am i missing something?

[AdamB]

I got a sample pack of this sent through today and I'm going to try it later ................... I will post results!

Hi all,

just to keep you all updated. I received the sample pack today and this afternoon I made time to test it.

I printed out an image (not mirrored as instructed via the notes enclosed with the sample) via the craft robo that allowedme to print registration marks on the sample sheet. I then ran this through the craft robbo and cut around the image I had then printed.

The print was good, and the quality looked very impresive. It also handled really well being cut on the craft robo.

After, I was left with the image that needed to be pressed.

I pre pressed a t-shirt to ensure any moisture was removed and set the temperature at the instructed time and temp. Once ready I peeled off the print from the backing paper and positioned it where I'd like it on the t-shirt. The transfer looked quite flimsy but after looking at some spare vinyl on the bits that were cut away I realised it was extremely tough!

So, press ready and covered with a piece of silcon paper (provided with the sample packs) - to my mother, expensive silicon sheets are known as 'grease proof' paper - but we'll not quibble about that!

I pressed the transfer, then removed it and waiting (as instructed) for it to cool completely for a cold peel. Once cold, I peeled off the grease proof (sorry) silicon paper away from the image.

Everything went well, and suprisingly easy! I did take a photo of the t-shirt but I'll not post it (as explained below)

There were two 'dark' samples in the sample pack, Jet-Opaque® and 3G Jet-Opaque® the latter being the more expenisve paper (by a little bit) but (aparently) a better finish with "less hand" and "smoother finish".

I did another t-shirt with the 3G Jet-Opaque® just to see if there was a difference with the same image and I could tell (slightly) that the 3G Jet-Opaque® was a little smoother and was indeed a little less heavy.

I then noticed on the instructions, the aftercare ................. i.e washing!

The Jet-Opaque® said to wash inside out, seperatly and only in a warm wash.

The 3G Jet-Opaque® said to wash inside out, seperatly and in a COLD WASH!

So, I thought (probably as everyone else does) I wonder what will happen if they go in a normal wash at 40degrees?

I brought them home a few hours later and turned them inside out (not too much to instruct a customer to do) and after getting a quick briefing on how the washing machine works, I stuck them in for a cycle.

After the cycle finshed I removed the shirts and the 3G Jet-Opaque® was still stuck to the t-shirt with no signs of coming off, but had faded significantly ............ no way it could be used!

The 3G Jet-Opaque® had 25% fading on it so I thought I would let it dry (on a clothes horse) and wash again to see what happens.

IT WAS THEN THAT I REMEMBERED ......................!

In my haste in getting the t-shirts to the washing machine I had forgotten one very important point of the instructions, being to leave them for 24hrs before washing!

Now, I'm unsure if the ink needed time to settle or what or if the fading only happened because they were washed about 3 hours after printing - who knows?

All I do know is that there are still some questions, so I'm going to pop over the shop in the morning and re-do the back of the t-shirt - leave 24hrs - then wash!

I'll post back when I know more (and hopefully take some images).

Adam

[logobear]

I have been printing garments for just over 20 years, and I think Martin of BMS gave a great summary.
If you want a hobby, buy cheap, much about, make mistakes, and if you learn, you may become pro.
If you want a business, invest at least 100 hours on this forum and others, selectively buy bombproof best kit and great media with superb technical support, still make many mistakes, but hopefully survive, impress customers, and sell and sell again.
If it were easy the market would be overcrowded and there would be no margin left.
Purveyors of cheap chineese shite kit do me a favour because they kill off fledgling newstarts with unworkable equipement, dodgy media, and total lack of technical support. I am a big fan of the magic touch, but there are a few other genunie sources out there.
It has got to work over 99% perfect every time. If the sales rep cannot make it work in their demo, what chance do you stand?
Pass your combi press back to ebay, get an Adkins, and invest properly with a significant supplier, or choose a different direction.
IMHO
Phil

[smitch6]

lol Adam sounds like you had fun
please keep us informed of your adventure

[Kaz]

Adam

What printer did you use? Could it be that your ink isn't compatible with this type of paper?

