sublimation cushion ink migrating on leather sofa

[NIGELG]

Hi all, just a quick'y problem i had this week
I produce a range of sublimation cushions using vintage images and i had a strange complaint, the lady who purchased one of my cushions told me the ink had come of the cushion and on to here white leather sofa, checked it out and there was a slight ghostly print

has this happened to anyone else?
If so do you know how i could remove it?
do the inks migrate onto other fabrics?

she has not gone to mental at the moment as i said i can sort it but i not sure i can!!!!!!!


any ideas
cheers Nigel

[bms]

Sublimation inks are a permanent transfer so I don't know what could cause this unless you have possibly sublimated something that isn't 100% polyester. If the product was, say 80% polyester then the sublimation inks might have dyed (or coloured) the other fabrics and hence you're now getting a transfer back out of the coloured non polyester material. Could this explain it? The transfer on to the sofa might be coloured, so a leather cleaner should (hopefully) remove the stain.

[Andrew]

I always believed that you could get transfer romr a product that has been printed in certain circumstnaces and have actually seen this happen. I remeber seeing warnings not to repackage a printed product into plastic as transfer could occur i.e. mug back into plastic bag etc. I do put printed mugs back into a plastic bag as have never found a problem. The only time I have seen transfer was from a printed photo on metal which then someone kept in their wallet. After several months when taking it back out the image was left on the plastic window.

As far as cleaning off I wouldn't have the slightest clue beyond what Martin has mentioned. Also, Martin made a very good point about not being 100% polyester as a possibility.

[Ian M]

Autoglym do a very good leather cleaner which should get rid of ink easily. You can buy it from such as Halfords or a good motor accessories/factors.

[Matt Quinn]

I can confirm a similar experience...

An I.D. card printed using a specialised dye-sub card printer had left a 'migrated' stain on the PVC window of the holder I keep it in... It's taken a few yerars mind!

Just wondering if the leather had some sort of coating (Scotchguard or similar) that has 'drawn' some of the dye. - A guess is that say a 'polycotton' might have a certain amount of free dye as Martin seems to suggest... Some solvent or plasticiser might draw it.

One for a leather care expert - I'd maybe talk to somone in the classic car trade; leather restorers might have an suggestion or two? They must be pulling some awful stains out of leather on occasion?

[Ian M]

Matt, You didn't know but, I have been involved with classic cars for over 30 years now & that is why I suggested the Autoglym leather cleaner.

[Matt Quinn]

Matt, You didn't know but, I have been involved with classic cars for over 30 years now & that is why I suggested the Autoglym leather cleaner.

I didn't know that Ian; sorry - I think our posts crossed as yours wasn't up when I wrote mine, but preceeded it when I hit 'send'.

I've tried the Autoglym on dark-ish leather; reds and blacks... Not on white though.

It would scare me to touch it myself as a) it's white and b) it's a customer's property and c) if it goes wrong you could wind up having to replace the whole chair! Likliehood is the customer will be well-fussy; particularly if the suite is new-ish or a high end one. - Even if it's old they may be angling for a new suite; you DO get people like that!

I'm almost certain this must be down to some sort of coating 'drawing' the ink into it. Either that or the damn thing's actually 'leatherette' and pulling the stary ink that way!

Bearing in mind it'sa 'liability' issue there would be advantages to paying for somone in the know to tackle it; if they're confident they can guarantee a result and they cock it up well the liability passed to a degree to them... And if it ever goes to court then Nigel can show he took all reasonable steps to rectify matters.

Bit like a timing belt - sure you can fit them yourself very cheaply - but if you go to a guy who'll offer a guarantee the chances of failure are much reduced, and if it does let go well you're not the one paying for a new engine!

- Been known to gravitate toward the older vehicles myself... I've had Minors, Heralds, SII Landrovers, Range Rovers various BMWs -ran a TA23 Celica (Mk1) for years - At the momnet there's an '83 Porsche 924 in my garage awaiting re-awakening and my everyday vehicle is a '94 Isuzu Bighorn - Japanese domestic version of the Trooper that was brought over in 2006.

- It was supposed to be a weekend toy but has proved so reliable that I sold my 'modern' Freelander and have no intention of replacing it as it has let me down badly more often that any of the older or classic cars I've owned in the past 25 years!

Currently hunting for a cheap Metro with a good MOT as we need a puddle jumper and I don't want anything modern with a computer that shuts the entire car down just because the interior light bulb has blown!

Apologies to everyine else for drifting WAY off topic!

[NIGELG]

hi martin, and all
yep the fabric is 100% polyester, i make them from scratch soi get a better finish.
On examining it i think the leather has a polyester based wax coating over it or she uses something to polish her sofa with!!!! and i think the sheer fluke of someone warm laying on it has caused a bit of migration from the cushion the odds are probably a million to one!!!!!

hopefully i have sorted it out with my insurance and they may cover it but just thought i post this for future reference.
cheers for help

[Ian M]

- Been known to gravitate toward the older vehicles myself... I've had Minors, Heralds, SII Landrovers, Range Rovers various BMWs -ran a TA23 Celica (Mk1) for years - At the momnet there's an '83 Porsche 924 in my garage awaiting re-awakening and my everyday vehicle is a '94 Isuzu Bighorn - Japanese domestic version of the Trooper that was brought over in 2006.

- It was supposed to be a weekend toy but has proved so reliable that I sold my 'modern' Freelander and have no intention of replacing it as it has let me down badly more often that any of the older or classic cars I've owned in the past 25 years!

Currently hunting for a cheap Metro with a good MOT as we need a puddle jumper and I don't want anything modern with a computer that shuts the entire car down just because the interior light bulb has blown!

Apologies to everyine else for drifting WAY off topic!

Thanks Matt & I'm tempted to drift off topic too but better not.........some nice motors though.

[jennywren]

I love to go off topic but then I've misplaced my trumpet but I did have a skoda once and it was crap