TheMagicTouch Release paper is used as protection for a print that has already been applied to the textile if the textile needs to be pressed again. It is also used for napersen of polyester clothing, to obtain better adhesion and washability of the transfer print. Cotton can be better napressed with TheMagicTouch T.Seal.

TheMagicTouch T.Seal is specially made for napressen a transfer print. It pushes the transfer print deeper into the fabric. Because the transfer is deeper in the fabric, you get a better washing result. You cannot use T.Seal for napressing polyester fabrics because of the pigments in the fabric. In that case, you use TheMagicTouch Release Paper.

Yes, for the TheMagicTouch transfer materials and SPF stickers below, this is possible. With all cutting plotters and associated cutting software sold by us, you can use the media below with the Print & Cut process.

TheMagicTouch transfer paper that can be printed with Print & Cut can be cut freestanding:

• TheMagicTouch OBM 5.4
• TheMagicTouch DCT 4.5C and 4.5W
• TheMagicTouch SPF stickers

That’s a good question. That’s why we have a special article about it in our support pages: Compatibility. Here you can find more information about printer compatibility.

Not all transfer presses are suitable for all transfer paper applications. This has to do with the maximum pressure and the distribution of the pressure. To check whether a transfer press is suitable for processing all transfer paper applications, you can fill in the support form. Add a photo of the transfer press and you will receive a compatibility report from us as soon as possible.

TheMagicTouch CPM 6.2 can be used to create beautiful signs by transferring prints onto perspex or magnetic foil and the like. The UV resistance of the toner image is not too bad compared to standard inkjet ink which can fade within a few weeks. Toner takes much longer to show the effect of UV.

However, months rather than weeks can still be too short for outdoor use, so TheMagicTouch has a solution to improve durability even further, up to several years depending on the amount of direct sunlight: TheMagicTouch Coverseal. This special foil can be used to laminate the sign using only the transfer press. No additional laminating equipment is required! TheMagicTouch CoverSeal improves scratch resistance in addition to UV resistance.

If the transfer has been processed properly, the general washing instructions for most printed garments also apply here: Maximum 40°C, do not tumble dry, low spin speed, do not bleach. It is also advisable not to use fabric softener with printed textiles.

If these instructions are followed, the customer can enjoy the printed garment for a long time. It is especially important to give the end user clear instructions about washing. This prevents accidents and disappointment for the customer, because they know how to handle the garment when washing.

It really depends on the surface, or the product and the chosen transfer. For applications with TheMagicTouch CPM 6.2 transfer paper, where only the toner image is transferred, no transfer layer, freestanding image, it is very dependent on the surface of the product. You could say that a satin surface offers even better scratch resistance than hard and exceptionally smooth surfaces. In many cases, the scratch resistance can be further improved by adding a special coating with TheMagicTouch Coverseal, which also improves the UV resistance.

There are very few surfaces that cannot be printed on with TheMagicTouch transfer paper. You could say that the product needs to be flat, smooth and heat resistant to withstand the temperature and pressure of the pressing process. Thanks to some very clever solutions from TheMagicTouch, in the form of special application tools, you can print on many products that you would not think could be placed under a transfer press, such as perspex, glass and magnetic foil to name a few. And on top of that we have the decal transfer paper TheMagicTouch DCT 4.5 which allows you to transfer images onto candles, glass, model building projects and more.

What remains are products that are too flexible, not flat enough or have a very coarse and rough surface, such as untreated wood or PVC plastics. Due to the high standing fibers, Fleece is one of the few fabrics that is difficult to print on with transfer paper because the press plate remains very clearly visible after printing.

This has to do with the paper feed. For these transfer papers it is important that they are always fed in the direction of the arrows. If you do not do this, the risk of the paper getting stuck in the printer increases. The reason why some TheMagicTouch transfer paper types have the arrows and others do not has to do with the grain direction of the paper. For the transfer papers that do have these arrows, we have two types of A4 available. So which one do you need?

If you have an A4 printer, choose the A4R version.

If you have an A3 printer and want to use A4 paper, order A4. (Without the R) This way you will receive the version with the arrows in the correct direction for your printer.

Because it’s much more versatile! With sublimation you can basically print on one material: Polyester. That’s why you can always use the same sublimation paper. With toner transfer paper you can print on many other materials and products that don’t require a special polyester layer. Thanks to the different types of TheMagicTouch transfer paper, there are many applications, products and materials that can be personalized.

