3D Sublimation Using Film

[magda]

using the korean transparent 3d film and never had a problem with the film its self....getting it lined up is another story...
prints crisp and good colours

where can can I buy this Korean transparent film? Any places in the UK that stock it or would I have to order from overseas?

[bigj2552]

GOT IT !!

finally got the paper cases to print in the mini 3d machine -
film also works good,.....but the paper comes out the same quality TBH
these below were ALL with sub papers :biggrin:

another week of testing and we will be good to go with the iphone cases first me thinks

[ArtyGamer]

Isn't it shocking to think how long we spend messing around with stuff like this? I mean, it was November that I bought my 'big black press' and wasted so many cases and mugs until I decided to get stuck back into it in February and finally sussed out how to do it (after more wastage than I care to imagine). Surely the suppliers have a responsibility to provide more carefully thought out instructions rather than the ridiculous pamphlets they shove in the boxes where everything's written in badly-translated English and is more vague than a Calvin Klein advert. Those who care enough to want high quality products must waste hundreds of pounds worth of stock, ink, paper, electricity and time (and then some) to perfect something that should have been explained in the first place.

I'm going to see if my better half will help me film some videos to make this stuff easier for people who have never done it before. I know it's probably a stupid idea as it means it makes it easier for people to compete, but I just don't think it's right.

Good for you, for getting it sussed!

[bigj2552]

we were the same with the metal backed sub phone cases -must have wasted 100's to get the right temps/times, as not all heat press's are excactly the same, as in heat output...then you add in variables like pressure, ink profiles and everything else that can cock up, makes it a very interesting business indeed

this was much quicker tho, thank god....only wasted about 40 odd.
but the way they, all suppliers show you (or dont ) on youtube is utter pants, eps with the film....all that faffin about changing silicon sheets/frames ect, and if you use the metal placement thing that came with the machine EPS for the film, there is no way in hell can you get a pic lined up the way you want it...when you pull down the metal frame to lock it, it moves the film downwards....tryied cutting 3/4mm off the top, better but cant get lines up properly.....and if you cut to much off, the dam thing loss's suction...

all trial n error...lots of errors lol

and whats happened to the spellchecker on this forum ????

[ArtyGamer]

I was the opposite - tried metal-backed cases first, didn't mess with the colour settings, just printed them as I would anything else and then pressed it at 200deg C for 50 seconds and every one was perfect. I just didn't like the product itself, so switched to full wrap instead. Also... small confession... I don't ever mess with pressure settings. Haven't had any problems yet between doing mousemats, t-shirts, hoodies, coasters, lanyards... so hopefully that'll continue as I really don't want to have to get in to remembering to adjust the pressure. It's bad enough that the Adkins press I've got requires the 'run' button to be pressed before it actually heats up, and I keep forgetting! Very annoying to go back to the press after ten or fifteen minutes expecting to get started and it's still at an idle temp. I'll get used to it eventually!

[ArtyGamer]

Finally got my gold film sussed... here's what I did.

1. Fired up the vacuum press and set it to 400 deg F
2. Put a sheet of Teflon in the bottom of the vacuum area
3. Allowed it to heat up
4. Arranged a load of my little girl's Octonauts figures (from the front of magazines) face up on the Teflon sheet
5. Covered them all with the gold foil
6. Activated the vacuum long enough for it to take the shape of the figures
7. Took them out as quickly as I could so they didn't melt (I didn't ask her for permission... she's only two!)
8. Used them as chocolate moulds and spent the afternoon melting chocolate and having fun with her.

SO yeah, finally got to use up all the rest of my gold foil and now my little girl has a fridge full of 'Choctonauts' solidifying.

[bigj2552]

i swear to god since we started all this in 2012 - my hair has got sodding greyer with stress

[g1njeremy]

Hi all,

I just purchased the new mini 3d sublimation machine, along with the accompanying low temperature sublimation ink and film. The reason I'm buying this machine is because it can press phone cases with film! And that's what I need!

Here's my setup:
Film: Korean transparent film in A5 size
Printer: Epson T60
Ink: Supplied low temperature ink
Press: New mini sublimation press

My problem is that the printing quality on film itself is grainy for certain colors and not sharp for the edges. Printing is absolutely fantastic on regular sublimation paper so I suspect it's the film...

I've attached pictures:
[ATTACH=CONFIG]2837[/ATTACH] The above setup on film (you need to zoom to see the visual artifacts)
[ATTACH=CONFIG]2838[/ATTACH] The above setup on sublimation paper

This problem directly affects the pressed case at the end.

For those of you who are experienced with the film, I really need your help! What is causing these artifacts on the film? And what can I do to counter it?

Any advice or comment is highly appreciated!


Thanks!
Jeremy

P.S. I tried with regular sublimation ink and the print result is even worse...

[membrane]

I'm going to see if my better half will help me film some videos to make this stuff easier for people who have never done it before. I know it's probably a stupid idea as it means it makes it easier for people to compete, but I just don't think it's right.

Hello.

Did you ever get a chance to make those videos? I'd like to see how you perfected the paper method of wrapping the cases.

Thanks

[membrane]

GOT IT !!

finally got the paper cases to print in the mini 3d machine -
film also works good,.....but the paper comes out the same quality TBH
these below were ALL with sub papers :biggrin:

another week of testing and we will be good to go with the iphone cases first me thinks

Can you share your method with the paper? I've tried a hundred times and can't get the creases/folds out of the corners.