[subgirl]

I am new to sublimation and I just got a second hand printer and ink from Ebay. I tried printing and finding the colors are more faded then the image. Sometimes the ink is also coming through to the other side of the paper. I dont know if the ink is not a good quality or if this is something normal. I will attach a link to an image so you can all see Under the image you will see the color of the design
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Essence-of-Home/188596014522243?ref=hl

 

[20vK]

Are you using sub paper or normal paper?

Also, have you tried transferring to a poly garment yet? The colours on the paper get bright once transferred to garment.

 

[charles95405]

A recipe for frustration is a combination of someone new to sublimation buying a used printer and ink off eBay. You have to make sure of:
1) your ink is true sublimation. A lot on eBay is marginal quality
2) you have a correct ICC profile specific to your printer AND ink
3) sublimation paper
4) using 100% polyester
5) a heat press with adjustable pressure and will go to 400F
You might want to peruse DyeSub.org - An educational site for dye sublimation and digital transfer printing. It is a bit old but lots of good info

 

[subgirl]

Yes 100% poly shirt there is a link so you can see the quality..

 

[subgirl]

I am using sublimation paper and ink. The guy I got the printer from used to do shirts as a hobby and it's ink from him new opened bottles. My hear press has adjustable pressure.. I am not sure about icc. I watched a vid in changing color settings in AI and color is a lot better but still not as bright as I think it should be..

 

[Mel Squared]

Are you using dye sub paper? On the right side? Custom ICC might be need to be made and installed. Ask the guy you bought it from first, he might already have it and can email it. Next choice, print a color palette, press it to a shirt and adjust your computer screen to match what you pressed to what you see. I did that til my ICC got to me. It works but not ideal...

Sent from my SPH-D710 using T-Shirt Forums

 

[lben]

Sublimation ink is only good for about a year anyhow then it starts to have issues. You will notice that the ink looks very dull on the paper and that's OK. The colors come out on the substrate but you will still have an image left on the paper. That's normal.

You might want to increase the pressure to medium to heavy.

For presses that don't have automatic pressures:

Light pressure = can close and lock lid with one or two fingers
Medium pressure = can close and lock lid with one hand and minimal elbow grease
Heavy pressure = can close and lock lid with 2 hands and lots of elbow grease

 

[subgirl]

Sublimation ink is only good for about a year anyhow then it starts to have issues. You will notice that the ink looks very dull on the paper and that's OK. The colors come out on the substrate but you will still have an image left on the paper. That's normal.

You might want to increase the pressure to medium to heavy.

For presses that don't have automatic pressures:

Light pressure = can close and lock lid with one or two fingers
Medium pressure = can close and lock lid with one hand and minimal elbow grease
Heavy pressure = can close and lock lid with 2 hands and lots of elbow grease

I am using the right pressure and now I am having issues with the ink only really printing the black parts and not really anything else. Should I buy some better ink? Is so what should I buy in Australia and paper also?

 

[lben]

First off make sure you're not out of ink. Next clean your print heads. Sublimation ink dries really fast on them and tends to clog the heads.

Fresh sublimation ink would be best, but I have no idea where to buy anything in Australia. I'm in the United States.. sorry I can't help with that. I'm not sure what is available in your country, but others here on the forum from there should be able to tell you what you need to know. I would start a new thread with that question.