Mug press driving me crazy!

[Paulscott1126]

Hi guys I am wondering if anyone can help me with a few problems I have when heat pressing mugs.

Printer - EPSON XP-225.
Inks - ArTainium.
Mug Press - Got it in a bundle deal from monsterdoodle (Pix Max) (An Attachment for my actual heat press, not a stand alone system)
Paper - Doesn't have a name, Sublimation paper from monsterdoodle.
Mugs - AAA Grade White 11oz.

I am new this game and I am wondering if I am doing something wrong, every single mug is fades in various places,
Sometimes in the middle, top or bottom it seems completely random.
Although its mostly at the bottom, but the image is very low quality in general (I made the artwork myself in RGB on CorelDraw)

I have browsed this forum and have exhausted every single possible thing that I could be doing wrong,
Watched many youtube videos...
Nothing I do is giving me good results

I have tried my machine at 300-400F with the pressure as high as I can get it and for 2-3 minutes per mug and the quality is shocking.
The press can go higher than 400F but it starts cracking the mugs.
Any help would be very much appreciated!!


Thanks.

[ArferMo]

Pressure snug, 375F for 3 or 4 minutes once the temp gets back to 375.

[Paulscott1126]

Pressure snug, 375F for 3 or 4 minutes once the temp gets back to 375.

Thank you, I have noticed it is slightly better, but on more colourful images it is still fading at the bottom.

[ArferMo]

Preheat your mugs first it's because the case is thicker and takes MUCH longer to heat up, the problem gets worse the nearer you try to print to the edge of your heat wrap try keeping within 1.5cm of its edge.

[GoonerGary]

I would switch brand of mugs. I tried some Coralgraph 10oz mugs and ditched them due to the bottom fading. Plenty of mugs don't need the base pre-heated.

The blanket should just curl round the mug, not too tight, not too loose. 180 degrees C/ 180s as a starting point depending on the press and amount of ink on the transfer. Got any photos of a bad mug?

[Paulscott1126]

Preheat your mugs first it's because the case is thicker and takes MUCH longer to heat up, the problem gets worse the nearer you try to print to the edge of your heat wrap try keeping within 1.5cm of its edge.

Thanks for the suggestion, I have also tried this before and it had no effect.

[Paulscott1126]

I think I will try some new mugs, what mugs would you recommend?
I will also post picture of the bad mug later on. Thanks.

[GoonerGary]

Recommending a mug...I don't think there is a perfect mug. I have a dozen boxes of less than perfect Wycombe Rhino mugs which would be perfect for practising on.

[samoht146]

Sorry GoonerGray,I have used Corals mugs 10 & 11oz for many years on PixMax,cheap China and now Adkins mug presses and have never had a problem with base of mug printing but agree with spacing from base and pressure suggestion

s,also try looking at a qualty paper such as TruPix

[Justin]

I think I will try some new mugs, what mugs would you recommend?

I'm getting through quite a few boxes of 10oz Xpres mugs and they've all been perfect. I stopped using 11oz many years ago as 99% customers preferred 10oz.