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Themugbox

Hi all, another newbie question incoming.....

I have managed to get through my mug issues regarding their quality ( which I thought was poor however simply had to increase temp and length of time).

My new issue is... When I ordered my start up kit it came with 100 sheets of sub paper. This paper seemed really good quality with the side you print on being really vivid white.

When I ordered my second batch of mugs they cam with 100 sheets of paper free. This paper seemed to be a heck of a lot lower quality and when I tried using it the picture came out very faded. ( I tried both sides of the paper just in case with the same result). I then assumed that as it was 'free' paper it wasn't going to be the best so ordered some from Amazon.de. ( I live in Germany). That paper arrived today and seemed a little better quality but nowhere near what I got in my start up kit. I tried it out and sadly got the same faded image.

So my question is... Do I need to alter any of my process for this different paper? Or have I fell foul of substandard paper and need to reinvest in some branded stuff. Any advice would be gratefully received as I am getting quite a collection of duff mugs.


Thanks in advance!

ArferMo

You would probably be better off with Truepix or DyeSub Magic from TMT.

GoonerGary

I tried some new papers recently, but some were really thin. Went back to Trupix because it works and prints well. You can't go wrong.

Themugbox

Thanks for the response guys. It would probably been worth mentioning I am using a ricoh printer and now after some research realise I need to use paper designed to be used with the ricoh. I think the stuff I have has been absorbing too much. I have ordered some tex print-r which gets some great writes ups so hopefully I will be back at the press in the coming days as my order book is filling up fast.

Thanks

Paul

This is not true. You can use any paper for your ricoh and it will work as well as others.

reference to your paper, you mentioned that you printed on both sides? Sublimation paper wont print with same quality if you print on bad side. It will be worst.
Lick your fingers and grab a page. One side will stick to your finger. This is side you should print on. No papers are same so you need to find a sweet spot with your temp and time. So bump it up a little and see if it help.

JMugs

So bum it up a little and see if it help.


Snigger.....

Consistency is your friend. Work with the same things and once it is working stay with it.

Eg I use different suppliers for different mugs, they use different coatings. Each mug style requires a different pressing time. I have a back up supplier for one style, but the coating is different, a slight tweek in time and temperature is required to optimize the print.

So settle on paper (I like trupix), settle on a mug supplier, and tweek until you find what produces the best results. Then stay with it.

OR try Pauls approach and umm well "Bum it up a little"!

Janners

Paul

So what will you do if your run out of paper is not available? Shut the business for day or two??

you need to find few alternatives in case you need them. Only ciz paper give you bad results on couple of mugs not mean is crap. Also is essential to know brand of your paper.

I agree with sticking to whatever works for you but you need to try other things too. This is the way to learn.
My 5p

Themugbox

Thanks for the responses guys. I wasn't printing on both sides but I did do a trial run to see if there was something drastically different with the paper I was using. Hopefully my Tex Print R paper will be here after the weekend and life will become a happier place.

Now all I need to do is figure out the best way to get more mugs out of one A4 sheet of paper... any suggestions as I can't find anything in the Ricoh settings?

JMugs

Hi Paul
The paper is a good example and I guess depends on how an individual operates. I carry stock and always have done, If you see me posting because suppliers are out of stock it is because I have less than 6 weeks stock left. If I can't get trupix in the UK, or from a supplier I use in Germany or from the rest of Europe for over 6 weeks something has really gone wrong. By week 4 I would have ordered something else in and have the times sorted ready to change rolls. My little black book has all the data in it.
In the run up to Xmas I posted about the shortage of white 11oz mugs. I had just broken into my 6 weeks of remaining stock...that is 6 weeks based on Xmas sales, not average sales. So not desperate, but planning ahead.

I have come unstuck occasionally where a big order comes in unexpectedly and wipes out my stock, but then it's only a few emails and sorted. I buy from the UK suppliers whenever I can, but just occasionally I need to buy from the Mainland (Europe...).

On saying that your point about trying other things is very valid...there have been many things I have tried....how could anybody resist! Mrs Janners often thinks I am a bit odd as I work in the studio all day, then can be found in the studio of an evening developing new ideas, well playing really but the other phrase sounds better!

Now back to developing new ideas....

Janners

JMugs

Now all I need to do is figure out the best way to get more mugs out of one A4 sheet of paper... any suggestions as I can't find anything in the Ricoh settings?

For my ricoh I cut A4 down into 3, each is 99mm (297mm / 3) by 210mm (A4 width). That is all that sits in the ricoh. My mug templates are set to those proportions and I set a custom paper size in the ricoh to those diminsions as well.

Now I look for promotions and clearances etc so I bought a stack of it cheap (about 25% less than normal retail), so the paper in the ricoh cost me 3.5p per mug.

Just a few ideas there.

Janners

ArferMo

Like Janners says consistency.

I too use Truepix in Ricoh printers but my good friend Adam Wyles from TMT has given me a trial pack of their sublimation paper but as I need consistence I have not tried it yet till I run low on my normal paper and the fear that he might be right and then I will want to change brand and I would not want to do that with a lot of stock of Truepix left in the store.

JMugs

ArferMo..... Oh the dilema....itching to try...but best not just yet....maybe just try one sheet....just to see...no...yes...go on...you know you want to...No don't do it...maybe just one sheet...


Did that help?