Absolutely. We have two very useful specialty media that can be used to enhance a printed product. Firstly there is TheMagicTouch GlossFinish which as the name suggests gives a gloss finish to a toner image printed onto a product. It is most commonly used for prints transferred onto cardstock or mugs using TheMagicTouch CPM 6.2. Then there is TheMagicTouch Coverseal which is a very useful laminating film that can be applied using a heat press [TERM]. The printed product, such as signage or stickers, is easy to embellish with Coverseal, which protects the toner image from UV and scratches. Excellent for outdoor use.

For TheMagicTouch transfer paper you will always need: a color laser printer or a color LED printer.

Every week new printers are introduced and updates are made to existing printers. This makes it difficult to determine whether a printer or copier is suitable for printing on transfer paper. Fortunately, we have a lot of worldwide experience, so in most cases we can inform you whether the printer of your choice is suitable for use with our transfer paper. Do you want to know whether your printer is suitable? Then look here in this support article.

The most optimally suited printers are the ones that TheMagicTouch sells. These have been tested on various criteria:

• The paper feed of the transfer paper
• The scratch resistance of the toner
• The washing result of the toner
• The warranty on the printer

In addition, the printers we sell are all compatible with our own exclusive TheMagicTouch Software, which includes all settings for each type of transfer paper and means you don’t have to think about anything.

There are different types of transfer paper on this, and each transfer paper has its own processing.

One-step transfer papers can be pressed

• For T-shirts in less than 10 seconds.
• For blank products between 2-60 seconds.
• Two-step transfer paper is only used for textiles and is ready in 2 to 3 minutes.

For an exact specification of the required transfer press setting, you can look at the transfer paper product page or at this overview on our support pages.

If you have a color laser or LED printer with a manual paper feed, this is always the best way to start printing.

If your printer does not have a manual paper feed, use the cassette and print the transfer paper one sheet at a time. If multiple prints are required, fan the transfer paper well before putting it in the printer to reduce the risk of it sticking together. Please note that it is always best to print one sheet at a time, as transfer paper is always more likely to stick together when stacked from the manual feed than regular paper.

Yes, it is possible to store transfer paper, even printed ones. We recommend storing the transfer paper in a sealable bag. The following environmental factors are important:

• The transfers must be in a closed package, in a sealed bag.
• Dry room with normal humidity.
• Constant room temperature.

We cannot guarantee the maximum storage time, but we can say that if the above criteria are observed, transfer paper can be stored for at least a year.

No, certainly not. Especially when you compare this to other printing techniques, transfer paper is still a printing technique with one of the highest margins!

To give an impression of what a transfer print costs:

• A one step transfer paper print on white textiles is possible from less than € 0.50 per print.
• A two step transfer for dark textiles with a completely free-standing print is possible from € 1.65 per transfer.

(Prices are exclusive of VAT)

No, definitely not. Every transfer press is different. This is reflected in differences in heat distribution, recovery time and especially in pressure distribution. TheMagicTouch has a range of different transfer presses that meet the highest requirements. Click here for an overview.

That’s a tricky question because it really depends on how it was washed, with which transfer and how long the ‘washing’ lasted.

Transfer paper is printed with the dry toner of a laser printer or LED printer, and it is necessary that the transfer paper is pressed onto the fabric with very high pressure to transfer all the dry toner and release it from the paper.

Pressure and repressing is therefore a key factor:

With too low a pressure, the transfer paper is less resistant to washing.

It is important to communicate the washing instructions well to the end user to avoid disappointment:

Maximum 40°C, do not tumble dry, low spin speed, do not bleach. Furthermore, it is recommended not to use fabric softener on printed textiles.

TheMagicTouch transfer paper is not compatible with inkjet printers. The coating on our transfer papers is specially made for dry toner and will not work in combination with liquid ink.

Toner-based has more advantages:

• Higher washability
• More versatile
• No special ink required.

MagiCut 123Flex

• Has a slightly adhesive backing.
• Super-fast processing Hot Peel
• Choice of low and high pressing temperature
• Less suitable for very small, detailed designs

MagiCut 123 Premium

• Has a (strongly) adhesive backing.
• Fast processing Cold Peel
• Choice of low and high pressing temperature
• Also suitable for very small, detailed designs

MagiCut 123 Premium Ultra

• Has a strong adhesive backing, even stickier than MagiCut 123Premium.
• Super-fast processing Hot Peel
• Choice of low and high pressing temperature
• Also suitable for very small, detailed designs

Flock foil consists of a felt-like structure and feels thicker than flex foil. The appearance on the garment is therefore very different, but the general processing is very similar to flex foil. The only difference is the cutting settings and transfer-press-settings for the application.

