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

[letsgo]

We use a 3300. preheat press with dud mug in till press is up to temp as justin said then try press at 180 for 180, make sure when you put print mug in the press is tight .

[uzit]

Thank you I will do that! again I will report back.

[uzit]

Question silly one I think but i will ask lol Shall I preheat the mug at 180/180 too?

[smitch6]

i usually just leave my mugs ontop of a heater just to warm it a little.
you start preheating for 180/180 i'd love to watch you try putting the transfer paper on
you'll be having some serious burnt fingers.

some items you pre-heat a bit just to take moisture out, make sure it's flat etc
but you only do it for 10-20 secs

[uzit]

Hey guys, I managed to pre heat and followed your excellent advice...and it worked! the white lines/streaks ! thank you

[johnhealy1956]

I'm bring a new aspect to this thread so its ok to continue here. I too have suddenly developed problems printing solids. Unlike Uzits stipes issues, my solids re now very grainy and weak in colour. I have been using a Ricoh GXe3300N for a couple of months without problems, but suddenly any area of solid(ish) colour looks very grainy.

Any suggestions?

[bms]

I'm bring a new aspect to this thread so its ok to continue here. I too have suddenly developed problems printing solids. Unlike Uzits stipes issues, my solids re now very grainy and weak in colour. I have been using a Ricoh GXe3300N for a couple of months without problems, but suddenly any area of solid(ish) colour looks very grainy.

Any suggestions?

Are you printing on the whiter side of your paper

[johnhealy1956]

Hi Martin,

Yes I am using the same paper, printer, settings, timings (190c for 120sec) as worked for the last 3 months. I have even tried changing the pressure of the mug press, but what once worked ok now causing this problem. I've tested down to 60 secs too.

I noticed that the temp on the press dropped from 190c to 150c withing 30 secs of operation (didn't notice this massive drop before - usualy only a few degrees). It only comes up to 170c by the time the 120 secs are up.

Couuld the heater element have gone kaput. I printed the same test colour square on my flatbed onto a rubber backed fabric coaster and the colour was fine - no blotchiness/graininess. Hopefully this eliminated the paper, profile, prnter and dampness.

Hopefully this fuller description helps.

[bms]

Hi Martin,

Yes I am using the same paper, printer, settings, timings (190c for 120sec) as worked for the last 3 months. I have even tried changing the pressure of the mug press, but what once worked ok now causing this problem. I've tested down to 60 secs too.

I noticed that the temp on the press dropped from 190c to 150c withing 30 secs of operation (didn't notice this massive drop before - usualy only a few degrees). It only comes up to 170c by the time the 120 secs are up.

Couuld the heater element have gone kaput. I printed the same test colour square on my flatbed onto a rubber backed fabric coaster and the colour was fine - no blotchiness/graininess. Hopefully this eliminated the paper, profile, prnter and dampness.

Hopefully this fuller description helps.

A drop in temp is normal as the cold mug draws heat out of the blanket. Have you changed anything? Thicker mugs take longer to heat up - has your mug supplier changed? If it is taking 120 seconds just to get to 170 then something is wrong (blanket on press would be the best bet). I would be cooking at 170 degrees for 120 seconds with a Ricoh printer.