A few questions.

[RaindropMelody]

Hello!

Another newbie here, i know you'll probably all be absolutely sick of the same questions all of the time, i've spent days reading the forum and other sources around the net, but i seem to be getting nowhere fast.

I usually do a little research on things before starting, but i never seem to delve deep enough into it before jumping into the deep end. As usual things don't go to plan, they seem to normally work out in the end (Fingers Crossed).

Anyway, i'm using an Epson R245 printer with a CISS. (I already owned this printer as a spare, so i thought for now to keep costs down i'd use it until things took off)
The ink i'm using isn't something very heard of, i think it must be chinese stuff that i found on eBay from a guy who said he was moving onto other things and was selling his stuff. It was called Inkpiu. And the paper came in a blank cellophane pocket so no idea what that is either.

Basically i've been doing lots of tests using different profiles from around the net. I know it's not the best setup, but i'd prefer to at least try and use it up if possible before getting better inks and paper.

There's a website selling the ICC for my printer, i was curious as to whether it would actually fix my colour problems just like that, or is that not the case?

My greys such as anything black and white, black and white photo or any sort of shading keeps turning green after pressing. (I'm doing phone covers at present) and also i can't get my pinks and reds correct. We've tried printing a design twice and it looks ok, although i've not tried to press it, but i don't think that's the most ideal way is it?

Basically, do i buy the ICC for my printer?
Do i have any other solutions?

Thank you in advance.

[John G]

Welcome to the forum - if I was in your shoes I'd Throw the inks in the bin, buy better ones, or at least inks that you can buy again in the future, then get a profile done by Paul on off this forum.
You'll be wasting money getting a profile on the inks you're using now if you are going to change in the near future.

[socialgiraffe]

Hi and welcome to the forum.

To answer your question is pretty impossible due to the kit you are using. I completely understand why you have elected to go the cheap route but it is going to make everything five times harder (at least) and you will probably end up spending the same amount but in blanks and not on decent kit.

To try and fix it you do need a ICC profile and Paul from this forum will be able to help out there. I think he charges around £25.00 for this service. You will also need to replace the paper and the ink. Good quality paper can be purchased from any of the recommended suppliers on this forum, personally I would opt for TRUPIX. The ink needs to be ditched in favour of a good quality and trusted ink. Once you have this you will waste quite a bit of it flushing out the cheaper stuff you currently have in the tubes of your printer. Only after you have replaced the ink will you be able to get a profile made.

To sort out your system is going to cost a quite few pounds and there is still no guarantee that it will work. You are also probably going to waste quite a few more blanks trying to get it going, and once up and running you will have to run something almost everyday to ensure the heads do not block.

Given that a recommended and supported A4 Ricoh is around the £100 mark it would be my advice to ditch what you are using and start again. You will still need good quality ink and this will treble the price unfortunately, but at least you will have a good set up and can worry about selling the items you are creating instead of worrying about how you are going to print anything.

[smo]

You say the colours arent right but you've not pressed it yet - the output from the printer can be vastly different pre-pressing as they always look washed out and "odd", once pressed however they are vastly different. I suggest you actually press some before going any further.

[socialgiraffe]

Good pint SMO

Missed the bit completely!

[John G]

black and white photo or any sort of shading keeps turning green after pressing.

Think he has tried pressing these

[RaindropMelody]

Thanks for the input.
Right now i really can't afford to buy the new inks, as me and my husband are trying to get a business up and running with various other things too. But eventually i hope to.
My main problem is the grey turning green, i've seen that a lot of people have trouble with this and i wondered if it could be conquered by adjusting pressing time and the temp?

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Here's a couple of examples. Total fail with the pink, the first one in the actual phone covers is my second attempt and the second is the first. It's not the right pink. But the glass is tinged green still.
But the giraffe cover seemed to turn out fine.

[socialgiraffe]

Hi Raindrop

You will be able to improve the images, but because of the cheap ink and the unbranded paper you are going to have to faff around to get the right temp and time. Which will probably cost you more than a new set up.

It is a false economy to say "I am starting up and need to purchase the cheapest possible kit" it will not last, will not serve you well and ultimately will probably be thrown away.

I am sorry as I know it is not what you want to hear but there is no magic wand on this, especially when working with unbranded and unrecognised equipment. Anyone offering advice on temps and times are just stabbing in the dark without knowing the specifics of the materials used.

Also, and as a side issue, I think you will find that the Chanel cover breaches copyright issues. For a new business it would not be good to go down this route.

Having said that, I do wish you well in your new venture.

[Paul]

Descent grey is the hardest colour to get right in sublimation. So even with good ink to get right grey i would recommend custom inc. But as other says... What's the point of doing that if next time you will b getting different brand of ink.