Impressions - January 2019 - 54
When printing a nozzle check,
if you notice any "broken" printed
lines, it indicates a clogged nozzle
and a head cleaning should
be performed.
However, if you don't see improvements
after three to five head cleanings, contact
your dealer.
Ink Elimination and Storage
Another aspect of sublimation-printer
maintenance is waste ink. Each time the
system does a head cleaning, it uses some
ink and the excess has to go somewhere.
If the system has a removable wastecollection tank, it needs to be changed
at some point.A full tank often will stop
a printer, so remember to keep a spare
waste-collection tank in your shop's inventory.
Some printers use a built-in tank with
a valve that will drain the ink into an
external container. Either way, make sure
you regularly update your shop's wasteink levels and take the necessary steps to
manage them.
Sublimation ink works best when it's
stored and used within certain temperature
and humidity specifications. For example,
some inks have a recommended temperature range of 59˚F-77˚F. Humidity
should be kept above 35% relative (no
condensation).
However, too much humidity can generate moisture in other key components of
the sublimation production process, such
as transfer paper and substrates. Moisture
will turn into steam when it contacts the
heat press, which can cause quality issues
in a sublimated image.
So your work area's climate must be
P.54
ElEctrical EnginEEring
A sublimation printer is a sophisticated electrical device that is susceptible to power surges and
voltage fluctuations. Consider using a surge suppressor as a minimal way to help protect your
investment.
Better yet, invest in a quality uninterruptible power supply (UPS), as it will feature a built-in surge
suppressor and will keep power flowing temporarily in the case of an electrical failure in your
facility. It's much healthier for the internal circuits if you manually shut down the printer, rather than
having it shut down abruptly due to a power outage.
carefully controlled to maintain the proper
temperature and humidity. Again, refer
to your machine's user's guide for specific
settings and recommendations.
Keep it Clean
In addition, keep your shop's production
area as clean and dust-free as possible. If
any dust or dirt ends up on the transfer
paper - especially during printing - it
will lead to poor-quality images.Though
most printers have some type of mechanism for catching paper after printing,
if you periodically see paper fall to the
floor, set up some sort of catch container.
Once the printed side of the paper comes
in contact with the floor, it certainly will
be unusable.
If you use a sublimation system with
refillable ink cartridges, use extreme caution when refilling.Any dust or dirt that
i m p r e s s i o n s m a g . c o m JANUARY 2019
gets into the cartridge not only can affect
print quality, but it also can damage the
ink-delivery system.Air bubbles in the ink
also constitute a serious problem that can
occur when manually filling ink cartridges.
Try to fully understand the process and
ensure that no foreign particles end up
in the system.
In reality, modern desktop sublimation printing systems are easy to maintain.
The most common issue is clogged ink
heads, which should not happen if proper
maintenance protocol is followed. The
key thing to remember is to keep the
ink flowing.
Award-winning author and international speaker
Jimmy Lamb has more than 25 years of apparel-decoration experience. He currently is manager of communications for Sawgrass Technologies, Charleston,
S.C. For more information or to comment on this
article, email Jimmy at jlamb@sawgrassink.com.
