Photo Slate Coating Changes :(

[Ucase Ltd]

I'm sure I'm not the only one here that sells quite a lot of photo slates.

I ordered some a few weeks back and the coating was different. I actually sent them back because I couldn't get a decent transfer on them.

I ordered elsewhere and all was fine. BUT..

Now I'm seeing that this new coating is coming from other suppliers as well.
They all say they haven't changed their supplier so I can only assume this is an industry wide change.

I have now managed to get a better transfer with the "new" coating but you can see even before pressing that they don't have that high gloss look/finish that they used too.

Is anyone else having similar issues?

[pisquee]

We have a batch still in their boxes with the rubbish matt coating we got a few years ago - there is an old thread on here about it. A lot of suppliers got a lot of flack for them in the past, so surprised it's happening again.

[harlequeen]

These aren't the matt coating though, they are the glossy ones. I've just bought 2 batches of 20 and they will have to go back as the transfer is awful, the coating is not 'flat' and appears to have marks in them. It seems thin, somehow, and I just can't get a good transfer. I too have a box of matt slates which were useless. I am going to stop selling these until the coating improves - as I can't sell these. I have a good reputation for quality and I'm not prepared to put that in jeapardy. That said, UcaseLtd, I'd love to see your 'good' result and perhaps you can offer some guidelines on how you improved your print.

[Tam]

I’ve only just taken upsublimation printing and thought I had got passed the initial learning curvewith slates so I ordered some more stock and I could see the coating was lessglossy and thin looking but as a newbie I never gave it anymore thought until now!
And just like Ucase& Harlequeen I just can't get a good transfer.
I would also really like to know how you solved this Ucase?

[Ucase Ltd]

I use the 3D machine for slates as I prefer the finish (particularly on the edges)

I also pride myself and my reputation on quality but unfortunately I can't stop selling them, as they make up most of my income. But I can tell you what I changed to get a good transfer:

I started by pressing for longer (all the way up to double the length of time) - Had no effect. Once you get to a certain point it just over-cooks.

Instead I pre-heated for longer. Where I was pre-heating for 5.30 minutes (for a 15x20cm slates) I upped this to 8.30 and then pressed for the same amount of time.

The transfer is much better and ok to sell but it still doesn't have that nice high-gloss finish that we're used to.

[JMugs]

I have some slates here left over from an order (I don't normally do them) from about 12 months ago,

11 of 19.7 by 14.7
6 of 20.7 by 20.7
3 of 30 by 19.7

and 6 heart shaped (?) ones labelled as 16 by 16.

£75 for the lot, plus postage.

Regards

Janners

[Ucase Ltd]

I have some slates here left over from an order (I don't normally do them) from about 12 months ago,

11 of 19.7 by 14.7
6 of 20.7 by 20.7
3 of 30 by 19.7

and 6 heart shaped (?) ones labelled as 16 by 16.

£100 for the lot, plus postage.

Regards

Janners

Could you give me a price for all of them except the squares (incl' postage)?

Thanks.

EDIT** - Sorry I just saw the price you were looking for, That's way more than they usually cost. for everything except the squares it would usually cost me around £50 incl' vat

[Ucase Ltd]

@harlequeen - I'm pressing some more either tonight or tomorrow so will upload a picture when I get a minute.

[Tam]

Thank you Ucase. I am using a press but can't see me working with slate at this rate.

[Justin]

Just pressed first matt slates and personally prefer these to the usual glossy ones, much better quality slate overall as well.