Newbie to sublimation mug printing

[RogerC]

I had the same problem as you Sean regarding the 'residue'. In my case all it took was to let it cool properly (I use the dunking method) then wipe it off with a soft cloth. Regarding colours you might find that unless you have a 'profiled colour corrected' monitor the image you see there will always look slightly different to what is printed.

[John G]

If the paper is sticking, I found it to be down to using cheap mugs - the coating is basically crap. Scrapped the cheap mugs and have never had problems since.

[sean]

The mugs purchased are ORCA coated. I will try a few of the methods suggested. In regards to ICC does anyone have Pauls details?

[sean]

Sorry, just read through the messages again and have contacted Paul. Will look into profiling device or 'profiled colour corrected' monitor in the near future.

[sean]

So Paul has created an ICC profile and I'm very happy with the colour matching. My prints are looking good but when I transfer a photo to a mug the details in the face are blurred and not close to the original print out. Does anyone on here have the same problem? I'm transferring at 185 for 180 seconds with a decent amount of pressure.

I'm also using a blank in the press until the temperature hits 185 then I will remove the blank and replace it with the mug needed pressing. The temperature does drop but then heats back to 185 and I press it for 180 seconds.

[Paul]

Print shoud not match the print on paper. On paper normaly should look dull. Printed blank will show you core t collors. Blured image normaly indicate to much pressure. So try to use medium pressure. Not to hard. Just enough to make mug stay still.
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[sean]

Sorry Paul, I should of explained better. Yes, the colours are dull as they should be but there is more detail on the print than on the finished product. I will adjust the pressure and see how much differance this makes.

[sean]

When producing numerous mugs I'm putting the blank mug in the blanket in between mugs until it hits the correct temperature and then starting the timer. Is this the standard process?

[RogerC]

If you're doing mug after mug after mug with the sub paper on them all ready to go in the press just take the one that has finished out and put the next one in. I find there's no need to use a 'blank' to get the temp back up.

[John G]

No need to wait until heat get up to temp on a run. Switch press on with blank mug in, temp gets up to whatever you have set it to (180) take crap mug out and put mug in to be printed and hit the timer. When time is up take mug out and put a new one in to be printed and hit the timer straight away.

If blurred after pressing, and the printer is OK, its either too much time, not enough pressure or crap paper

Cheers John