Been looking into the options for full colour t-shirt printing other than sublimation today and read very mixed reviews.
I've been talking recently about getting a BN-20 which would certainly produce decent garment transfers and offer many other products, stickers, posters etc. Chromablast looks perfectly good for white shirts only so I'd need a secondary system to print dark colours anyway. White toner lasers are another viable option and I hear good things about these.
Would be interested in getting this discussion going with anyone who has one of the above systems
We have the BN-20 Justin and it's fine for the smaller left breast logos and the like, for anything bigger, like full front images, I personally think it's horrible. The feel is just unacceptable and when cold, is quite stiff. The other thing you can't do are gradual blends into the colour of the shirt. Spend a little more and get a NeoFlex
Neoflex Direct to Garment Printer, Brother BAS-463 3 Head Embroidery Machine, Gerber Edge FX & 1, Gerber GS15Plus Plotter, Ricoh GX-7000 GelsPrinter, Adkins BETA Major Pneumatic Press, Graphtec CE5000-60 & Craft Robo, HTP616 Twinhead Mug Press & 2 Halogen Ovens.
Appreciate what you're saying John about the feel off a larger transfer. I used to print transfers on a large format machine and found Dorotape had a great material for whites that had a very slight hand but still needed breaking up with space..... You just can't beat dtg
Unfortunately there is not a one machine fits all approach to this industry as you know.
I have a Versacamm and while I do print some garments with it, like Logobear says, the larger transfers are not brilliant, depending on the subject. I have done a few large ones and they have looked pretty good, but I think this is by pure chance. Also note that the white ink system for the Roland is no good for garments, the ink is not strong enough for it. Mine is configured for white and metallic printing but that is because speed is not an issue and my customers require this. The white ink really comes into its own for things like window stickers etc and is really superb for that sort of thing. I have used the metallic but personally I have yet to print something that gives me the WOW factor (maybe I should refine my design skills!).
I am taking delivery of the TMT white toner system on Monday and although I will not be using it for garments I will probably dabble with it. From what I hear it is really good with garments and the end result is soft and nice to touch.
If you want, send me a file and I will print it on both machines and post up to you so you can make a decision.
I have owned a DTG before and although they have improved considerably I still do not think they are good enough just yet. For a start you are limited to perfectly flat areas, so things like hoodies with pockets or zips are out of the question. Also, I was talking to some guys at a screen printers I know. They print approximately 8 million garments a year. I asked them about the Konit range of DTGs (the one I looked at is 180K). The interesting thing they said was that at the moment they felt that the quality of DTG is not good enough. Now I have been really impressed with some of the DTG work that I have seen on this forum, but then I have also seen some of the screen print work these guys do and I have to be honest, I think it is better!
If I had money to spend on a machine and knowing what I know now I think I would purchase the white toner system from TMT. Get that earning money and then think about a versacamm at a later date depending on if you think window decals, canvas prints and stickers would be a good earner up there
I suppose you could sum it up like this:
Versacam
Very good for: stickers, window clings, canvas, posters, car vinyl wraps
Okay for: garments, although feathering on a dark garment is not possible
TMT
Very good for: garments, any colour, shape etc.
Okay for: mugs and a huge range of other stuff supplied by TMT
DTG
Very good for: t-shirts and sweatshirts and other flat garments
can not really be used for anything else.
Thanks Simon. Are you going for the A4 or A3 TMT solution? Can I ask prices on these? Really do like the look of that but I'm thinking A4 would be too small for a lot of designs.
Everyone is selling them at the same price, but if you purchase from TMT you get some free boxes of paper. Plus their service is one of the best in the industry.
I am not going to be using it for garments but only mugs. Along with a chemist I know I have been testing various chemicals and have found one that makes the item dishwasher proof. Easy to apply etc and I had the item tested in a mates pub who left it in there for 2 weeks. A quick calculation says that was about 500 washes with industrial strength dishwasher tablets. Personally, if someone complains after 500 washes I will tell them to go ram it!!!!
And before anyone asks, yes it meets all the regulations for H&S and Food standards
The white tonors are super, they are very stretchy and as said have quite a soft feel. There are no discounts as OKI are controlling the retail pricing through the 2 outlets (TMT and Xpres).
If you believe TMT the A3 is not as good, but Xpres say its fine - swings and roundabouts as there is no love lost between the 2 companies.
The thing to watch with these is calculating the tonor cost per page, the costs are ALWAYS quoted at 5% coverage, well we probably would have 60% coverage with an a4 transfer if not more so the cost is massively higher than the manufacturer would like you to believe and if either TMT or Xpres quote you costs ask them on what coverage its based.
