New 'Subli-Versa' versatile sublimation paper - testing :)

[InkExperts]

We wanted to share the testing phases of one of our new product lines; Subli-Versa all-purpose / versatile sublimation paper. We currently supply 2 sublimation papers for either hard or soft surface substrates: Subli-Style for hard substrates (ceramic, metal etc) and Subli-Fabric for soft substrates and fabrics.

Although both are great in their own right we always wanted a paper that would sit somewhere in the middle to offer users the ability to produce any product with just one paper.

Granted, our current papers were each made for their specific job so having one that covered both jobs would mean having a little compromise when printing on to all substrates.

We will not be discontinuing any of our current lines, just adding another paper to our range.

One of the reasons we having been looking an all-purpose paper is recently with the hot weather we have been having our Subli-Fabric paper has been causing issues for users where the air temperature has been causing it to curl or wick quite badly. Meaning it would catch the printing head as the printer printed marking the paper. This is due to the high release coating and high moisture content this particular paper has.

So, the specs for the new paper would be-
- High ink release (75%+ ideally)
- Light weight media - to minimise wear on printers paper feeds
- Distinguishable printable side - ideally water marked on the reverse
- Lay flat / curl resistant
- Ability to be used on both hard and soft substrates
- Coating does not get marked by the pin wheel rollers on Epson printers (pizza cutter marks)

As with everything we do we obtained as many samples as possible and began testing them to find a media that ticked all our requirement boxes.

We got down from 7 papers to just 3 papers before I started to photograph the testing phases.

Each of the final 3 papers had a watermarked reverse so its easy to know which side to print on to-

vB_ID:5890

Test_Mug_7.jpg (73.48 KiB) Not viewed yet

On to testing, we wanted to test the papers on a range of printers as well as a wide range of substrates to see how they all fared. The first issue we noted was one of the papers (yellow backed) was easily marked by the pin wheel (pizza cutter) rollers on an Epson Ecotank printer-

vB_ID:5890

Test_Mug_7.jpg (73.48 KiB) Not viewed yet

vB_ID:5890

Test_Mug_7.jpg (73.48 KiB) Not viewed yet

The first substrate test was on to aluminium sheets; we found one of the papers printed quite blurred (potentially due to the high release coating), on fabrics this is not too much of an issue as the weave of the fabric can 'hide' these types of imperfections in the print. However on aluminium there is no hiding this.

This was the 'patchy', blurred issue we found with one of the papers-

vB_ID:5890

Test_Mug_7.jpg (73.48 KiB) Not viewed yet

Note the difference produced from one of the other papers on the same aluminium sheet pressed at the same time-

vB_ID:5890

Test_Mug_7.jpg (73.48 KiB) Not viewed yet

The next substrate to test was a polycotton t-shirt from Xpres, all the papers produced a good transfer on this substrate-

vB_ID:5890

Test_Mug_7.jpg (73.48 KiB) Not viewed yet

vB_ID:5890

Test_Mug_7.jpg (73.48 KiB) Not viewed yet

Next was a linen make-up bag / pouch. Being a thick weave and very porous fabric these can often look quite faded when sublimated on to so a good high release of ink of the paper is required for these. Again all 3 tested very well on this substrate-

vB_ID:5890

Test_Mug_7.jpg (73.48 KiB) Not viewed yet

vB_ID:5890

Test_Mug_7.jpg (73.48 KiB) Not viewed yet

Last was the staple of sublimation.. the mug. Our Subli-Fabric paper often releases too much ink and / or the ink does not dry immediately so can make wrapping around the mug tricky if you need to re-position. So we were looking for the paper to be instant or fast drying (less than 10 seconds from being printed)

By this point, one of the papers was proving to be the most versatile and ticking our requirement boxes. We wanted to test the paper with a large area of solid colour as we often find these areas can look 'patchy' from poor ink release-

vB_ID:5890

Test_Mug_7.jpg (73.48 KiB) Not viewed yet

vB_ID:5890

Test_Mug_7.jpg (73.48 KiB) Not viewed yet

vB_ID:5890

Test_Mug_7.jpg (73.48 KiB) Not viewed yet

vB_ID:5890

Test_Mug_7.jpg (73.48 KiB) Not viewed yet

vB_ID:5890

Test_Mug_7.jpg (73.48 KiB) Not viewed yet

vB_ID:5890

Test_Mug_7.jpg (73.48 KiB) Not viewed yet

We were very pleased by the results, especially on large block areas of black shown below-

vB_ID:5890

Test_Mug_7.jpg (73.48 KiB) Not viewed yet

So with testing completed, we will be looking to add the 'Subli-Versa' paper to our range. Anyone wishing to try some samples please get it touch and we will happily send some out to you.

Alex & Christian (Ink Experts ltd)

[Justin]

What size sheets is this available in Alex?

[InkExperts]

What size sheets is this available in Alex?

It will be available in A4, A3, 99x210mm mug size sheets and hopefully A3+ (A3+ is not yet confirmed) Justin

Alex

[pisquee]

will it be available in 44" or 64" rolls?

[InkExperts]

will it be available in 44" or 64" rolls?

Potentially, we are looking to introduce rolls to our complete range of papers including this one. Most likely will be 17", 24", 44" rolls.

Alex

[GoonerGary]

Your testing for Subli Versa suggests that a slow release paper is better for hard surfaces.

"large area of solid colour as we often find these areas can look 'patchy' from poor ink release"

Is 'poor ink release' related to the quality of the paper or your high/ slow release descriptions?

If I want the maximum print quality for aluminium/ mugs and a weight sympathetic to the bumps and taper of mugs, which of your papers would you recommend?



Although I haven't sat down and tested each of your papers for print quality comparisons, your Subli Style lite paper seems to be a good match for my fussy 1500W and my not so perfectly straight premium mugs.

[InkExperts]

Hey Gary, for metal we find Subli-Versa is the best paper (its coating is really smooth so you get no paper fibre indents - being really picky) it also works really well on ceramics, but Style and Style Lite work well too. We find its just down to preference on the customer side to be honest. They all work quite similarly but different printers, ink, substrates all affect how they work so we do find some customers prefer one or another.

Alex