New to mug printing some assistance! blacks not looking like black!

[uzit]

Hey guys

I just this week got a Ricoh GXe3300N with Visi-sub sublimation ink and a LC5 Mug press. This all came with sublimation paper, mugs and all the things needed to get started. But I am having problems getting the blacks to look good. I have tried the setting at 180c for 200seconds and each time I have tried the black panel on the picture below looks like jail cell bars, white lines horizontal.

What am I doing wrong?

[ATTACH=CONFIG]1017[/ATTACH]

[Justin]

Make sure your press is tight, does sound like you're overcooking it, I know the Ricoh inks don't take as long so you may need to reduce that. I don't use them myself but I'm sure someone will be along any moment with the best settings........

[uzit]

Make sure your press is tight, does sound like you're overcooking it, I know the Ricoh inks don't take as long so you may need to reduce that. I don't use them myself but I'm sure someone will be along any moment with the best settings........

Hey,

The press is tight enough I think. I tried one mug at 160c for 200seconds and that had the worst streaks/lines :/.

Thanks for replying though, hopefully a Ricoh expert arrives!

[Justin]

Are you letting the press heat up to temp before putting mug in? Streaks may well point more to the press.

[Renniwano]

Unfortunately I use mug clamps and not a press.. but the blacks would be more of a brown colour if you were over heating.. or doing too long on time with the Ricoh

I think it could be something to do with your blanket ?? I am sure i've seen similar issues mentioned on here before and the blanket was mentioned..

[uzit]

Hmm I am not :/ I was always told not to heat up the press with out the mug in it, it actually says on the press lol! So do I turn on the machine then let it heat? then set the temp and seconds and start?

[Justin]

Put a spare blank mug in the press whilst it gets up to temp. This prolongs the life of your blanket. Once at temp. put your 'to be printed' mug in.

[uzit]

That sounds good, I will try that tomorrow as I am exhausted now! :p Shall I do this each time I freshly start printing?

[Justin]

Yeah, always keep a blank in whenever you're not printing.

[uzit]

Cool, I will report back tomorrow thanks for helping!