Please read this entire Manual before attempting to Print.
Make sure to follow all warnings on the printer.•
Use the proper power source type indicated on the printer’s label.•
Connect all equipment to grounded outlets. Do not use the same outlet for •
any other system, such as a copy machine or an air conditioning unit that turns ON and OFF.
Place the printer where the power outlet is easily seen.•
Do not allow the power cord to be damaged.•
If you are using an extension cord, make sure the extension cord’s power •
ampere rate does not exceed that of the printer’s cord.
Keep electromagnetic devices and other potential sources of magnetic•
fi elds away from your printer.
Do not use the printer in locations that have high humidity, shocks,•
vibrations, debris or dust.
Leave enough space around the printer for proper ventilation.•
Do not leave the printer near heat sources such as radiators or heat vents.•
Do not leave the printer in direct sunlight.•
Place the printer on a stable surface that extends beyond the length•
and width of the printer supports. The printer will not work properly if it is tilted or leaning.
When packing and moving the printer, do not set the printer on its side or•
upside down. This may cause the ink to spill.
Turn the printer OFF before cleaning. Clean with a damp cloth and avoid•
spilling any liquid on the printer.
toto f folollolow w alall l wawarnrniningsgs o on n ththe e prprininteter.r
Caution:
Do not unplug the printer to turn it OFF. Use the power button instead. •
Do not unplug the printer until the Main Power Switch has been turned •
OFF.
Do not block any of the printer’s vents or insert foreign object into its•
slots.
Do not attempt to service the printer yourself beyond the troubleshooting•
techniques covered in this Manual.
Keep the machine on a level surface.•
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T-Jet3 PLUS User’s Manual
Safety Instructions for Ink Cartridges:
Always keep ink cartridges out of the reach of children.•
While handling ink, be careful not to spill it on your skin. If ink does get on•
your skin, wash thoroughly with soap and water. If ink gets in your eyes, fl ush them immediately with water.
Do not put your hand in the printer or touch the cartridges while printer is•
in operation.
Do not move the Print Head by hand- doing so may damage the•
printer.
Store ink cartridges in a cool dark place.•
Allow ink cartridges to warm to room temperature before using them after•
storage.
Do not dismantle the ink cartridge.•
Do not touch the IC chip on the ink cartridges. This will adversely effect •
normal printing operations.
If you remove the ink cartridges, make sure to place them in individual•
bags and keep them away from dust, dirt and debris.
Legend of Symbols
Throughout this Manual you will see three symbols used to notify you of
important facts or procedures.
This icon is used to denote important points that may affect the
proper operation of your machine or the viability of its output. Think
of this as more than just a helpful hint.
This icon indicates recommendations from XV based on
research and development or years of experience within the
Garment Decorating business. Following these helpful Hints, Tips or
Reminders will make printing with your Fast T-Jet more enjoyable.
Where you see this icon, you should take note of the warnings.
Failure to follow any of the listed procedures could result in severe
damage to your machine, large amounts of downtime and/or
costly repairs or the possibility of severe bodily injury or death.
Version 1.1 Revised July, 2008
viii
Page 5
Table of Contents
v
Basic Safety Instructions vii
Cautions vii
Safety Instructions for Ink Cartridges: vii
Legend of Symbols vii
eettyy IInnssttrruuccttiioonnssvviiii
Chapter 1 - Introduction 1
T-Jet3 PLUS Important Points 1
The Basics 1
Maintenance 2
Poor Artwork 2
Important Support Information 3
Support Hours 3
About the Garment Decorating Business and 3
Where to Learn More 3
The Book 4
Computer Graphics DVDs 4
Business and Marketing DVD’s 4
Internet 4
Trade Shows and Trade Magazines 5
Our Advice 5
Chapter 2 - Unpacking and Setup 7
Unpacking Your T-Jet3 PLUS 7
Main Box Contents 8
Box 2 8
Industrial Bulk Ink System Parts 8
Waste Bottle 9
Exhaust Fan 9
Lifting Your T-Jet3 PLUS Unit From the Box 9
Preparations 9
Remove Hold Down Clamps 9
Install the Maximum Height Bar 10
Check the Adjustable Shirtboard Height 10
Removing the Packing Tape 11
Environmental Controls and Humidity 11
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T-Jet3 PLUS User’s Manual
Plug Unit into AC Power 12
Connecting Your T-Jet3 PLUS to a Computer 13
Installing the Bulk Ink System 14
Mounting the Adjustable Ink Shelf 14
Waste Bottle Installation with Shelf Bracket 14
Filling the Ink Bottles 15
Changing Ink Brands 16
Installing the Bulk Ink Cartridges 16
Connecting Ink Lines to the Ink Bottles 18
Resetting the Bulk Ink Cartridges 19
Load and Eject Positions 20
Graphics and RIP Software 21
Chapter 3- Software Overview 21
FastARTIST and FastRIP 22
FastRIP 22
Using Computer Graphics Software 23
Image Types 24
Vector 24
Pixel Based Bitmap 24
Summary 24
Editing Bitmap Artwork in FastARTIST/Photoshop 25
File Types and Resolutions 26
Check File Mode 27
Check File Size and Resolution 27
Check File Saturation 28
Sharpening Images 29
Using the Tone Curve 30
Bitmap Editing in FastARTIST 30
Selecting Areas 31
Channels and Layers 31
Setting Transparent Images in FastARTIST 32
Removing Backgrounds with Photoshop 32
Making Your Selection a New Layer 33
Fixing Bad Line-Art in Photoshop and FastARTIST 34
Artwork for Light and Dark Garments 34
Epson Driver Installation 35
Disabling the Status Monitor 38
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- Table of Contents
Chapter 4 - Printing Basics 39
Control Panel Overview 39
Power Button 39
Passes 40
Ink Button 40
Load Button/Load Light 40
Eject Button 40
Error Button 41
Low Ink Indicator lights 41
Power Light 41
Load Light 41
All Ink Lights Flashing + Ink Button and Error Light 41
Ink Light and Error Light (synchronous) Flashing 42
Ink Light and Error Light (alternating) Flashing Fast 42
Basic Steps for Printing a Shirt 42
Loading a Garment onto the Shirtboard 43
Check Garment Height Clearance 44
Key Points for Printing 44
Prepare Your Artwork for Printing 45
A Word about Resolutions, Speed and Quality 46
Print Modes and FastRIP 46
CMYK Cartoon and Photo Print Modes 46
8 Color Print Modes 47
Underbase Print Modes 47
Windows Underbase 47
When a Print Job is Finished 48
Curing Your Garments 48
How to Use the Print Pass Counter 50
Printing From Various Graphic Programs 50
Printing from Adobe Photoshop 50
Printing from CorelDRAW 51
Printing from Illustrator 52
Quick Printing Tips 53
Production Rates and Ink Cost Chart 55
Chapter 5- Advanced Printing with White Ink 57
White Ink Warnings and Care 57
Pretreatment Basics 58
Applying Pretreatment 58
Printing White Ink 61
Washing Directions 63
White Ink Troubleshooting 63
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T-Jet3 PLUS User’s Manual
Chapter 6 - Printing on Other Items 65
Printing on General Items 65
Location and Placement 65
Adjusting the Bed Height 67
Printing Baseball Caps 67
Non-Textile Printing 69
Required Items and Overview 69
Getting Started 69
Fast T-Jet Non-Textile Primer 70
Fast T-Jet Non-Textile Pretreatment 71
Setting up an Image for Print 72
Printing to FastRIP Using Adobe Photoshop 73
Printing to FastRIP – CorelDRAW 73
Printing Multiple Items on the Print Bed 73
Setting up FastRIP 75
Printing Golf Balls76
Golf Ball Holder Placement 76
Additional Instructions for Printing Non-Textiles using a T-Jet3 PLUS 77
Loading Golf Ball Template (FastARTIST Only) 77
Finish with Fast T-Jet Non-Textile Post-Treatment 78
Post Treatment Warnings and Safety Information 79
Chapter 7 - Maintenance Utilities to Improve Print Quality 81
Epson Adjustment Program 81
Head Angular Adjustment 82
Auto Bi-Directional Adjustment 83
PF Roller and Eject Roller Adjustments 83
Head Cleaning Utilities 84
Check the Spit Tray on a Regular Basis 85
Emptying the External Waste Bottle 85
Resetting Waste Ink Counter 86
Print Head Replacement 88
Check the Spit Tray on a Regular Basis 91
Turn Your T-Jet 3 OFF at Night 91
Cautions About Ink Levels 91
Humidity and Environment Control 92
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- Table of Contents
Print With the Lid Closed 92
Preparing your T-Jet 3 for Downtime 92
Flushing the Ink System 92
Eliminating Ink Drops on Shirts 95
Clean Bulk System Chip Blocks 95
Have A Lot of RAM for Your Computer 95
When in Doubt – Unplug Everything 95
Clean Drive Belt and Roller 96
Shake Shirts or Preheat to Minimize Lint 96
Keep Excess Ink from the Ribbon Cable 96
Five Minute Daily Maintenance 97
Weekly or Monthly Maintenance 98
RS232 Cable 98
Auto Head Cleaning (Optional from FastRIP) 99
Daily and Weekly Maintenance Schedule Checklist 100
Chapter 9 - Troubleshooting 101
Chapter 10- Transporting the Printer 117
Flush the System 117
Secure the Print Bed and Ink System 119
Pack the Printer in its Original Box 120
Shipping Procedures 120
Shipment Checklist 121
Important Shipping Requirements 122
Other Warranty and Packing Issues 122
Request for Return Authorization 123
Chapter 11 - Product Support 127
Support Policy 127
Support Information and Hours 127
Phone Support 127
24 Hour Emergency Support 128
Support on the Web 128
Create an Account 128
Appendix A- Requirements and Notices 131
Windows OS System Requirements for T-Jet3 PLUS Operation 131
FCC Compliance 132
Declaration of Conformity 132
European Union Declaration of Conformity - CE 133
Limited Warranty 133
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T-Jet3 PLUS User’s Manual
Version 1.1 Revised July, 2008
xiv
Page 11
Chapter 1
WARNING
ii
Introduction
The T-Jet3 PLUS is an inkjet printer that has been modified to print on almost
any type of fabric material as well as non-textiles, such as golf balls, keyboards,
tennis balls, etc. (The ink will not work on waterproof nylon and most synthetic
materials.) In the past, this type of printing was diffi cult, if not impossible to do
because there were no inks available that would work on both 100% cotton and
50/50 cotton/polyester blends AND withstand the rigors of washing.
That all changed with the introduction of FastINK Textile Ink. Designed
specifi cally for these materials, FastINK requires only a post-treatment of heat
to cure when printed on lighter shirts. It’s even possible to print with White ink
on dark shirts with the application of a Pretreatment. This ink is so versatile it
can even be used for printing on non-textiles by applying Fast T-Jet Non-Textile
Pretreatment to the item before printing and Fast T-Jet Non-Textile Series PostTreatment to the item after printing.
Since the T-Jet3 PLUS is based on standard inkjet technology, with the Epson
1800 being the heart of the system, you can print from any graphics application
like Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe InDesign, CorelDRAW,
Macromedia Freehand or QuarkXPress. Another very good graphics application
you can use is FastARTIST, which is included as part of your kit.
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Besides being reliable and versatile, the T-Jet3 PLUS is fast, printing a standard,
T-Shirt sized image in under two minutes. Whether it’s a shirt, a towel, mouse
pads, tote bags, bibs or baseball caps, the possibilities are endless.
T-Jet3 PLUS Important Points
The Basics
You probably can’t wait to get started and we share your enthusiasm for the
garment decoration process. However, before you print that fi rst shirt, there are
a few basics that need to be covered.
WARNING
Please read this entire manual fi rst before attempting to Print on
any garment.
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T-Jet3 PLUS User’s Manual
Yellow
The T-Jet3 PLUS prints best on 100% cotton. Printing on dark colored 50%
cotton/50% polyester blends with White ink is NOT recommended. You will notice
a discoloration of your image. Red garments will turn your Whites Pink and even
Yellow shirts will tint your image. Print only on pastels or White garments when
using White ink and blended fabrics. Images without White will not be affected.
In addition, when printing on 100% polyester or other synthetic materials, you
may not achieve the same print brightness.
The printer is ONLY compatible a Windows XP, 2000 or Vistas based Operating
System and the latest versions of both FastARTIST and FastRIP are included as
part of your kit. FastARTIST is a Windows based graphics application that will
make preparing an image for print as simple as a click of the mouse. With a oneclick Underbase Wizard and simple clipping features, FastARTIST can help ease
the transition into graphics design if you are not familiar with other applications.