Bleeding is a phenomenon that can occur when printing colored polyester textiles.

Colored polyester clothing is colored during manufacturing using a sublimation process. This means that the color pigments become gaseous when heated and penetrate deep into the fibers of the polyester. As a result, polyester also has a beautiful color and usually retains its color better than cotton, for example. However, this method of coloring has one major disadvantage when printing.

By reheating the polyester cloth with a transfer press, the color pigments can become active again. The active pigments can be absorbed into the flex foil or transfer paper and eventually appear on the surface of the print, resulting in discoloration. In most cases, the discoloration is not visible immediately after printing, but only becomes visible after some time. This varies from a few days to even a few weeks.

Washing the textile has no effect on this! It does not stop it, but it does not cause it either.

Fortunately, the solutions are simple. Use a Flex foil that can be processed at a low temperature and then you have already eliminated most of the risk of bleeding. This is possible with:

• MagiCut 123Flex
• MagiCut 123Premium
• Poli-Flex Turbo

For extra protection you can choose:

• MagiCut 123Premium Block Out
• Poli-Flex BlockOut Soft

This is advisable for thicker polyester fabrics such as Softshell.

Read the article het phenomeem doorbloeden to find out everything.

A cutting mat is not necessary for cutting flex or flock foil. A cutting mat is intended for media that is not on a carrier. Since flex foil is always on a carrier, the use of a cutting mat is not necessary. However, in some cases the cutting mat is used to cut small(er) pieces of flex foil and to prevent the flex foil from becoming crooked during cutting by the cutting plotter.

The shiny side is the carrier. This is a transparent film and you can see the actual color of the flex foil through it. The matte side is the Hotmelt and this is the side you need to cut and place facing up in the cutting plotter.

Yes, for printing with flex foils we recommend a transfer press. With an iron you are not able to apply the pressure that is needed for a good end result and good washability.

This is because the pressure and temperature are too low and too irregular when an iron is used.

With multi-coloured, also called multi colour, we mean flex foil colours that you can print on top of each other. With multi colour you use multiple colours in the design. Check the details on the product page of the flex foil of your choice whether it is suitable for multi-coloured processing.

After cutting and peeling a design from self-adhesive vinyl, you need application tape to be able to stick the design on in one go. RTape with compliant RLA is a paper application tape. Compliant with RLA means that the adhesive layer is a “Release Liner Adhesion” adhesive layer, especially for transferring vinyl and suitable for rolling up a roll of vinyl on which it has already been applied and taking it to the location where the lettering is to be applied.

A paper application tape is suitable for so-called wet application. With wet application, the surface where the lettering is to be applied is first sprayed with water with one drop of soapy water. When applying the sticker, it can then be moved on the moisture on the layer of water that is between it. If the sticker with the application tape paper is then in the right place, the moisture must be very carefully raked from behind the sticker. By using application tape on a paper basis, the moisture can be drained away more quickly.

After cutting and peeling a design from self-adhesive vinyl, you will need application tape to stick the design on in one go. For smaller stickers and lettering, RTape Clear Choice application tape is the most convenient solution. Because it is a sturdy, semi-transparent transfer layer, you can easily apply the lettering using the “dry method”. This means that you temporarily attach the lettering with application tape in the right place in the middle of the lettering with masking tape. Then you first remove the carrier from one half and stick the lettering to that half. You can then remove the painters tape and remove the carrier from the other half and finally touch up the lettering. The advantage of this method is that you do not have to remove water behind the lettering as is the case with wet applique.

If the blade of the cutting plotter is set too deep, it will also cut through the silicone coating on the carrier. The adhesive of the foil can then sink through this cut and stick to the carrier, which makes peeling difficult.

So always make sure that the blade does not cut deeper than necessary to cut the vinyl.

For the squeegee, special sheets of self-adhesive flock are available. By sticking this on the squeegee, a softer surface is created, allowing good pressure to be applied to the squeegee without scratching the foil.

The Hexis Cast Skintac HX20000 vinyl foil has a Hex’press adhesive layer. This is a special adhesive for self-adhesive vinyl developed by Hexis, which makes it possible to stick a lettering, remove it and stick it again, for easier applique of the design. The foil will only adhere permanently if the design is properly squeegeed, because the squeegeeing activates the adhesive. The foil will therefore adhere perfectly after the design has been properly squeegeed. If necessary, you can heat the foil slightly.

