Poor iphone cover results (washed out)

[John Nex]

We've been through every iPhone case supplier there is and have found that the cases from BMS are the best. We print about 500 per week on average so go through them quite well. We darken the image on screen by about 15 - 20% and press at 185 degrees for 50 seconds. When we press, we tighten the press to maximum pressure and then just let the head rest on the metal and we get fantastic results doing it this way. We are using A4 Ricohs with visisub ink.

[Andrew]

We go firm pressure as well rather than light. This is for all metal.

[John Nex]

What paper are you using? I have always found that heavy pressure leads to paper being left in the coating.

[Andrew]

The paper only gets left in the coating if it is too soft under heat. We use Xpres paper right now. We are used to going on the firm pressure as we print a lot of the large 24x12" sheets. The smaller items we find can get away with a bit less pressure but we have never found a difference. The fibres sticking to the coating was a big problem on a batch of silver metal that was doing the rounds a year or 2 ago. We had to print this at a lower temp, about 10c less than the white.

[trevmcdev8]

I am getting very washed out results on the iPhone covers. Have tried all combinations including less heat/pressure in which case there is barely any transfer at all! Next step is to try doubling the times and upping the pressure considerably. Metal dog tags are giving the same results too with next to no transfer at light pressures & lower temp (say 180*C).

I see there are no hard & fast rules so i guess I'll play about till I get it sorted

[John Nex]

Have you removed the protective film?

[Paul]

... And lower pressure to minimum?

[sonywiz]

Gotta admit it's all guess work as we all use different equipment, printers, ink, paper.

I Get cracking results with 185 deg, 100 secs, firm pressure. epson printer.

[bigj2552]

Gotta admit it's all guess work as we all use different equipment, printers, ink, paper.

I Get cracking results with 185 deg, 100 secs, firm pressure. epson printer.

that settings i use for my press...brother printer - great results

[trevmcdev8]

Have you removed the protective film?

Yeah the protective film has been removed beforehand.

... And lower pressure to minimum?

If I lower the pressure then there is barely a 'haze' of a transfer to the metal, looks completely washed out.

that settings i use for my press...brother printer - great results

Im using a Ricoh, BMS iPhone blanks and a DF30 press and sublijetR inks on Xpres paper. Everything else seems to work fine, it's just the metals. I did up the pressure and the time last night to firm and 75 seconds and the results were improved but still not great. Next step is to try for a couple of minutes and see how it goes.