http://www.impressionsmag.com
Impressions - January 2019
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Impressions - January 2019
Impressions - January 2019
Contents
First Impressions
From the Show Director
Overheard
First Look
Scene at ISS
Impressions Awards Winners
Tee Talk in 2019
Double Take, Double Exposure
Shop Talk
Embroidery Production
Screen Printing Production
Sublimation
Ad Index/Classifieds
On Design
Impressions - January 2019 - Intro
Impressions - January 2019 - CT1
Impressions - January 2019 - CT2
Impressions - January 2019 - Impressions - January 2019
Impressions - January 2019 - Cover2
Impressions - January 2019 - 1
Impressions - January 2019 - Contents
Impressions - January 2019 - 3
Impressions - January 2019 - 4
Impressions - January 2019 - 5
Impressions - January 2019 - First Impressions
Impressions - January 2019 - 7
Impressions - January 2019 - From the Show Director
Impressions - January 2019 - 9
Impressions - January 2019 - 10
Impressions - January 2019 - 11
Impressions - January 2019 - Overheard
Impressions - January 2019 - 13
Impressions - January 2019 - 14
Impressions - January 2019 - 15
Impressions - January 2019 - First Look
Impressions - January 2019 - 17
Impressions - January 2019 - 18
Impressions - January 2019 - 19
Impressions - January 2019 - Scene at ISS
Impressions - January 2019 - 21
Impressions - January 2019 - Impressions Awards Winners
Impressions - January 2019 - 23
Impressions - January 2019 - 24
Impressions - January 2019 - 25
Impressions - January 2019 - 26
Impressions - January 2019 - 27
Impressions - January 2019 - 28
Impressions - January 2019 - 29
Impressions - January 2019 - 30
Impressions - January 2019 - 31
Impressions - January 2019 - 32
Impressions - January 2019 - 33
Impressions - January 2019 - Tee Talk in 2019
Impressions - January 2019 - 35
Impressions - January 2019 - 36
Impressions - January 2019 - 37
Impressions - January 2019 - Double Take, Double Exposure
Impressions - January 2019 - 39
Impressions - January 2019 - 40
Impressions - January 2019 - 41
Impressions - January 2019 - Shop Talk
Impressions - January 2019 - 43
Impressions - January 2019 - Embroidery Production
Impressions - January 2019 - 45
Impressions - January 2019 - 46
Impressions - January 2019 - Screen Printing Production
Impressions - January 2019 - 48
Impressions - January 2019 - 49
Impressions - January 2019 - 50
Impressions - January 2019 - Sublimation
Impressions - January 2019 - 52
Impressions - January 2019 - 53
Impressions - January 2019 - 54
Impressions - January 2019 - Ad Index/Classifieds
Impressions - January 2019 - On Design
Impressions - January 2019 - Cover3
Impressions - January 2019 - Cover4
Impressions - January 2019 - ISS1
Impressions - January 2019 - ISS2
Impressions - January 2019 - ISS3
Impressions - January 2019 - ISS4
Impressions - January 2019 - ISS5
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/20240809
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https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/202203
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/20220102
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/202112
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/20211011
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/DigitalDecorator_2021
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https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/teamactivewear_2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/202106
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/202105
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/impressions/imp_0421_digital
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/202103
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/20210102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/202012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/dd_fall2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nxtbook_bhtest/impwessons
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/20201011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/202009
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/teamactive_2020fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/202008
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/20200607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/202005
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/dd_2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/202004
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/202003
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/202002
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/202001
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201912
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/dd_2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201909
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/teamactive_2019fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201908
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/20190607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201905
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201904
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201903
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/teamactive_2019spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201902
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201901
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201812
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/dd_2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201810
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201809
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/teamspirit_2018fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201808
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201806
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201805
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201804
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201803
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/teamspirit_2018spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201802
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201801
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201712
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201710
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201709
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/teamspirit_2017fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/20170607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201705
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201704
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201703
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/teamspirit_2017spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201702
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201701
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/sportsfanretailer
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201612
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201610
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201609
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201608
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/teamspirit_2016fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/20160607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201605
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201604
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201603
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/teamspirit_2016spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201602
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201601
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/sportsfanretailer_201512
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201512
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/digitaldecorator_2015fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201510
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201509
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201508
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/teamspirit_2015fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/20150607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/digitaldecorator_2015summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/sportsfanretailer_201506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201504
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201503
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/teamspirit_2015spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201502
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201501
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/sportsfanretailer_201412
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201412
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201410
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/sportsfanretailer_2014fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201409
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201408
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/teamspirit_2014fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/digitaldecorator_2014summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/20140607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/sportsfanretailer_2014spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201404
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201403
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/teamspirit_2014spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/impressions/201402
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201401
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_sportsfanretailer_201312
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201312
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_20131011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201309
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201308
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_teamspirit_2013fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_20130607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201303
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_teamspirit_2013spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201302
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201301
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201212
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_20121011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_teamspirit_2012fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_20120809
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_20120607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201204
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201203
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_teamspirit_2012spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201202
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201201
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_20111011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_20110809
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_teamspirit_2011fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_20110607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201104
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201103
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_teamspirit_2011spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201101
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_sourcebook2010
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_20101112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_20100910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_teamspirit_2010fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_20100708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201004
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_teamspirit_2010winter
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201003
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201002
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_200909
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_eco_2009fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_teamspirit_2009fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_200910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_20091112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_sourcebook_200906
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/impressions_201001
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