black ink coming out brown

[chris barcroft]

Hi Everybody,

I've just taken delivery of the following kit rom BMS:
Ricoh GXe3300N printer
DF1 mug press
TRUPIX paper
BMS European mugs

Each time I've tried a mug the black tends to come out brown. I'm using the heat/time settings as advised by BMS. Am also using the Powerdriver software.

What am I doing wrong?

Bit worried as I'm going to an sales assignment on Wednesday where I'm going to take quite a few orders!

Any help would be very much appreciated.

Chris

[Justin]

HI Chris and welcome to the forum ;)

What time and temp are you using with the DF1? What software are you printing through and are there any other profiles being used in there?

There have been a few posts in the past regarding colours turning brown so may be worth a quick search for some more help. Drop Martin a line (if he doesn't respond on here first :D )

I'll move this post into printing problems as it's better suited there.

[chris barcroft]

Hi Justin,
Thanks for the very quick response.

BMS instructions tell me to set idle temp. at 110 and operating temp. at 180 - which I've done, and to press for 150 seconds.

I'm not using any profiles (to be honest, not sure what a profile is, but can't find any mention of it in the powerdriver settings.)

I've imported the jpg file into Microsoft Publisher to position it and then just printed it, selecting the Powerdrive printer driver.

I telephoned Scott at BMS to check the substrate setting in the printer driver as it defaults to 'unisub products' - I asked if it should be change to 'ceramic' - he got back to me after speaking to Sawgrass and they told him it was not required to change the setting.

Hope this sheds some light on things.

Chris

[Justin]

Chris, try pressing for 180 secs, this seems to be a better compromise. What temp is the press at when you print? Not sure about printing through Publisher, not something I've ever done, I always use CorelDraw, Photoshop is the other normal weapon of choice.

Unless I'm mistaken, Powerdriver is instead of a profile so you should be ok there.

Do you have any other software you could use? Certainly increase your time, I use 185c for 190 seconds.

[bms]

Don't increase your time! The browning of blacks occurs because your printing too long at too hot a temp. The SubliJetR inks can brown if pressed too hot unike the Artainium. I'd suggest the following: 110 idle, 170 temp and 120 seconds for the Ricoh printers using the Powerdriver software.

[Justin]

So SubliJet inks cook quicker than Artainium? Is this with all blanks or particularly mugs Martin?

[bms]

I don't think it's an issue of cooling. We've found that the inks are more likely to overcook when the presses are too hot or pressing for too long - it's as if the range of sublimating is narrower for the colour richness to sublimate into the blanks. The Artainium inks seem able to give a good colour even if you overcook. We've found that reducing the time/ temp combination solves the browning issue that is reported.

[chris barcroft]

Hi Martin,

Many thanks for your quick reply.

I'll do exactly as you say - and report back.

I'm off now to take lots of orders for mugs so I'll be able to give it a real test.

Chris

[chris barcroft]

Hi Martin (and Everybody)
Thanks for coming to my rescue. I turned down the temp & time as you suggested and mugs came out perfectly.

Wonder if it would be sensible for the instructions which came with the mug press to be amended?

Chris

[bms]

The settings for Ricoh printers using SubliJetR inks tend to need a lower temp/ time combination than Artainium inks. The mug settings are ideal for most users, but we have found that the Ricoh printers need a more precise temp/ time combination to sublimate otherwise blacks go "off" to brown.