For avid users of Photoshop, CorelDRAW, Illustrator etc., you may choose to work
within the application of choice and still set up the image properly for printing.
Macintosh Users can still create an image in their favorite graphics applicationthey will just have to transfer it to a PC for printing.
Every image must print to FastRIP for fi nal output. FastRIP works as the Queue
and Print Manager, allowing you to not only select different Print Modes and
other attributes, but also archive print jobs for future reprints.
Maintenance
Although the T-Jet3 PLUS is “simply” an inkjet printer, the number one Technical
Support issue is a lack of maintenance of the machine. Printing on T-shirts is
not the same as printing on paper. A shirt gives off much more lint and the
amount of ink deposited on fabrics is far greater than on paper. Additionally,
when printing on dark shirts, you must apply a Pretreatment to the shirt. This
Pretreatment can get inside the printer and cause numerous problems, so we
recommend you pretreat shirts as far away as possible (i.e. in another room). If
you adhere to the required maintenance schedule, printing with the T-Jet3 PLUS
will be a joy.
Poor Artwork
With so many graphics programs readily available, everyone is an artist. Poor
quality artwork will be one of your biggest concerns because there is no magic
to transform a low resolution, low quality piece of artwork into a great looking
print for a shirt. Therefore, it is important you spend some time learning as much
as you can about graphic art programs and some of the simple methods that
can be used to improve the quality of customer supplied artwork.
Extended Support hours: :00am to :00pm(67 Monday through Friday
About the Garment Decorating Business and
Where to Learn More
You are entering a fantastic business, one where you can make a lot of money
in a short period of time. But, like any business, there will be ups and downs. You
will need to learn about the industry such as trade standards, copyright and
trademark laws, how to price your work, how to deal with customers and much
more. Learning the business and marketing side is often harder than the actual
printing of shirts.
There are many valuable resources which can help you, including websites,
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T-Jet3 PLUS User’s Manual
trade magazines, books, videos and trade shows.
The Book
One of the most valuable books on the industry is How To Print
T-Shirts for Fun and Profi t. Written by Scott and Pat Fresener, it
is the “Bible” of the industry. Even though this book is geared
toward learning the screen printing process, it also contains
excellent sections on the business aspects of garment
decoration, including marketing and selling your creations,
the law, creating graphics, and best of all, a comprehensive
Suppliers Directory.
Computer Graphics DVDs
One of the hardest things to learn for
the computer novice is computer
graphics. There are a number of
excellent DVDs explaining computer
graphics and how to use Adobe
Photoshop , CorelDRAW or Adobe
Illustrator. These DVDs focus mainly
on the Screen Printing process,
however they also feature excellent
sections on how to create designs,
how to deal with poor quality artwork
and more.
Business and Marketing DVD’s
Since the business and marketing side is often
complex and sometimes frustrating, there is an
excellent DVD called Business and Marketing
that covers all aspects of running a successful
garment decorating enterprise. There is also
a good set of DVDs on marketing and selling,
called the Marketing Toolbox.
Internet
The number one website for the industry is www.screenprinters.net. There you will
fi nd a wealth of articles, industry links, a Buyer’s Guide and open Forums.
Version 1.1 Revised July, 2008
4
Page 15
Chapter 1 - Introduction
Our Advice
When starting a business, it is often easy to think nothing will go wrong. You need
to be positive about your venture, but in the beginning, expect the worse. If you
take orders for printed shirts before you have even received your machine, you
might fi nd that deadlines are hard to meet because of the learning curve and
unexpected problems.
The garment business is one of deadlines such as event shirts, shirts for special
occasions and shirts with “dates” on them. You must always give yourself room
for error. Shirt suppliers might not ship on time. You might not have checked your
ink inventory and end up running out of a color. And, yes, you will ruin a few
shirts! Accept this as a fact of life in the garment decorating industry. To have
the most success, allow extra time to fi ll orders and don’t make commitments
that might be hard to make.
There is nothing more rewarding than seeing someone wearing one of your
creations, but nothing more disturbing than working all night to meet a deadline.
Anyone who has been in this industry has experienced the joy and sorrow of
both. Plan ahead and always have a cushion to make sure you meet deadlines.
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T-Jet3 PLUS User’s Manual
Version 1.1 Revised July, 2008
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Page 17
Chapter 2
Unpacking and Setup
Please read all of the unpacking and setup instructions FIRST before attempting
to setup or use your printer. DO NOT plug your T-Jet3 PLUS into AC Power until
you are told to do so in this Manual.
Unpacking Your Fast T-Jet3 PLUS
If the instructions on the outside of the box were followed, you have already
checked the outside of the box for any shipping damage. If you see obvious
damage, please contact the freight carrier immediately so you can schedule a
freight inspection.
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T-Jet3 PLUS User’s Manual
MMaaii
ss
Save the box and all of the packing material!
ave the box and all of the packing material!
Please retain all shipping materials, bags, boxes, and directions.
You will need these items should you ever have to return the unit
for repair or for transportation. DO NOT return or ship a T-Jet3 PLUS
without using the original shipping carton or you may void your
warranty.
Main Box Contents
nn BBooxx CCoonntteenntt
Software/Training•
Manual•
Waste Ink Pads•
Power Cable•
Box 2
USB Cable•
Maintenance Kit•
Adjustable Shelf Bracket•
Low Profi le Access Lid•
Height Adjustment Bar•
FastARTIST Package•
Adjustable Shirtboards•
Industrial Bulk Ink System•
Cleaning System•
Inks•
Pretreatment•
Sprayer•
Parchment Paper•
Industrial Bulk Ink System Parts
5 - Easy-fi ll bottles. Four 8oz.bottles for CMYK and one large bottle for •
White ink
8 – Ink Cartridges•
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2 – Chip Blocks / 2 Chip Block Supports •
1 – Cartridge Removal Tool •
8 – Ink Cartridge Caps (for cartridge storage)•
16 – Ink Line Caps •
1 – Syringe•
1 - Latex gloves•
Waste Ink Bottle
Waste Ink Bottle •
Secure Nut and Ink Line Fitting•
Waste Bottle Shelf Bracket•
Exhaust Fan
1 - Split power cord•
Chapter 2 - Unpacking and Setup
Lifting Your T-Jet3 PLUS Unit From the Box
WARNING! DO NOT lift alone. Lift with your legs, not your back!
Lift from SIDES ONLY
With an assistant, lift your T-Jet3 PLUS from
the box and place it on a fi rm, level surface
that supports the entire printer base
including the Print Bed. If any part of the
T-Jet3 PLUS base is hanging over the edge
or not supported in this manner, stress will
be placed on the Print Bed causing poor
functionality. For best results place the unit
on a table with extra room for a computer,
replacement ink and a Workspace.
Preparations
Remove Hold Down Clamps
With a Phillips head screwdriver, loosen the four Bed Holder
Brackets located toward the bottom of each side of the
Print Bed. You must remove these, but replace the screws to
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T-Jet3 PLUS User’s Manual
maintain machine integrity. Move the Print Bed back and forth to ensure smooth
movement and then return the Print Bed to its Eject position.
The Maximum Height Bar
You have received a metal bar with a magnetic strip attached to one side.
Place this bar under the chrome T-Jet logo on the front of the printer. This bar
will act as a simple head strike warning device. At NO time should a garment or
other item to be imprinted sit high enough on the Shirtboard to make contact
with this bar. If a garment would brush against this bar, there is an imminent
danger of a collision with the Print Head. A head strike could permanently
damage the Print Head, resulting in down time and costly repairs.
Use this Bar as a reference for loaded garments, adjusting the
Shirtboards etc., but remove before printing.
Check the Adjustable Shirtboard Height
Place an adjustable Shirtboard within the Print Bed and use the adjustment knob
to raise or lower its surface to the proper height.
WARNING:WARNING: Use the Maximum Height Bar as your guide to prevent
Print Head strikes. The adjustable
Shirtboard should be raised to a
level where the printable surface of
the garment is as close to the Bar
as possible, but DOES NOT make
contact with the Bar at any point. The Shirtboard
MUST NOT be raised beyond this point!
:HDUH not responsible for any damage
caused by disregarding Maximum Height
warnings. Replacement of Print Heads is NOT
covered by your warranty.
Version 1.1 Revised July, 2008
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Chapter 2 - Unpacking and Setup
!
Removing the Packing Tape
Remove the packing tape that is currently holding the low profi le access lid
down and open it. DO NOT try to move the print carriage off of the capping
station as the T-Jet3 PLUS locks the print carriage onto the capping station.
Forcing the print carriage to move will damage the printer.
Note: You may fi nd a small amount of ink on the Waste Pad and/or Capping
Station during setup. This is normal and there is no need to be alarmed. Each
T-Jet3 PLUS is run through a series of print cycles before shipping to ensure it is
operating properly.
Environmental Controls and Humidity
This is a Hi-Tech inkjet printer that does NOT like being in a hot or cold shop or
garage without proper environmental controls.
Your T-Jet3 PLUS should not be in an area with direct airfl ow across the machine
(this will dry out and clog the Print Head), dust, a strong magnetic force or in
areas of excessively high humidity. The printer must be in an environmentally
controlled room with humidity levels between 40% and 80% (non-condensing).
Since you will be handling wet ink to refi ll the bulk system ink bottles, you should
protect any carpet or fl oor covering with mats.
Place the T-Jet3 PLUS close to a Heat Press or small
conveyor dryer to cure the ink. If you have two or more
printers at a production work station, place them around or
near the heat source. At night, and when the printer is not in
use, cover it to keep it protected.
Ensure the entire T-Jet3 PLUS is sitting level on a stable worktable or other hard
surface. All rubber support feet must be safely supported by the same structure.
Important Point!
Important Point
When using White ink, you must apply a Pretreatment to the
shirts before printing. DO NOT spray this Pretreatment near
your T-Jet3 PLUS. Pretreat shirts in a different room, if possible
but at a minimum, make a cardboard enclosure for use
during applications. The Pretreatment is sticky and can ruin
the Print Head as well as damage the Encoder Strip. The
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T-Jet3 PLUS User’s Manual
Encoder Strip is a thin piece of clear plastic with data that is read by the Print
Head as the unit operates. The Encoder Strip tells the Print Head exactly where
to print an image. If the Encoder Strip becomes dirty or damaged, the printer will
get confused, resulting in the printing of multiple images, strips of solid ink and
other irregular printing patterns.
Plug Unit into AC Power
lluugg UUnniitt iinnttoo AACC PPoowweerr
Plug the T-Jet3 PLUS into its own power source.
DO NOT TURN THE PRINTER ON YET! YOU MUST FIRST INSTALL THE BULK INK SYSTEM.
Insert the AC cord in unit and plug into a power strip with surge protection.
Avoid plugging multiple items into the power strip. The T-Jet3 PLUS has a dual
voltage power converter and will work on 50 or 60 cycle current that ranges
from 110 volts to 220 volt.
To prevent power surges from damaging your unit and/or
ruining shirts during a production run, plug the unit into a UPS
(Uninterruptible Power Supply).
DO NOT plug other high power use items into the same circuit, such
as a Heat Press - The Press will cycle on and off causing power
fl uctuations and, potentially ruining shirts.
NEVER shut off your T-Jet3 PLUS at the
power strip; use the Power button then Main Power
Switch on the actual unit (located by the AC cord).
During Power Off of any inkjet printer, the printer
goes through a shut down cycle that seats the head
so you won’t get head clogs. If you shut the unit off
at a power strip it does not go through a normal shut
down.
Connecting Your T-Jet3 PLUS to a Computer
You can connect the T-Jet3 PLUS to a computer with
a normal parallel cable, USB cable or an IEEE 1394
FireWire cable. Use the included gold tip USB cable
for best results. In any situation take care not to use
a cable that is excessively long and do not use a
Version 1.1 Revised July, 2008
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Chapter 2 - Unpacking and Setup
switch box (which can often cause communication
problems). Including your printer, mouse and
Dongle, you will need 3 free USB ports.
Your computer must use a Windows based
Operating System if you will be printing with White ink. For best results you should
use a computer with at least 512 MB of RAM. RAM is inexpensive and, if you can
put 1 GB or more on your computer, it will prevent problems when printing large
fi les. (Users of the Windows Vista OS should have a minimum of 2 GB onboard
RAM.)
The Universal Serial Bus – USB – method of
communication is standard on all newer computers,
but what is not commonly known is that there is only a
certain amount of power supplied to the entire “bus.”
This means that if you have a number of items plugged
into different USB ports on your computer, it might cause
communication issues with the T-Jet3 PLUS.
