Printing Alu Panel iPhone covers

[a few more words]

I am experiencing a problem with the quality of the image I'm producing on the iPhone Alu panels............whereby the completed image appears blotched / grubby..........the image is all there but is not a high gloss....but instead is duller and when turned to / fro under a light the surface appears blotchy.
I read on some previous posts of a similar problem....where it was deemed that the paper may have been damp and under heat & pressure in the press, the moisture in the paper was flashing to steam creating this effect. This may well be the case here , as we have not been making any particular effort to keep the paper free of moisture.

Or is it possibly some other problem that we are experiencing ?

What are you doing to maintain your paper free of moisture ?
How are you treating paper that you sustect has become damp ?

Many Thanks
Tom

[Paul]

I dont think its down to moisture.
What pressure you use to press them???

Try very low pressure. if any!

[WorthDoingRight]

If you suspect your paper is damp then you can pre-press the blank sheets in your press before printing them in your printer.

[Paul]

Paper will be always dump! Ink is a fluid so whatever yo do your paper will contain moisture

[WorthDoingRight]

Paul, do not have a fit mate. The whole idea of sublimation is to not have wet ink but dry ink on dry paper so it can be sublimated. Yes, paper has a natural water content but if taken out of it's packet and not stored properly then it will absorb more moisture than it should which in most printing jobs causes issues. So if the paper is steaming then it does sound like either the ink on the paper had not dried or the paper was damp and pre-pressing costs little to remove the uncertainty lol

[Paul]

Looks like you never used texprint my friend. Ink will be always fluid.
Iam not saing dump paper is good. But yo wont need to dry it by pre pressing. Just keep it in dry place and that doo.

[Ask_Alan]

I am experiencing a problem with the quality of the image I'm producing on the iPhone Alu panels............whereby the completed image appears blotched / grubby..........the image is all there but is not a high gloss....but instead is duller and when turned to / fro under a light the surface appears blotchy.
I read on some previous posts of a similar problem....where it was deemed that the paper may have been damp and under heat & pressure in the press, the moisture in the paper was flashing to steam creating this effect. This may well be the case here , as we have not been making any particular effort to keep the paper free of moisture.

Or is it possibly some other problem that we are experiencing ?


What are you doing to maintain your paper free of moisture ?
How are you treating paper that you sustect has become damp ?

Many Thanks
Tom

Try this:

Place the sub print on the base of the press image UP, then face the aluminium - coated side - to the sub paper and press through the aluminium. @ 90 seconds will do at 180C. This seems to cure the marking of the polyester coating when pressing ali sheets like awards and I-metal shapes.

do place something over the items as the ink can come up and stain the heat plate, Paper/ teflon will do.

Alan

[Paul]

Good advice. I always print my metal up side down...

[WorthDoingRight]

Good adcice. I always print metal up side down...

Sure better than printing your mugs upside down

[purpledragon]

If you suspect your paper is damp then you can pre-press the blank sheets in your press before printing them in your printer.

Not a good idea this will cause your paper to curl so when you put it through the printer the print head will catch on the edges of the paper and invariably leave a black ink mark sometimes so small you wont notice untill you press it onto an item. I doubt very much this problem is down to damp paper my shop is so damp jaque custo swims around my walls i dont have guard dogs i have guard great whites yet i never have any issues with damp paper. my best guess is the item itself is probably damp try prepressing the blank first for a few seconds
Brett