Mug Printing Problems

[StormPrints]

Hi guys,

I'm a newbie to mug pressing & sublimation in general. The mugs I produce are sellable, but some of the colors are inconsistent - for example the colors will be faded towards the bottom/top - or sometimes in random spots. Basically they're not as high quality as in some of the videos that I have seen.

I'm currently using the ricoh 3110DN with sublimation inks and a refillable cartridge. The mugs are double coated (11oz) and I usually press them for around 2/3 mins on 356 fahrenheit on medium pressure. I use "subright" paper, could this be the problem?

Thanks in advance!

[Scotty@BMS]

Refillable cartridges are probably your problem. What inks are they?

[StormPrints]

They're unbranded from Korea, the print looks fine on paper when it comes out of the printer.

[pisquee]

I doubt the refill carts are the problem, although what's in them may be.
If they're unbranded then you don't know what ink you actually have - it may be the best ink in the world, or absolute garbage!
One thing you will need to get your colours right is an ICC profile - if your supplier can't provide one, then you will need a custom one making - without it your computer doesn't know what to do with the inks in your printer to mix them into the right colours. Even the best/most expensive ink in the world is useless without an ICC profile.

As for the mugs fading in their print at the top/bottom of the mug - this can be due to the mugs themselves not being straight enough and/or your press not being tight enough (although probably a combination of the two.)

[Scotty@BMS]

Yeah, unfortunately that is absolutely no indication at all. Have you had a profile made?

[StormPrints]

Yeah, unfortunately that is absolutely no indication at all. Have you had a profile made?

Not yet, how would I go about having one of these done?

Thanks!

[StormPrints]

I doubt the refill carts are the problem, although what's in them may be.
If they're unbranded then you don't know what ink you actually have - it may be the best ink in the world, or absolute garbage!
One thing you will need to get your colours right is an ICC profile - if your supplier can't provide one, then you will need a custom one making - without it your computer doesn't know what to do with the inks in your printer to mix them into the right colours. Even the best/most expensive ink in the world is useless without an ICC profile.

As for the mugs fading in their print at the top/bottom of the mug - this can be due to the mugs themselves not being straight enough and/or your press not being tight enough (although probably a combination of the two.)

I see, I was looking into the Sawgrass Sublijet inks - as they seem to be the best on the market. I thought I would check out the cheaper version first. I'll chase the supplier to see if they have a profile, otherwise how would I go about having one made?

Thanks!

[Quinsfan]

Storm
May I suggest you have a good look through this forum before you go any further. You will find the answers to your questions and a whole load of other information as well. I an still new myself and look at this forum everyday and find something new everyday. The people on here are great for advice.

[pisquee]

Paul (moderator on here) offers custom ICC profiles for sublimation from his website:
http://www.frames4photoshop.info/custom ... ation.html

Don't assume that because Sawgrass is the most expensive, or assumed only option, or that everyone uses it, because everyone uses it, that it is necessarily the best quality option.