Newbie to Dye Sublimation

2949 Views 21 Replies 5 Participants Last post by BlackScorpion, Nov 29, 2017

BlackScorpion

Discussion Starter · Nov 2, 2017

Hi I've been doing heat transfer t-shirts for a few years using my Epson WF1100 and BestBlank Heat Transfer sheets, now I'm just an amateur doing t-shirts for friends and family, I've recently got a hold of a brand new Ricoh GXe7700n Dye Sublimation Printer, as of yet it has not have any ink run through it, the inks that were given to me by the seller are expired (10/2016) I'm new to this and was wondering if anyone is using cheaper type of inks, Like I said above I'm an amateur, not in it to make big bucks just a few bucks here and there. IF you're using a cheaper brand of ink, can you please provide me the information on it, also would it be smart to use the expired inks?

any response would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Frank

1 - 20 of 22 Posts

Dekzion

· #2 · Nov 3, 2017

Hey Frank,
There will be lots more comments after this one, and all I will say is, don't go cheap.
You have an opportunity from heaven to have a perfect printer producing fantastic prints.
load her with Sawgrass ink, install and use the 'powerdriver' printing app,
print your design through the app, press at recommended times and temps (need to learn that bit from the dye sub guys) then stand back and say "wooah! Nice."
Other inks and processes are available.

BlackScorpion

Discussion Starter · #3 · Nov 4, 2017

Dekzion said:
Hey Frank,
There will be lots more comments after this one, and all I will say is, don't go cheap.
You have an opportunity from heaven to have a perfect printer producing fantastic prints.
load her with Sawgrass ink, install and use the 'powerdriver' printing app,
print your design through the app, press at recommended times and temps (need to learn that bit from the dye sub guys) then stand back and say "wooah! Nice."
Other inks and processes are available.

Thanks, Dekzion, for the reply. I decided NOT to go cheap and go with the Sawgrass inks, I will be trying the expired inks this weekend. One question, what is the power driver app? Where do I get it from?

Dekzion

· #4 · Nov 4, 2017

The powerdriver is available from Sawgrass and conde I think, I got mine when I registered the printer etc. so you'll probably need to register as a sawgrass ink user. but can get the inks from anywhere such as xpres, MDP supplies, Transfer Press, etc. (usually who ever is having a deal at the time) pick the correct one for your printer and install, then when you come to print select that as your printer from the printer list, then on that window go to options (bottom right in blue?) which will take you to another window so you can change the substrates etc you'll be printing on along with paper and sizes etc, it also has spot colour changes you can make but I have never used those.

BlackScorpion

Discussion Starter · #5 · Nov 5, 2017 (Edited)

Well today I went into the garage and started up the Ricoh, installed the ink cartridges and seems to have loaded correctly, I did a nozzle check and the black and blue ink had some broken lines, opened up the printer utility and checked on the head cleaning checkbox, suddenly the cyan cartridge is showing as empty? I can't do anything until I replace the cyan cartridge. I have no clue why it's showing up empty? Gonna try and get a cyan cartridge to test it, not sure if I can get one locally, I hope, WIll keep ya posted.

ANyone knows who has current deals on Sublimation inks, might have to order a new set. I found this set for $260 but never dealt with them.

https://www.johnsonplastics.com/sub...blijet-r-29ml-ink-kit-ricoh-gxe3300n-gxe7700n

Conde_David

· #6 · Nov 5, 2017

Take the cart out of the printer and shake it. Does it feel empty?

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Amw

· #7 · Nov 5, 2017

BlackScorpion said:
Well today I went into the garage and started up the Ricoh, installed the ink cartridges and seems to have loaded correctly, I did a nozzle check and the black and blue ink had some broken lines, opened up the printer utility and checked on the head cleaning checkbox, suddenly the cyan cartridge is showing as empty? I can't do anything until I replace the cyan cartridge. I have no clue why it's showing up empty? Gonna try and get a cyan cartridge to test it, not sure if I can get one locally, I hope, WIll keep ya posted.

ANyone knows who has current deals on Sublimation inks, might have to order a new set. I found this set for $260 but never dealt with them.

https://www.johnsonplastics.com/sub...blijet-r-29ml-ink-kit-ricoh-gxe3300n-gxe7700n

Johnson plastics is a good company.
Conde can also supply you ink as well.

BlackScorpion

Discussion Starter · #8 · Nov 6, 2017

Conde_David said:
Take the cart out of the printer and shake it. Does it feel empty?

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Hi David, thanks for the reply. I could feel some ink inside. Perhaps the chip is making it non-usable? BTW are you guys having any deals on inks? Money is a little tight at the moment.

Thank You, Amw for your reply

Conde_David

· #9 · Nov 6, 2017

That means the ink line is most likely clogged. You will need to test the printer with normal ink first. I can give you a set of normal inks. You should NOT buy anyone sublimation inks until we figure this out. Open the cartridge shell and look at the bag. What happens is if the printer can not get ink out of the cart, it assumes it is empty and sends a kill signal to the chip.