Janners

Paul

Hi Paul
The paper is a good example and I guess depends on how an individual operates. I carry stock and always have done, If you see me posting because suppliers are out of stock it is because I have less than 6 weeks stock left. If I can't get trupix in the UK, or from a supplier I use in Germany or from the rest of Europe for over 6 weeks something has really gone wrong. By week 4 I would have ordered something else in and have the times sorted ready to change rolls. My little black book has all the data in it.
In the run up to Xmas I posted about the shortage of white 11oz mugs. I had just broken into my 6 weeks of remaining stock...that is 6 weeks based on Xmas sales, not average sales. So not desperate, but planning ahead.

I have come unstuck occasionally where a big order comes in unexpectedly and wipes out my stock, but then it's only a few emails and sorted. I buy from the UK suppliers whenever I can, but just occasionally I need to buy from the Mainland (Europe...).

On saying that your point about trying other things is very valid...there have been many things I have tried....how could anybody resist! Mrs Janners often thinks I am a bit odd as I work in the studio all day, then can be found in the studio of an evening developing new ideas, well playing really but the other phrase sounds better!

Now back to developing new ideas....

Janners
and this is the way to learn my friend! :)
im often disapear in my little room for all day :)
ps
I wish i m so organised with my stock like you :D

pisquee

you should really stick to the transfer paper your ICC profile was made for

Themugbox

Thanks for the continued responses guys. I am taking a weekend off in the hope that my new paper will arrive Monday. I really don't want to waste any more mugs :). Janners you mentioned you use a supplier in Germany? Mind sharing who it is as I am Germany based and would prefer to use a recommended supplier rather than keep trying them out myself.

Dave

JMugs

Hi Dave
Here is the link, they have recently been taken over, but I have had great service from them and the products were excellent. I hope that continues!

http://www.sublimationsprodukte.de/en.html

Want more information on a4 sublimation paper supplier? Feel free to contact us.

Themugbox

Thanks again Janners. Now.... I took your advice and cut the paper to the dimensions you advised. New problem incoming :rolleyes:....

For the problem imagine I am stood in front of the Ricoh looking into the paper tray.

So I created a paper size in the driver for the mug size paper and cut the paper down to size.

I then tried putting it in the paper tray in a landscape position all the way to the front of the printer. This is where the problem starts. The rear slider in the paper tray does not go all the way forward to stop the paper sliding around.

So I thought 'OK put it in in a portrait position as the the sliders will position themselves perfectly. I did this and printed but it on printed a segment of the paper as I guess it assumed it should be printing out with the paper in the landscape position.

I guess this is a pretty simple fix (prob 1 button) but I am worried if the ink isnt hitting the paper, it will be hitting the inside of my printer and causing a mess.

Any thoughts?

JMugs

Depends on how you are set up, with my set up using coreldraw, powerdriver, paper as you mention, I select landscape in powerdriver and all done. So whichever you selected last time this time select the other.

Janners

AlanD

I use the same method as Janners, custom page size in the Power driver (once you've made one and saved it), select landscape in the Powerdriver. Paper goes in printer portrait/short edge first, print side down. I also Corel Draw and you can select landscape from there but I find it just as convenient to do it in the Powerdriver. I've also made a template in Draw which has a page size of 195mm X 86mm and shows a mug outline on another layer which I can make printable or not depending if for output or customer approvalhttp://www.dyesubforum.co.uk/vbforum/attachment.php?attachmentid=&stc=1

Themugbox

Thanks guys, I will have a fiddle. I am using PS , Powerdriver R and a Ricoh SGDN. I will try it again and see what happens. I am sure it is one click away from being right. I am trying to minimise my wastage as I already have a shelf full of 'mistakes'.

Thanks Janners and Alan

AlanD

forgot to mention, if you use Draw use the 'print preview' option this will show you if it will print properly and is also useful for doing step and repeat either with single or multiple pages in Draw. Saves faffing about positioning prints manually

Themugbox

Great news! My TexPrint R paper has arrived and I am again cooking on gas. I still however cant for the hell of me figure out how to get my printer to print onto the cut down paper.

To prevent me from throwing it out of the window, I have settled with printing 1 mug on the top then turning it round and printing the 2nd on the other end. This way I am getting 2 mugs out of 1 sheet rather than just 1.

I will try again once I have cleared a few orders.

Thanks again!

Paul

what is the exact problem with cut down paper?

Themugbox

The problem is getting the link between PS and the Powerdriver to accept the orientation. I have created my own paper size inside the driver but can only get it to print in landscape which is no good to me as my paper tray stoppers will only facilitate me putting in my cut down paper short end first.

Paul

you need to place your paper long side first :)
like you would A4. This is opposite then in epson where you put paper vertical. ricoh you pot it horizontal. then it will print in landscape and correctly. hope this is what you need :)

Themugbox

The problem I have when I put it in longside first is that my paper stop in the feed tray doesn't go all the way forward to hold the paper in place.

JMugs

The problem I have when I put it in longside first is that my paper stop in the feed tray doesn't go all the way forward to hold the paper in place.
You are correct hence just change your orientation either in the printer or in your programme.

AlanD

you need to place your paper long side first :)
like you would A4. This is opposite then in epson where you put paper vertical. ricoh you pot it horizontal. then it will print in landscape and correctly. hope this is what you need :)

I use a Ricoh (A4 version) and cut down paper is put in portrait (short edge first) with side stops moved to suit

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Sublimation printing is used to transfer images onto a variety of materials from t-shirts to ceramic mugs. It allows you to create personalized items from photos, graphic designs, and more. Sublimation is especially well suited for printing on clothing, as the ink is assimilated into the fibers of the fabric. You can&#;t feel the image on the material, making it more comfortable than screen printed designs. 

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