Troubleshooting & Help
We've Been There, Done That
Symptom: Faded print area
Inconsistent pressure
If after heat pressing your item you see areas where the print is more faded or less vibrant than the rest, that's a sign of inconsistent or inadequate pressure in your heat press.
- Keep your product away from the edges of the heat press. The pressure will be more evenly applied towards the center of the plate.
- Try increasing the pressure. Increasing the tension on your heat press could help more evenly distribute the pressure when heat is applied.
- Eliminate extra bulk in your product. Heat needs to be evenly applied to the print area in order to get the best results, so if you have extra, uneven bulk in the product (for example a keyring looped through a keychain blank), remove it if you can. If it's impossible to remove (such as a seam in the product) you may need to increase the pressure slightly to get the best results. Some fading at the seams may be unavoidable.
Symptom: ghosting
Movement during heating
The sublimation process requires that both the print image and the substrate be in contact with heat for a period of time to vaporize and transfer the ink. If there is any movement of either part during the heating process, you will see faded "ghosting" on the product.
- Secure items with heat resistant tape or spray adhesive. It's important to temporarily secure the print to the substrate before applying heat. The quickest and most economical way is to use heat resistant tape. The tape will keep the print from moving but can easily be removed after pressing. Larger print areas, especially fabrics, may require a non-permanent spray adhesive rather than tape.
- Use caution when opening the heat press. If your heat press has a lot of tension, you may see your products move slightly when the press is opened. For substrates that hold a lot of heat, such as aluminum, even this slight movement can result in ghosting if the print is not securely in place.
Symptom: Faded print
Insufficient heat
If the entire print area comes out faded, then a likely cause is that there wasn't a long enough time in the heat press or the temperature was too low.
- Review the recommended heat press settings for the substrate in use. Fabrics, in particular, have a longer transfer time. You might need to experiment with different settings based on your particular equipment.
- Confirm your ink & paper quality. If you are having the same results no matter the time spent in the heat press or the temperature, then you should check that you are using high quality sublimation ink and paper.
Symptom: Stray marks
Overprint residue
If you see extra ink or smudges on your product after pressing, or on the back side of a double-sided product, then the most likely cause is residue from previous overprints on your heat press. When ink residue is on your heat press, it can vaporize and transfer to other projects unintentionally.
- Always protect your heat press surface by using parchment paper or teflon sheets. It's common to have overprint transfer when the print area extends beyond the edge of the substrate. To avoid having the overprint leave residue on your heat press (which can later be transferred to other projects), always put a protective layer between your product and the heat press.
- Discard teflon sheets that are stained. If your teflon sheet has ink stains on the surface, then those stains can vaporize and transfer to your projects rather than protect them. Glossy sheets can be cleaned more easily and can last longer, but always inspect the sheet for ink before pressing.
- Protect the underside of double-sided products. For products that can accept prints on both sides, such as aluminum business cards, it's important to protect the underside from residue on the heat press or mat. Place a piece of clean parchment paper or a teflon sheet underneath before pressing.
- Use caution when opening the heat press. If your heat press has a lot of tension, you may see your products move slightly when the press is opened. For substrates that hold a lot of heat, such as aluminum, this movement can result in unintended ink transfer from the print or from residue on the heat press. You can minimize movement by opening the press slowly.