DSF

HI to everybody! thank god i found a forum to ask some questions because i dont wanna keep spending money in vain..
The thing is i bought a starter kit on ebay.ca.. from ASC365. Came with a epson c88+ and a bunch of mugs mug press paper.. and i bought their ink..

The thing is that ive notice the printing on the transfer paper is not as bright and dark as when i print with normal ink in normal paper.. so i dont know if the ink sucks or the paper sucks.. or whats the problem.. because when i print the mug the printing looks fade... and is pissing me off.. im doing it at 160C for 40 sec as the mug press manual says.. even increasing to 170C and to 50sec is still the same.. maaaaaybe a lil bit darker but not how i think its suposed to be.. because is suposed to be a cool and brigh image right?

I finish the first 40 mugs and wasnt big deal because was mostly text.. or one color stuff.. but now i need to print lots of photo mug and cant print it like that... any suggestions??

thousands of thanks for everybody..

Beth

Bit noughty.... 40mugs wasted and you didnt read a word about sublimation... Starting point is 180c for 180sec.

no, i didnt waste any. sold all of them, but u couldnt see the problem because was mostly text. but now i need to print photos and they look to faded.. just printed one mug... and i did read.. lots.. but i tried following the instructions my press brought...

180s?? with 50s at 170C the paper looks brown.. like burnt.. what would happen with 180s??

Give us a complete list of names of paper, printer, inks, mugs, mug press . Even a picture of one of the faded mugs, from this point I'm sure the forum members will tell you exactly where it's goings wrong.
thats what I do/did and I get it sorted every time. Just need all the info before people can help.

the settings most people use is 175/180 for 180seconds - you are not pressing for long enough, but please check the temperature your press is actually running at, im not sure where red lake is so as to what voltage heat temp you are using. often the paper at the top of the mug where its not in contact with it will be brown, but you are not selling the paper you are selling the mug !!

all inks come out dull and faded when you print on paper, its not like paper printing, as the ink changes with the heat and bares little resemblance to the finished item

Ebay.ca? Canada I take it. For mug presses generally 175 to 185 degrees Centigrade, and make sure the press is in centigrade! Time for normal presses is 140 - 180 seconds depending on the power of the element.
This may however be a different type, these have an Idle temperature , often around 110-140 degrees C, a top temperature (180/190 degrees) and a time. On this type of press place mug in at the idle temp and it will drop in temp then rise to the top temp before the timer starts to count down, normally 10 to 40 seconds followed by a naff tune

The paper charring where it is outside the mug is normal. I do wonder about the sub-inks though, these should have an ICC profile and instructions for using the profile with different programs. to get the right colours.

Well, at least you have now decided to seek advice. You have been given the answers in the earlier posts but incase you missed them the salient points are:

1) Images printed on sublimation paper with sublimation ink will look dull until pressed onto an item when they should brighten up and look good.

2) Paper is paper and will brown on the exposed edges if heated for long enough.

3) Mugs normally do need about 3 minutes at 180 deg C with firm pressure to transfer the ink nicely (if the temp or time or pressure is too low or short then you will often get a faded image or no image at all).

4) Sublimation inks are not designed to be a direct one for one replacement for Epson's own inks and the colours you will print out and finally get on an image will require an ICC profile to ensure consistancy.

5) If it is a chinese mug press then take the instructions with a pinch of salt - they are rarely accurate translations and sometime comically wrong.

6) Good results are a combination of good technique using quality materials. In this case you may be struggling with poor quality ink, paper, press, instructions, blanks and technique - so trying to eliminate what you can may help you find the cure.

I bought this package http://www.ebay.com/itm/Sublimation-Heat-Transfer-Mug-Press-Printer-CISS-700-Template-Software-000988Y-F-/200789663596?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_2&hash=item2ebfff1f6c on ebay..

I dont know what kind of paper or mugs or anything.. they only have numbers ... http://sublimation.asc365.com/index.asp?ID=ST418 as u can see..
And i actually set the mug press for 40 sec.. but the mug is inside for about 3 min.. the 40 sec are after reaches the 170C.. u say i should leave it for 180 s after reaches the 170C???

One last question.. whats the ICC profile?? thanks..
sorry if i sound dumb.. my intention is to learn..

And thanks for clearing up the fact that the images dont look as bright as the normal printing with the transfer paper..

bettina;58156 wrote:I bought this package http://www.ebay.com/itm/Sublimation-Heat-Transfer-Mug-Press-Printer-CISS-700-Template-Software-000988Y-F-/200789663596?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_2&hash=item2ebfff1f6c on ebay..

I dont know what kind of paper or mugs or anything.. they only have numbers ... http://sublimation.asc365.com/index.asp?ID=ST418 as u can see..
And i actually set the mug press for 40 sec.. but the mug is inside for about 3 min.. the 40 sec are after reaches the 170C.. u say i should leave it for 180 s after reaches the 170C???

One last question.. whats the ICC profile?? thanks..
sorry if i sound dumb.. my intention is to learn..

And thanks for clearing up the fact that the images dont look as bright as the normal printing with the transfer paper..

...so what ink are you using as the listing doesn't include ink.