Of course, this depends on the place where it is applied, the surface and whether the design is applied properly with the applique and secured with a squeegee. As a good indication, our website states with the various vinyl products how long they will last at most when processed properly.

One or both of the cutter’s pinch rollers are not in the correct position. They should be under the blue lines. Pull down the lever on the back of the cutter, move the pinch rollers and reload the media.

In alle drie de gevallen meet de snijplotter de afstand tussen de aandrukrollers. Bij ROLL 1 zet de snijplotter vervolgens de flexfolie of andere media naar het beginpunt, bij ROLL 2 laat de snijplotter de media zoals de gebruiker die erin heeft gedaan en bij sheet meet de snijplotter ook de lengte van de media.

The blade is usually blunt and needs to be replaced. When adjusting the blade, the cutting depth is often set too high. As a result, the blade cuts too deeply into the foil, causing the bends in particular to twist and become inaccurate. It is also possible that the snijstrip is too damaged. This is attached with self-adhesive tape and can easily be pulled off the snijplotter. A new one (available from TheMagicTouch) can easily be stuck back on.

Usually the blade is not properly seated in the cutting plotter. When fitting the blade in the Silhouette Cameo cutting plotter you need to pay attention to 2 important points:

1. Make sure the blade is pushed far enough into the cutting plotter.
2. Make sure the blade lock is pressed in properly.

This is the tab that must be pulled towards you to unlock the blade and pushed in to lock the blade.

Certainly, and this can also be very useful because small particles or dust can get into the blade that can hinder the operation of the cutting plotter when cutting. How to best maintain the blade can be seen in this video.

Use the cutting settings as a starting point. In the Silhouette Cameo software, set the blade, pressure force and speed to the values ​​from the overview.

• Then use the test function of the cutting plotter or cutting software
• Check whether the square can be peeled away without the triangle being removed.
• If the cut is clear, but not in the carrier, making peeling difficult: Increase the pressure force by approx. +3 and try again.
• If the square can be removed easily and the triangle remains, remove the triangle and see how deep the plotter has cut into the underlying carrier.
• Roll the foil through your fingers. If it “snaps” easily on the cut in the carrier, the plotter is cutting too deeply: Reduce the pressure force by approx. -2, and try again.
• This should make it easy to find the perfect setting. This saves a lot of peeling time and frustration.

Comments:

If the cutting plotter does not cut with media such as flex foil even on blade position 2, there is no point in setting the blade any higher. Check if the blade is properly in the holder.

You can test the functioning of the blade mechanism to see if the cutting plotter can execute the setting correctly.

You can do this as follows:

• Put flex foil or other cutting media in the plotter.
• In the Silhouette Studio software, select the setting: Blade setting to 2 and pressure force to 1.
• Click on TEST. (So not on steering wheel)
• If you remove the blade from the plotter after plotting the test, you should be able to see where it is on the blade window.
• Is it also on 2? If so, the blade is working properly.

Note: Setting the pressure to 1 did not cut anything, this is just to test the mechanics of the blade.

If the snijstrip is worn and has grooves in it at some points, this can make the cutting result irregular because the foil is pushed into such a groove by the blade instead of the blade cutting into the foil. The cutting strip is available separately and can be replaced by yourself.

When the flex film or other media is loaded, briefly place the lever of the right pressure roller in the open position, while the left pressure roller remains on the media. Then pull the film lightly in the direction of the right pressure roller, which is now “floating” above the film. While pulling lightly with the lever, lower the roller back onto the film. In this way, you immediately remove any space in the flex film between the pressure rollers and this increases accuracy.

We beschouwen 6 bar / 80 tot 100 psi als hoge druk. Bij een handmatige pers is de druk niet in een waarde afleesbaar, wat het instellen nog wel eens lastig maakt.

Meer informatie over het installeren en afstellen van een transferpers is te vinden op deze support pagina: Aan de slag met transferpersen.

Many transfer applications are smaller in size. Such as logos on chest pockets, sleeves, children’s garments or bags. With a smaller underplate you can isolate the printing area and not have to place the entire garment between the press. This is especially useful if there are also items on the garment that you do not want between the heat press, such as buttons or zippers. With a smaller underplate you can transfer the design without having to worry about the buttons next to it.

No, you don’t have to. In fact, in many applications they are counterproductive instead of adding value.

