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Lnfortun · September 25th, 2007

This is an experiment I did to see if Ironall for dark that is available at Newmilfordphoto will work in my color laser printer.

I requested the settings from newmilfordphoto and Kathy told me that they used the default which is plain paper setting but that did not work for me. The toner did not fuse on my first try. It produced the old familiar smeared polymer/toner all over the sheet. The second time was card stock media and heavy weight. It was better but still had fusing problem.

The setting that worked is Ultra Heavy with card stock media and MPT manual feed checkbox checked in the printer driver. The later requires pressing online button to start printing the media each time that is in the Multi purpose tray. I ran ten sheets with a text file that has space character before the image. To do that I loaded both blank sheet text file and image files to the printer with text file loaded first. Usually it takes a while to load a large image file to the printer. So, I set the printer preferences or properties in the following to get the fuser temp constant from printing the ten or more blank sheets up to the point when the image file is ready to print.

Don't wait too long each time you press the online button or the printer will time out and cancel the rest of the ten sheets. Additional blank sheets may be required if the image file takes more time to load than running 10 sheets.

Caution: Make sure to feed one sheet at a time in the multi purpose tray that way you can control and give ample time for the image to load and have it ready in the cue to print after the blank sheets. At the same it time it keeps the fuser temp constant. Keep an eye on the page count and get ready with transfer paper. Again feed the transfer one at a time after that. Got to be quick cause the printer will time out.

Printer Brand: Okidata Color Laser
Toner Type: OEM
Printer Model: C5200ne or other model (untested)

Materials required:
Preprint media: 10 or more blank standard white paper
Transfer Media: Ironall for Dark

Files required:
Preprint file: Text file with space character
Transfer Image file: Un-mirrored image graphics or text or combination of both

Driver Settings:
Source: MULTI PURPOSE TRAY
Weight: PRINTER SETTING
Page Feed Options: Selected the MPT manual feed check box. This allows to
control and stall when printing the ten or more blank sheets to give time for
the large image to load and at the same time keeping the fuser temp
constant until the image is ready to print that is sitting in the cue.

The actual printer settings:

1) Press "-" or "+" button several times until MEDIA MENU is displayed
2) Press Enter button to select
6) Press "-" or "+" button to select MPT MEDIAWEIGHT
7) Skip to step 11 if ULTRA HEAVY is selected already (*)
8) Press "-" or "+" button to select ULTRA HEAVY
9) Press Enter button to select
10) Press Back button to exit
11) Press "-" or "+" button to select MPT PAPER TYPE
12) Press Enter button to select
13) Press "-" or "+" button to select CARD STOCK
14) Skip to 17 if selected already (*)
15) Press Enter button to select
16) Press Back button to exit
17) Press "-" or "+" button until MPT PAPER SIZE is displayed
19) Press Enter button, to select
20) Press "-" or "+" button until Desired paper size is displayed
21) Skip to step 24 if selected already (*)
22) Press Enter button to accept
23) Press Back button to exit
24) Press Online key to exit

If I missed any of the steps described above the target parameters are listed below. Make sure to review the following. They should have asterisk "*" on the right side in the display as shown below:

ULTRA HEAVY *
CARD STOCK *
LETTER *

I made the detailed steps, not as an insult mined you, because if I just gave the 3 items above as the setting others may not know how to go about setting them or understand what I am talking about. Pardon my grammar and redundant texts.

It did work for me once as shown in the comparison photo http://www.t-shirtforums.com/attachm...k-comparis.jpg. Ran out of transfer paper so, not sure if the settings are consistent. Different printers acts differently.
So, settings for your printer maybe a little bit different that I have.

Other models may have different driver dialog windows, panel buttons and display but the principle is the same. Please refer to your user's manual.

So good luck. Hope my experiment paves the way for the rest.

Please let me know your result good, bad or indifferent.

There are lots of comments/reviews about Ironall for dark in this thread Iron All For darks..

Thank you

patchmaster · August 18th, 2008

I cant believe this post died on the vine, great information !!

does it still apply to todays Ironall for darks?

Lnfortun · August 18th, 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by patchmaster


	I cant believe this post died on the vine, great information !! does it still apply to todays Ironall for darks?

I have not tried it again since a bad batch showed up. There is a new batch that is supposedly the same quality as the opaque first came to market. Another thing is the opaque had a bad case of wearing off after repeated wash and dryer cycles. It is true for both inkjet and laser printed. I heard Hyatt is making improvement of the product. I think the price also has gone up.

patchmaster · August 19th, 2008

And my search continues...

thanks for the update.

Lnfortun · August 19th, 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by patchmaster


	And my search continues... thanks for the update.

If you are going to hand cut the opaque there are two products two step process that are made of fabric. One is made of cotton that is being sold by Coastal Business and the other is 100% polyester fabric opaque sold by Airwaves Inc. Both transfers will work with inkjet and laser transfers. The polyester is sublimitable which yields very soft and feels like it is part of the shirt. It is slightly thicker than vinyl opaque such as Ironall dark. The advantage of fabric opaque is it will not crack or peel and softer hand unlike vinyl opaque.

The feel for inkjet or laser transferred image depends on the brand of transfer used to press the image. JPSS would be ideal for inkjet and Imageclip for laser transfers. Of course sublimation is even softer over the inkjet and laser transfers.

I have not tried the cotton opaque. I use the polyester opaque and had sent samples to a member, Dan Slatkin, who tried sublimation on it. His result was good except he had problem cutting it with vinyl cutter. The polyester is ideal for rectangular image such as photo. I use it on special orders mostly one offs.

I have posted few photos. Search for Airwaves Fabric Opaque.

Airwaves gives out samples. I have the written instruction for pressing with inkjet, laser and sublimation. Send me a PM with your email address and I will send it you.

patchmaster · August 19th, 2008

I'm off to search your suggestion - thankyou. It does sometimes pay to reserect old threads

I use to sublimate but have discontinued the process, although I do still have a ATT sublimation toner set-up collecting dust I might drag out to test.

I have often thought about sublimating onto t-shirt vinyl then cutting on my cutter.

I am looking for a good opaque material that can be contour cut and have read several threads about some CLC papers not suitable for plotter cutting, hence my continued effort.

I made the switch to CLC due to the continued problems I have with jets clogging, seems my environment isn't conducive to free flowing jets - LOL
I love imageclip and use it daily and have since added vinyl to our mix and would now like to add opaque abilities.

off to search the forums
thanks again for your really helpful... help

Lnfortun · August 20th, 2008

You are welcome. When you find something worthwhile please let us know. Thanks.

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