Use a dedicated computer to control your printer and do not plug anything else
into the extra USB ports when printing.
Failure to adhere to the recommended environmental, power,
maintenance and operating conditions you can void the warranty
of your T-Jet3 PLUS. The printer does NOT like to be in a hot, dry
shop with excess dust, as well as being plugged into outlets with
a lot of other items. Please read and understand the operating
conditions and maintenance requirements for your money making
investment.
Installing the Bulk Ink System
Mounting the Adjustable Ink Shelf
The Adjustable Ink Shelf hangs off the right side (opposite the Control Panel) of
your T-Jet3 PLUS. The wing nut in the center of the shelf and two guides allow the
shelf to be raised and lowered to compensate for the effects of gravity on the
ink.
Turning the wing nut to the Left (Counter-Clockwise), loosens the ▪
Adjustable Shelf.
Turning the wing nut to the Right (Clockwise), secures the Adjustable Shelf ▪
in place.
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T-Jet3 PLUS User’s Manual
Important Note: When fi rst installing the Adjustable Shelf, secure it at its lowest
position. (Make sure you remove the White protective tape covering the shelf)
All T-Jet’s utilize the effects of gravity to pull ink
through the Print Head. The level at which the bulk
system sits has a direct correlation to how well the
ink fl ows. In extreme cases ink can fl ow back into
the bulk system if the shelf is not adjusted properly.
It is important to understand that as you increase
elevation there is a decrease in gravity. That is why if
you are living at a higher elevation (beyond a couple
thousand feet of Sea Level), raising the Adjustable
Shelf will be necessary to help gravity do its job.
During operation, the following three conditions may occur, requiring
adjustment of the shelf.
When the Print Head is not receiving enough ink (Ink Starvation)•
When Ink migrates completely back into the bottles•
When ink levels drop below 1/4 of the bottle, print quality is starts to •
diminish.
Solution - Raise the Adjustable Shelf slightly and continue to raise the shelf as the
ink level drops from use. You can raise the Adjustable Shelf as far as possible as
long as ink doesn’t start dripping from the Print Head.
Waste Bottle Installation with Shelf Bracket
The Waste Bottle Shelf Bracket must be installed to hold
the Waste Ink Bottle. The Shelf Bracket is positioned
behind the T-Jet3 PLUS where the Ink Line Tubes exit.
To install the Shelf Bracket, remove the two screws from
the side of the Print Bed as identifi ed on the right.
Using a Phillips head screwdriver and the shelf screws
(supplied); fasten the Shelf Bracket to the side of the
Print Bed.
The Waste Ink Bottle has 2 ink line tube inserts located
on the cap. Loosen the nut of the insert by turning it to
the left (counter-clockwise), allowing the ink line tube
to be inserted. Turn the nut to the right (clockwise) to
tighten upon the tube.
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Chapter 2 - Unpacking and Setup
5
Filling the Ink Bottles
When initially setting up your T-Jet3 PLUS, we
recommend fi lling the CMYK ink bottles to
approximately the ¾ mark (the Full line being
100%) and the White ink bottle approximately
½ full.
This is due to the different effects that
elevation has on ink fl ow. Certain elevations
may necessitate the level of ink staying below
the bottles’ full line. This is only a suggested, starting point. It will be up to you to
determine the best ink level for your elevation through testing and use.
As you perform initial test prints, ink can be added as needed
to correct for ink starvation. DO NOT OVERFILL- Once the ink
has reached the Full Line STOP. Do not fi ll ink past this mark. If ink
starvation continues, raise the Adjustable Shelf as needed.
Changing Ink Brands
CChhaannggiinngg IInnkk BBrraannddss
Your T-Jet3 PLUS is shipped with FastINK Textile Ink. With a normal inkjet printer,
it is a very common practice to change from the manufacturer’s brand of ink
to third party inks. However, this can result in serious issues when using specially
formulated textile inks. All textile inks are NOT created equal and they must not
be mixed. Should you decide to try another brand of textile ink in your printer,
before doing so you MUST fl ush out the entire Bulk Ink System using a special fl ushing solution.
Failure to perform this process can result in a mixture of the two brands, creating
a chunky mess that might be called severe “cholesterol” in the ink tubes. In fact,
this mixture will permanently clog the Print Head. :HDUH not responsible
for any damage to your printer or replacement of the Print Head should you
use another manufacturer’s ink. If you do experience problems with another
manufacturer’s ink you must contact THAT manufacturer for any available
remedies.
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T-Jet3 PLUS User’s Manual
Yellow
Yellow
Yellow
Installing the Bulk Ink Cartridges
With the cleaning cartridges installed, power ON your 1.
T-Jet3 PLUS using both the Main Power Switch and
the Power button. The printer will cycle through the
initialization process (Load light will fl ash), then the Print
Carriage will dock with the Capping Station. The Load
light will become solid. DO NOT press any buttons on the
control panel until the Load light is solid.
When the initialization cycle is complete, press the 2. Ink
button once. This action will automatically unlock the Print
Carriage from the docking station and move the Print
Carriage up and to the left, making the following steps
easier.
Remove all the cleaning cartridges, taking care 3.
not to allow any of the ink lines to come out of the
ink line guide.
Unpack your Bulk Ink System cartridges, including the two Chip Blocks and 4.
two Chip Block Supports.
The two Chip Blocks are color coded for placement- one has a
Yellow sticker
on the top left, and the other has a Black sticker. Place the Chip Block with
the
Yellow sticker into the Print Carriage as shown on below. Using the sticker
as a guide, determine the proper orientation- it should be visible and align
with the
Yellow cartridge position.
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Chapter 2 - Unpacking and Setup
After the Chip Block is in place, use a Chip Block Support to secure it.5.
The Chip Block Support has arrows in the center bar, pointing upward. Use
these arrows for orientation and place the single end of the Chip Block
Support into the Chip Block. Press the back end into the Print Carriage. Note
the rear placement of the block support.
Locate the Chip Block with the black sticker and place 6.
this into the Print Carriage as well, adjacent to the
previously installed Chip Block.
Secure this Chip Block into the Print Carriage with the 7.
second Chip Block Support.
Located on the bottom of the Print Carriage is an 8. InkLineGuide that
currently holds 8 ink lines. DO NOT remove any of the 8 lines from the guide
until you are ready to connect the bulk ink cartridges.
Before proceeding to the next step, ensure all of the ink bottles are fi lled in 9.
accordance with earlier instructions and none of the Ink Line Clamps are
engaged. DO NOT not connect any of the Ink Lines to the Ink Bottle at this
time.
Disengaged
Engaged
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T-Jet3 PLUS User’s Manual
Yellow
Yellow
Yellow
Yellow
Attach the 10.
(
Yellow) Ink Line as shown below. This is accomplished by removing the far
Yellow Ink Cartridge (indicated by the sticker) to the far left
left Ink Line from the Ink Line Guide and twisting the two connectors together.
Connecting Ink Lines to the Ink Bottles
Connect the 11.
Connectors are color coded to match the Ink Bottle
and Ink Lines easily attached to Ink Bottles by a
basic twist-to-connect system. Please note: that the White ink bottle uses four connectors.
Yellow Ink Line to the
Yellow Ink Bottle.
Once the Ink Line is connected, you must 12.
prime the Ink Cartridge. Locate the syringe
included with your Fast T-Jet Kit and insert it
into the bottom of the cartridge. Slowly draw
the ink from the bottle through the tube and
into the cartridge.
Remove the syringe and place the newly fi lled cartridge into its appropriate 13.
position within the Print Carriage. Each cartridge must be inserted into
its proper position. Use the guide located above the Print Carriage as a
reference.
Version 1.1 Revised July, 2008
During priming, we recommend you unscrew the top of the Ink
Bottle slightly to dissipate any vacuum that may form during this
process. Ensure you draw ink through the cartridge and into the
syringe to eliminate the possibility of air being trapped in the
cartridge.
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Chapter 2 - Unpacking and Setup
Repeat steps 10 through 13 for each of the 14.
remaining seven cartridges.
With all of the Ink Lines connected, ensure 15.
that Bulk Ink Bottles’ tops and the Ink Lines
are secure, including the Waste Ink Tube
running into the Waste Ink Bottle. Press the
Ink button on the Control Panel to allow
the Print Carriage to dock back onto the
capping station.
Ensure all the Ink Lines are secured within the Print Carriage guides and 16.
perform 3-4 Head Cleanings.
To initiate a Head Cleaning cycle, hold down the Ink button on the Control
Panel for three seconds.
Only the initial setup procedures consume a large volume of ink.
Check the levels of your Bulk System Bottles- you will probably
need to add more ink after this process is complete. Don’t be
alarmed, normal printing does not use as much.
Resetting the Bulk Ink Cartridges
Each Chip Block contains smart chips that are designed to count the number of
ink drops dispensed. After a certain amount of ink has been used, a typical inkjet
cartridge chip tells the printer it is out of ink. However, this system is impractical
for a continuous-fl ow Bulk Ink System.
We have equipped each chip block with a new set of smart chips that are
designed to always read Full, but if you print all day long, the chip may still
believe the cartridge is low on ink when in reality it is not. Should this occur, the
T-Jet3 PLUSLow Ink Indicator lights will warn you that you are low on ink by either fl ashing or remaining solid.
1
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T-Jet3 PLUS User’s Manual
When an Ink light (or multiple lights) start fl ashing, press the Ink button once to
raise the Print Head from the Capping Station. Then press the Ink button again to
lower the Print Head. The fl ashing Ink light(s) should stop.
If the Ink lights still indicate an error condition:
Press the 1. Ink button once (do not hold in).
The print carriage will move a few inches to the left.
When the print carriage stops, press the ink button once more.2.
The print carriage will move back to the capping station and dock back to
it’s original position.
When the ink button light stops fl ashing, the reset is complete.
Load and Eject Positions
Throughout this Manual, and in the various Technical Updates we publish, you
will notice references to the Load and Eject positions of your T-Jet3 PLUS. The
images below illustrate these positions.
The T-Jet3 PLUS in Load position
The T-Jet3 PLUS in Eject position
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Chapter 3
ii
Software Overview
The T-Jet3 PLUS is a high performance inkjet printer. Graphic files can be large
and the data sent from FastRIP to the printer is sent at a very high speed (high
data rate). In order to get the fastest speed and have fewer communication
problems with the printer, you need a fast computer. You can use a standard
desktop computer or even a laptop your printer, but for the best performance,
the computer should have at least 1MB of RAM (2 GB of RAM is better).
If you want to continue working and creating artwork while the printer is printing,
having a higher amount of RAM on board your computer is essential. Ideally you
should have a dedicated computer for use with the T-Jet3 PLUS.
While sending data to the printer using a USB cable, do not plug in any other
USB devices other than a mouse. USB busses do not have a lot of power and the
more devices plugged in, the more power drain that will occur. In order to run
FastARTIST, you MUST use a Windows based Operating System. MAC users can
create their artwork in their favorite program and simply network or copy the
fi les over to the PC “workstation.”
s s a a hihighgh p pererfoformrmanancece i inknkjejet t prprininteter.r. G Graraphphicic fi fi l leses c canan b be e lalargrgee
s senent t frfromom F FasastRtRIPIP t to o ththe e prprininteter r isis s senent t atat a a v verery y hihighgh s spepeeded ( (hihighgh
o ordrderer t to o geget t ththe e fafaststesest t spspeeeed d anand d hahaveve f fewewerer c comommumuninicacatitionon
Graphics and RIP Software
Your T-Jet3 PLUS includes the latest versions of both
FastARTIST
graphics application that will make preparing an image
for print as easy as a click or two of the mouse. With
“one-click wonder” Underbasing and simple clipping
features, FastARTIST can help ease the transition if you
are not familiar with graphic applications. For avid users
of Photoshop, CorelDRAW, Illustrator, etc., you may
choose to work within your graphics application of
choice and still set up the image properly for printing.
There is also the option of importing an image into
FastARTIST from other graphics applications in order to take advantage of the
one-click Underbase Wizard.
and FastRIP. FastARTIST is a Windows based
Once a graphic fi le is ready to print, it needs to be sent to special software
called a RIP (Raster Image Processor.) This software tells the machine what
image resolution to use, how many passes of each color to make, when and
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T-Jet3 PLUS User’s Manual
how to print the Underbase and Highlight and how much ink to lay down. To
do all of this for you, we have included with your printer package our own very
special RIP program called FastRIP.
For best results, turn OFF all Screen Savers when printing to your T-Jet3 PLUS.
Note: For information about installing and using FastARTIST and FastRIP, consult
the FastARTIST User’s Manual.