What do we mean by that? Teflon is very useful when using sublimation. It protects the rubber mat of the underplate and the heat plate from pigment contamination. Teflon also acts as a heat deflector, which is not a problem for sublimation. For applications with a shorter press time, the transfer process can be frustrating and a piece of TheMagicTouch Release paper is much better.

So to summarize: Only use Teflon for sublimation, not for other transfer applications.

Do you already have a heat press and want to know if your heat press is compatible with our products? Fill in the support form, indicate which press you want to use and you will receive a compatibility report from us as soon as possible.

Although all transfer presses work on a normal 230/110 volt socket, there are a few things you should pay attention to.

1. Due to the relatively high current consumption, it is a good idea to reserve an electrical group for your transfer press(es) to prevent the circuit breaker in the meter cupboard from switching off the power due to excessive load.

2. Make sure you always use a socket with earthing. This provides more safety in the event of an unwanted short circuit in the transfer press.

3. Preferably do not use an extension cord. Extension cords or their connectors may not be suitable for the high currents of a transfer press and can overheat. If you really need to extend your power source to reach your heat press, make sure you use a cord and outlets that are rated for higher wattage currents. A good extension cord should have a maximum wattage rating, and your heat press should also have a maximum wattage rating. Always make sure that the maximum wattage rating of your extension cord is less than the combined wattage rating of the equipment you are plugging into it.

To see the major differences, please refer to the transfer presses category for more information on the different types of transfer presses available.

A transfer press doesn’t require a lot of maintenance. That said, the little it does require is important to keep everything running smoothly. Basically, it comes down to keeping it clean and lubricating the moving parts from time to time. Always use a heat-resistant grease gun for this, as the heat from the press can harden normal grease, rendering it unusable. A temperature check or calibration can also be a good idea.

When purchasing TheMagicTouch software, you will automatically receive the license by email. This license is required to connect the software to the printer.

The software can be purchased together with a printer, if a compatible printer is already available.

In case the software is purchased for an existing printer, we need the serial number of the printer in question to create a license. In order for the software to work, it is important that the serial number is exactly correct. The easiest way to get the serial number is to print a configure page.

That’s a good question. That’s why we have the support page compatibility where you can find more information about printer compatibility. You can also request here whether your printer is suitable for transfer paper.

These are abbreviations. They stand for Long Edge Feeding and Short Edge Feeding. This is to indicate how a sheet of paper is fed into the printer. If the paper, for example an A4 in an A3 printer, is fed with the short edge entering the printer first, this is called SEF (Short Edge First). The paper feed direction can be very important with some transfer paper types such as TheMagicTouch TTC 3.1. In that case, this is always indicated with arrows on the back of the transfer. The arrows then show whether the transfer paper should be fed SEF or LEF.

No, that is not necessary. This is often necessary with inkjet printers such as sublimation printers to prevent the print head from drying out. Color laser/LED printers do not have a print head and do not use ink, but toner. There is no part that can dry out, so the printer can be switched off after use. This also means that no ink or toner is used while the printer is not in use.

In a color laser/LED printer, the image is created by toner particles that are applied to the paper by an electrostatic process. In order to bond the image to the paper, the toner particles must be heated under pressure. This is what happens in the fuser unit. Two hot rollers that press against each other melt the toner onto the paper. Or rather: it melts the toner onto the paper, hence the name: Fuser.

The toner cartridge contains the actual colored toner, the image drum, also called imaging drum or drum unit, uses the toner from the toner cartridge to create the image with electrostatic charges. So an image drum makes the image, the toner cartridge contains the supply of toner with which the image is made.

We would strongly advise against this.

Not only because we only sell originals, but also because there are good reasons for this.

Let us explain:

One way to produce toner more cheaply is to use less anti-caking material in the toner. This saves costs for the manufacturer, but it also makes the toner stick together a lot more easily. Sooner or later this will cause serious imaging problems, such as streaks or smears, because the toner sticks and causes blockages in the image drum.

In addition, we often find that third-party toner brands cause problems with image transfer. So even if the image quality is (still) good, problems can arise when transferring the image to the product with the transfer press.

To solve the problems that can arise with aftermarket toners and drums, not only the toners themselves need to be replaced, but also the drums that contain the toner. This obviously costs much more than the original saving and makes the use of cheaper third-party toners a typical example of cheap is expensive.

Of course, this is not a problem. TheMagicTouch software comes with all the settings for plain paper that are also found in the normal printer driver of the printer.

