As a professional sublimation paper and sublimation ink manufacturer, we always want to share some knowledge and skills, yes people who start sublimation business enjoy the fun and benefits brought by sublimation. We have 30 tips that we hope will help you.
Sublimation Technology Overview
Sublimation is the process of transferring images from printed paper to other materials such as t-shirts, mugs, mouse pads, etc. The beauty of sublimation technology is that it can provide high-quality, long-lasting, and detailed images, and it can be used on a variety of materials.
1. Document everything. Sublimation records that keep track of your print jobs, transfer details, and any issues you encounter. This is the best way to minimize waste and solve future problems. When you have a product in hand, document in your own words what works: when you need to reprint that tile in a particular mural, you will be able to refer to job details such as the file name, what tile did you use, what of sublimation paper, press settings, etc. Carry a marker with you, and if possible, write a serial number on the back of the product so you can log into your journal.
2. Always purchase test kits for hard and soft substrates for testing and training.
3. Always keep your sublimation instructions up to date. We revise our instructions every few weeks to keep up with new products and improved transfer techniques. Post your instructions near the heat press.
4. Ask your sublimation paper supplier for assistance in printing high volume orders. With wide-format printers, large-volume orders can be printed quickly. If orders of this type become frequent, you can make sound decisions about how best to upgrade your equipment.
5. Calculate the ink cost. Learn about a secret feature in Epson 4000 (and later) series printers that tells you how much ink your print job uses.
6. If possible, buy an Epson Professional Series printer instead of a desktop. The 4880 Professional Printer is a fast and reliable printer.
7. It is recommended that sublimation inks use well-matched brands.
8. Take care of your printer. Your supplier can provide preventive maintenance recommendations to keep your printer performing at peak performance and extending its lifespan. For all printers, learn to clean the maintenance station and encoder strip. For smaller printers like the C-Series, 1280, and 1400, learn to do printhead flushing. This process, which I've taught for years, usually revives a clogged printhead. Ask your supplier to guide you through this process.
9. When your printer appears to be dying, call your supplier (before calling Epson). There are usually some simple fixes that can help bring your printer back to life, and your supplier should be very proactive in getting your printer back on track.
10. Consider purchasing a backup/spare printer. Sometimes when the printer finally freezes, you'll find that the model has been discontinued - potentially leaving you with a lot of ink system compatibility issues.
11. Perform a nozzle check on plain paper at the beginning of each print day and when a possible problem is suspected. Never do an "automatic" nozzle check. Instead, use the Print option (for 4000 series printers) except in rare circumstances (such as power problems).
12. Leave your printer on. Turning the printer on and off just wastes ink.
13. Carefully maintain your printer, consult your supplier for details.
14. Print on the correct side of the correct sublimation transfer paper. Refer to your instructions for the paper used for the substrate. Printed transfers should transfer within a few days.
15. If possible, place the sublimation paper on the long side (landscape) of the printer first, and then define a custom sublimation paper size. This trick will increase printing speed by 30%.
16. Use the command to capture the screen while printing to help you remember what it should look like. You can then paste the screen into Photoshop or CorelDRAW for printing. This is also important for CorelDRAW's Tools/Color Management and Print Preview screens. You can then paste these screens into a blank CorelDRAW document for saving and printing.
17. Properly use your design tools and the related functions they bring to you to increase the efficiency of your sublimation printing jobs.
18. Make sure your design can be printed normally, please make sure your material is normal and suitable.
19. Keep your designs and printed products properly, it is recommended to use external storage for long-term storage.
20. Measure the temperature of the heat press at least twice a year. I recommend a low-tech solution: a metal candy thermometer. If you are sure that the press is not calibrated, contact your supplier partner for the "magic button" to press.
21. When pressing the substrate, always use protective paper on the top and bottom of the substrate. This will protect your heat press, pads and substrates. I rarely recommend Teflon sheet as it will absorb moisture and transfer the sublimation ink to the next substrate. However, I do recommend it for products with sticky backs, such as Rowmark's MATES material and our fabric patches.
22. Lubricate your press with high temperature grease monthly to ensure smooth operation and long life.
23. Check that your press closes evenly by cutting a sheet of sublimation paper into four squares and placing 1/2 of each square under each corner of the press. Then close with light pressure. Verify that each block is pulled with the same resistance. If not, the press may need to be adjusted.
24. Check for a shuttle accessory available for your press. It's a great productivity booster that lets you press one product while you're getting ready for the next.
25. If you do a lot of double-sided products like bag labels, consider products like cool plates. This large "heat sink" cools your substrates in a fraction of the normal time, increasing productivity.
26. When you press more at once, you have to (in most cases) increase the transfer time.
27. Fast Installation and Troubleshooting: Ask your provider for remote access to your computer to speed up installation and troubleshooting.
28. Download, print and transmit what we call a “tweak image” test image, default RGB palette and your nozzle check. Then put this away. If you think your system is no longer working properly, you can print sublimation paper and transfer it again for comparison. Be sure to record your prints on the sublimation transfer paper and transfer settings on the back of the substrate.
29. Call your supplier early for help and training. I often talk to clients who waste a lot of sublimation ink before asking for help.
30. Ask your partner for support resources, and product updates and updates.
Market demand
The sublimation business market is growing rapidly as people's demand for personalized goods continues to increase. When starting a business or running a sublimation business, it is necessary to understand market demand and formulate corresponding product and marketing strategies to meet consumer demand and market competition.
Brand Building
In the sublimation business, brand building is very important. You need to create a unique and attractive brand image and provide high-quality products and services to attract more consumers and maintain a competitive advantage.
Read More:
China Top 10 Sublimation Paper Manufacturer 2022