FastARTIST and FastRIP
What makes the T-Jet3 PLUS so unique
is not only the printer and ink, but also
the software that drives it. As mentioned
earlier, your printer comes with two very
powerful programs – FastARTIST and
FastRIP. FastARTIST is a complete graphics
program much like CorelDRAW and
Adobe Photoshop. You can use it for all
of your graphic image creation or you
can create images in CorelDRAW or
Adobe Photoshop and import them into
FastARTIST to take advantage of the oneclick UnderbaseWizard or simple clipping options.
FastRIP
FastRIP is a driver specifi cally designed
for Inkjet-to-Garment printers like your
T-Jet3 PLUS. A RIP converts the data from
a graphics program to computer code
called Postscript. This powerful language
allows much more control over a printer,
making the following possible:
Previewing printable images•
Control over the amount of ink used•
Faster print speeds compared to a•
standard printer driver
FastRIP is extremely easy to use and is almost transparent when working with the
T-Jet3 PLUS.
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Chapter 3 - Software Overview
Note: It is important to have a basic knowledge of both
FastARTIST and FastRIP. Although the manuals may seem
very large, don’t be concerned by the size. You do not
need to know everything to get started.
Using Computer Graphics Software
In order to print a good looking image on a shirt, you need
a good piece of artwork. The customer typically has no idea about the type
or quality of artwork needed so you are often stuck with inferior designs. If you
don’t have computer graphics experience, you might print this bad artwork and
then blame your T-Jet3 PLUS for the poor quality image.
There are a number of great computer graphics programs designed for creating
and manipulating images. If you have never used computer graphics programs
before, you might be inclined to use applications such as Microsoft Word or
other word processing programs that are designed for text and are NOT strong
graphic programs.
Recommended graphic programs for this purpose are FastARTIST (included
you’re your T-Jet3 PLUS), CorelDRAW (any version), Adobe Photoshop (version
7.0 or higher), Adobe Illustrator (version 7.0 or higher) and Macromedia Freehand (any version). Contrary to popular opinion, great images can be
created and manipulated on a Windows based PC as well as the Mac platform.
FastARTIST, the graphics application that is shipped with your printer, is designed
for Windows based PC ’s only. Mac users wishing to take advantage of the
FastARTIST Underbase Wizard and other convenient setup options will need to
transfer their fi les onto the PC loaded with FastARTIST by Importing the image.
We often hear from fi rst time users that they did not think they would need to
know about graphics software. However, getting a great image on a garment
is not the same as taking your digital camera’s memory card to the drug store
and getting pictures made. Yes, it would seem that simple and it CAN be, but in
the world of T-Shirt printing there are many variables.
The fi rst variable is that the customer will often bring you artwork that is
substandard, such as an image their web designer gave them. Web graphics
are commonly very low resolution (not sharp) and may need to be enlarged
for a full-size T-Shirt image. When you have an image that is of low resolution at
a small size, enlarging the image will only blur the image more. To compensate
for this, you will need to learn how to make the fi le the correct size plus how to
improve the quality of the fi le.
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T-Jet3 PLUS User’s Manual
Image Types
Vector
Currently there are two types of graphics
programs – Vector and Bitmap. FastARTIST,
CorelDRAW, Adobe Illustrator and Macromedia
Freehand are called vector programs. Vector
programs create images based on shapes
somewhat like a coloring book. They typically
have hundreds or even thousands of typefaces
and many have extensive “coloring book” type
stock clip art that you can use to create artwork.
Vector programs are generally used for images
with a hard edge like race designs, school mascots, corporate logos, etc.
Pixel Based Bitmap
Programs like FastARTIST and Adobe
Photoshop are called pixel, or raster based programs, and work great for
photographic images. Bitmap applications
can lighten, darken, sharpen and even
create images. Photoshop is a common
graphics program used by many for
manipulating images, but FastARTIST also
contains similar editing tools. Images with
lots of gradations or that are photorealistic
are generally created and manipulated in
programs such as FastARTIST and
Photoshop.
Note:FastARTIST is both a bitmap and vector graphic program!
Summary
If you intend to create your own artwork, then you will need both a vector and
bitmap program. The vector program will be used for working with shapes, text
and edges, while the bitmap program will be used for any photographic or
detailed images. If you don’t have two applications, or don’t wish to spend the
money to purchase one of both needed programs, FastARTIST is the perfect
solution because it will work with both types of images.
FastARTIST can be used to create the entire image if needed. With similar tools to
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Chapter 3 - Software Overview
CorelDRAW and Photoshop, those already familiar with other graphics programs
can quickly master FastARTIST.
Editing Bitmap Artwork in FastARTIST/Photoshop
The following sections gives Tips and suggestions for creating artwork suitable for
printing on your T-Jet3 PLUS. Remember, if you are profi cient in a
graphics program other than the new FastARTIST- create the images where you
are most comfortable. For advanced users of programs such as Photoshop and
CorelDRAW, the entire image can be set up to print and then Imported into
FastARTIST for printing a White Underbase or Highlight White.
(Please note: Underbase and Highlight White options are not available when
printing from a graphics application other than FastARTIST.)
Besides the ability to work with vector based images such as hard edge
graphics, clipart and font manipulation, FastARTIST will do a lot of basic pixel
editing functions necessary when the customer gives you a pixel/bitmap fi le such as: JPEG, GIF, TIFF or PSD.
Generally, a short run of photorealistic images is not profi table when Screen
Printing. However, should a customer want a picture of the entire team on a
shirt - no problem! One of the T-Jet3 PLUS’s major strengths is the ability to print
short runs of photorealistic images.
A common problem in the T-Shirt business is that customers need high resolution
images, yet often all they have is artwork that is small and low resolution. It is
MANDATORY that you learn how to make ANY artwork the correct size and
resolution, besides knowing how to make the image brighter (most images are
dull) with good color saturation. In reality, this may be the ONLY time you utilize
the FastARTIST or Photoshop image editing tools.
A Quick Note about Photoshop
As you begin to work with different kinds of images in different formats and
resolutions, it is very important to have the proper tools necessary to clean up
and make images “print ready.” Even though FastARTIST is a very powerful
graphics program, there may be times when a program such as Photoshop is
required for specifi c editing functions. Don’t worry, Photoshop works hand-in-
hand with FastARTIST, making it a very complimentary program to have when
working with bitmap images.
The goal here is to cover the basics of image editing, so that you can print the
best looking images possible. When fi rst
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T-Jet3 PLUS User’s Manual
learning graphics programs, the process
may seem a bit overwhelming, but don’t
get frustrated. Just keep in mind the 80/30
rule: You use 30% of the program 80% of
the time. But, in this case, it’s actually more
like a 90/10 rule.
So, you might be asking why you need
Photoshop at all if you have FastARTIST? In
a nutshell, you can do almost everything
you need with FastARTIST, but Photoshop
is much more powerful when creating an
image with lots of photographic components. Plus, Photoshop is much more
powerful when fi xing and cleaning up poor quality artwork.
Where to Get Photoshop
Photoshop is the fl agship product of Adobe Systems at www.adobe.com.
The program retails for around $650 and, as of this writing, version 9.0 CS3 is the
most current version. It is always nice to have the latest and greatest version,
but frankly, you can do everything mentioned here with version 5.5 or higher.
If you are a student, teacher or work for a school, you may be eligible for an
“Educator Version” from places like www.academicsuperstore.com.
File Types and Resolutions
FastARTIST and Photoshop will let you
“Open” a wide variety of fi les including,
TIFF, JPEG, GIF, EPS, PSD, AI and others. If
you open a fi le that is vector based like
one from Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop will
convert the fi le from mathematical vectors
to small pixels. This is called Rasterizing a fi le.
The important point here is to keep the fi le
resolution high enough for the image to
remain sharp. It is generally taught that a
fi le needs to be at 300 DPI at the fi nal size in
order for it to remain crisp.
In T-Shirt printing, you can get away with fi le
resolutions of 150 to 300 DPI at the fi nal size.
The default setting for opening vector fi les in Photoshop is 72 DPI. The picture at
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Chapter 3 - Software Overview
the right shows a magnifi ed view of a fi le that is 300 DPI (bottom) and one that is
72 DPI (top). Obviously, the 72 DPI fi le will be softer.
Check File Mode
This is step that most new users will over look when opening a fi le. It is very
important to note the fi le attributes when fi rst opening a fi le as well as
determining the fi le mode. Note whether it is CMYK or RGB and make changes
if necessary. Files must be in RGB because the T-Jet3 PLUS does not print spot
color.
If the fi le is CMYK from another application, FastARTIST will Open/
Import it as RGB. However, FastARTIST will open the fi le at a larger
resolution than normal, drastically increasing the fi le size. For best
results, convert the fi le to RGB (if you can) before importing it into
FastARTIST.
Yes, Photoshop will do process color separations called CMYK, but for fi le
manipulation and adjustment you should work in RGB mode. To check the
Mode of the fi le in Photoshop, go to Image > Mode. If CMYK is checked, click on
RGB.
Check File Size and Resolution
You must know the actual resolution and size of
the image. Otherwise you could be working on
a very small fi le and not know it. In FastARTIST,
Import a photorealistic fi le and click on the
Bitmap > Image Size. You will see the actual size
of the image. If the resolution is too small, change
the size and click Apply. Remember that an
appropriate image size should be 150 to 300 DPI.
If the images physical size is too small, resize the
image before changing the resolution. After the
image size is adjusted, click on the Bitmap and
then Image Size. Change the resolution and
select Bicubic. Click Apply.
In Photoshop, go to Image > Image Size. If it says pixels per CM, change this to
inches and then enter the image’s intended fi nal print size. Re-adjust the
resolution and make sure that Bicubic is selected. The physical size should be the
fi nal print size.
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T-Jet3 PLUS User’s Manual
If you have an image that is very low resolution, your only real choice is to
change the image size and resolution. This is
often referred to as “Upsampling.” Photoshop
upsamples the image, but in doing so, it
must make calculations where to place the
extra pixels and what color to make the
pixels. Images may have softer edges when
upsampled, but they will also be less pixilated!
If you can get a higher resolution fi le from the
client, do so.
CorelDRAW and Adobe Illustrator have similar
Image Size functions.
Important Point
IImmppoorrttaanntt PPooiinntt
If the original fi le is low resolution and not the fi nal size, you need to upsample
the fi le to the fi nal print size and 150 to
300 DPI (150 is OK for photos and images
without hard edges. 300 to 350 is better
where there is lettering or sharp edges).
Now, you can work on the fi le and add
type or other elements. It is important to
upsample the image fi rst so any additional
elements you add will be at the higher
resolution. If you aren’t sure if the image is
sharp enough, simply zoom in on the fi le. It
might look great zoomed out but very soft
or jagged when you zoom in. It will print the
way you see it when zoomed in.
Check File Saturation
Quite often customers’ images will be fl at and in need of a color boost. Always
check the fi le to see if it needs a saturation boost by going to Bitmap > CMYK
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Chapter 3 - Software Overview
Color Adjustments > Hue Saturation (FastARTIST) or Image > Adjustments > Hue
Saturation (Photoshop).
Sharpening Images
Typically, an image can be made sharper. Even if the fi le came from an agency
or large licensed job, don’t assume that their artist knew your needs. Images
that are printed not only get darker, but also get softer. You must make them as
sharp as possible.
Go to Bitmap > Filters > Sharpen > Unsharp Mask (FastARTIST) or Filter > Sharpen > Unsharp Masking (Photoshop). Don’t let the term “Unsharp” fool you. This term
comes from the process camera days and means it only sharpens areas of high
contrast. The reality is, it sharpens the image but keeps it less apparent that you
have sharpened the image.
Move the Amount slider to 150%. Set the Pixel Radius to 1 and the Threshold to
8. How does the image look? To compare the original to the sharpened version,
uncheck the Preview check box (Photoshop). Click it on and off and compare
the results. If you can’t see much difference, move the Amount slider higher. Go
all the way to 500% if you need to but don’t make the image too grainy.
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T-Jet3 PLUS User’s Manual
Using Tone Curves
Whether you are Screen Printing, heat transfer printing or Inkjet-to-Garment
printing, a common dilemma is that images tend to get a little “muddy.” If you
have a fi le with lots of detail in the shadow areas, this will probably be lost when
printed so you need to adjust the “density levels” of the image. In FastARTIST,
go to the Bitmap dropdown menu, and then select CMYK Color Adjustments > Curves. In Photoshop, go to Image > Adjustments > Curves.
The Tone Curve is a very powerful tool that allows you to adjust specifi c tonal
areas from the lightest “Highlights” to the
darkest
“Shadows.” By placing your cursor in the
middle of the “Midtones” curve and dragging
the mouse up or down, you can
lighten/darken the medium, or Midtones, in
an image.