But thanks for updating us, look forward to hearing the next installment

[AdamB]

lol Adam sounds like you had fun
please keep us informed of your adventure

Will do

Adam

What printer did you use? Could it be that your ink isn't compatible with this type of paper?

But thanks for updating us, look forward to hearing the next installment

Normal epson running a ciss system with dye ink. I know, I thought this when first looked at the paper (as printable flex requires durabrite/pigment ink) but then I read on the website:

"All products have been engineered for sublimation, pigment, dye, solvent, and eco solvents and are compatible with cutters and plotters....."

which means that it 'should' work with anything ............. or so they say!

I'll keep you posted!

[Ian M]

Pass your combi press back to ebay, get an Adkins, and invest properly with a significant supplier, or choose a different direction.

I bought a combi press off Ebay over 3 years ago now & it is still working really well & does it job. I also bought a really good mug press off Ebay too & that has done several hundred mugs again with no problem at all. Most of the time I buy my transfer paper off an Ebay seller too & again never had an issue with that either. You cannot label every Ebay the seller the same as like in every walk of life there is good & bad.

A few people are fortunate enough to own a Rolls-Royce but some can only afford a Perodua Kelisa but, both would still get you from A to B.

I for one want to help people & not be critical of how much they have spent or what they have bought.

If Colombus had not gone a different direction he wouldn't have discovered America.

Ian

[Paul]

I bought a combi press off Ebay over 3 years ago now & it is still working really well & does it job. I also bought a really good mug press off Ebay too & that has done several hundred mugs again with no problem at all. Most of the time I buy my transfer paper off an Ebay seller too & again never had an issue with that either. You cannot label every Ebay the seller the same as like in every walk of life there is good & bad.
Ian

same here! got my press of ebay years a go and still working as new! only swaped heat blanket in my mug press.
buy smart, not expensive me thinks...

[Kaz]

Nothing wrong with buying from ebay, I bought my heat press and cutter from there and had no probs (apart from the teething problems with the faulty cutter which got resolved by the seller) at all.

Not all chinese sellers sell tat, and you'll probably find that some of the higher end ones are made in China aswell, same as the majority of the blanks we use come from China

[Bob700]

I tried New Milford inkjet transfer paper a while ago and the results were great, they are an American firm but ship to the UK, the paper I used had a blue back to it and it lasted wash after wash. if you contact: service@newmilfordphoto.com they will give you shipping prices to the UK, when you order on their website the shipping is a fortune but contact them and they'll give you a realistic price

I have also recently got a sample pack from Yolo and printed a couple of t shirts for light fabrics for my wife and so far the results are very good, they've been washed a couple of times and turned out really well, also as with new milford paper when you close your eyes and run your hand over the t shirt you can hardly (if at all) feel the transfer.

Hope this helps, could not agree more with Ian M and others like him, we are all here to give and receive advice and help, I bought a swing away press from ebay and it works every bit as well as the expensive adkins I used to own.

[smitch6]

I tried New Milford inkjet transfer paper a while ago and the results were great, they are an American firm but ship to the UK, the paper I used had a blue back to it and it lasted wash after wash. if you contact: service@newmilfordphoto.com they will give you shipping prices to the UK, when you order on their website the shipping is a fortune but contact them and they'll give you a realistic price

I have also recently got a sample pack from Yolo and printed a couple of t shirts for light fabrics for my wife and so far the results are very good, they've been washed a couple of times and turned out really well, also as with new milford paper when you close your eyes and run your hand over the t shirt you can hardly (if at all) feel the transfer.

Hope this helps, could not agree more with Ian M and others like him, we are all here to give and receive advice and help, I bought a swing away press from ebay and it works every bit as well as the expensive adkins I used to own.

that sounds brill what actual paper did you use?
and was it light or dark T's you used it on