What process/papers would be best?

[Quinsfan]

Hi fellow forum readers and members.
I have been asked to provide 20-30 tshirts in white and black for a local blues and rock band.
I currently have a sub printer (Ricoh) and a beat up old inkjet printer. I have seen what looks like a good deal from TMT for the OKI C612 laser printer and am thinking about purchasing this to do this order and then I have another option for other works.
I have seen the post about the Yolo papers that can be used with sub ink but obviously this, I am guessing , wouldn't do the black t shirts.
This is the bands artwork that they want printing.



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[webtrekker]

Yolo Jet-Opaque II is for darks a it has a white base layer to take the ink. The paper isn't self-weeding though, so you'd either need a cutter or a steady cutting hand!

Personally, I wouldn't want to be cutting out 20-30 of that design by hand.

[Quinsfan]

I have a cutter but not an optical one to follow cut marks. That is why I was looking at the TMT offer but not sure of the lighter parts of this image would need a white printer.


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[webtrekker]

From the Yolo site for the JET-opaque II paper:

• A soft inkjet transfer paper with a white background to hide the colour of the fabric
• Suitable for transferring all types of images onto bright or dark coloured cotton or polyester fabrics
• Compatible with virtually any inkjet printer - print with dye-based, pigment or sublimation inks
• No need to mirror or reverse your image before printing
• Transfers a thin white film background behind the image
• Use a hand iron or heat press for application
• Size(s) available: A4 and A3 sheets

I would imagine that image would need a white background if pressed to a dark garment.

The act of pressing releases the sublimation inks into the white backing layer so that you retain vivid colours, just as if pressing any other sublimation item.

[Quinsfan]

As you say I don't fancy trying to cut out 20-30 of that design


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[webtrekker]

As you say I don't fancy trying to cut out 20-30 of that design


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Question is: What would be more useful to you in the future? The Oki laser printer, or a contour cutter?

[Quinsfan]

I have a Graphtec cutter for my signage work up to 750 wide but it has no optical eye. Have no need for one as I don't have a wide format printer. If I did I wouldn't even be asking the question as I would be printing it on garment vinyl and cutting it.
I am happy to get someone to print these on a Roland and send them to me to press but am looking at the other options and how I can expand my range of products. I am not looking at spending the 4-5K on a solvent/latex printer as I do not currently have the workload to keep these kind of machines going.
Is the laser print better than ink jet/sublimation?



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[webtrekker]

Is the laser print better than ink jet/sublimation?

Sorry, I wouldn't know as I don't have a laser printer. I can vouch for the inkjet/ sublimation prints looking great, but haven't wash-tested them to any extent.

[Quinsfan]

I have been following your other post with interest and that is why I have asked the question. I noticed you said that you were away at the moment or something along those lines.


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[webtrekker]

Yes, been looking after me old Dad while the rest of the family were on holiday, but I'm back home now.

I really need to get a print or two pressed on a t-shirt and give it good few washes, not that I'm into garment printing myself, but I like to know the limits of whatever materials I use. I'm thinking of printing the same design on both my Canon inkjet and Ricoh sublimation printers to compare them after washing. There's no discernable difference in the prints straight after pressing.

BTW, I see you use an A4 Ricoh printer and a Chinese press. Near enough the same as what I'm using myself (not sure if it's Chinese though) and I'm getting good results on cotton Tote bags (which probably never get washed anyway).