By clicking on the very top corner and
dragging the mouse in, you can make the highlights
lighter
(Photoshop). Play around with the Tone Curve and
see what happens. A good curve for fl at images is a
slight “S”, where you lighten the highlight area (35%)
and darken the shadow area (75%).
In later versions of Photoshop (CS through CS3),
similar adjustments can be made using the Shadow/Highlight dialogue under Image > Adjustments. Make
sure you click the “Show More Options” check box for
additional settings.
Bitmap Editing in FastARTIST
Photoshop is always in bitmap mode
because it is a pixel-based editing program.
FastARTIST (along with CorelDRAW and
Adobe Illustrator) defaults to vector mode
when you launch the program, so you will
need to fi nd the bitmap editing tools in
these programs. In FastARTIST, double-click
on the image. That changes the top
Toolbar icons to standard bitmap editing
mode (very similar icons to Photoshop).
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Chapter 3 - Software Overview
Selecting Areas
In FastARTIST, if you want to apply a Tone Curve
adjustment or Unsharp Masking to specifi c
areas, you must double-click on the object to
make the bitmap tools available. You then click
on the Lasso tool (Hint: It looks like a lasso) and
hold down the mouse button while drawing
around the area you wish to modify. When you
release the mouse, you will have a yellow outline
identifying the selected area. Now, anything you
do ONLY happens to this area.
In Photoshop, you can choose an area with one
of the Selection Tools on the Toolbar. Click on the tool that looks like a Lasso
and draw around the object while holding down the left mouse button. When
the mouse button is released the selected area will be identifi ed by what is
called “Marching Ants” – small moving lines around the selected area. While
the area is selected, any changes made will only apply to this area. To remove
the marching ants, go to the Select > De-Select (You can also use the keyboard
shortcut of [Ctrl] + D). If you want to select square or round areas, use the
Marquee Tool (top left tool) and use this the same way you would use the Lasso
tool.
Channels and Layers
What really separates Photoshop from FastARTIST
and CorelDRAW is the ability to work in Layers to
build images. Therefore, whenever you are using
Photoshop, you should have both the Channels
Palette and Layers Palette open.
People often get these confused so here are the
rules: The Channels Palette is used to
create output- Channels print. The Layers Palette
is used to create or build the image. You use the
Layers Palette to put various components
together including adding Type to an image.
Layers don’t print.
You will also notice that your Channels Palette shows four channels: RGB,
Red, Green and Blue. Your test fi le probably only shows one Layer, called
Background.
For more details on using the Layers Palette in Photoshop, consult the Adobe
User’s Manual or In Program Help sections.
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T-Jet3 PLUS User’s Manual
Yellow
Setting Transparent Images in FastARTIST
To set transparent backgrounds in FastARTIST,
double-click on the image to enter the
bitmap edit state.
Using the Eyedropper tool, click on the Red
background and then click on the Add Color
button in the Color Selection dialog box. This
will make the selected Red the current color.
The background color can be any solid
color, not just red. For example it can be
White, Black,
Yellow, Green, etc. However, it
is important to note FastARTIST
will only remove ONE color. If
your image has a multi-color or
gradient background, it will be
necessary to use Photoshop to
make the image print ready.
To make the Red transparent, click on the
Eye icon next to the selected color. This acts
like a toggle switch, so selecting it again will
deactive any transparent color.
Removing Backgrounds with Photoshop
In order to make removing backgrounds as easy as possible, try to maintain a
consistent/neutral background if possible. For example, if photographing the
motorcycle shown below, park in front of a wall or a background that contains
a much lighter color than the bike. This will help Photoshop determine the
difference between the selected background and the object (such as the
motorcycle) you intend to keep.
Using the Magic Wand – Click and Delete
With the Magic Wand you, click on the unwanted areas around the image and
then delete them. It’s a pretty simple process IF the background color is different
(contrasting) from any of the edges of your image.
Click an area in the background and the Magic Wand will make a selection
around the image. If the “marching ants” selection goes into the main design,
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Chapter 3 - Software Overview
change the Tolerance on the Property Bar.
The default is 32.
Depending upon the variations and
gradients in the background, it may
require some trial and error with Tolerance
settings and several selections before the
background is completely removed.
If the fi rst click of the Magic Wand does not
get all the unwanted areas, you can add to
the selection by holding down the [Shift] key
and clicking another area. You can subtract
from the selection by holding down the [Alt] key and clicking on a
area.
Photoshop and FastARTIST both have Magic Wand tools (it looks
like a wand with a sparkler on the end.)
Using the Extract Filter
Photoshop also has a Filter called
Extract. This will allow you to draw
around an image and fi ll the center with
color. Photoshop then removes all the
areas around the image, leaving you
with a transparent background. Extract
does a decent job, but the Magic Wand
is the preferred method.
Keep in mind, the Magic Wand and Extractfi lters perform best
when the background is a solid color and not a gradient.
Making Your Selection a New Layer
The goal behind all this is to get your main image on a layer with a transparent
background. (This will show as gray and white checks all around the image).
With a transparent background, you can add additional elements to the image
including text, drop shadows, glows and more.
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Fixing Bad Line-Art in Photoshop
and FastARTIST
You may also use a bitmap editing program
to improve the quality of line-art. Earlier we
covered fi le resolution, noting how a low
resolution fi le will have very jagged edges.
By simply upsampling a fi le to a much higher
resolution you will have less of a jagged
effect, but a softer edge. For Black and
White images, you will want to upsample
and then apply a Tone Curve to make edges
Black and White without any “gray” areas. This process is available in FastARTIST,
Photoshop, CorelDRAW and Adobe Illustrator.
Important Point
IImmppoorrttaanntt PPooiinntt
You must take ownership of fi xing bad artwork. If the fi le is provided
in a pixel based format like TIFF, PSD, JPG, GIF, etc., you can’t assume it is bright,
sharp, of high resolution and ready to print. You must check the resolution and
upsample the fi le if necessary. Make adjustments if it needs sharpness or boost
color saturation if the fi le is dull. Lighten the fi le if it seems too dark because the
image may print even darker!
Artwork for Light and Dark Garments
To set up artwork properly, it is imperative to know fi rst onto what color garment
the image is to be printed. This will then determine if the image background
needs to be transparent, White, Black, or in some cases both Black and White.
For Light colored garments, the T-Jet3 PLUS will print the image just as it appears,
but it does not print the White. Printing in color without an Underbase is the
easiest form of garment printing.
If you require White in the image, it will be necessary to Underbase the image.
Therefore, Dark colored garments will always require an Underbase that allows
the colors to “stand off” the garment.
Please keep in mind, this section is intended only as a brief Overview and
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Chapter 3 - Software Overview
Introduction into the world of software and graphics applications. Chapters 6,
8 and 9 of your FastARTIST User’s Manual covers the fi le setup process in-depth,
including how to prepare fi les for printing onto both Light and Dark shirts. For
step-by-step instructions and additional Hints and Tips, please refer to the
FastARTIST User’s Manual.
Epson Driver Installation
In addition to a graphics application to create and modify artwork and a RIP to
process the art and turn it into an image on a garment, you will need a Printer
Driver. A Printer Driver is the basic software needed to make any printer function.
For your T-Jet3 PLUS to operate properly, you will need to download the most
current version for the Epson Stylus Pro 1800 available at www.epson.com.
Follow the links under the Drivers & Support section and you will be able to select
a driver compatible with your Operating System.
Windows Vista Users MUST have Administrator authority to
download and install any drivers. Additionally, you MUST
download the applicable 32 bit OR 64 bit driver based on your
Operating System, NOT your processor. These drivers are NOT
interchangeable.
The T-Jet3 PLUS is a highly modifi ed version of the Epson 1800 with hundreds of
additional parts not provided by Epson. As a result, the T-Jet3 PLUS and any
driver software is NOT supported by Epson. All support for the Epson driver and
internal Epson components will come from XV.
If you have any concerns installing the driver, contact our Support Department
and they will gladly walk you through the process.
Printer Driver Installation Steps
1. Like any inkjet printer driver installation, you fi rst need to
extract the fi le. Double click on the zipped exe fi le.
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T-Jet3 PLUS User’s Manual
2. A security warning screen will open. Press
Run.
3. Click OK for
the Self
Extractor
Window
4. Another Self Extractor Window opens. Where
fi eld named, “Unzip to Folder” should default
to your “C” drive or Local disk and unzip in a
folder named Epson. Do not change
anything here unless it defaults to a different
location. If it reads a different location, press
browse and make a folder named “Epson” on
your local disk. Click Unzip.
5. This window confi rms that the
fi les were unzipped
successfully.
Click OK
6. When the Epson Printer Utility Setup
window opens, click OK.
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7. Click Accept to accept the
License Agreement.
8. The Utility Setup will
begin and will start
copying the
necessary fi les.
9. A Software Installation warning screen will
appear. Click Continue Anyway.
10. The last screen is a screen that will auto-detect
your printer. Make sure that your T-Jet is
connected to the printer using the USB cord.
Power on the printer and the Epson Printer Utility •
will auto detect it and fi nalize the installation
process.
Click the start menu, then click Settings>Printers •
and Faxes. From here you can manage your
printers etc.
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The T-Jet3 PLUS is a highly modifi ed versions of the Epson R1800 with hundreds
of additional parts not provided by Epson. As a result, your T-Jet and any driver
software is NOT supported by Epson. All support for the Epson driver and internal
Epson components will come from XV.
If you have any concerns installing the driver, contact our Support Department
and they will gladly walk you through the process.
Disabling the Status Monitor
For optimal Fast T-Jet3 performance you will need to ensure no Epson monitoring
services are running. To turn this service off, please perform the following
procedures after installing the Epson R1800 printer drivers and connecting the
USB cable to the PC.
Locate your task bar and or a small printer icon.1.
yypp
2. Right-click on the printer icon and select
Monitoring Preferences. In the dialogue
box that appears, uncheck everything in
this window.
You will now no longer see the printer icon 3.
within the taskbar. The Status Monitor has
been disabled.
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Chapter 4
Printing Basics
Your T-Jet3 PLUS is very
YoYourur T T-J-Jetet3 3 PLPLUSUS i is s veveryry
easy to use. Simply create
eaeasysy t to o ususe.e. S Simimplply y crcreaeatete
an image in your favorite
anan i imamagege i in n yoyourur f favavororitite e
graphics program, load a
shirt on the printer, choose
the appropriate Print Mode
(printer resolution, number
of passes and how much
White ink to deposit), and
press the Print button. Voila!
Instant shirt! By now you
know many of the basic
parts of the printer. The
following section contains
more in-depth information
on the T-Jet3 PLUS.
Control Panel Overview
Power Button
The Power button turns the printer on and off only when
the main power switch is turned on. The main power switch
is located next to the AC cord.
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TT
yy
TT
Passes
The Passes button selects the number of Underbase print passes
TT
or double passes of color that are to be made. The desired
number (1-7) may be selected by repeatedly pressing the button
until the required setting is reached. The appropriate number will
then be displayed by the LED just to the left of the Passes button. When a Job is
complete, the PassesCounter resets to “1.”
Ink Button
The Ink button is used for two different functions. The fi rst function is
used to unseat the Print Carriage from the Capping Station. This allows
you to remove or reset the Bulk Ink Cartridges’ smart chips, clean the
Encoder Strip or Capping Station or install cleaning cartridges. Press the Ink
button once and the Print Carriage will unseat from the Capping Station and
move slightly to the left. Pressing the button again will cause the Print Carriage
to move back onto the Capping Station and lock in place. DO NOT hold down
the Ink button to perform this function.
The second function of the Ink button is to initiate Head Cleanings. If you depress
the Ink button for more than 3 seconds, the T-Jet3 PLUS will initiate a Head
Cleaning cycle.
Load Button/Load Light
The Load button moves the Print Bed to the ready position in
TT
preparation for printing.
Eject Button
The Eject button moves the Print Bed into two different positions: Eject 1
and Eject 2
Eject 1• (Press the Eject button once)
Is the fi rst step in unloading a garment that has been
printed.
Warning: DO NOT load or unload garments from the Eject 1 position. This could damage the printer and void the manufacture’s warranty.
Eject 2• (Press the Eject button a second time while in the
Eject 1 position)
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Chapter 4 - Printing Basics
TT
TT
bb
isis
This completes the process of clearing the Print Bed from the printer. Only
in this position is it safe to Load or Unload a garment from the Shirtboard.
Error Button
This button is for Technical Support use only.
