Help for a newbie switching to sublimation

[roj62]

Hi All

We've been producing printed garments etc for a few years using The Magic Touch's method using an inkjet printer and their paper range on their heat press, its worked really well for us.

We decided to add sublimation printing to what we do as we were interested in an inexpensive way of producing caps, plates and mugs. We found a system on Ebay sold by Coralgraph that had an 8 in 1 heat press with attachements, we then bought a decent inkjet printer, CISS ink system and sublimation paper.

To get us started we also bought from them a box of mugs and some money boxes.

Everything came the other day so we decided to do some test runs, we printed out some simple flat colour images and attempted to print a mug following the instructions (translated from chinese) after a few attempts nothing was transferring onto the mug - we tried again today and still nothing. The instructions say 180 degrees for 5 minutes which we have tried, also trying a fresh mug in case maybe our early attempts had somehow rendered it unprintable.

I've spoken to Coralgraph people who just fob me off with the manufacturers who are so far not answering emails.

It feels like there is a fundamental thing we've not done but I cant see it and with the lack of clear instructions its not obvious.

Have we missed something?

[roj62]

sorry meant to say Laser Printer not Inkjet on the Magic Touch system

[Justin]

That really doesn't sound like Coralgraph, they're members here so hopefully will respond to this thread. 5 minutes for a mug sounds a little excessive, 3 mins usually is the average. Is the mug blanket getting hot? Are the inks definitely dye sub?

[THE METAL MAN]

Might sound daft but have you got sublimation ink

[accdave]

What printer is it ? Which inks are they. Are you certain you are printing on the right side of the paper ?

[Paul]

i put fiver on that it's not subli ink! ;)

[Kaz]

Or sub paper

[accdave]

i put fiver on that it's not subli ink! ;)

A real one or one of those you post on here :)

[bms]

That really doesn't sound like Coralgraph, they're members here so hopefully will respond to this thread. 5 minutes for a mug sounds a little excessive, 3 mins usually is the average. Is the mug blanket getting hot? Are the inks definitely dye sub?

Do Coral Graph sell sublimation ink (anymore?). It doesn't appear on their site now.

Seems strange that a company that supposedly supplies into the sublimation trade is unable to tell a customer how to print a mug! Whilst they are a member on here, does anyone know much about the company? I see they've been a member for 3 weeks and made 1 post and are classified as a junior member, not supplier (under their username of Coralgraph)

[Paul]

A real one or one of those you post on here :)

real one mate :) will donate it to dsf account if it is subli ink :)

Or sub paper

i think is not much about paper. I am sure subli ink would transfer even when used normal copying/ink jet printing paper :)