One of the advantages of using the toner of LED printers together with TheMagicTouch Software is that you can still use them for regular printing tasks on plain paper with all the advantages that a color laser or LED printer offers you, such as low cost per print, fast print times and razor sharp images and text.

A configuration page, also called a menu map, can be printed from a color laser or color LED printer. It provides you with all the information about the printer that you may need. Levels of all consumables (e.g. how much toner is left), but also on all settings.

In addition, the configuration page shows the serial number that you need for the TheMagicTouch software.

On most printers, you can print the configuration page as follows:

• Press MENU
• Select PRINT INFORMATION
• Press ENTER
• Select CONFIGURATION
• Press ENTER
• Select RUN
• Press ENTER

The configuration page consists of one to three pages, depending on the type of printer.

No, there is no Mac OS version of TheMagicTouch software. Unfortunately developing a Mac version would be too expensive and would make the software too expensive. However, all design work can still be done on a Mac, as long as the final image is printed from a Windows PC and TheMagicTouch software. Most Mac users therefore have a small, basic PC dedicated to TheMagicTouch Software and do all design work on their trusty Macs.

Unfortunately, it is not possible to simply replace the black toner with a white one in a CMYK printer to make it a white toner printer.

It is not that simple. The printer not only needs white toner, but also needs to know where to print white. Theoretically, if you could put a white toner in instead of the black toner, the printer would simply print white where it used to print black, which is not what you want. In reality, the printer will recognize the white toner as a “wrong” cartridge and will give an error message that prevents you from making the mistake of putting a white toner in a CMYK printer.

When it comes to printing, there are two types of black: composite black and solid black. The CMY+W printer can no longer print pure black (only black toner), but it can still print composite black. This is black that is made by adding cyan, magenta, and yellow together in equal amounts. Strictly speaking, this should be less black than pure black, but in a full-color image this is not or hardly visible. In a pure black image, you may see that the image is slightly brownish on a CMYW printer compared to a CMYK printer.

TheMagicTouch Software is a print utility software. This means that the software creates a print file from the opened image that is optimized for the specific printer and print job.

TheMagicTouch software ensures that the file has all the correct color profiles and printer settings for TheMagicTouch transfer paper. This makes life a lot easier for the end user. They only have to load their image, choose the transfer paper to print on and click “Print”. TheMagicTouch Software takes care of the rest:

The correct color profiles for the correct amount of (white) toner in the correct place.

Correct printer settings for the correct fixation by the fuser unit [TERM].

Mirrored printing, if necessary.

All CMYK printers on TheMagicTouch website can be controlled with the optional TheMagicTouch software Basic and for the CMY+W [TERM] printers this is even a must to make optimal use of all possibilities with transfer paper and the white toner. TheMagicTouch software makes printing transfer paper a lot easier anyway and prevents mistakes.

The CMY+W configuration requires special adjustments to the electronics and software that are expensive to implement. Also, far fewer of this specialist printer are produced than the CMYK printers that are also used in offices for regular printing work. This makes the more manual production more expensive than the automated production of the CMYK printers.

However, because a white toner printer offers many more possibilities with TheMagicTouch transfer paper, there are many more ways to achieve an exceptionally good return on your investment with this type of printer.

An image created with a CMYK printer is transparent. When printing on normal paper, this is not a problem, because the whiteness of the paper ensures that we see the colours of the print, including the white areas in the design where we actually only see the white of the paper.

If we now want to transfer that image to a surface that is not white, for example a black mug, there would be no white behind the image and the colours would hardly be visible on the black surface.

This is where white toner comes in. With white toner printed under the image, we can ensure that there is enough white in the right places to see all the colours and white areas of the design, regardless of the colour of the substrate of the product it is applied to. This allows for unique applications that ensure a quick and easy return on investment.

An inkjet printer produces prints by spraying small droplets of ink onto a page in a specific pattern. Many inkjet printers have the CMYK basic colors black, cyan, magenta, and yellow, but there are also inkjet printers that can hold up to 9 different cartridges. This allows such an inkjet printer to produce prints with a wider color range, especially noticeable when printing photos.

However, inkjet is not suitable for transfer paper because the price per print is too high and the ink is water-soluble, which is very bad for transferring to clothing and the ink cannot adhere to other surfaces like toner can with the right transfer paper.

