - just very unclear indeed.

You also mentioned you were going to use your Epson but received Ricoh refill tanks. Might there have been confusion over the type of ink supplied? My 'Epson' ink is as runny as water if that helps . . . is your ink watery? I'm guessing it should be thicker if it is a gel ink. That might be worth confirming.

Is there a possibility the transfer paper is not remaining in close contact with the mug?

Nobody on here is having a go - I can assure you of that. You can be certain that anyone who replies has viewed your post and is trying their best to help find a solution. For me, the best way forward would be to see a print of something slightly less busy and more objective with some white spaces - just to highlight the effects.

Oh, and purely out of interest because I don't recall it being mentioned, what software are you using?

Hi,

Sorry, you may have mis-understood my comment about using my Epson printer. I originally purchased the Ricoh printer for sublimation, bought Ricoh refillable cartridges and the inks I linked to (cartridges were from a different supplier). The ink I bought is listed as 'Gel' ink, which is for Ricoh printers (Epson printers don't use Gel ink). I had a number of issues with the Ricoh printer printing lines in everything and so I ordered some refillable cartridges for my Epson WF3640, but the supplier sent me cartridges for a different printer so my Epson didn't recognise them, so while I'm arguing with them to get them changed (or my money back), I am trying to persist with the Ricoh printer, so sent off for the profile, etc.

I have seen people suggest on other peoples threads about wrapping the mug/sublimation paper with paper to see if that helps.

When I get home, I'll try printing my company logo out, and will take a photo of it printed on the sublimation paper, then a photo of it on the mug and hopefully we can go from there.

I really appreciate everyones comments and advice...it just seems that everything I try at the moment goes wrong haha.

Oh, and I'm using Photoshop.

[arthur.daley]

Hi Gaz

you might find it useful, but then again not, to download a test chart such as the one used to set up Fuji photographic minilabs - goto

google images - fuji test image then under search tools select size and bigger than 2MP

it will give you colour patches, grey scales and skin tones if you haven't got a calibrated screen it can give you an idea of how close it really is.

Isn't sublimation a wonderful thing ;o) ?

When it all works its great but when it plays up it is enough to try the patience of a saint. Usually there are so many variables that its hard to see the wood for the trees. Keep at it - you'll get therein the end!


regards

Arthur

[mags1892]

Gaz City ink sell CHINESE ink im afraid the quality is not great and I can say that as Ive tested it in the past, so unless theyve bought elsewhere then its pants ink. PLUS its defo NOT for the RICOH.

[pisquee]

City Ink are a dealer for InkTec, and do sell their Sublinova inks for Epson, whether they've bought the equivalent for the Ricoh printers (can't remember which sublinova that is now) but if they have then it isn't Chinese but South Korean, and whether it is cheap depends on whether your benchmark is overpriced Sawgrass consumer inks, or proper professional inks. If the latter then it's about the same price, and not cheap.