DSF

If I have a mug which is already pressed, can I then add another word to it later, or will the original design be affected?

Sorry if this is a stupid question.

Paula

You might be able to if you mask the printed area off. The potential issue is that the printed area will start to sublimate again and could well bleed.

If you can put the mug in the press such that the already pressed part is out of the heat blanket then it should work ok.

Mark

Hi Paula

Once pressed I would worry that the quality of the pre-decorated element of the design would deteriorate when heated for a second time.

Might it be better to setup a digital artwork template that's easy to edit with different names or text before the papers are printed in the first instance? If you're using a standard inkjet setup and mug press this should provide a tolerably efficient production flow.

Alex.

Interesting thoughts here. I'm not so sure that it would make a difference. Lets think about it...

The sublimation process is to get the ink off the paper under heat and pressure to the substrate. Once on the substrate it bonds permanently with the polymer coating, so once it has bonded permanently, why would it 'unbond'? If we think of a different product, say a two sided FRP keyring (Unisub), then one successful way of printing these is to print one side, then turn over and print on the other side. If the sublimation inks were to 'unbond' then this would happen on the other side of the two sided product (and it doesn't).

So logic would suggest that this should be entirely possible.

bms;30811 wrote:Interesting thoughts here. I'm not so sure that it would make a difference. Lets think about it...

The sublimation process is to get the ink off the paper under heat and pressure to the substrate. Once on the substrate it bonds permanently with the polymer coating, so once it has bonded permanently, why would it 'unbond'? If we think of a different product, say a two sided FRP keyring (Unisub), then one successful way of printing these is to print one side, then turn over and print on the other side. If the sublimation inks were to 'unbond' then this would happen on the other side of the two sided product (and it doesn't).

So logic would suggest that this should be entirely possible.

good point! I pressed some mugs for test before and some of the mugs was already printed on one side. after second press first picture on other side was as good as new
same with keyrings. press one side then other one. always both sides are good.

I tried it once the image on the mug came of the mug onto the paper very slightly not enough to notice on the mug.

If got a spare mug that's gone wrong then try it on that, this way you'll have a fair idea

Basically, I was doing a mug for a friend then after I did it she asked could I put her name on it! I might try it just to see.

Done this before with mugs and bottles and the ink will come off onto the mug blanket which shows that the process is starting again and the ink will come off. You can cover over the already printed section but it's likely to blur.

Back to the original question, are you trying to have mugs ready made and add names etc? or are you looking at adding to mugs rather than throwing away? I assume the former and would therefore suggest Listawoods advice of having a template ready to adjust.