Tips and Tricks: Common Mistakes
1. One mistake we see often, is image “ghosting”, which is double imaging on a product that happens once the paper shifts after the image has already started transferring. There are a few different things that can cause this, such as:
- Not properly adhering transfer to product with heat tape
- Moving the paper while it is still hot
- When the product is still hot the image continues to transfer, so any shift will cause a shadow
2. Another common mistake that we see, is when customers try to press a product with the protective film still attached. Some customers try to transfer and image through the film and onto the product which causes bubbling, leaves a textured-like feel or look, or causes the protective paper to adhere to the product. Not all products have this coating. The best way to discover whether a product has the coating or not is to CAREFULLY hold the product under the heat press, the film should wrinkle and will be easier to remove.
3. Printing on the wrong side of the paper and pressing to the product is a mistake that is easy to make. You know that the image was printed on the wrong side of the paper if the there is a static or white-noise type look on the product after sublimation. To prevent this:
- Understand which side of the paper is supposed to be printed on
- Understand which way it is supposed to go in the printer
- For SPP paper, in the bottom tray it goes bright side down, in a bypass tray it goes bright side forward
Tips:
1. Lifting your press: The way you lift your press does not seem like it would make much of a difference, but it could actually be causing your paper to shift if you aren’t doing it correctly. Lifting your press should be done in two motions, one to “unlock” the press and next to lift the press smoothly, this helps reduce paper shifting.
2. Clouding: Clouding happens when moisture escapes out of the coating or from the product itself, causing an interference with the sublimation process. The best way to prevent this is to follow the steps on our website or on the PDFs we offer. These resources will tell you which products need to be pre-pressed and for how long. Be sure to let the product cool after pre-pressing before pressing with the transfer.
3. Making a “Wall of Shame” in your workshop area full of product mistakes from the past is a great way to keep yourself from making the same mistake twice.
When experiencing difficulty pressing a product, instead of wasting ink, paper, and products by trying to fix the problem on your own, call tech support here at Conde. We love helping our customers and saving you money! To contact tech support, call us at (251) 633-5704 or send us an email at support@conde.com.