I've recently (last week) begun experimenting with sublimation, and am running into some problems. My setup:
Epson D120 with CISS
Chinese Mugpress
Materials used:
Texprint XP
Manoukian Ink (kinda cheap, should be straightforward DyeSub ink)
Different kinds of substrates, including mugs from different suppliers, 100% poly textiles and some mousepads.
Settings:
I've tried everything, for the mugs:
From 90 seconds to 6 minutes
From 300 degrees (F) to 425 degrees
The problem:
After printing the print looks fine, nothing special, but after sublimating to ANY substrate, only the black comes out truly vividly, the colors are rather dull, red becomes pink etc. The colors don't fade further after sublimating. I've ruined a few mugs and mousepads now and would like to ask you for advise before I go any further.
Another thing I have tried, I've put some drops of pure ink (straight out of the bottle) on a blank piece of texprint and sublimated that on a (already ruined) mug, the color came out great..
Personally, I think you're trying to get by too cheap with Chinese mug press, Chinese ink etc... For high quality products, you are better off with high quality equipment and supplies. This is just my opinion.
Personally, I think you're trying to get by too cheap with Chinese mug press, Chinese ink etc... For high quality products, you are better off with high quality equipment and supplies. This is just my opinion.
I get your point, but as I mentioned, I've tried using my clamshell-press too, same results.. So that only leaves the ink itself..
Printing on the correct side of the paper?
Was the printer using regular inks before adding the CISS?
Are you sure you purge all the regular ink out?
Is your print out bright or dull? Dye-sub prints should be dull.
It's probaby your colour management set-up - working profiles and output profiles.
Some substrates will give duller colours, you can try others but Manoukian ink should be fine and it's usually the blacks that give problems.
Your printer is fine and the press does not care what is pressed..so if the time/temp/pressure is correct, the problem is going to be the ink/color management. with dye sub you have to have the correct ICC profile set up and the color management set correctly in the software you are using. with my setup I disable the software management and use the ICC profile/color palatte recommended by the ink manufacturer. I have yet to learn of a chinese ink that comes with a good ICC profile.
and of course print on right side...sometimes that is hard to see...but moisten your thumb and forefinger and press the paper between them..the slightly sticky side is the side to print on.
Thanks for all the suggestions. I got al little bit of ink from a collegue and that solved the problem. He also uses Chinese ink, but this one works .
Again, thanks to all!
Just keep your resolution in mind for future instances.....inferior ink produced with little or no manufacturing standards will always be different from batch to batch.
DyeSub colors are pale (while black isn't) 
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