[lindsayanng]

I'm confused all over again.. i KNOW that i need some dye sub inks, but i keep reading about certain inks being for certain printers and what not..

I am getting an epson c88 printer. I will be printing on MOSTLY ceramic (mugs, tiles, ect) and SOME metal.

I was thinking of NOT going the bulk system because i read that they can clog, and decided to go with a refillable cartridge.. Where do i get a refillable cartridge for that printer, and what kind of ink do i buy to fill it??

Oh, and one more somewhat unrelated question.. Can you subliminate on plastic?

 

[lindsayanng]

for instance.. What is the difference between this:
Product Detail - DyeTrans.com

and this:

Product Detail - DyeTrans.com

 

[charles95405]

Couple of points...bulk systems are no more likely to clog than cartridges. The printer does not know what container the ink is in..with sublimation you will encounter clogging issues sometimes. I have a bulk system on a 1400 and it has clogged twice in a year..but it is not brain surgery to clean the nozzles. you cannot just print with dye sub in on plain pastic. anything that you sublimate must be 100% polyester in white/light and some pastels like from Vapor ware ..this is for material..for hard substrates like mugs, etc...they MUST have a polmer coating to be sublimated.

On your second question..the first product listed is for sublimation inks...the second appears to be for pigment inks that you would use for normal transfers. The two inks are not interchangeable..for example if you are printing with dye sub carts and then want to switch to pigment ink...that is not too wise because of the ink wasted in cleaning the heads...a printer has to be dedicated to one system or the other, but not both

 

[lindsayanng]

what types of things would i print pigment inks on.. I will have TWO printers, so i might be interested in using one for dye sub and one for something else, I just have no idea what you would press with pigment ink.. Is that a different option to screen printing for t-shirts? I know the process of screen printing with the stencils and such, i have friends actually in the business, but that is ALL they do...

So i am really lots with what to buy.

So you think something like a CIS system from this place would be a good choice:
Inkjet Sublimation Price List

I see the C88 bag ink start up deal for about $621.00 - is that decent price?

Haha.. I offered to rebuild that company's website in exchange for some inks.. Their website is the WORSE thing to navigate EVER

 

[sunnydayz]

Pigment inks are basically made for printing heat transfers with an inkjet printer. I can answer that question haha, the others for sublimination, I havent a clue

 

[lindsayanng]

So you can print anything froma printer that can be pressed to a shirt?? You needs screens or a different printer entirely??

 

[sunnydayz]

A printer with pigment inks you would print to transfer paper and then press it on. the c88 would work for it. Its basically for use with heat transfer paper. Also you can get them super cheap at the epson outlet and they come with the pigment ink cartidges. Here is a link for the outlet Clearance Epson Just Arrived - Epson Clearance Center - Epson America, Inc. . I think they have them for around $40 alot of the times there.

 

[sunnydayz]

Yep I was just reading on the c120 they have for $39 and it comes with the durabrite ultra pigment inks I know alot of the members here have bought them, alot of times in quantities because the price of the printer is actually cheaper then the cost of a set of inks and it comes with them

 

[Riderz Ready]

If you spent time and reviewed the many threads you would find an alarming amount of issues with bulk systems for desktop Epsons. The term "clogged" may not always be an accurate term for a color not printing but the bottom line is bulk systems are not a closed system and overall will cause more headaches then one can imagine. I would not hesitate to say more people have tossed their bulk systems away and quit dye sublimation then have successfully used them. Refillable cartridges is the way to go -

 

[lindsayanng]

I did read, and that is why i asked about the cartridge vs CIS system. It seems to be split down the middle

I am still confused on PIGMENT. WHAT can i press to with pigment ink? Can i do t-shirts with that??? IS there any kind of ink that you can print on heat release paper and use a heat press to make a permanent design on cotton t-shirts?

My last post was a little crptic and didn tmake much sense.. i was on about 2 doses of nyquill - still cant get rid of this cold

 

[sunnydayz]

Hi Lindsay,

Yes you can print on transfer paper with the pigment ink. The results of how long it will last once transfered on the shirt really depends on the type of transfer paper used and the brand of inks. Pigment ink is used to print on transfer papers such as Ironall and jetwear for dark garments and jet pro soft stretch for light garments.

When you transfer it with the heat press you will have the polymere backing that holds the inks, transfer with it onto the shirt. Unlike sublimination which actually turns to a gas when heated, and only transfers the ink.

The differences on shirts with each product is that with transfer paper, you can transfer on alot of different types of garments such as 100% cotton, 50% cotton/50% poly. With sublimination you can only transfer on light polyester garments as that is the only type of fiber the sub inks adhere to.

The pigment inks only work with the transfer paper, which is used to transfer to tshirts. You can also use transfer paper for things such as mousepads and tote bags. where as the sub inks only work with sublimination and poly garments, and hard substrates that are coated.

 

[dixieexpress]

Yes you can print t-shirts with the pigment ink also mouse pads and totes.

 

[dixieexpress]

sorry sunndayz
I didnt refresh the page before I typed

 

[sunnydayz]

Haha tis ok that happens to me all the time.

 

[lindsayanng]

AWESOME.. so sinc ei have going to have TWO printers and one 15x15 press, i will be able to do the dye sub for the tiles and mugs and such, and use a different printer to print with the pigment inks on a different type of transfer paper, but use the same heat press.

THIS IS REALLY GOOD NEWS!!

I wasnt sure if you could use a regular printer to print stuff that will be pressed on shirts and stuff.. WOO HOO this is pretty exciting. I have always wanted to design my own shirts, now i can have fun and play with it..

I'm still stuck with what TYPE method to go with for the dye sub.. CIS or refillable cartridge

The most issues i have read with the CIS is for the larger format printers because the ink has longer way to travel...

 

[bornover]

Dye sublimation has some limitations you might need to know about. The first one is an industry limitation. Since dye sublimation is a patented process, there are some legalities that effect us regular folk. The main one being: you can only buy bulk sublimation ink if you have a large format printer. The printers you mention are not large format printers. You are required by ink suppliers to provide the make, model and serial number of your large format printer to be able to buy bulk sublimation ink. Otherwise, for small formate printers, you have to buy prefilled cartridges that are more expensive per liter.

 

[dixieexpress]

Id start with cartridges and if things go well you can upgrade to the CIS

 

[lindsayanng]

I have read that.. but look at the second link i posted.. it is CLEARLY a bulk system for a C88 - why would they sell bulk systems if they didnt sell the ink for them

Also, how long does the ink last?? I mean, does it dry up if it is not used on a daily basis

 

[dim116]

Dye sublimation has some limitations you might need to know about. The first one is an industry limitation. Since dye sublimation is a patented process, there are some legalities that effect us regular folk. The main one being: you can only buy bulk sublimation ink if you have a large format printer. The printers you mention are not large format printers. You are required by ink suppliers to provide the make, model and serial number of your large format printer to be able to buy bulk sublimation ink. Otherwise, for small formate printers, you have to buy prefilled cartridges that are more expensive per liter.

This is not correct. I use a C88 with refillable carts & I buy bulk ink all the time here in Canada in several different size bottles. I just checked on the www.conde.com website & they also sell the refillable carts & the bottles of ink in several different sizes

 

[lindsayanng]

thats what i was thinking of doing..Dim, do you mind telling me where you buy your stuff, or is it all from Conde?