Trying out Dye Sublimation to Face Masks and Gaiter Neck Vaporware

[dgberg]

Well since the printmaking, mounting and framing business is dead.  I am going to give a shot at using my dye sub printer and presses for face masks and Gaiters.
Same process as printing and subbing to dye sub metal prints. Just different time , temps and pressure. I have my web gal looking into designing me a new page solely for these products.
As I am getting into the game late I am a little worried about ROI as you can spend a ton getting this ready for prime time and then only get it back at $5 or $10 a shot.
Will set some minimum quantities of face masks all with the same image to keep from selling one offs.

[mcpix]

The only thing I might add is that you may need a different profile for different substrates. When I sublimated both metal prints and other photo gifts, I would have one profile for the mousepads and puzzles and another for the metal prints.

[dgberg]

Good point. My masks are not in yet but I have some of the polyester gaiters. Of those that I tested the color after pressing looks pretty good.
We will see how the masks come out.
Yesterday I ordered the new Epson F570 CMYK 24" dye sub printer as a backup. DTG has made 2 profiles for that printer.
One for Chromaluxe and hard surface substrates and another for fabric.
The Epson driver has built in color management and most people print through the driver. Have been told the 2 icc profiles are much better. We will see.
Epson has done a turn around with this printer, they are making money on the printer $2495 and giving the ink out at a low price .12 a ml.
A full 560 ml inkset for $70. You get 2 compete full sets with the printer. Another deal, $130 for a second year of extended warranty.

[mcpix]

If you have the time, I would be interested in your review of the Epson F570. I got out of sublimation when my Epson 4880 quit working, but I still think about jumping back in.

[dgberg]

I expect it next week, will keep you informed. I started with a small 16x20 DK20s press and an Epson 4880 with SubliJet IQ inset. The output was great but the ink price just killed it for me. I think it was somewhere between $1.50 and $2.00 a ml.
I remember Sawgrass singing the praises of that ink and printer. How the ink was the cheapest part of the entire process, what a crock! When I started researching the 4880 replacement I swore I would not buy anything that was tied to Sawgrass.
Their ink patent has now run out and they finally have some competition.
Some years ago Sawgrass sold wide format ink usage rights to Jtech and Epson for several million each.
I read, not sure how accurate it was that Epson paid Sawgrass 2 million.
The going rate now in 2020 for Epson Dye Sub ink is around.12 per ml.
Jtech 11 per ml and Ink Owl Ultra .10 per ml. The sawgrass SG400,SG500 and the new SG800 and SG1000 inks are pushing $2.50 per ml.
That is 25 times what I pay for Dye sub ink in my P8000. Whatever Sawgrass is doing to all those people to get them to drink the juice I don't get it.
Anyway I am happy with my converted to dye sub P8000. Took awhile to get set up and profiled but the output is superb.
For comparison sake a P8000 is around $3195 plus $395 for 700 ml refillable and another $700 for 7000 ml of ink. Total $4290
A P6000 24" machine around $2100 plus the ink and carts total around $3195.
The Epson F570 a 24" CMYK printer is $2495 with 2 sets of ink (1120 ml) and 300 ft. of transfer paper included.
I have not personally seen the output from the F570 but still felt it was worth the buy. Want it more for workshop demonstrations and backup for my larger printer.
I am looking forward to running tests between the two printers and will report back when done.

[SigImage]

I would love to hear how the F570 color compares to your P8000 with the light inks. CMYK F570 vs CMYK,Lm,Lc,Lk,LLK P8000

I've wondered why the new Epson dye sub printers are only cmyk with no light inks. Sales Reps have told me that you just don't need the light inks for sublimation, but I've always wondered about photography and fine art on chromaluxe. It seems like the light inks would help, but who knows... Anyhow, looking forward to your review!

[dgberg]

Seems the CMYK inkset is more than adequate for apparel and most hard substrates, plus cheaper to build and sell.
Apparently photographers were not high on the list when this machine was designed.