Prints are not taking all the ink when I print to fabrics

[marzy]

Still very very new to all this.
Ive recently started printing to fabrics (tote bags cushions etc) but the designs just don’t seem to be vivid and leave lots of ink on the paper.
Printing to metal or unisub is giving great results but not happy with the fabric.
im doing everything recommended by my supplier - temp, length if pressing etc
min using Sawgrass printer, original inks and puxmax heat press.

I know your working blind but can anyone think of anything that would improve the prints?

[webtrekker]

Try some high release sublimation paper. Can you post some screenshots of what you mean by 'not vivid?' Are the materials you are printing to pure white and 100% polyester?

[pisquee]

transfer or fabric on top when in the press?

[pisquee]

What temp and time are you using?

[Paul]

Is your fabris polyester?

[marzy]

Yes polyester fabric (bought from a sublimation company) I think it was 180 degrees for 70 seconds ( whatever the company who I bought the items from recommended) could it be pressure?
it just seems there is a lot of ink left on the paper which isn’t the case when I print to metal or plastic

[Justin]

You mention 'original' inks, what inks are these? I'm assuming they are sublimation inks?

What paper are you using and are you printing on the correct side?

[InkExpress]

As a few others have said, try a high release paper. I supply two papers - Subli-Sharp and Subli-TEXTILE.

Subli-sharp is for hard substrates - metal, ceramic woods. It does work on fabrics but not as well as Subli-TEXTILE

Subli-TEXTILE as the name suggests is for textiles and fabrics. It releases almost double the ink of the Subli-Sharp paper leaving a more vibrant image transfer.

Here are a couple of tests we did with both papers to show the differences that can be achieved - same printer, same ink, just different paper.

vB_ID:5333

Silk_cushion_test.jpg (91.63 KiB) Viewed 35 times

vB_ID:5333

Silk_cushion_test.jpg (91.63 KiB) Viewed 35 times

[pw66]

Yes polyester fabric (bought from a sublimation company) I think it was 180 degrees for 70 seconds ( whatever the company who I bought the items from recommended) could it be pressure?
it just seems there is a lot of ink left on the paper which isn’t the case when I print to metal or plastic

HR paper as others are saying, plus you need more temperature - up around 200c for 60 seconds. The s:race paper gives good results at 200c/45 secs on fabric.

[marzy]

Yes sublimation inks, the official sawgrass inks from when I first bought the printer.
im using try pix paper and yes printing in the correct side.