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normace · January 12th, 2009

Hi there folks,

I am using an OKI 5650 to print our designs on laser transfer paper.

The resulting print out of our designs look great. I have followed the manufactures instructions of how to print on their paper. All the colours are pretty close to the screen colours. I understand the concept of RGB and CMYK and know there are differences.

I'm a little confused / concerned however with what is happening to the finished product with the colour black. On the transfer paper it appears black. I have set the driver to only use 'K' for black (and not a mix of CMYK). However, the resulting colour on a dark t-shirt is not as black as what we'd like. It's got a brownish colour to it.

We use to use an ink jet printer and the colour black would almost match the colour of the black t-shirt.

Could it be the paper? Are we applying to much heat while transferring via the heat press?

Have any of you encountered a similar problem with the colour black on black t-shirts / dark t-shirts?

Lnfortun · January 12th, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by normace


	Hi there folks, I am using an OKI 5650 to print our designs on laser transfer paper. The resulting print out of our designs look great. I have followed the manufactures instructions of how to print on their paper. All the colours are pretty close to the screen colours. I understand the concept of RGB and CMYK and know there are differences. I'm a little confused / concerned however with what is happening to the finished product with the colour black. On the transfer paper it appears black. I have set the driver to only use 'K' for black (and not a mix of CMYK). However, the resulting colour on a dark t-shirt is not as black as what we'd like. It's got a brownish colour to it. We use to use an ink jet printer and the colour black would almost match the colour of the black t-shirt. Could it be the paper? Are we applying to much heat while transferring via the heat press? Have any of you encountered a similar problem with the colour black on black t-shirts / dark t-shirts?

Why would you print on black with a transparent toner?

It could be the dye of the shirt that is reacting to the color of toner.

normace · January 12th, 2009

Thanks for getting back to me Lnfortun,

I'm still using the toner that came with the OKI printer. Are you saying I have to buy a new toner that is not transparent?

I thought that since I'm using opaque paper it wouldn't be a toner issue. That is, since it's opaque, none of the t-shirt color comes through the paper.

Lnfortun · January 12th, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by normace


	Thanks for getting back to me Lnfortun, I'm still using the toner that came with the OKI printer. Are you saying I have to buy a new toner that is not transparent? I thought that since I'm using opaque paper it wouldn't be a toner issue. That is, since it's opaque, none of the t-shirt color comes through the paper.

Sorry you did not mention opaque paper. The oem or compatible toner are both transparent. I do not know of opaque toner for laser except the white toner being sold by ATI. Your problem could still be the dye in the shirt that is sublimating through the opaque transfer. I have never experience color shift of black color with my OKI C5200ne printer. The setting you did in the printer dirver to print K for black should have forced the printer to print black toner for black part of the image. Check the value of the black in you application software. Make sre it is really black. I have had problem where Corel Draw switched the 100% black and 90% black in the color pallet. Try different brand of T-shirt.

normace · January 12th, 2009

Yeah it would be funny if I was using transparent paper and printing black for a black t-shirt... (I have tried to do this when first starting out just to see what happens and to fully understand what goes on)

The T-shirts we are using are Gildan 100% Cotton. And another brand is 'identitee'. 100% Cotton too.

Same result - black turns a little brownish.

I'm more inclined to believe its either what you suggest - that 'K' is not 100%. I use photoshop and don't really know how to check this. Will try to find out.

Or that it is the transfer paper itself. Can I ask what opaque laser transfer paper you use? I'm not sure what brand mine is since my distributor has probably re-branded the paper (the backing paper).

The paper might be 'The Magic Touch' but not 100% sure. I think it's TMT paper since I found out the distributors contact details from the The Magic Touch website in Australia.

normace · January 12th, 2009

I found this useful blog entry:

Heat Transfer Paper Discussion Blog: Heat Transfer Paper Properties

Lnfortun, you said in an earlier poast the following:

"Your problem could still be the dye in the shirt that is sublimating through the opaque transfer".

From reading the above blog entry it might have to do with the thickness of the paper. So what you said might be the cause. Laser transfer paper tends to have a softer feel which means a thinner paper right? Because it's thinner than the ink jet paper we have been using in the past, maybe the dye in the shirt is sublimating through the opaque transfer...

Any thoughts?

Lnfortun · January 12th, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by normace


	I'm more inclined to believe its either what you suggest - that 'K' is not 100%. I use photoshop and don't really know how to check this. Will try to find out. Or that it is the transfer paper itself. Can I ask what opaque laser transfer paper you use? I'm not sure what brand mine is since my distributor has probably re-branded the paper (the backing paper).

To check the color values in photoshop is to click on the eyedropper icon in the toolbar. Click on the black area of the image. Click the foreground icon in the toolbar. The color picker window will appear . The value of RGB should all be 0. I use version 3 so yours will be laid out different. Notice on the attachment the values of CMYK. The RGB are not 0.

I use two step Airwaves Fabric Opaque, Blue Grid for inkjet and tried inkjet Ironall for dark also inkjet Alpha Gold. The later 2 are made for inkjet but printed laser printer on them.

Your problem could be related to the transfer paper. You probably have to call your vendor.

I said about the dye of the shirt sublimating through is it is spelled out in the pressing instruction of Laser 1 Opaque. Here is the link:
Read the note in the instruction. The note says that the paper is problematic with dark nylon and polyester fabrics. You are using 100% cotton so now I am not sure.

If you don't want the forums graphics viewer right click on the attachment and click open link in new tab or new window. Then click on the tab if you selected new tab. That way you can zoom on it.

normace · January 19th, 2009

Hi Lnfortun,

Thanks for your advice so far and help. Sorry for not getting back to you earlier.

I checked photoshop and it showed as 90% for the K value. I changed it and printed the image. The same look as before - the paper look great - the black appeared a nice black, but on the garment the black had the same browish tinge to it.

The white however is still a nice white. So the garment cannot be coming through then right?

I posted another topic yesterday which asks the question of what happens if I am applying too much pressure when pressing. Maybe this could be a problem? Here is the link to the topic:

What happens when applying too much heat press pressure?

Lnfortun · January 19th, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by normace


	Hi Lnfortun, Thanks for your advice so far and help. Sorry for not getting back to you earlier. I checked photoshop and it showed as 90% for the K value. I changed it and printed the image. The same look as before - the paper look great - the black appeared a nice black, but on the garment the black had the same browish tinge to it. The white however is still a nice white. So the garment cannot be coming through then right? I posted another topic yesterday which asks the question of what happens if I am applying too much pressure when pressing. Maybe this could be a problem? Here is the link to the topic: What happens when applying too much heat press pressure?

Have contacted the vendor?

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