Photo's not printing properly

[Tracy]

Hi,

I am new to making mugs. I bought an epson printer, sublimation ink and a coralgraph mug press and I am getting great results however when I print photos and the image is not the full size of the mug the print looks fine but when I press it onto the mug for the same amount of time as other prints the bottom seems to be faded.

Is there something different you have to do when printing photos rather than images?

Thanks in advance

Tracy

[Justin]

You'll find a few threads regarding fading at the bottom. Whose mugs are you using? 10 or 11oz? Often it's just a matter of pre-heating the base to get some heat into the dense are there. It may be that your mugs are slightly tapered at the bottom? Some will choose not to print a few mm top and bottom to avoid this.

[Tracy]

Thanks Justin,

I am using 11oz mugs from coralgraph and preheat them on the radiator before pressing. I don't print right to the top or bottom. I use a template that is 8.5cm x 21cm. I can't work out why it is only when I use photos that I have this problem. I have tried using one photo for the full mug and it works fine but when I use smaller photos it is faded at the bottom.

Thanks

Tracy

[Justin]

Is your press tight enough so the blanbket wraps around the edge of the mug slightly? What time and temp?

[Tracy]

Hi Justin,

yes it is tight enough. 180 for 180 seconds.

Tracy

[customprints]

Hi Tracy, Thanks for this post, I had been having major problems printing the correct size image out for my designs, After reading your thread I created a new template and my images are printing out in the correct size.

Thanks

[Tracy]

Glad to be of help customprints. I still haven't resolved my issues yet

[customprints]

Hi Tracy, Are you cutting the paper yourself? I've found that when I cut the paper myself it leave a small serrated edge printed on each cup...
Not sure if that helps, but I am new here just like yourself. Trying to help in anyway I can.

I've not actually got to the point of testing what my prints look like on mugs !!!

Good luck.

[Tracy]

Thanks customprints,

i do do cut the paper myself but I don't get serrated edges on the mug. I cut the paper so that it is bigger than the mug and it seems to be fine.

i have contacted coralgraph and they are trying to help too. I will let you know if I find a solution.

Tracy

[REDQUASAR]

Hi

I've just read your post and had a thought; print two identical photos and position them differently on the mug, one higher than the other (*). If one image looks better than the other then you can eliminate your paper, ink and/or press as the cause of the problem. Then, switch your mug supplier. However, if you experience fading on both images then the problem will probably lie with your paper or ink. I doubt your printer is the culprit because from what I've gathered since joining this forum, Epsom printers are O.K. (if your print-outs look alright then I think you can assume that your printer's doing its job).

(*) Alternatively, just produce one print-off and turn it upside down. If the fading still occurs towards the bottom of the image then, again, you can discount your paper, ink or printer as the culprit.

Hope this helps.