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Has anyone printed polymer coasters before and got a good result? I am having problems - either the colour isn't even or it over heats. Anyone have any suggestions? It's urgent, big order due Monday:(
I've tried 200C for 60 secs and 220C for 120 secs (1st per suppliers website and 2nd per manufacturers website).
Thank you!
Members might be able to help/advise more if you could post some images of the product?
Here's the best I've managed to get it so far:
Attachment 601
Have the got a film on, just use you nail and feel along the edge sometimes and peel back
do you use normal press or sort of other attachment? what preasure? what printer and ink. dod you use profile? or colours are fine?
It's a normal flat bed press, Ricoh 3300 printer with gel ink. Medium pressure. There is no plastic covering on the coasters. I use the colour profile that goes with the printer - it's not sure much that the colour is off, it's just not even.
I would try heavier preasure. I never done them before but this is forst thing i would do...
I've tried heavier pressure, longer time and higher heat - ended up nearly melting one. I think I might have to send them back.
Thanks for your suggestions.
hold on... you said you use ricoh???
as far i know (not try myself) but gelink need far less heat then standard sub ink... if you got few spare try much lower temp. something like 180C for 90sec. print smaller picture so you can try same coaster more then once. :wink:
also have you got similar problem with other blanks?? like mugs etc...
Really? I had no idea I should be using lower temps! I will try again in the morning. I have printed polymer mugs before and they worked really well.
Thank you!!
I never said that you "should" but there is few post on here about ricoh that need bit lower temps as prints may look funny.
Paul's right, in certain circumstances the blacks over cook and turn brown - its a gel ink which is different to the ink used in epson. Its worth a try dropping the temp!
Why are you using a profile, can you not use the powerdriver?
Are you printing the coasters print side up in relation to the platten or print side down?
Alex.
I'm printing with the print side up. Will they work print side down?
John -sorry, I am actually using the powerdriver
I've only ever done the wood ones so cannot really help - if the print on paper looks solid, and not washed out, then it's either the sub item or you heat press or platen.
not if it's wood. You can print ceramic or aluminium by heating through the back of the substrate - I was wondering if you were trying to do this with a blank that doesn't conduct heat well and hence the problem.
Alex.
Thank you to everyone who has had input with this. I have finally got it printing and looking good, but I did have to get rid of the black background. For starters, the black background wraps down the side of the coaster a little and looks bad. For anyone else trying to print on the polymer coasters, I was told to use 190-200C for 50-60 secs and I ended up using 175C for 3.5 mins. I am now using a white background with black and red text/images and they look great with the lower temp and long pressing.
I appreciate everyone's help! Now for a drink....it's saturday night after all;)
Is it me or is 3.5 mins long for a coaster.
Longer than a mug - that cannot be right!