Need help with getting set up for sublimation mugs

[gbasource]

I want to start up my own sublimation mug business but im having trouble finding a website that not only gives you a set of ink with an icc profile, but gives you them for printers that are still on the market. The only websites I can find that supply sublimation ink with the required icc profiles are for printers that are no long sold. Can someone in the uk who is all set up doing sublimation mugs, tell me where you got your printer and the sublimation ink bundled with a profile. if your ink did not come with a profile off the supplier, please tell me where you went to get your profile. I want to start from scratch since I bought a Epson s22 and had no profile supplied with the ink and cant find the profile anywhere since the supplier of the ink had it from another supplier.

[WorthDoingRight]

Well once member 'Paul''s pc is back up and running he can probably produce you an icc profile. So send him a PM and ask. If you are looking for everything already done for you then you really need to be looking at probably a Ricoh printer setup and you will find information on the BMS website (look for banner advert at top of page) or message 'BMS'.

[pisquee]

If you already have your sublimation inks, got them for a good price, and know that you can get more of the same brand in the future for an equally good price (this is important, as different ink manufacturers inks will all be different) then get Paul to make you an ICC profile - this will be specific to your individual S22 (not a generic one like some ink makers provide to try and cover every S22) so in the end you should get better results in terms of colours than with an ink set with maker provided ICC.

[bms]

I want to start up my own sublimation mug business but im having trouble finding a website that not only gives you a set of ink with an icc profile, but gives you them for printers that are still on the market. The only websites I can find that supply sublimation ink with the required icc profiles are for printers that are no long sold. Can someone in the uk who is all set up doing sublimation mugs, tell me where you got your printer and the sublimation ink bundled with a profile. if your ink did not come with a profile off the supplier, please tell me where you went to get your profile. I want to start from scratch since I bought a Epson s22 and had no profile supplied with the ink and cant find the profile anywhere since the supplier of the ink had it from another supplier.

The reason you won't find a profile for an S22 is that these are custom made as the printer isn't a supported sublimation printer. All reputable sublimation suppliers will be able to provide icc profiles or colour management software for the printers and inks they supply. Remember that a custom profile is specific to the inks and somewhat to the paper you use so if you decide to use the S22 then make sure you keep everything else the same.

[Justin]

In answer to your question, there are plenty of companies that will supply icc profiles and inks for current printers and also discontinued printers, BMS, Listawood, Xpres and so on. Sawgrass also have a section where you can download profiles for all supported printers.

Take a look at the suppliers list at the top of this General dye sub section.

[JSR]

It's worth bearing in mind that any profile you may be supplied with is only going to be a "close enough is good enough" profile, and may not be accurate enough for you (depending on how discerning you are, of course).

As pisquee has already said, even though the profile may be suited to your ink and your model of printer, it won't be matched exactly to the output capabilities of your specific printer.

It took me years of struggling with Sawgrass inks before I figured out why my colours were not particularly accurate. It was all down to the profile that came with the authorised inks not being very accurate. It's logical really. The profile can hardly be matched to my printer when Sawgrass never saw any prints from my printer. It can only be matched to some other model of the same printer. The cheaper the printer is, the wider the manufacturing tolerances are allowed to be, and the more inaccurate the profile may be for your particular printer.

I have two Epson 1400 printers. One was bought in 2007, the other in 2010. I have two profiles from Sawgrass. Although neither are entirely accurate, the "v1" profile is "okayish" with the 2007 printer but produces utterly hideous results from the 2010 printer, while the "v2.5" profile is "okayish" with the 2010 printer but produces awful results from the 2007. Both the same model of printer, but they can't use the same profile

My most recent Epson was the cheaper B40W. Using Sawgrass inks and the Sawgrass profile produces prints with a hideous green cast that make the prints look "flat".

In each and every one of these cases, the colour accuracy of the prints were improved immeasurably by getting custom profiles made to match my specific printer and the batch of inks that I have. I mention the batch of inks because it's important to note that inks change as they age. The older they are, the more they'll change, and the less accurate your profile (even your custom profile) will be - a new custom profile will compensate for the ink changes as they age.

I recall a conversation some years ago with someone from the old forum who had a R1800 with Sawgrass inks in it and he could never get a good red - it always came out orange. He had some conversation with Sawgrass, and possibly even alternative profiles, but the end conclusion was that he was told that the printer couldn't produce a 100% red and he would have to make do with the best the profile would give. This becomes hilarious when you consider that the R1800 actually has a dedicated Red ink cartridge (unlike any other dye-sub printer). A printer with a dedicated red ink that couldn't produce a decent red? Sounds daft, doesn't it?

That's why, these days, instead of buying expensive printers and muddling through with the Sawgrass profile, I buy the cheapest printer I can and I spent the cost difference on a profiling device. Now I just create a profile any and every time I need to. I can even optimise a profile to match a photo/design.

I spent years pulling my hair out with stress over why the "supplied" profile didn't produce prints accurately enough for me. Now, I don't.

Unless you're going down the Ricoh/PowerDriver path (in which case a custom profile would be difficult to implement), my advice these days to anyone who takes colour accuracy seriously would be to get yourself a profiling device. It's a sound investment and one that'll serve you well. No more having to make do with the "close enough is good enough" mentality of off-the-shelf supplied profiles.

[crystaluk]

JSR how well did you explain that... Love u for it simple and in depth at the same time great advice

[WorthDoingRight]

All reputable sublimation suppliers will be able to provide icc profiles or colour management software for the printers and inks they supply.

Martin, you got any suggestions then as to where we can find a reputable sublimation supplier? :biggrin:

[bigj2552]

Martin, you got any suggestions then as to where we can find a reputable sublimation supplier? :biggrin:

i can see you getting bits of vinyl in your next order lad for that one lol

[Charlie_]

More like a box full of confetti pmsl

i can see you getting bits of vinyl in your next order lad for that one lol