Low Ink Indicator lights
The Low Ink Indicator lights identify the status of corresponding ink cartridges.
The three Status modes are:
Off – Cartridge is operating normally ▪
Flashing – Cartridge needs to be reset by pressing the ▪Ink button.
Solid – Cartridges will need to be to be reset within the Print Carriage. If ▪you have any SOLID ink lights, you must remove all the Bulk Ink Cartridges,
including the Chip Blocks, to reset the smart chips.
Power Light
The Power light remains solid when printer is on.
Load Light
The Load Light indicates the status of the printer either by fl ashing or remaining
solid.
Flashing – Printer is currently in use or processing an image for print. ▪
Solid – Printer is ready and awaiting a print task.▪
Note: The Load Light will remain ON except when processing an image or
printing.
When the Load light is fl ashing DO NOT send a job to the printer. The printer will get confused and require you to turn it OFF and then
back ON in order to clear the error. Always wait until the Load light
is solid red before executing a print command.
All Ink Lights Flashing + Ink Button and Error Light
A fatal printer error has occurred. The printer must be completely shut OFF,
including the Main Power Switch. Manually move the Print Bed inward, centering
within the Printer Assembly, and turn the printer power ON.
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Ink Light and Error Light (alternating) Flashing Fast
The printer thinks the Waste Tank is Full. This will only happen after the printer
reaches approximately 15,000 prints. Open FastRIP and go to Printers > Printer
Properties, or click on the last icon in the toolbar that says Print status and
settings. Click on the Reset Ink Pad Counter button and the error should clear in
approximately 10 seconds.
Support Hours
Toll Free +1 888-MYTJETS (698-5387)
Technical Support +1 480-929-2937
Corp. Offi ce +1 480-929-0640
Fax +1 480-929-0766
Email: support@usscreen.com
Internet: www.screenprinters.net Click on the Support tab.
Support hours: 7:00am to 6:00pm Monday through Friday
9:00am to 3:00pm Saturday
(Mountain Standard Time) USA
Note: Arizona does not observe “Daylight Savings Time.”
Basic Steps for Printing a Shirt
OK, the time has come. You have installed the Bulk Ink System, you have
created a image in your favorite graphics program and now you are ready
to ruin a few shirts. Yes, we did say ruin a few shirts. Be warned, there is a slight
learning curve to printing a shirt and you must get over the fact some will get
ruined.
When printing an image, you must be aware of print placement- This includes
reconciling what you see in your graphics application Page with where the
image will sit on the shirt. Your printer will also need to be “broken in” a little.
When you fi rst install the Bulk System, there is a chance not all the inks are fl owing yet. You won’t really know this until you have done a print or two, or a
Nozzle Check. Therefore, you should start off by using clean rag shirts, or just
accept the fact that you will ruin a few new shirts and buy some extras. Your fi rst
print may NOT be a winner, but after you have printed a few shirts you will feel
like an old pro.
Just remember, it is ONLY a shirt. Even when you HAVE become a seasoned pro,
ruined shirts are a fact of life in the garment decorating industry.
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Chapter 4 - Printing Basics
Power ON your T-Jet3 PLUS. The Print Bed should be fully extended (• Eject 2).
DO NOT move the Print Bed by hand. (Refer to Chapter 2 for images of the
Eject and Load positions)
Shirts can be full of lint and some shirts have more lint than others. Lint is NOT•
your friend. It can get on key components inside the T-Jet3 PLUS, affecting print quality and printer operation. For best results grab a blank shirt by the
shoulder seams and give it a little shake before you lay it on the Shirtboard.
This will actually help remove wrinkles as well.
Loading a Garment onto the Shirtboard
The T-Jet3 PLUS Shirtboard consists of an adjustable
aluminum base and a non-slip padded surface.
Lay the shirt over the Shirtboard as shown on the
right. Again, please check to make sure that
the collar of the garment is at the top of the
Shirtboard.
Smooth out the garment over the printing surface and fold the remaining
garment under the Shirtboard. Ensure any excess garment is folded under the
Shirtboard.
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Check Garment Height Clearance
Use the Maximum Height Adjustment Bar as a guide to ensure your garments
do not exceed the minimum Print Head clearance. Adjust the Shirtboard height
as necessary to prevent a head strike. Use this Bar as a reference, but remove
before printing.
Key Points for Printing
KK
As a T-Jet3 PLUS operator, one of the most important aspects of the printing ¾
AATT JJ tt33¾¾
process is to check, re-check and re-check again the clearance of the garments in relation to the Print Head. The number 1 reason Print Heads are
damaged is because this step is not taken seriously until the Print Head needs
to be replaced. Should the Print Head brush against, or strike, a garment while printing, this will render the Print Head unusable. Pretreatment from the garment will permanently clog the Nozzles and a collision between the
Print Head and the garment may not only damage the Print Head but the Print Carriage as well.
:HDUH not responsible for any damage caused in this manner.
The desired clearance is 1/8” or 3mm but no less than that. Proper clearance ¾
must be maintained so that the garment and Print Head do not touch.
The ¾Load Light must be solid before sending a Print command. If a Print
command is sent while the Load light is blinking, the machine will need to be
powered OFF to reset.
When creating graphics in your graphics program using a standard ¾Page
Setup, the upper left corner of the image is the “zero” point in relation to the
Shirtboard. You should always create artwork using the same Page Size as the Shirtboard. The standard Shirtboard is 13” x 18” (33 x 56cm).
The T-Jet3 PLUS has a sensor that will stop the machine if its beam is broken by ¾
a garment or Shirtboard. If the Load button is fl ashing, there is somethingin the way. Remove the obstruction and completely power OFF the machine,
including the main power switch. Clear the print job from the Queue and then power the machine back ON.
The sensor light turns from ¾AmberAmber and Green to solid Green when there is an
obstruction.
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Chapter 4 - Printing Basics
22
Prepare Your Artwork for Printing
Create or choose the artwork to print from within your favorite graphics 1.
application (FastARTIST preferred).
Make sure the image is the correct •
physical size and that you have placed
it in your graphics program on a Pagethat is the same size as the Shirtboard you
will be using.
The easiest way to get the correct print •
placement is to work on a 13” x
18” (33 x 45.7cm) Page as your layout. If you
need to print an image that
is wider than 13” (33cm), you can rotate
the image in your graphics program and load the shirt
sideways onto the Shirtboard (90º clockwise).
When working within FastARTIST, select the • Page Size from the Layout > Page Size window. You will also use this template when importing images.
You must also set the Page Size within FastRIP. Within FastARTIST, go to
File > FastRIP Setup and select the applicable value.
Mode. There are a wide variety of Print Modes in the FastRIP software. Print
Modes give you the advantage of printing higher quality images (slower
speed) when needed or to print low quality simple Spot Color images (faster
speed) when needed.
You are now ready to print! Select the 3. Print command from your graphics
application and choose T-Jet3 PLUS as your printer.
Select the appropriate Print 2.
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A Word about Resolutions, Speed and Quality
The resolution you choose will not only determine print quality, but print speed as
well. If you use a lower resolution Print Mode, you will achieve a much faster print
speed, but may not get the quality needed for photo images. Lower resolutions
apply fewer ink dots per inch, which allows the Print Head to move much faster.
If you use higher resolution Print Modes, you will notice a decrease in print speed
but an improvement in image quality. A higher DPI increases print quality by
increasing the density of the dots per inch. Therefore, we recommend a lower
resolution for cartoon images, but a higher resolution for photo type images.
Print Modes and FastRIP
Listed below are a list of print modes available with T-Jet printers and
FastRIP, but with the T-Jet3 PLUS all this is not necessary. We have
simplifi ed using the T-jet3 with the PLUS model to a simple 1440 print
mode.
CMYK Cartoon and Photo Print Modes
The T-Jet3 PLUS has three basic modes for printing – Cartoon, Photo, and
Underbase. The Cartoon and Photo Print Modes will print the image in color
when printing from FastARTIST or any other graphics program. These two modes
were created to adjust print characteristics based on the image to be printed. If
you are printing vector graphics with spot color, use the Cartoon Print Modes. If
you are printing photo-type bitmap images, use the Photo Print Modes.
Cartoon Print Modes are designed to:
Lay down more ink with good color saturation•
be used for non-critical images•
allow a lower DPI to be selected•
Photo Print Modes are designed to:
Lay down less ink with highly accurate colors•
reproduce an extremely detailed image•
utilize a higher DPI to ensure good print quality•
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Chapter 4 - Printing Basics
Eight Color Print Modes
The T-Jet3 PLUS also supports Eight Color Print Modes that utilize the additional
colors of Red, Green, Blueand Orange in place of the four White ink. This
confi guration of inks cannot be used to print on dark garments, however when
printed on light garments, the additional colors create vibrant hues that add an
exciting dimensionality to your fi nal output.
The Eight Color Bulk Ink System is an optional confi guration. If your
printer is not equipped with the necessary inks and supplies, you
may purchase these accessories from XV
Refer to Chapter 7 of your FastARTIST User’s Manual for
details on Ink Line placement.
Underbase Print Modes
These Underbase Print Modes may only be selected from within FastARTIST. With
Cartoon and Photo Print Modes available in three different resolutions, you have
the ability to select the proper mode to match your graphic image. For dark
shirts try using the 1440 DPI Print Mode to achieve a stronger, more consistent
Underbase. This is due to the fact that the higher resolution will dispense more ink
at a slower speed, creating an extremely even coverage. If you are printing on
lighter colored shirts, it may not be necessary to print such a strong Underbase720 DPI may work better.
Windows Underbase
Windows Underbase Print Modes are used when printing from graphics programs
such as Adobe Photoshop, CorelDRAW, or Adobe Illustrator. There are four Print
Mode options and each is available in different resolutions. Bi-directional is also
offered for each Print Mode as well.
Select the Image modes when printing a bitmap, raster or gradient image. This
also applies when printing a gradient image in a Vector program. Anytime you
have a gradient in any image, Image modes must be used.
Vector modes should be selected when printing solid vector images. You will
also be able to print White areas as a “Highlight White” on the color pass only if
you use Named Spot Colors and apply the Named Color White.
Heavy/Normal Underbase changes the intensity of the Underbase. The Heavy
Underbase modes use a preset that applies more ink in dark and light areas
then the NormalUnderbase modes. Because Underbasing is such a crucial part
of image quality, we recommend trying out the different print modes to get a
general understanding of the difference between each one.
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Because Underbasing is such a crucial part of image quality, we recommend
you familiarize yourself with the different Print Modes to get better understanding
of the uses for each one.
For a complete list of the various CMYK, Eight Color and Underbase Print Modes
available, please refer to Chapter 7 of your FastARTIST User’s Manual.
When A Printing Job is Finished
After your T-Jet3 PLUS fi nishes printing, 1.
the Print Bed will eject from the unit
(ensure the Bed is in the Eject 2 position
by pressing the Eject button again).
For brighter prints, double print the
image by pressing the Load button
and printing from the application a
second time. For higher production,
set the number of Pages to print to a
high quantity or choose a 2-pass Print
Mode.
Keep in mind, if you tell the application to print dozens of copies, FastRIP
might build a very large print fi le that will slow down your computer.
2. Carefully remove the shirt from the Shirtboard for curing.
3. Finished prints must be heat cured to fully set the ink. Use a conveyor dryer or
a Heat Press.
Curing Your Garments
CCuurriinngg YYoouurr GGaarrmmeennttss
Finished prints must be heat cured to fully set the ink. Use a conveyor dryer or a
Heat Press with the following settings:
Light Garments
(With or without using FastBRIGHT)
Cure Time: Approximately 60-90 seconds
with medium to heavy pressure.
Cure Temp: 330°F (166°C)
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Chapter 4 - Printing Basics
4949
Dark Garments
(Using FastINK Pretreatment solution)
Cure Time: Approximately 180-240 seconds
with medium to heavy pressure.
Cure Temp: 330°F (166°C)
For areas of greater humidity or where shirts are very
damp after printing, try increasing the curing temperature to 350°F and curing
time to 120 seconds.
Important Point
All curing times and temperatures ARE RECOMMENDED STARTING
POINTS.
Shirts may scorch if cured too long. A Heat Press will provide a
more even cure and, when printing with White ink, you will see less
shirt fi bers through the ink.
Before doing your fi rst production run, it is important that you do a
test washing for proper cure. Variables such as climate (humidity)
and the amount of ink used on a shirt can extend cure times.
Certain garment fabrics may also require more time. You will have
to fi nd the cure time that works best for your location and Print
Mode preferences.
You should ALWAYS do periodic wash tests as well as test the temperature of
your dryer or Heat Press using an infrared heat gun or Temperature Test Strips.