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Reactions: 1

Conde_David

· #10 · Nov 6, 2017

Just call a Conde rep tomorrow and we will arrange to send it, all I ask is you pay shipping.

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Reactions: 2

BlackScorpion

Discussion Starter · #11 · Nov 6, 2017

Conde_David said:
Just call a Conde rep tomorrow and we will arrange to send it, all I ask is you pay shipping.

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WOW! Great, will call tomorrow, Guess I found myself a new distributor. Thank you so much, David.

Frank

Reactions: 1

BlackScorpion

Discussion Starter · #12 · Nov 6, 2017

Have one more question for you guys doing t-shirt heat transfer with sublimation, which transfer paper are you guys using? I received a package of the Beaver TexPrint-R with the printer, do I use that or is there something better for t-shirt transfer?

Dekzion

· #13 · Nov 7, 2017

Tex print is good stuff, so is dino sub, we use trupix mostly.
we have found that all papers have a different timing to get the best looking image off it and can vary by around 10 seconds, dino sub is ten longer than trupix for example. so when you record your times also note the paper and press being used.
I think there's a setting in powerdriver for tex print too.
one small tip, get hold of some green heat tape. brown curls up in your hand and is a booger to apply, and blue leaves a stain on shirts.

BlackScorpion

Discussion Starter · #14 · Nov 18, 2017

Update: I recovered my GX e770n printer with the help of David Gross of Conde. SO a BIG Thank You to David and the crew at Conde for the assistance. Man was I sweating it, after reading thru a bunch of post on here I thought it was a lost cause. The Printer is now working correctly, now I will need to do the conversion back to Sublimation inks, so I can start printing and creating things. David expect a call soon!

Reactions: 2

BlackScorpion

Discussion Starter · #15 · Nov 22, 2017

Got a question for you guys, the OEM ink that David sent me, I need to use up, can I use these ink with the inkjet heat transfer paper? or do I need to get something different? I've noticed the prints from my Ricoh are not as vibrant, they are on the dull side, is this normal?

Dekzion

· #16 · Nov 24, 2017

If they're pigment inks they'll be okay to go on transfer paper probably,
Sublimation prints on the paper are really dull, they look nothing like they should, for example I print an all over battleship grey for one of my designs and when it's printed it is def. a lilac hue! the colours only come true with heat.
Nice to hear you got her firing on all cylinders.

BlackScorpion

Discussion Starter · #17 · Nov 24, 2017

Dekzion said:
If they're pigment inks they'll be okay to go on transfer paper probably,
Sublimation prints on the paper are really dull, they look nothing like they should, for example I print an all over battleship grey for one of my designs and when it's printed it is def. a lilac hue! the colours only come true with heat.
Nice to hear you got her firing on all cylinders.

Good question, I don't know if they are pigment ink? I do know it's printing dull, guess I need to try a few prints and see how they come out.
Yeah, I too am glad I'm to be firing on all cylinders, trying to get a set of sublimation inks, but with Christmas coming up doesn't look too good, with gifts and so forth that need to be purchased.

Reactions: 1

Dekzion

· #18 · Nov 24, 2017

That is a point, But you do have the opportunity to play two hands at the same time. just grimace and buy your set of inks. Then you can purchase all manner of things that can be sublimated (don't tell 'em) far cheaper than run of the mill rubbish stuff on the high street. And when you've printed out favourite grandsons picture on a keepsake box for granny,,, you got it. And still a years worth of fun for yourself along with a penny spinner business starting off.
so long as you prove to the family you have the ability to make lovely presents (ask for timings over here) they'll forgive you soon enough.

BlackScorpion

Discussion Starter · #19 · Nov 25, 2017

Dekzion said:
That is a point, But you do have the opportunity to play two hands at the same time. just grimace and buy your set of inks. Then you can purchase all manner of things that can be sublimated (don't tell 'em) far cheaper than run of the mill rubbish stuff on the high street. And when you've printed out favourite grandsons picture on a keepsake box for granny,,, you got it. And still a years worth of fun for yourself along with a penny spinner business starting off.
so long as you prove to the family you have the ability to make lovely presents (ask for timings over here) they'll forgive you soon enough.

Yep you are right. I actually have a box of different sublimation blanks sitting in the garage that came with the printer, i'm not sure what's in it, but i need to go and check it out

mgparrish

· #20 · Nov 27, 2017

Dekzion said:
The powerdriver is available from Sawgrass and conde I think, I got mine when I registered the printer etc. so you'll probably need to register as a sawgrass ink user. but can get the inks from anywhere such as xpres, MDP supplies, Transfer Press, etc. (usually who ever is having a deal at the time) pick the correct one for your printer and install, then when you come to print select that as your printer from the printer list, then on that window go to options (bottom right in blue?) which will take you to another window so you can change the substrates etc you'll be printing on along with paper and sizes etc, it also has spot colour changes you can make but I have never used those.

Conde offers ICC's in lieu of Powerdriver, it gives better accuracy. All the other US vendors offer Power Driver.

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