A laser or LED printer does not use ink, but toner to make a print. The toner is applied to the paper via static electricity and then melted. Although it is not as good at printing photo images, it produces sharper text and logos than inkjet. Laser printers are often fast and efficient. And importantly, toner gives much more possibilities to transfer the printed image to a product with TheMagicTouch transfer paper compared to ink.

The transfer belt is important in a printer for two main functions: it transports the paper through the printer like a conveyor belt, but it also charges the paper so that the toner image is transferred from the image drums to the paper. The transfer belt ultimately carries the paper to the fuser unit where the toner is fused.

Yes, to keep the transfer press clean and to prevent pigment residues from the last print(s) from being transferred to the next product. One teflon sheet on top and one teflon sheet underneath your blank product. The teflon sheets block the pigments and prevent them from settling on the press plate or the underplate where they shouldn’t be.

Not directly. The sublimation process only works on a white surface and it must be polyester. However, you can sublimate onto a polyester intermediate carrier such as sublimation flex or sublimation flock. After printing, these intermediate carriers can be cut by hand or a Print & Cut system and then transferred onto most types of colored garments such as cotton, blends and many others.

This is a completely normal phenomenon. Sublimation pigments only become visible when they are activated by the heat of a heat press. Before they are sublimated, they are much lighter in color. When the heat allows the pigments to penetrate the polyester fibers, the vibrant color you see on the final product is created.

Not directly. The pigments used in sublimation always require a white background to display the optimum colours on the product. However, many products come with a white surface or a separate metal or heat-resistant plastic sheet in white with a polyester coating that can be used to transfer the design onto. After transferring the design to that sheet, it can be applied to the product using double-sided tape.

Yes. Due to the fact that Sublimation ink is quite different in composition than normal inkjet ink, it needs a print head that can handle this and works without heat to avoid clogging. Also, special color management is needed to get the right colors on the product, since the print on paper is not the final result and changes significantly during the transfer press process on the polyester. The best printer choice for sublimation is a printer that combines these properties best: The print head, the ink itself and the color management must be perfectly balanced to get the best results.

Blur, also called ghosting, is caused by movement of the transfer on the surface of the product during the transfer process, for example when closing and opening the press.

This can easily be prevented with heat-resistant tape. This special tape does not melt when pressing at high temperatures and does not leave stains from the tape glue when removed.
Another reason for blur along the edges of a print can be BlowOuts. This can be prevented with a BlowOut Sheet. The BlowOut sheet, also called a degassing cloth, prevents these blurs.

With the right printer, this will help prevent the print head from clogging. In sleep mode, a small amount of ink is occasionally squirted through the head to keep the nozzles clear. While this uses a small amount of ink, the amount of ink lost to clear a clogged print head with Head cleanings is much greater, so in the end this solution saves more ink than it costs.

Due to EU legislation, new Sawgrass sublimation printers are set by default to automatically power off after a certain period of inactivity. This is undesirable for sublimation printers, as it significantly increases the risk of clogged print heads.

Why powering off is not recommended

1. Clogged print heads: Sublimation ink dries quickly. Frequent complete power down of the printer increases the risk of the ink drying in the print heads, leading to clogs.
2. Sleep mode is optimal: If the printer is left on, it automatically switches to an energy-efficient sleep mode. In this mode, the printer uses minimal power.
3. Automatic cleaning in sleep mode: In sleep mode, the printer periodically performs an automatic cleaning cycle. This sprays a small amount of ink through the print head to prevent the nozzles from becoming clogged.
4. Preventing intensive cleaning: Although the automatic cleaning in sleep mode does consume some ink, this is significantly less than the amount of ink required for intensive cleaning cycles to repair clogged print heads.

If you still want to turn off your sublimation printer, here’s how

Follow these steps to disable automatic shutdown of your Sawgrass printer:

1. Open the Menu on the printer control panel.
2. Navigate to System Settings.
3. Select Admin Tools.
4. Choose Main power off network disc.
5. Select Off.

Result

The printer will now no longer turn off completely, but will enters a power-saving sleep mode after approximately 10 minutes of inactivity.

For more information, see the Sawgrass Help Center

The inks of a Direct To Film printer are specially designed to be part of a balanced system. In addition to the CMYK colors, white must be printed while the inks are still wet without mixing or smearing. Furthermore, they must react well to the sizing powder that must adhere to the ink immediately after printing.

The costs of a DTF transfer depend on various factors such as the chosen printer, the film, the roll width and the file. An indication is an example of an A3 with 20 chest logos of approximately € 1.40. One logo then costs approximately € 0.07. Please note, this is an average example, the actual costs may deviate from this.

