Discuss the various aspects of heat press technology. Transfer paper, inks, plastisol transfers, vinyl cutters, printers, commercial usage, durability, suppliers, etc.
I know that there are MUGS that are white, and some are black, but I can't for the life of me understand why there aren't any other colors for us mug pressers...
If you know why that is, or... of a place that does sells colors that are not just plain ol' white, please mention it here, and if you can, place a link.
This would be MOST HELPFUL to me, and I'm sure others would find it very useful.
I also know that there are coatings that one can do themselves too, but with hit and miss results, so I'm not talking about that kind'a stuff, just store-bought mugs that come in colors. (Black too, it won't hurt to find a GOOD place that sells them either, I found a few places, but, it appears that the image area is not anywhere near the size of a Cactus brand mug for instance...)
Thanks, and I hope that someone, somewhere, knows the answers to these mysterious questions that plague mankind...
The reason most of the mugs are white is that sublimation was the spark for the 'home business' model about 7-8 years ago and since sublimation will only work on white, polymer coating ...that is what they made...You can find black mugs with white spaces for your image that will work with mug wraps...see Welcome to Photo USA, Corp.
as for colored mugs you can buy them at several place that you can pad print on...or use transfers IF the sides are straight..
I know pad printers who buy their mugs at wal-mart and even the dollar stores..
The reason most of the mugs are white is that sublimation was the spark for the 'home business' model about 7-8 years ago and since sublimation will only work on white, polymer coating ...that is what they made...You can find black mugs with white spaces for your image that will work with mug wraps...see Welcome to Photo USA, Corp.
as for colored mugs you can buy them at several place that you can pad print on...or use transfers IF the sides are straight..
I know pad printers who buy their mugs at wal-mart and even the dollar stores..
Thanks Charles for the history lesson on the mugs, I didn't realize why.
Still, you'd think that some company would do that, the black mugs have a white area, so why not another color...? heh
Can you elaborate a little more on the pad printing, and where is a place that I can see how this is done.
I just looked really quick, and it appears that it's got to be an outsourced job... (I am assuming...)
It also appears to be only solid colors, not unless I'm missing something.
I have actually never heard of that before, I must've been behind a rock when that was talked about. heh
I'll look more into it tomorrow, but if you (or anyone else) has any info on any place that does this, and you have used them, please let me/us know if you would.
I guess the reason that there is no other colors with a patch is that there has not been a market so far..The black mugs, both 11 oz and 15 oz have been out less that a year or so.
You can do more than one color if you have a two or three station printer..some a manual and some are automatic..air driven in some cases but you cannot do photos and full color
I guess the reason that there is no other colors with a patch is that there has not been a market so far..The black mugs, both 11 oz and 15 oz have been out less that a year or so.
You can do more than one color if you have a two or three station printer..some a manual and some are automatic..air driven in some cases but you cannot do photos and full color
Charles,
Maybe someone will read this and start providing color mugs for us...
(I know that'll happen!) I do wish that something that had more color would come about though, that would sure help.
I checked into the pad printers, I looked on e-Bay (many were available for fairly good prices) and it seems to me that most jump into this, then think about it later and give up.
I also checked into some Google searches that led me to forums, there's a big turn around on these, and I suspect people think it's easy and a quick money-maker, and it may be for some, but not all.
(It looks to be VERY involved and time consuming, at least that's the gist I got from what I saw)
Very interesting stuff though, and I'm going to keep this in mind later on, it's not something that I plan on doing any time soon though, I have enough stuff going on as it is, but don't we all... heh
Thanks a LOT Charles, I always appreciate your helpful answers.
We are screen printers and pad printers. We do print on mugs, glasses and just about anything else, including golf balls. We are new to the heat transfer business. We bought Chineese equipment and so far it has worked fine. We have so much invested in the screen printing and pad printing equipment that we went cheap for the heat press.
We have a 4 in 1 set that has a mug attachment. Can you put transfers on mugs or just sublimation? If you can put a transfer on then I think I can get mugs in any color needed. Let me know and I'll pass on that information. You probably need an ASI#, PPAI# or UPIC registration to purchase wholesale. UPIC is free and you only need a resale # to get one.
Kathy...you can put transfers on mugs. I know some of the forum members do but I have just done sublimation. I think that Susan in So. CA may have done on hard goods. I would do a check and see what paper they used and I am sure they used pigmented inks. I do know that there is a supplier...name escapes me that has laser paper for hard goods...again check with some of our forum sponsors...I am sure one of them will know.
We are screen printers and pad printers. We do print on mugs, glasses and just about anything else, including golf balls. We are new to the heat transfer business. We bought Chineese equipment and so far it has worked fine. We have so much invested in the screen printing and pad printing equipment that we went cheap for the heat press.
We have a 4 in 1 set that has a mug attachment. Can you put transfers on mugs or just sublimation? If you can put a transfer on then I think I can get mugs in any color needed. Let me know and I'll pass on that information. You probably need an ASI#, PPAI# or UPIC registration to purchase wholesale. UPIC is free and you only need a resale # to get one.
Kathy,
The mugs I do are only for sublimation, meaning they are pre-coated.
I have found some mugs that are colored, but they are uncoated ones, so I'd need to coat them.
I'm not against coating my own, but it seems to be too hit and miss, at least from the online stuff I've read in forums lately.
Some do have good luck, and, I have bought some Monster Coat for trying it out at some point, but that takes a while to accomplish on it's own, so it's on the back burner.
(I just had to try it out, even against my better judgment... heh)
If you are talking about colored mugs that are coated for sublimation, then YEAH, I'd be REALLY interested. heheh
I am assuming you mean, laser, when you say "transfer", I am not that well versed in other areas, I don't have a laser printer, if that is what that means.
Thanks Kathy, I really do appreciate your input, and if you, or anyone else has any more thoughts along these lines, let us know, I can't be the only one that would want to do color mugs.
Kathy...you can put transfers on mugs. I know some of the forum members do but I have just done sublimation. I think that Susan in So. CA may have done on hard goods. I would do a check and see what paper they used and I am sure they used pigmented inks. I do know that there is a supplier...name escapes me that has laser paper for hard goods...again check with some of our forum sponsors...I am sure one of them will know.
Dang it, now I'll have to check into laser stuff I guess, after Kathy said what she said, now you, I will be spending more money, that is, IF (hard goods) laser transfer is semi-affordable, and doable to a point for me at this time. heheh
If anyone has any more info on that to save me/us time, chime in please...
A mug of a different color... 
