Marks from Teflon/PTFE sheets on print

[Photomouse]

I'm using a PTFE sheet but When I sublimate onto the fabric the ripples from the PTFE sheet can be seen in the actual print on the fabric, is there an alternative to PTFE or how to overcome the ripples being seen in the print? Whatever I use in place of PTFE needs to be 50x74cm. Would I still the same results with Teflon?

I was thinking of using paper but not to sure if that would work and it's not really the cheapest option.

any thoughts on a solution?

[dazzul]

What is it your pressing?

[FutureProject]

I use reusable cooking sheets from the pound shop..

[Photomouse]

Are they 50x74cm? Do you think it would effect the print if there was join, if they are not big enough!

[FutureProject]

no 33x40 worth a test punt for £2 though

[pisquee]

I'm using a PTFE sheet but When I sublimate onto the fabric

Trying to work out what your using the sheet for and why?
If we're printing big fabrics we just feed it straight through the rotary press with the transfer paper stuck to it with high temp spray adhesive, and in the flat bed press for test prints, we just put it in in the same way.

[Photomouse]

We've always used it with other products as I thought you needed to and to stop the print coming through to the heated plate. Do you not find that a problem? Is ok for the heated plate to press directly onto print?

[pisquee]

Yeah, we tend to just put the transfer and material into the press as it (stuck together with spray adhesive) and that's it.

[Jason]

Hi Pisquee, can I ask what the spray adhesive is and is this just for textiles or can it be used with other hard surfaced items?

[pisquee]

http://www.vikingtapes.co.uk/p-747-3m-s ... yJC7_lmYS4
available from lots of suppliers
Basically you spray a light amount of it on the transfer and then stick the fabric to it. This way the transfer and fabric are always in tight contact with each other over the whole surface, which eliminates ghosting, slippage and gassing problems. A much better solution than just taping around the edges.
You can also get rolls of sublimation paper which already have this type of adhesive on them. InkTec's standard paper does have a slight tackiness to it, but not enough on its own.
It doesn't work as well on hard surfaces as it tends to leave residue on them which is hard to remove, which isn't noticeable (or doesn't occur) on fabrics.