Printable Flex - has anyone used it?

[AdamB]

When I say that the colour ran ............. became fuzzy in certain areas, this is what I refer to:

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[smitch6]

is that the paper or the actual printed T Adam?

[smitch6]

you certainly couldn't sell an image like that unfortunately could you.
i wonder if anyone else has used it with the recommended ink

[AdamB]

is that the paper or the actual printed T Adam?

This is the printed vinyl that was printed on the second run. I printed the artwork and then countour cut it (keeping it on the pastic backing). After having a good look I decided that I couldn't use it.

It looks out of focus but the image is sharp ............... the edges of the letters are "fuzzy" which make the image look blurry ............... again, this could be because I didn't use durabrite inks????

[Paul]

hmmm. what settings did you use for printing on vinyl??? best photo???

[AdamB]

Yeah tried them all Paul, the best setting available got the best print on the first sheet I printed (I tried other settings but the fuzzyness was even worse).

After I printed the next sheet on the highest quality available with only a little fuzziness I thought I had cracked it - then I tried again and this happened.

Paul, do you reckon the ink is the problem or do you think that going through the media options available in the print options might resolve it (don't really want to waste any more money chasing my tail you see).

[Paul]

I think it may be the ink problem. its look like doggy ink mixed with water etc... or... how about greae on the vinyl??? is it possible to hve some greasy marks on the vinyl??? if there is some ink wont hold to the media. i had this with my phoo paper.

[AdamB]

It does look like that Paul, but as I say I have printed with the same ink on various types of paper and also other transfer papers - all with perfect results.

The printable side on the flex looks clean enough ................. it must be that this particular brand of ink doesn't work with the printable flex which is dissapointing but not anyone's fault as it does say to use durabrite inks - which I haven't!

I'd be interested to know if anyone has used the flex with durabrite inks though???

[bms]

It's been a while since I've printed on the printable flex myself, but we did some tests on this back in the D88 days with Durabrite inks and another Epson printer using ordinary inks. The ordinary inks gave the same "fuzzy" effect that you show on the picture, but the D88 gave crisp results with no blead of inks into each other.

[gstk]

Hi gstk,

as Martin says there are single sample sheets to purchase which work out at quite a good deal to try it out (as I did). I would send you some mate but as it was I only got a few sheets to try and all have been used.

My results were quite positive - at first .................

I tested the printable vinyl (sorry Martin, printable flex) along with some other types of transfer paper I had purchased as sample packs (one being an ebay special) by printing and contour cutting a logo that I am currently using for a charity I do stuff for. I had 4 different types of media (including the printable flex from BMS).

I have an epson 1290 A3 printer that I have installed a ciss system of pigment ink. I had tried the pigment ink in comparrision to dye ink the day before and done a couple of wash tests so I knew the pigment ink would do it's job (dye ink faded a little, pigment ink stood fast).

I printed the logo onto 3 of the dark transfer papers and all printed very well and I managed to contour cut them on the cutter with no problem. It was now the turn of the printable flex and (to be honest) it felt a lot thicker but the backing plastic was also very much thicker (which could have made things seem a lot thicker in the long run). I had noticed on the BMS site that it stated "Please check your printer to ensure it uses durabrite inks as otherwise the image will be slightly fuzzy when printed." I wasn't using durabrite inks but another pigment ink brand. After printing the logo I noticed that in certain areas the colour had ran .............. this may be the term fuzzy that was mentioned on the site???

I pressed them all on the same t-shirt and then stuck it in the wash, then dried it on the clothes horse. I did this for 15 times (the missis loved me I can tell you). After 15 washes there was a noticeable difference between the 4 media types with the printable flex looking as though it hadn't been in the **wash at all!

Brilliant I thought, I can use this and the colours that had ran at the start .................. well, I couldn't see the problem now?? Was it my eyes at the start of this test as I couldn't see anything now!

Well, that was a few weeks ago and someone asked me a few days ago if I could print a dark t-shirt, yes I thought as I had a sheet of printable flex left (bonus). I printed the design (which contained a lot of colours) and the yellows ran into the blues, and the reds ran into the blacks. I'm not sure if this was cured earlier in the wash phase but I CAN'T wash a shirt and then sell it, so I couldn't use it and had to use my next choice of transfer media (which I put a note on, to avoid the drier to preserve the garment).

Conclusion, everyone is looking for a way to print on Darks with full colours and this is not something that I (or you reading this) are the first to try and figure out. People are still trying to find an easy option and yes (before anyone says) there is the kisscut (2 step) process and the magic touch (2 step) process which I know have glowing results, but with fingers like bratwurst sausages I wanted to avoid things so finnicky. The other option is DTG (Direct to Garment) which IS THE ANSWER but a very expensive answer at that (unless your name starts with a J and you make everyone jealous by posting designs of your latest creations - only kidding John).

Whether the printable flex will print perfect with durabrite inks - I don't know as I didn't have that ink to test, but apart from the running/fuzzy bit (and it tested it on various print quality options to no avail) in the middle, the printable flex (although heavy and thick) performed well above the rest.

**Note: During the wash tests I didn't put the t-shirt in the dryer until the last (15th) wash. After the drier phase one of the transfers (the ebay special) was in a right state (but good for hen night and corporate stuff). Two of the more expensive transfer papers were still holding up nicely but a little crispy (the heat in the drier had made them a little harder) - the printable vinyl however, ............. no change (10/10) - just the ink thing for me that stops me using it, if it wasn't for that I'd use it all the time.

didnt notice the single sheets - need some mugs tomorrow so will have a try. Thanks