The washability of a textile transfer made with the Direct To Film process is excellent. Various washing tests with common settings (40°C, no dryer, no fabric softener) show more than 50 washes without fading or breakage. The print feels soft, is very stretchy and is comparable to digital screen print transfers.

The washability can be further increased by post-pressing with TheMagicTouch T.Seal. This is a special sheet for napersen which ensures that the print is pressed deep into the fibers of the fabric.

Yes, absolutely. The DTF film is an essential part of the whole Direct To Film process and the quality and consistency of the film is important for good, consistent results. There are several grades of TheMagicTouch DTF film available with excellent anti-static properties, minimal heat distortion and great release after pressing.

The DTF powder is a solvent-free polymer adhesive specially developed for the Direct To Film process. It ensures adhesion to textiles and high washability.

That is not necessary. The Direct To Film (DTF) print is completely free-standing down to the smallest detail and can be printed directly onto the textile after printing and applying the DTF powder, without having to plot or peel first.

Definitely! The quality of the print heads of DTF printers is very high and can also print photos as textile transfer in very good quality and bright colors.

Yes, Direct To Film prints have a high stretch for full colour prints on dark textiles.

Compared to, for example, transfer paper and a color laser/LED printer, yes.

It needs proper, daily attention when starting up and when shutting down after a production run. In addition, it is advisable to perform regular maintenance by a technician.

DTF printers work best when used daily. The longer it is not used, the greater the risk that it will take longer to start up again.

It is very well possible to store DTF transfers. After fixing the glue powder, the transfer is ready and can easily be stored or shipped. This can be done for at least 1 year. A DTF transfer does not damage easily and is very suitable for selling as a loose transfer to end users who process the transfer themselves with a transfer press.

It is advisable to store the transfer in airtight grip bags. This prevents the transfers from becoming a bit greasy, which can happen as a result of environmental influences if they are stored for a longer period of time.

The Roland Eco solvent machines are so-called Print + Cut devices. You can specify exactly where the Roland printer/plotter should cut. You do this in Adobe Illustrator, CorelDraw or SAi Flexi Designer by giving the line or lines you want to cut a specific color: The Cut contour color. Roland’s VersaWorks software recognizes this color in the file and then knows that the line should not be printed, but should be cut. This way you can determine exactly where the Roland cuts.

In principle not. The Roland print/plotters can print designs and then cut them themselves, without having to remove the media from the machine. Print + Cut in one machine. The Roland printers/plotters can also process media such as cutting foil, like a regular snijplotter.

Certainly not. The image quality of the Roland printer/plotters is so good that it can also be used as a photo printer. Moreover, the Print + Cut process can also be used to print photos and other images on Printbaar Flex and thus print textiles in beautiful image quality and high washability.

That’s not too bad, because in most cases CMYK ink is used and not CMY+W with white ink, which is much more maintenance-sensitive. It is important to do a manual cleaning at least once every 2 weeks and every week with intensive use. This is a simple way to clean the seal of the print head and the wiper (wiper for the print head). However, this is done in about 3 minutes. It is also recommended to have a Roland-certified technician perform maintenance once a year.

The ESL4 ECO-SOL Max2 inks are also available with a larger cartridge capacity of 440 ml, compared to the ESL3 ECO-SOL MAX inks, which are only available with a capacity of 220 ml. This makes the price per print cheaper. Please note that not all printers can use the larger cartridges due to the space required. Furthermore, it depends on the printer which ink cartridge you can best use:

• For the Roland BN-20: Roland ESL3 ECO-SOL MAX – 220ml cartridges
• For the Roland BN-20A: Roland ESL4 ECO-SOL MAX 2 – 440ml cartridges
• For the Roland BN2-20: Roland ESL4 ECO-SOL MAX 2 – 220ml cartridges
• For the Roland BN2-20A: Roland ESL4 ECO-SOL MAX 2 – 220ml cartridges

With MagiCut 2Print printable Flex, high-quality textile transfers can be made, which are often used for corporate and sports clothing due to their good washability.

We also have a large assortment of printable self-adhesive media, for making stickers and lettering in full color. Making Dome stickers is also possible with the Roland printer/plotters. Moreover, due to the high print quality, a Roland Eco solvent printer/plotter can also be used as a large format photo printer on Eco Solvent print paper. Printable wallpaper and canvas are also available for these printers/plotters, so there are plenty of opportunities to quickly earn back the investment.