28
Oct
Tired of your sublimation printer printing blanks? Learn why this happens and how to fix it in this detailed article!
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Sublimation printing is a fantastic way to create vibrant, long-lasting designs on different surfaces such as mugs, apparel, and more, but this method isn’t foolproof like any other technology. One of the most frustrating problems users often face is when their sublimation printer gets stuck while printing or stops working, leaving its print output not looking right. It does not necessarily matter if you are a newbie or experienced; it always helps to know how to fix those bugs and get back on the right track. In this article, we explain why your sublimation printer is not printing, along with some easy fixes you can do yourself.
One of the most common issues with sublimation printing is incorrect colors. Several factors could be at play if the printed colors don’t match your design. Let’s take a look at them:
The use of the wrong kind of ink or expired ink can cause color distortions. Sublimation printers use special ink, so inkjet ink will not produce the same quality. Another critical point is that printing quality depends on the expiration date of your ink and how it was stored until then.
Your choice of paper is as relevant as your ink. For good-quality sublimation, you will need a special sublimation paper. You may experience a dull or faded print because a sublimation printer on standard paper cannot adequately transfer the colors.
The colors will only print correctly if your printer settings are correct. Ensure that you configure your printer settings correctly for sublimation printing. This includes making sure to use the appropriate ICC color profiles and that your design software is set correctly.
Proper color management is critical for achieving accurate, vibrant prints with your sublimation printer. Here’s how to get it right:
ICC (International Color Consortium) profiles enable your printer to understand colors from a computer or design software. ICC profiles tell your computer/display/sublimation printer how they should display colors on the prints. Without this information, your prints will seem oversaturated or undersaturated and not like you envisioned them. Properly installing and using a printer or ink-specific profile for your hardware could give you much greater color consistency.
Sometimes, even though your printer and ink configurations are proper, the problem may lie with your monitor. Your monitor is not calibrated correctly if the colors you see on the screen are different from your print outputs. Employ calibration tools for your monitor & printer to ensure what you see on the screen gets printed precisely.
Ensure you’re printing at a high resolution, i.e., 300 DPI or higher for sublimation. Low-resolution printing might make the picture pixelated or blurry, so color-wise details & sharpness in overall image quality get worse.
However, even with the best color management in place, problems can still come up. Let’s take a look at some common color problems and how to fix them:
If the coloring appears as if it has been worn from washes, this is typically due to either not enough pressure or heat being applied during pressing. Set your heat press to the correct temperature (around 375-400°F) and apply firm pressure while transferring.
Blotch or uneven print is a prevalent indication of moisture entry inside the sublimation paper. Ensure the paper is dry before printing, and avoid working in wet environments. A pre-press step where you press the material for a few seconds before printing can also eliminate moisture.
It is called ghosting when the design slightly shifts during the process, causing a blurry or doubled image. This is usually due to a material or paper moving after applying heat. Prevent this by securing your paper to the material with heat-resistant tape, and make sure the heat press is held in place firmly.
Clogged printheads are among the most common causes of a sublimation printer not printing at all. The sublimation ink dries out in the nozzles, which happens especially if the printer has been unused for some time. Here’s how to fix this:
Most sublimation printers have cleaning features that you can run to clean out blocked nozzles. Refer to your printer’s manual on how to do a cleaning cycle. In case of persistent head clogging, you would have to perform a manual cleaning process even after one or two cleaning cycles.
You should manually clean the printhead if the automated cleaning cycle does not solve your problem. Remove the printhead from the printer, and use a lint-free cloth saturated with isopropyl alcohol to clean the nozzles. Be careful to note the manufacturer’s specifications to avoid damaging the printhead.
If your printer isn’t printing at all or the prints are entirely blank, you may need to explore additional troubleshooting steps.
Sometimes, it’s the simplest problems that most often go unnoticed. If your printer is not producing anything, the fault can be empty or just poorly installed ink cartridges. Replace or refill your ink cartridges and install them correctly, following the manufacturer’s guidelines.
Outdated firmware and drivers mean that your printer will not work efficiently. Better yet, start there: check the manufacturer’s website to look for the latest firmware and drivers for your printer model if you are facing any kind of misprinting or malfunctioning in your printing operation.
Confirm that your printer is connected to your computer through Wi-Fi or USB. Verify the connection; therefore, ensure that your printer is correctly connected to your computer and there are no issues with networks or cables that prevent communication among your devices.
Having a sublimation printer not printing perfectly can be pretty annoying, but understanding the causes and fixes can help you here. This can be anything from checking ink levels and ensuring you use the right paper to adjusting color settings — even cleaning your printhead. When you know how to troubleshoot your sublimation printer, you can drastically reduce the downtime, and high-quality prints will follow suit. But if you still face the problem after following all these steps, it is better to move on to professional help.
Good luck with your next sublimation project!
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