Paper Quality???

[Themugbox]

Hi all, another newbie question incoming.....

I have managed to get through my mug issues regarding their quality ( which I thought was poor however simply had to increase temp and length of time).

My new issue is... When I ordered my start up kit it came with 100 sheets of sub paper. This paper seemed really good quality with the side you print on being really vivid white.

When I ordered my second batch of mugs they cam with 100 sheets of paper free. This paper seemed to be a heck of a lot lower quality and when I tried using it the picture came out very faded. ( I tried both sides of the paper just in case with the same result). I then assumed that as it was 'free' paper it wasn't going to be the best so ordered some from Amazon.de. ( I live in Germany). That paper arrived today and seemed a little better quality but nowhere near what I got in my start up kit. I tried it out and sadly got the same faded image.

So my question is... Do I need to alter any of my process for this different paper? Or have I fell foul of substandard paper and need to reinvest in some branded stuff. Any advice would be gratefully received as I am getting quite a collection of duff mugs.


Thanks in advance!

[ArferMo]

You would probably be better off with Truepix or DyeSub Magic from TMT.

[GoonerGary]

I tried some new papers recently, but some were really thin. Went back to Trupix because it works and prints well. You can't go wrong.

[Themugbox]

Thanks for the response guys. It would probably been worth mentioning I am using a ricoh printer and now after some research realise I need to use paper designed to be used with the ricoh. I think the stuff I have has been absorbing too much. I have ordered some tex print-r which gets some great writes ups so hopefully I will be back at the press in the coming days as my order book is filling up fast.

Thanks

[Paul]

This is not true. You can use any paper for your ricoh and it will work as well as others.

reference to your paper, you mentioned that you printed on both sides? Sublimation paper wont print with same quality if you print on bad side. It will be worst.
Lick your fingers and grab a page. One side will stick to your finger. This is side you should print on. No papers are same so you need to find a sweet spot with your temp and time. So bump it up a little and see if it help.

[JMugs]

So bum it up a little and see if it help.

Snigger.....

Consistency is your friend. Work with the same things and once it is working stay with it.

Eg I use different suppliers for different mugs, they use different coatings. Each mug style requires a different pressing time. I have a back up supplier for one style, but the coating is different, a slight tweek in time and temperature is required to optimize the print.

So settle on paper (I like trupix), settle on a mug supplier, and tweek until you find what produces the best results. Then stay with it.

OR try Pauls approach and umm well "Bum it up a little"!

Janners

[Paul]

So what will you do if your run out of paper is not available? Shut the business for day or two??

you need to find few alternatives in case you need them. Only ciz paper give you bad results on couple of mugs not mean is crap. Also is essential to know brand of your paper.

I agree with sticking to whatever works for you but you need to try other things too. This is the way to learn.
My 5p

[Themugbox]

Thanks for the responses guys. I wasn't printing on both sides but I did do a trial run to see if there was something drastically different with the paper I was using. Hopefully my Tex Print R paper will be here after the weekend and life will become a happier place.

Now all I need to do is figure out the best way to get more mugs out of one A4 sheet of paper... any suggestions as I can't find anything in the Ricoh settings?

[JMugs]

Hi Paul
The paper is a good example and I guess depends on how an individual operates. I carry stock and always have done, If you see me posting because suppliers are out of stock it is because I have less than 6 weeks stock left. If I can't get trupix in the UK, or from a supplier I use in Germany or from the rest of Europe for over 6 weeks something has really gone wrong. By week 4 I would have ordered something else in and have the times sorted ready to change rolls. My little black book has all the data in it.
In the run up to Xmas I posted about the shortage of white 11oz mugs. I had just broken into my 6 weeks of remaining stock...that is 6 weeks based on Xmas sales, not average sales. So not desperate, but planning ahead.

I have come unstuck occasionally where a big order comes in unexpectedly and wipes out my stock, but then it's only a few emails and sorted. I buy from the UK suppliers whenever I can, but just occasionally I need to buy from the Mainland (Europe...).

On saying that your point about trying other things is very valid...there have been many things I have tried....how could anybody resist! Mrs Janners often thinks I am a bit odd as I work in the studio all day, then can be found in the studio of an evening developing new ideas, well playing really but the other phrase sounds better!

Now back to developing new ideas....

Janners

[JMugs]

Now all I need to do is figure out the best way to get more mugs out of one A4 sheet of paper... any suggestions as I can't find anything in the Ricoh settings?

For my ricoh I cut A4 down into 3, each is 99mm (297mm / 3) by 210mm (A4 width). That is all that sits in the ricoh. My mug templates are set to those proportions and I set a custom paper size in the ricoh to those diminsions as well.

Now I look for promotions and clearances etc so I bought a stack of it cheap (about 25% less than normal retail), so the paper in the ricoh cost me 3.5p per mug.

Just a few ideas there.

Janners