If using a conveyor dryer, use a very slow belt and make sure the garment lies
fl at. If using a Heat Press, set the pressure to 70 or 80% of maximum (60 PSI). You
should clamp the heating element down directly onto the print with a piece of
paper or a Tefl on pad over the print. You can also use a baking pan liner for this
purpose.
You will probably scorch a shirt or two doing temperature tests, but this is normal
in the garment decorating business.
Some shirts might show a slight discoloration if you use a Heat Press to cure
the print. (This is most often seen in Red and medium to dark colors other than
Black.) This discoloration will usually go away when the shirt cools or when the
shirt is washed.
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How to Use the Print Pass Counter
The Print Pass Counter makes it easier to make multiple passes of
the Top Colors when printing on dark shirts. Without the Counter
you would need to stay by the machine and press the Load
button each time a print pass is completed. With the Counter, you
can set it for the number of passes and prepare the next shirt for printing. When
printing light garments, you must use a two pass Print Mode in combination with
the print passes counter.
Press the Passes button until it indicates the desired number of passes, then
press the Load button to load the garment. If you are doing a quantity of shirts
with the same design, set the number of copies you will need in FastRIP. After
the shirt loads (the Load light will stop blinking), send the Print command from
FastRIP. When the shirt is completed, press the Eject button 2x to fully eject the
Print Bed. Remove the fi rst shirt and load the next shirt. Reset the Passes button
to the desired number of passes and press the Load button again. Continue this
process until your run is fi nished.
Remember, the Print Pass Counter will default to 1 with the completion of each
garment.
Printing From Various Graphic Programs
Printing from Adobe Photoshop
When printing a design from Photoshop, FastRIP will determine which
components of the image are pure White and confi gure the output so that
those areas do not receive an Underbase (RGB 255,255,255 or CMYK 0,0,0,0).
If you wish to override these settings, set these areas to a slight tint of off-White
(RGB 254,254,254 or CMYK 1,1,1,1).
In this fi rst example, arrows identify that
the “N” in California has been set to
RGB 254,254,254, meaning that it will
print White.
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The arrows in this second example show
that the background is set to RGB
255,255,255, making the background
transparent when printing with FastRIP.
Color Management must be turned OFF
before sending the image to print. Color
Management is found in the Print with
Preview window. Go to File > Print with
Preview. For more information and
instructions on how to Print from
Photoshop, refer to Chapter 9 of your
FastARTIST User’s Manual.
Chapter 4 - Printing Basics
Printing from CorelDRAW – Design Setup
When designing in CorelDRAW, set areas where no Underbase is desired as pure
White (RGB 255,255,255 or CMYK 0,0,0,0). To print an area as White, set the area
to a slight tint of off-White (RGB 254,254,254 or CMYK 1,1,1,1).
In this fi rst example, the selected area
is set to CMYK 1,1,1,1, which is
recognized as White and will receive
an Underbase when printed through
FastRIP.
When working with vector images, if you use Named Spot Colors, use the Spot Color White and FastRIP will create a Highlight White when it prints the Top Color
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u
o
e
pass. This means an Underbase will be
applied and then Highlight White will
printed in conjunction with the Top
Colors. In this example, the arrow is
identifying the use of spot White.
Printing from Adobe Illustrator
When designing in Adobe Illustrator, set areas where no Underbase is desired as
pure White (RGB 255,255,255 or CMYK 0,0,0,0). To print an area as White, set the
area to a slight tint of off-White (RGB 254,254,254 or CMYK 1,1,1,1).
(For best res
assembly sh
clean and fr
dried ink or d
In this example, the selected area is
not a pure White (RGB 254,254,254),
meaning that the image will print
White.
When working with vector images, if you use Named Spot Colors, use the Spot Color White and FastRIP will create a Highlight White when it prints the Top Color
pass.
This means an Underbase will be
applied and then Highlight White will
be printed in conjunction with the Top
Colors. In this example, the arrow is
identifying the use of spot White.
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lts the cap
uld be
e of any
ebris).
Chapter 4 - Printing Basics
For more information on designing and printing vector or bitmap
images, Spot Colors and gradients, consult your FastARTIST User’s
Manual and the Help sections of your graphics application.
Quick Printing Tips
You should perform a Head Cleaning if you experience one of the following •
conditions:
If streaks appear in the print ▪
If small drops of ink appear on▪the garment outside of the
printed image
If the unit has been sitting for a ▪
few days
If the Print Head strikes a ▪
garrment.
Press the Ink button for three seconds to initiate a Head Cleaning cycle. You
may do this in the middle of a print job if necessary. If you experience severe
head clogs you can do a number of Head Cleanings back-to-back using the
Epson utility.
If you have been printing a lot of shirts, you may have to manually wipe•
the bottom of the head to remove cotton lint.
The best way to check print quality is to do a Nozzle Check from the Epson •
Adjustment Utilities Program. Refer to Chapter 7 for more information.
Spots or ink stains must be removed BEFORE the print is cured by using a •
standard Spot Removal gun. Make sure to NOT spray the wet print. Once the
ink is cured it is almost impossible to remove spots or smudges.
Prints can be laundered as normal. If possible, give the customer washing•
instructions of: Turn print inside out before washing or drying. Use Cold Water Only and a Medium Dryer Temperature.
You can expect a little fading with the fi rst washing. This is normal and very •
similar to what you would get from a screen printed shirt. If you experience
a lot of fading, make sure to check your dryer temperature. If the shirts are
damp from excess humidity, you should put them under the heat press for a
few seconds to dry out before printing.
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Chapter 4 - Printing Basics
Production Rates and Ink Costs
The chart on the following page shows the average production rates and ink
costs you can expect when using your T-Jet3 PLUS. Each image is different and
the Print Mode and resolution you choose will also have an effect on these
fi gures. Ink costs might vary from this chart. The ink prices are based on the
current prices the summer of 2006 and are in US Dollars.
The following chart is also available online at www.screenprinters.net > Support >
T-Jet3 > Downloads.
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Chapter 5
ff
eaeasese c cononsusu
Advanced Printing with White Ink
This Chapter of the Manual is designed to provide a brief
Overview of the process for printing White ink
onto a T-Shirt or other garment. Please consult
your FastARTIST User’s Manual for more detailed
instructions and specifi c Hints and Tips.
Please DO NOT attempt to print ANY image until you
have read and familiarized yourself with FastARTIST and
FastRIP, including their uses and capabilities.
The process of printing White ink onto a Dark garment
was not an easy one to develop. Because the
openings in Print Heads are so small, one can’t use
thick ink like standard Screen Print Plastisol. Printing White
ink on a Fast T-Jet3 PLUS was made possible by a combination of:
Very special ink that took over a year to develop•
A software print driver called FastRIP that allows the printer to dispense more •
ink than originally designed
o of f ththe e MaManunualal i is s dedesisigngneded t to o prprovovidide e a a brbrieie
ththe e prprococesess s fofor r prprinintitingng W Whihitete i inknk
o or r ototheher r gagarmrmenent.t. PlPl
’
’
ltlt
A software package called FastARTIST•
highlight White fi les
A revolutionary Pretreatment that allows the ink to set on top of the garment •
and remain White.
that creates special Underbase and
White Ink Warnings and Care
Your Fast T-Jet3 PLUS is shipped with the latest innovation in textile
ink- FastINK Bright White. This ink is the best in the industry at
producing bright Whites and brilliant Highlights.
We recommend that as part of your daily routine you agitate the
White Bulk Ink Bottle in the beginning and ending of each day. Do
this regularly and you will have no settling concerns.
As a weekly practice, vigorously shake the ink you may have on
the shelf for about a minute. This will help keep the pigment of the
white in suspended and will give you great white prints. The white
ink has a shelf life of 6 months.
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tt
Pretreatment Basics
The Pretreatment solution is a milky colored, odorless and non toxic liquid. A
chemical reaction between the Pretreatment and the White ink causes the
ink’s pigments to stay on top of the garment and not be absorbed by the
textile fi bers. Because of these reactive chemicals, it is CRITICAL the Print Head
does not touch a pretreated garment - even one that has been dried! You
should also have good ventilation in the area where you are applying the
Pretreatment. If possible, pretreat garments in another room entirely.
You MUST NOT spray Pretreatment near the printer. In fact, you
should pretreat shirts in a separate room entirely to prevent any
overspray from getting inside the Fast T-Jet3 PLUS . If using another
room is not possible, a large cardboard box enclosure is a good
substitute for applying Pretreatment.
Important Point
IImmppoorrttaanntt PPooiinntt
Your printer has a smart chip for each ink cartridge. These chips count the
number of drops of ink dispensed in order to warn you when the cartridge is
empty. Normally, you should never run out of ink before the chip “thinks” you are
out, since turning the printer ON or OFF resets the chip to read “Full.” However,
when printing with White ink, it does not take much ink usage before the chip
tells the printer it is “Out.” If this happens DURING a printing pass, the printer may
stop printing and the red lights on one, or all three, of the white colors will be ON.
If you turn the printer off during this process you will lose the job and ruin a shirt.
Reset the chip(s) by using the process described in Chapter 2 (pages 19-20).
Another option is to turn the printer OFF and back ON again between jobs so that
the chips will always read as “Full.”
Applying Pretreatment
AAppppllyyiinngg PPrreettrreeaattmmeenn
It is essential the Pretreatment solution be applied evenly to ensure a great
t
t i is s esessesentntiaial l ththe e PrPretetrereatatmementnt s sololututioion n bebe a apppplilieded e evevenlnly y toto e ensnsurure e a a grgreaeat t
looking print (free from light and dark spots) on a Black garment. You can use
manual spray pumps, weed sprayers or any other method you feel comfortable
with to apply a uniform coating of FastINK Pretreatment. However, we strongly
suggest the use of a Control Spray Gun (commonly used to paint a porch deck
or furniture et al). Your Fast T-Jet3 PLUS kit includes a Wagner Control Spray
Gun. (If you purchased your printer outside of the USA, your machine may NOT
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Chapter 5 - Advanced Printing with White Ink
WARNING
include the control sprayer. These guns are fairly
inexpensive ($70 USD at home improvement stores.)
However, these are not designed for high volume
work, therefore you should keep an extra gun handy
as backup.
Cleaning the gun is simple and should be done on a
regular basis to extend the life of your sprayer. Just fi ll
up the storage bottle with water and run it through
the gun as you would normally dispense any other
solution.
Types of Pretreatment
Currently we offer three types of Pretreatment-FastINK Textile Pretreatment,
FastBRIGHT Textile Pretreatment and FastCOLOR Textile Pretreatment:
FastINK Pretreatment #1 is specifi cally designed for use on • Dark
colored garments, allowing for extremely bright Whites and vibrant
colors. FastINK Pretreatment should only be used with medium to
dark colored garments due to possible discoloration of light shirts
when exposed to direct sunlight.
FastBRIGHT•
Pretreatment works extremely well with light colored
garments and images that have an Underbase. Using FastBRIGHT
creates vibrant images with rich, deep Blacks and Reds that will
not discolor when exposed to direct sunlight.
FastCOLOR reduces cure times while GREATLY increasing the color•
brilliance and washability of your print. This pretreatment is designed
for use with images on light colored shirts and containing NO White
ink.
WARNING
DO NOT mix any of the Pretreatments together or the result will be
ruined shirts.
Proper Pretreatment Application
All of our Pretreatments are specially formulated
liquids that prevent ink pigments from being
absorbed by the fabric of a garment. When
applying a Pretreatment solution, do not saturate
the garment!
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IMPORTANT POINT
You don’t want the shirt to be soaking wet. Move
the spray gun from side to side in even strokes. Light
shirts only require a misting back and forth, but Black
and other dark colors will need a slightly heavier
application. Don’t worry, the proper amount of
Pretreatment needed is something that you will get the
hang of with repetition. Please note, if you miss a spot
or apply the Pretreatment in an uneven spray, it will be
noticeable in the fi nal print.
Dry the Pretreatment using a hair dryer, Heat Press
or conveyor dryer. When using a Heat Press, use a
non-silicone Pretreatment paper (available from XV
) to protect the garment. If you use a silicone
based paper, it will seal the Pretreatment on the shirt
surface and the White ink may not stick well enough.
You may use a Quillon treated baking pan liner to
dry the Pretreatment. However, if the paper sticks to the Pretreatment after you
are done pretreating the shirt, you may have applied too much Pretreatment
or the heat press is set for too much pressure! Standard “butcher paper” or
“brown Kraft paper” can also be used as a heat press protector when drying the
Pretreatment. Clamp the press down with medium pressure for 8 to 10 seconds
when drying Pretreatment at 330°F.
