Where ignorance is bliss, is there a how it's done book?

[AdrianH]

Home made and goes in class 2D[ATTACH=CONFIG]1873[/ATTACH]

[PICS-ON-GIFTS]

Have you looked at some of the suppliers' websites? Some of them have good explanations to your questions below - try www.thetransferpress.co.uk, for example. Basically, it's not an ink but a dye that evaporates into the coating on the items (except polyester, which needs no coating). Once cooled, it sets solid again and is a permanent part of the substrate. Some mugs have coatings that are dishwasher-proof so the dye will stay in them (but those that aren't, the dye gradually disappears with the coating!!).

I can also recommend Nicci at Subli Training - very good value for money, including lots of freebies, and she has a great knowledge of sublimation.

Hope that helps!

Janet

Well I am really talking about every thing from Vinyl to mugs and I guess T shirts, an how to book!

For example.

I have seen some Youtube and it basically shows a finished print being wrapped around a mug, taped on, then stuck in a heat press for 190 seconds than released, the paper peeled off to reveal a finished if not hot mug.

T shirts seem to be shown as similar, both use heat and pressure to move the dye into the material or onto the pot. But not to explain to me why or how it works, how something that has been printed can now withstand being stuck in a washing machine or dish-waster and not be removed.

I have this thought that is going through my head that prints are temporary until developed as in old style photos.

Adrian

[RogerC]

I will post this here and completely show my ignorance in all matters
How do you learn, how to do things?

For example Simple looking sign on back of car around 8 inches square, I thought was done by cutting and sticking vinyl, black border and big X on a yellow solid background. But it is not looks as though it was all printed and then just cut to finish shape

Another one is a picture with text, is this just printed in like an ink-jet or laser printer direct to vinyl, cut out and used. If ink-jet style or laser toner style, what makes them permanent to be used outside and on hot items such as mugs.

I started with an interest in just wanting cut numbers now end up wondering how? Is there a how to book that explains the processes.

Adrian

Hi Adrian,
The simple answer to your questions is:
Mugs are 'sublimated which means printing with sublimation ink in a specialised printer ontl specialised paper and then using a heat press to 'fix' it onto the mug.

The decals you've seen are most probably printed using an eco-solvent onto appropriate 'print' vinyl. The machines for this are usually Versacamm (seems to be the most popular....I've got one) and start from around £4-5k secondhand.