Sublimation Mouse Mats

[michaelc]

Hi everyone,

I'm having a real problem sourcing fabric topped mouse mats that will release the paper after pressing. The problem appears to be in the way the mats have been cut; if you run your fingers around the edges before pressing you can feel a slight roughness, and that's where the sticking occurs, I end up with a slightly unsightly raised and ragged edge. Generally not severe, but I'm striving for perfection as I charge a premium rate!

Until recently I didn't use many mats, and I was working through a batch of a couple of hundred I bought from Listawood a few years ago. They were perfect, released the paper with no sticking and no rough edges, before or after pressing. Since finishing that batch I've tried all the rectangular mats that Listawood, BMS, Xpres, Magic Touch and Novachrome have to offer (many of them the same), and find that all of them have the poorly cut edges that lead to sticking.

I use a Ricoh GX 7000 with Textprint paper, but I'm sure it's not a paper issue. Nor is it heat or pressure, I've played about with that.

Anyone else having this problem?

Cheers,

Michael

[teknokat]

Hi,

I had exactly the same problem with the BMS mouse mats when I first started using them and they left a white rough edge after peeling them on some darker prints or looked like they were pulled around the edges. I found pre pressing with only the mat in the press for 10-15 secs gets rid of the rough edge and then when you press the mat for the full time period with the image paper (i use 60 secs) the paper just comes straight off without sticking and the edges have a kind of sealed look to them. If you want perfection then pre pressing is the way to go with these kind of mats.

Hope this helps

[AdamB]

Ditto Michael,

I've always pre-pressed fabric items and found that the problem you highlighted could be avoided by pre-pressing.

When you pre-press though, make sure you have a 'clean' sheet on top of the mousemat as any over-print from another job will transfer to the mousemat (a mistake I found at the early stages of my efforts).

[John G]

Never done mousemats but this tip is a good one and would help a lot of people in the same boat. I think there should be a top tips section on the forum with all the tips locked after posting so there's no long reading of threads, just a top tip.

Cheers John

[AdamB]

So what are you saying John - you're giving a top tip that there should be a top tips section ............................ sorry, couldn't resist that one

[Justin]

Top tip - We already have such a section

[michaelc]

Bingo! I've just taken the worst mat I could find and pre-pressed it at high pressure for a minute using a teflon sheet for protection. I then transferred at normal pressure and the paper released perfectly, the mat has no rough edges.

I've been at this sublimation caper for years and am dead pleased to learn something new. I'm going to enjoy my time here!

Many thanks Teknokat and Adam!

[AdamB]

....I've been at this sublimation caper for years and am dead pleased to learn something new. I'm going to enjoy my time here!

That's the great thing about this forum buddy - everyone has some kind of advice or tips that someone else find beneficial and I defy anyone to say that they are an expert and know everything there is to know.

Glad you're sorted

[John G]

So what are you saying John - you're giving a top tip that there should be a top tips section ............................ sorry, couldn't resist that one

Like it :redface:

I've looked in the top tip section - not much on printing in there so that's why I suggested it.

[smitch6]

yes sounds like a brill tip i've had a similar problem with the fabric coasters
will try it next time i do one