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 Profiling and ink jet application is just the beginning of successful digital textile printing with our pigment inks. The process is complete only after successful transfer of the ink from paper to the fabric and successful curing of the ink on the fabric. These processes must be done on a heat press.
In the case of printing jobs longer than a legal-sized sheet of paper, a "continuous" press is required. This machine consists of a seamless belt surrounding a rotating drum that is precisely heated. And as with our ink, quality in the press makes a big difference in the quality of the print. First, every square inch of the drum must be heated to the exact same temperature (about 370 degrees F.) If heat is not even, striping or blotchiness may occur and curing may be uneven.  Continuous Press Next, use a press featuring a speed that easily matches your foreseeable print speed without overdoing it -- one that operates at about 0.8 - 1.0 ypm when pressing the fabric and paper against the heated surface for about 25 - 30 seconds is ideal. This can only be done by miniaturizing the diameter of the drum, which requires advanced manufacturing techniques. One manufacturer has miniaturized its drums to less than 8 inches diameter in order to meet this requirement of digital printing. Finally, check out the reliability of the press and its manufacturer by interviewing the oldest customers of the product. Would they buy the same press again? Some manufacturers have spotless reputations; others have unsatisfied customers stuck with inferior products. You are in the business of printing and selling art - not maintaining machinery. You should only need to turn the press on in the morning, print first quality work during the day, and turn the press off at night. We want you to be totally satisfied with our printing system. Buy the best equipment and you will be rewarded many times over. Call us or contact us here if you have questions about press selection.
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