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Drew · March 5th, 2008

Yo Gang!

MAJOR problem here:

I got a job for 60 shirts a few weeks ago. The client gave me his artwork, which consisted of 3 colors: Navy blue, black, and a lighter, more fluorescent pastel shade of blue (to be precise, RGB color #70C8D0). Using ImageClip paper, I printed the logo like I always do. The navy blue and black transfered perfectly, but the pastel blue looked like crap-ola: only about half of the green sheet polymer wound up sticking to the pastel blue, making the pressed product looked cracked and faded -- but ONLY on that ONE color. I wound up trashing about have the shirts and doing them over, and I still wasn't completely satisfied with the results.

Today, I got another job with a client logo that uses red, black, and a more pastel shade of pink (RGB #FF1493). Same story: The red and black look great, but the pastel pink looks like s**t!!

I've tried different temps, pressure, and dwell time, but pastels just don't transfer well. Am I doing something wrong? Has anybody else had this problem with ImageClip? Does anybody have any advice?

I would hate to have to turn away business because I can't do certain colors. It's bad enough not being able to do darks. If I have to refrain from doing pastels, I might as well sell my press and throw in the towel.

As always...THANKS in advance!

Moo Spot Prints · March 5th, 2008

Imageclip can't handle lighter colors. It's pretty well documented here. Duracotton can handle them, but you have the border to worry about. If you've got the right printer and can hit the right temps/pressures, it might work out for you.

charles95405 · March 5th, 2008

Unfortunately Jose is right...Imageclip will not work very well with pastels...white/ash etc

you might contact lnfortun...he is a forum member and has done extensive work with imageclip..Maybe he will see this post and chime in

Or if you do a search for imageclip and look for him

AShirtCompany · March 25th, 2008

Hi,

I have begun working with Imageclip and been calling the company that I bought it from - not much help in solving the problem of non transfer of light colors.

I found I had to redo the colors in my graphic - make the tans, ecrus, and light flesh tones darker to have them transfer properly.

That solved most of the problems with the light colors but I am still finding every tenth time, the two papers will stick or pull off toner on a new unexpected area.

Whoever is manufacturing this paper along with the companies who are selling them - really need to know these problems and place them on the instructional and sales sheets.

I've spent hours of my time and on the phone with the company.
Very annoying.- and very wrong on their parts.

Are you finding this? How are you dealing with this?

mrdavid · March 25th, 2008

Randy wellcome to Tees-shirts you will find out lot of things can go worng and will that is where you learn I still have problems but I can all ways come here and find out or read and find out that is why older members will say read and then read some more LOL

stuffnthingz · March 25th, 2008

ooo, this is very good to know. I am going to try ImageClip for printing onto pastel colors, I would never have considered that a pastel color in the image would be a problem...!

Hate to Hijack this threat but how is ImageClip for printing ON pastel colors? If my design colors are pretty bright mixed with black?

rrc62 · March 25th, 2008

I've done light pastels, but the time, temp and pressure become more critical. Once I started using a 2" thick poly foam pad under the paper on the first stage, everything became much more consistent. I posted my modified procedure a while back. Search on my past posts. If you're heat press platen is not absolutely perfectly flat, which most are not, you'll have issues with the first stage press. The 2" poly foam pad evens out the pressure for a platen that is a little out. If it comes to it you might have to darken the pink a little.

Drew · March 26th, 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by rrc62


	I've done light pastels, but the time, temp and pressure become more critical. Once I started using a 2" thick poly foam pad under the paper on the first stage, everything became much more consistent. I posted my modified procedure a while back. Search on my past posts. If you're heat press platen is not absolutely perfectly flat, which most are not, you'll have issues with the first stage press. The 2" poly foam pad evens out the pressure for a platen that is a little out. If it comes to it you might have to darken the pink a little.

I contacted Neenah Paper about the pastel problem and it is one they are aware of -- unfortunately with no clear fix.

So I wound up darkening the pastel colors just a touch. It seemed to do the trick, although I still have a bad sheet of paper every so many tries. Sometimes you just have a spot where the toner from the green sheet doesn't adhere to the color on the red sheet, for whatever reason. Oh well; I guess nothings perfect! I imagine even silk screeners have a "bad run" every now and then.

I did take Ross's advice long ago and started using a poly-foam pad for the first step. It's amazing how much difference it makes.

FYI, Neenah did tell me they're working on an ImageClip version for DARKS! Yeah! No word on when it might be available...but at least it's coming! (We HOPE!)

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ImageClip and Pastel Colors: Anybody Else Having Problems?