Help Please with printing dilemma

[Adrian]

Hello,
I posted an earlier thread about printing onto ceramic plates. I would like to buy a good printer (probably a Ricoh) so that I can print my art work ready for pressing. My problem is I'm unsure about how successful the ceramic process might be and I am hesitating on spending £ 300.00 + on printer and inks.
Is there anyone willing to print a bit of my artwork onto sublimation paper and return so that I can have a go first? I can email a file no problem - I already have Photoshop.
Alternatively are there web sites who will print art work for you onto sublimation paper.
I am able to return the press if I am not happy with it (14 days) I think so any help would be appreciated.
Thnx.
Adrian

[bms]

Hello,
I posted an earlier thread about printing onto ceramic plates. I would like to buy a good printer (probably a Ricoh) so that I can print my art work ready for pressing. My problem is I'm unsure about how successful the ceramic process might be and I am hesitating on spending £ 300.00 + on printer and inks.
Is there anyone willing to print a bit of my artwork onto sublimation paper and return so that I can have a go first? I can email a file no problem - I already have Photoshop.
Alternatively are there web sites who will print art work for you onto sublimation paper.
I am able to return the press if I am not happy with it (14 days) I think so any help would be appreciated.
Thnx.
Adrian

I think this could be problematic for you for a number of reasons... (1) plates are notoriously prone to cracking when 190 degrees of heat is thrust into the centre of a plate with pressure of the press coming down on it (2) for sublimation to work the area has to be flat and smooth and plates centres often are not flat. Try putting a straight edge over the centre of the plate middle and you'll find they are not flat so there isn't a perfect surface for the inks to bond with resulting in a fade out of the image. (3) Your own plates won't be sublimation ready so you'll have to apply a spray to the surface and these sprays/ polymer liquids need several layers to get a decent surface coating.

Check the terms of sale of the plate press as there are few companies that offer them on a sale, try and return basis.

[Adrian]

Thanks very much Martin...do you have any further advice on polymer sprays? I had a quick look on your site but was unable to see any.
Kind regards
Adrian

[bms]

Thanks very much Martin...do you have any further advice on polymer sprays? I had a quick look on your site but was unable to see any.
Kind regards
Adrian

Sorry can't help with polymer sprays as we don't supply this type of product. I think you'll need to search for Digicoat or something like that.

[RogerC]

Adrian if you get the plates sorted and still need someone to print for you drop me a message on here and we can sort something out.

[Adrian]

Hi Roger...many thanks for the offer...I'll be in touch.
Kind regards
Adrian

[Ian M]

Adrian, Subli Metals do the coatings & they can be found at this link http://www.sublimetal.co.uk/?wpsc_produ ... ther-items

There are a couple of videos you might like to watch first showing how to use the coatings at these links http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1Y9cZxTgLw http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWxXgF88GJY