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Susie · August 15th, 2008

Just an update,

I have to order more backcountry shirts but I did wash and dry the Terra Mesa a couple of times and the shiny box area doesn't go away after laundering.

azballbusters · August 15th, 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Susie


	Just an update, I have to order more backcountry shirts but I did wash and dry the Terra Mesa a couple of times and the shiny box area doesn't go away after laundering.

I would guess this is a known issue since none of the distributors or Vapor has chimed in with an answer.

Susie · August 15th, 2008

Yeah, I was kind of thinking there was some magical trick with these, but I think this colour is simply unsuitable for heat applications.

Has anyone else out there actually successfully printed a Terra Mesa Vapor tee?

By the way, does the green do the same thing? I haven't tried it yet, but just wondered if that was the same story.

Thanks for your input.

BareApparel · August 15th, 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by azballbusters


	I would guess this is a known issue since none of the distributors or Vapor has chimed in with an answer.

Isn't Johnson Plastics a distributor? They replied.

Susie · August 16th, 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by BareApparel


	Isn't Johnson Plastics a distributor? They replied.

Yes, but I'm not sure they know the quirks of that particular colour.

I have a couple more in stock now, so I'll try again, I guess.

Susie · August 19th, 2008

I've done some testing on the Backcountry "stone" colour (or whatever it's called - like a light beige).

I was still getting the shiny box, though not as noticable as it is a lighter colour, but it is there.

It seems obvious to me now that this is a heat issue - I suppose that makes sense! More pressure and a longer dwell don't make a shiny box but the temperature sure does.

I put the temp down to 190 and the shiny box is just barely visible but I have to press it a long time - like twice as long but the image isn't as vivid as it could be because of the lower temp. (and I can't use too much pressure).

It does make a passable product in general but I like perfection. But then again, perfection and sublimation don't really go together, at least not for me yet

D.Evo. · August 19th, 2008

Hi Susie and Mark, I’ve “chimed in” with a few general suggestions earlier in this thread as a printer and distributor of Vapor Apparel

I’m sorry I can’t offer you an immediate solution on how to avoid shine and discoloration on Terra Mesa because I never had these issues.

I have printed quite a few Terra Mesa t-shirts - for clients and for myself (in my household they are the boys' favourite and I wear them too occasionally).
I also successfully print on green, blue and all the other Back Country colours. The only shine issue I ever had with Vapor was too much pressure on micro performance shirts.

As I suggested earlier in this thread I would recommend to sacrifice a shirt, cut it into pieces and experiment some more with settings.

A couple of things to consider:
- Sometimes platen could be hotter/colder than it shows on temperature indicator - digital thermometer is a good tool to check it.
- What paper are you using? From my observations, under the same pressure thicker transfer paper “compresses”/flattens the fabric more than the thinner kind. When you press the design – is your paper same size/bigger than the platen? Try cutting your image very close and see if there is any difference.
- Teflon sheet is important.

Susie, how long is your dwell time when you drop the temperature down?

Don’t worry, perfection will come with practice

Just stick to it and it will happen!

Susie · August 22nd, 2008

I did cut up a some yardage of basic white Vapor tee material and tested first but I always cut it smaller than the press and of course, wouldn't see any "box". Especially on white. It's not so much about a box really - I would say it's a big SHINY area. It's definitely shiny compared to the rest. I'll try Terra Mesa again as soon as I have it available.

But I do suspect my platen temperature is not accurately represented by the gauge. I should get a thermometer and test it out. I'm kind of curious. Although when I do the Hanes tees at 204 for 40 seconds they come out beautifully, but that doesn't really tell me the temp. but that is the recommended setting so I thought, it can't be TOO far out....

The paper I am using seems quite thick (although it's the only dye sub paper I've ever seen). The name says it's "Star" brand distributed by Starline Pacific and endorsed by Sawgrass. I'm using an Epson 7800 with Evolution RIP and need a high release paper I'm told. Maybe you know what the best (or most suitable) brand is for that type of setup. Is there like, the BEST paper ever to use?

I've heard of Beaver Pads but I don't know what they are.

When I press my designs, sometimes I cut around them, sometimes not - depends on the complexity. In this particular case I cut around the design and there were no paper marks of any kind. I could probably use some more pressure maybe. I've rounded off the rubber pad on the bottom of the press. Press marks weren't much of an issue in this case as I hardly used any pressure.

I try to use only as much paper as I need (appeals to my environmental senses). I do have the wide format printer and could easily use the roll but it's so darn wasteful and I just can't stand doing that!

I'm using a 15 x 15 press. Half the time the designs are quite small - maybe I need a little tiny press for those as well. I'm frequently doing logos and such, less than 6 x 6. It would make sense to have a small press for small things.

Initially, I started using a teflon sheet on top but found that eventually it gets creased (it didn't long for that to happen) and then the creases are pressed into the shirt and never come out. So I just put a similar sized paper on top to prevent blow-through to the platen.

I'm going to order the Vapor foam kit on my next order. I was using a mousepad - which is great for thick stuff. But I realized on thinner fabric, the mousepad heats up and makes the whole thing signifcantly hotter - which would be ok if I knew HOW much hotter, then I could adjust.

On the Terra Mesa, eventually I tried 180 for 120 seconds which gave a passable result, though the black doesn't pop out much but they're ok.

Sorry about the long-winded speech...
I do appreciate everyone's help.

We'll get this thing going somehow!

DEFIANT · August 23rd, 2008

Suzie,

I initially had the same problem. Use a 1" border around your design and most certainly purchase the Vapor Foam Kit. I noticed a HUGE difference in quality!

Susie · September 13th, 2008

Whee hee for the Vapor Foam Kit! I finally got the kit. (don't be cheap - it's TOTALLY worth it).
I followed the instructions that came with it and voila it was a huge improvement.(imagine that!)

Although, I haven't tried it with the Terra Mesa, but I did do November White and they were good. (I'm doing photos on those tees for a client so there is no room for iffy quality). But I suspect that it will work just as well on Terra Mesa - I'll post a follow-up when I get around to doing the orange shirts.

Thanks everyone for your input.

By the way, Mark - have you tried it with the foam? Just wondered how it's going...

Susie

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