Ink smudged all over the print?
- Vian
- Aug 10, 2023
- 2 min read
Updated: Mar 11
Several factors contribute to this problem, and we've encountered them firsthand. We'd like to share our experiences and insights with you:
1- Printing on the wrong side of the film:
Specially the DTF PET film double side frosted, it's difficult to identify which side is the printing side, as both sides are frosted but one side is the right side to print on.
Troubleshooting
Etch a small area on each side of the film, ensuring that the side with residue is designated for printing.
If you've mistakenly printed on the incorrect side, attempt to gently wipe the print with a cloth or paper, then flip the film and proceed with printing. There's no necessity to discard the film.
2- The output tray wrong positioned:
The issue of the printhead hitting the design often occurs due to the output tray being improperly positioned. If the front of the tray has a protrusion that might raise the film, the printhead could make contact with it.
Troubleshooting
ensure the tray touches the printer without blocking the paper output and aligns seamlessly with the printer.
3- Short curing time for the ink:
Inadequate curing time can lead to improper ink curing leading to a blurry output design or distorted images.
Troubleshooting
Ensure adequate drying time for the ink before the powdering process. Experiment with elevating the temperature on the pre-heat plate of the printer until you achieve the optimal temperature for proper ink curing.
4- High saturation level.
Troubleshooting
Experiment with the balance of color and white ratios; it might be the primary contributing factor to the issue.
5- Dried ink
If there is dried ink on the printhead, capping station, flushing box, or the wiper blade, it can lead to the formation of gummy residues on the edges or within the head. This can result in clogging and printing issues.
Troubleshooting
Those components require regular maintenance.
To clean the capping station, flushing box, and the wiper blade, please refer to our blog link below;
We provide a selection of capping stations, dampers, and wiper blades tailored for Epson printheads utilized in DTF printing. For more details, please visit the link below: