Sublimation: Colors not matching between my on-screen image and final result
Sasthia
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contrariness Posted messages 338 Registration date Status Membre Last intervention -
contrariness Posted messages 338 Registration date Status Membre Last intervention -
Hello,
Four months ago, I bought myself a Sawgrass SG400 Poly printer.
I quickly noticed that there is an issue with the colors after printing. Indeed, the colors are not at all faithful to the image I have on the screen; they are very dark and dull. I understand that the chemical process can slightly alter the colors, but going from a part that is supposed to be green to a nasty gray-blue, or from a turquoise blue to an ultra-dark blue, I doubt that this is normal. I can't achieve the colors I see on the screen. I've compared it with my regular printer, and with this one, there’s no problem; the colors are accurate. I've cleaned the nozzles of the Sawgrass and printed test sheets, and everything is OK, but as soon as I print images of my designs, the result is no longer what I expected.
I couldn't find any topics on this type of problem on Google, and heaven knows I've searched in vain...
Is there a solution? Knowing that I don't know anything about computers.
Thank you.
Four months ago, I bought myself a Sawgrass SG400 Poly printer.
I quickly noticed that there is an issue with the colors after printing. Indeed, the colors are not at all faithful to the image I have on the screen; they are very dark and dull. I understand that the chemical process can slightly alter the colors, but going from a part that is supposed to be green to a nasty gray-blue, or from a turquoise blue to an ultra-dark blue, I doubt that this is normal. I can't achieve the colors I see on the screen. I've compared it with my regular printer, and with this one, there’s no problem; the colors are accurate. I've cleaned the nozzles of the Sawgrass and printed test sheets, and everything is OK, but as soon as I print images of my designs, the result is no longer what I expected.
I couldn't find any topics on this type of problem on Google, and heaven knows I've searched in vain...
Is there a solution? Knowing that I don't know anything about computers.
Thank you.
4 réponses
Do you use the special ink for sublimation intended for your machine? ...
If so, since there are 4 inks, it might be necessary to convert your document to CMYK instead of RGB, if that's the case ...
And be aware that the colors you see on the screen are not necessarily reproducible with just the 4 basic colors of printers ...
If so, since there are 4 inks, it might be necessary to convert your document to CMYK instead of RGB, if that's the case ...
And be aware that the colors you see on the screen are not necessarily reproducible with just the 4 basic colors of printers ...
Print a color test by printing each color independently (red, yellow, blue, black) in the form of large squares
At first glance, I would say that the yellow one isn't working...
At first glance, I would say that the yellow one isn't working...
But when I print the colors separately, it’s the same. None of the colors are really right. However, when I print the test sheets, everything is fine, the colors are beautiful. That's why it seems strange to me that it works great during the printer tests but not when I print my patterns. And I've checked, all my cartridges are emptying properly with each print. :-( I converted my RGB colors to indexed colors while disabling RGB but it’s the same. Again this morning, I have a sky blue background that’s coming out purple. (the yellow works too)
Sublimation inks are not conventional inks, especially if you're printing on transfer paper.
The print will appear dull and even pale.
A printer with sublimation inks is only intended for sublimation printing. It won't yield good results as a "normal" printer.
It is only at the time of sublimation that the result can be judged as correct or not.
What is the result after sublimation?
The print will appear dull and even pale.
A printer with sublimation inks is only intended for sublimation printing. It won't yield good results as a "normal" printer.
It is only at the time of sublimation that the result can be judged as correct or not.
What is the result after sublimation?
I feel like no one understands my problem, or maybe I'm expressing myself poorly?.. So I'll start again.
So, I print my sublimations with the Sawgrass on polyester sublimation paper. I know very well that the print on the sheet does not reflect the colors after going through the press, so I never rely on that. But when I take my textile out of the press, the colors remain super dark and dull... Nothing like the original image I created on the software, even though my colors are bright and clear on the computer. Furthermore, I have color issues where a background meant to be turquoise ends up dark blue or purple on the fabric. So in the end, I never achieve the desired result on my fabric; the colors do not match what I see on the screen. I also want to clarify that I print on 100% polyester textiles.
It's a shame that it's not possible to post images to better explain my problem.
I obviously do not use the Sawgrass as a regular printer! But, when I print the same images on my regular printer, the colors come out perfectly and match my image on the screen.
So, I print my sublimations with the Sawgrass on polyester sublimation paper. I know very well that the print on the sheet does not reflect the colors after going through the press, so I never rely on that. But when I take my textile out of the press, the colors remain super dark and dull... Nothing like the original image I created on the software, even though my colors are bright and clear on the computer. Furthermore, I have color issues where a background meant to be turquoise ends up dark blue or purple on the fabric. So in the end, I never achieve the desired result on my fabric; the colors do not match what I see on the screen. I also want to clarify that I print on 100% polyester textiles.
It's a shame that it's not possible to post images to better explain my problem.
I obviously do not use the Sawgrass as a regular printer! But, when I print the same images on my regular printer, the colors come out perfectly and match my image on the screen.
So here are the photos of the issue. It might be easier to understand the problem I'm encountering.
Here is the layout I will print on the Sawgrass with Sublijet (polyester)
And here is what it looks like after being pressed (noting that it's 100% polyester fabric)
So it goes from turquoise to purple :-/ and it’s like this for almost all colors. Even the black sometimes comes out greenish, pink turns orange, yellow turns greenish, orange is yellow... etc...
Here is the layout I will print on the Sawgrass with Sublijet (polyester)
And here is what it looks like after being pressed (noting that it's 100% polyester fabric)
So it goes from turquoise to purple :-/ and it’s like this for almost all colors. Even the black sometimes comes out greenish, pink turns orange, yellow turns greenish, orange is yellow... etc...
No mistakes, these are the inks from the Sawgrass brand supplied with the machine, and I haven't done a refill yet. Well, the paper is the one that was also provided to me when I purchased the machine from the seller ADC Concept. So logically, it should be suitable. It's the POLY120. I have a friend who uses the same paper and doesn't have this issue. I really hope it's not the machine because it's impossible to send it to ADC (I'm from Belgium) and I don't know any professionals in Belgium for this type of printer. That would really be bad luck, especially since I waited 4 years before taking the plunge to study the features and the costs of the materials inherent to this product. I'm going to buy another brand of paper to see. But as I said, when I print the test sheets (on the same transfer paper) the colors are perfect. It's just when I print my designs that it goes wrong.
Now I just have to cross my fingers, thank you for your response.
Now I just have to cross my fingers, thank you for your response.
Edit. I tested the printing via Sawgrass's online software and the colors seem to match better; I read somewhere that their software corrects colors. I think especially that when we download their software onto the printer, it must certainly change something in the printer's color values and that we have to go through their software to get the value corrections, is that possible?
However, their software is really not convenient as we are quite limited in the end... I would prefer not to have to go through that :-/ Well, in the meantime, I'll deal with it.
Thanks anyway because on Sawgrass's customer service side, the emails have gone unanswered :-/
However, their software is really not convenient as we are quite limited in the end... I would prefer not to have to go through that :-/ Well, in the meantime, I'll deal with it.
Thanks anyway because on Sawgrass's customer service side, the emails have gone unanswered :-/
I am indeed using the sublimation ink from the same brand as my printer, as recommended by the seller.
Where can I adjust this change for the color reading type, please? Does it correspond to "indexed colors"? The RGBA button is not active in my image software.
Regarding your last point, the problem is that no color matches what’s on the screen. One of my friends who has been practicing sublimation for several years doesn't have this problem at all, and even though she has looked into it a little, she also doesn’t understand this striking difference. Her prints are perfect, while using the same image, the colors are completely different for me. :-/ And that's the issue; even with the same image, we get two different results. For her, it matches the image on the screen, but not for me; the colors are extremely dark and even somewhat grayish. This is just not normal. What I also struggle to understand is that when I print the image with my regular printer, I don't have this muted color issue.
I have exactly the same problem and it's starting to annoy me, especially since I have an order and my blue and black won't work. I redid the printer settings and nothing works, while a friend of mine has the same one as me and hers is sublime.
Check the color profiles you apply when printing.
Sublimation is a particular technique, and the color rendering is affected by numerous parameters.
https://www.sawgrassink.com/Getting-Started/Ink-Differently-Blog/2016/June/Color-Management-Basics-Every-Product-Decorator-Sh?lang=fr-fr
Generally, once the process is defined, the provider refuses to do anything else... too much waste of time and money.