Some users have reported slightly better wash durability if you spray the shirt with
water BEFORE spraying it with Pretreatment.
IMPORTANT POINT Too much Pretreatment may cause poor wash durability.
When printing, ink will tend to cling to any loose fi bers sticking
up from the shirt. When using a White Underbase, it is possible for
these fi bers to become saturated and show through any color
that has been applied. This is why we
recommend the use of a Heat Press with
light pressure before the print to fl atten to
fi bers properly. A conveyor dryer or similar
method of drying the Pretreatment will not fl atten the fi bers and may result in a lower quality print.
We recommend taking a look at the
AutoTREAT Express and PRO Pretreatment Centers.
These machines make pretreating a garment very easy
and apply a perfect application every time.
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Chapter 5 - Advanced Printing with White Ink
Yellow
Printing White Ink
Reminder: If the printer has been unused for a few days, perform two or three
regular Head Cleaning cycles to get the White ink fl owing properly.
When printing with White ink, it is very important you set up the fi le correctly in 1.
FastARTIST. When Underbasing solid, Spot Color images, generally you’ll print
solid White ink and then follow that print with the colors. Underbasing Spot Color vector images is as simple as one click of the mouse in FastARTIST. If the
image has White as part of the design, a second pass of White is made at the
same time as the other colors. This second pass of White is called a Highlight
and it boosts the brightness of the White.
When printing photorealistic images, you will need to run a special routine 2.
called the Underbase Wizard. This feature of FastARTIST will create a separate
piece of artwork that FastRIP will use to print an Underbase of White ink. When
printing a photorealistic image, the Underbase is NOT solid White but instead
it is Grayscale. Grayscale consists of light and dark areas that give the image
dimensionality. This is the art to printing bright and soft prints on Dark garment.
You must tell FastRIP what 3. Print Modes to use for both the White ink and Top
Colors. Once you have made these selections, they can be used again for
other jobs. For Dark shirts you can get very good “Screen Print” quality White
if you select a 1440 DPI PrintMode for the Underbase. For the top colors of
Cyan, Magenta,
Mode.
For medium colored shirts, use a 720 DPI Print Mode (faster than 1440 DPI) 4.
for the White ink Underbase. In some cases, very light colored shirts may not
even need a White Underbase. These images can be printed using just CMYK
and Highlight White to save time.
We recommend you DO NOT mix Print Modes. You will notice that
certain Print Modes contain a ‘HS” or “HS (Bi-Directional)” while the
standard Print Modes contain neither. DO NOT use standard Print
Modes in conjunction with HS Print Modes. The result may lead to
registration issues and ruined prints. Please note that this warning is
not referring to print resolution, i.e. 720 or 1440 DPI. Print resolutions
can be mixed and matched as needed. If you are not sure how
different Print Modes work together, do a test print before doing
a production run. For more information on Print Modes, refer to
Chapter 4 of this Manual
Yellow, Black and the Highlight White, choose a 720 DPI Print
Cure the print. Carefully remove the shirt from the Shirtboard and cure the 5.
print. Keep in mind, White ink will need to be cured longer than standard
colors. Cure in a conveyor dryer or Heat Press. (See page 59- CuringYour
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88
Garments for specifi c details)
If using a Heat Press, place a silicone treated
piece of parchment paper (a common
baking pan liner) over the print and close the
press. When you open the press, peel the
paper immediately. The paper can be used a
number of times before it becomes too
wrinkled to use.
You will only use the silicone treated paper for curing after the entire print •
has been completed. You risk ruining a shirt if you use silicone paper in the
Pretreatment phase.
If you want a glossy print, use a standard Tefl on pad rather than silicone •
treated parchment when curing the print in a Heat Press. Tefl on pads are
available from most Heat Press manufacturers.
Important Point
IImmppoorrttaanntt PPooiinntt
When printing gradient images with White ink, you should have two
versions of the artwork. One version will have a White background
and the other will have a Black background. These two fi les can
be created in Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, CorelDRAW or even in
FastARTIST. If you use another program, simply save or export the
fi les as a JPEG fi le at 250 DPI resolution for the fi nal print size and
Import these fi les into FastARTIST.
There is an excellent video tutorial on Underbasing with Two Versions of the
Artwork on the T-Jet Support page.
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Chapter 5 - Advanced Printing with White Ink
g g
Washing Directions
For the longest lasting print, the shirt should be turned inside out, washed in
COLD water and dried on delicate. If possible, include washing directions with
the fi nished print.
When you apply the Pretreatment correctly and choose the proper Print Modes,
you will get very detailed bright prints like these!
White Ink Troubleshooting & Maintenance
Concern: White prints seem dull
Solution 1: You may not be applying enough Pretreatment or not using a 1440
DPI print mode.
Solution 2: The Print Head may be clogged. If you had bright White prints before
and they now seem dull, you probably have clogged nozzles. Due to the nature
of the White pigment, you may experience more head clogs than normal. These
can easily be cleared by doing two or three Head Cleaning Cycles. Perform a
Nozzle Check to be certain nozzles are fi ring properly. Always follow Chapter
12 - Daily, Weekly and Montly Maintenance. Do not skip a day.
Solution 3: The Highlight White settings in FastARTIST are wrong. You may actually
be printing White ink ON TOP of the CMYK colors. Reload the image into
FastARTIST and run the Underbase/Highlight Wizard again. Try not applying a
Highlight or toning down the Highlight.
63
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T-Jet3 PLUS User’s Manual
Solution 4: Dry ink may be causing the Print Head to not seal properly. Due to the
nature of the White ink pigment, it will build up faster on the capping station and
on the wiper blade. Dry White ink around the rim of the Capping Station will
interfere with the printer pulling ink out of the cartridge during a Head Cleaning
cycle. Use a sponge foam tipped swab and cleaning fl uid or water to clean the
areas noted below.
Perform DAILY cleaning of these items. For a complete description on cleaning
these parts, refer to Chapter 8 - Preventative Maintenance and Problem Solving.
Clean Spit Tray/Flushing BoxClean Wiper Blade
Clean Capping Station
Clean Encoder Strip
Clean Print Head Area
Do NOT touch the middle part of the
print head where the nozzles are. This
could damage your print head.
Solution 5: The Print Head is permanently clogged or damaged from lack of
maintenance. Before contacting us for a replacement or for other instructions,
check the print head to see if there is any visible ink or lint stuck to it. If so, use an
alcohol wipe (isopropyl only) and CAREFULLY wipe the bottom of the Print Head
in one direction with VERY LITTLE PRESSURE. The print nozzles are very sensitive
and can be damaged very easily. This procedure should only be completed as
a last resort to replacement. Flip the alcohol pad and repeat the process.
NOTE: You will need to release the Print Carriage and move the print head to
the middle of the machine to gain access to it.
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Chapter 6
Printing on Other Items
Printing on General Items
The T-Jet3 PLUS can print
on almost any fabric
or material and usually
you don’t even need a
clamping device. FastINK
for your T-Jet3 PLUS is a
water-based textile ink
designed to work not only
on natural fabric materials,
but also on non-textile items
such as unfi nished wood,
mouse pads, golf balls,
keyboards, light switch
covers and much more. With the help of Fast T-Jet Non-Textile Series Pre and
Post Treatments, FastINK will adhere to almost any type of surface.
If you’re printing on smaller items such as hats, golf balls or mouse pads, these
can be placed on smaller Garment Holders available as accessories for your
T-Jet3 PLUS or you can make your own. Spray adhesive or sticky Table Tack
can be placed on these special holders to keep the items from moving. Just
remember to ALWAYS check the Print Head clearance.
nn GGeenneerraall IItteemmss
U
US S cacan n prprinintt
y fafabrbricic
Shirtboards (available options)
Location and Placement
The hardest part of printing on odd size items is determining their print location.
If you are facing your T-Jet3 PLUS, the outer right edge is “zero” in your graphics
Youth / InfantStandardSleeveQuad
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T-Jet3 PLUS User’s Manual
program. You can make a Template or Custom Page Size to match the size of
your Shirtboard.
FastARTIST allows you to adjust the Page Size to match your items in the Page Setup window. You must also set the correct page size in FastRIP Setup.
FastARTIST Page Size – Go to • Layout > Page Size
FastRIP Setup – Go to • File > FastRIP Setup
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Chapter 6 - Printing on Other Items
Adjusting the Bed Height
When printing on non-textiles that require a special holder, you may need to
purchase the Non-Textile Height Adjustment Board in order to raise the specialty
holder closer to the Print Head. For the best prints, the printing surface should set
to 1/8inch (3mm) below the Print Head. If the item has a seam or excess fabric,
these areas should be lower than the main printing surface.
Ensure the garment or non-textile item does not sit closer to the
EE
Print Head than the preferred of 1/8” (3mm).
PP
Use Spray Glue, Table Tack or Double-Sided Tape to Hold Items in
Place
It may be necessary to design a special cutout from foam or other thin material
that is the same size as the printing area. You can simply spray glue this to your
normal Garment Holder or use spreadable Table Tack (available from XV
) to hold the item in place. Table Tack stays sticky for dozens, and even
hundreds of prints, and it can be “renewed” by wiping it down with a wet rag.
Special double-sided tape is also available from XV for this purpose.
Printing Baseball Caps
It’s easy to apply graphics to baseball caps, both with and without seams. When
using the optional Baseball Cap Holder, pull the sweatband out of the way,
push the cap against the spring guides and use your fi nger to press the point in
the crown down around the point on the cap holder. Stuff the excess cap under
the holder, lower the clamp and make a print. It’s worth noting, some caps will
require a little more practice to load than others. In Addition, always make sure
to check and double check the Print Head clearance. This will minimize Print
Head replacement as well as ensure better images.
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Since a cap may not fi t in a Conveyor Dryer or Heat Press for curing, a hair dryer
or industrial heat gun will also work to cure the fi nal print. You may also remove
the holder with the cap still in place and lay both under a standard Heat Press.
If you choose the latter method, DO NOT clamp down on the cap and be
extremely cautious when removing the METAL holder, it could be very HOT!
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Chapter 6 - Printing on Other Items
AA
EEININ
f
e
yy
Non-Textile Printing
Required Items and Overview
You must have the following to
successfully print on Non-Textile items:
Non-Textile Pretreatment1.
Non-Textile Post-Treatment2.
(2) Fine Bristle Brushes3.
Optional materials may be required:
Non-Textile Primer1.
A Holder for object(s) (i.e. Golf Ball Holder)2.
Non-Textile Print Modes and Templates (You can utilize the latest Non-Textile 3.
Print Modes by downloading the most recent Printer Package for your T-Jet3
PLUS from www.screenprinters.net)
CAUTION: WEAR GLOVES WHEN APPLYING AND USE WITH
ADEQUATE VENTILATION. HANDLE WITH CARE AND PROTECT
EYES WITH SAFETY GLASSES WHEN APPLYING AS A SPRAY. BEFORE
USE, CONSULT THE MATERIAL DATA SAFETY SHEET (MSDS) THAT IS
INCLUDED WITH THESE PRODUCTS
KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN
Getting Started
It is necessary to determine if the surface intended for printing will allow the
Pretreatment to stick. Certain surfaces will accept the direct application of
the Non-Textile Pretreatment, while others will require fi rst require a coat of
Non-Textile Primer. Generally, smooth surfaces such as light switches, keyboards,
lighters and gloss tiles will require an application of Non-Textile Primer before the
Non-Textile Pretreatment.
To Test: Apply a very small thin amount of Non-Textile Pretreatment to the
intended printing surface. If the Pretreatment runs off, it will be necessary to use
the Non-Textile Primer.
If this is your fi rst time using a Non-Textile Pretreatment, it is
IfI
recommended you pretreat small quantities at fi rst to familiarize
rer
yourself with the process.
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TT
aathth
nn
Fast T-Jet Non-Textile Primer
Fast T-Jet Non-Textile Primer is designed to be used on high gloss,
non-porous surfaces as a primer coat prior to the application of our
standard Fast T-Jet Non-Textile Pretreatment.
DO NOT print directly onto this product.
Protect your work surfaces with newspaper.
DIRECTIONS:
Dip a fi ne bristle brush into the Primer, wiping off any •
excess on the side of the bottle. Gently brush Primer
over the surface of the non-textile item, making sure
there are no uneven areas.
The Primer must be applied in a thin even layer to ensure optimal print •
quality.
After the application is complete, clean the brush thoroughly with hot water •
to remove all Primer residue.
This product can be sprayed on, but the application may not be as
smooth as necessary for good print reproduction. If applying with
ss
an airbrush, spray bottle or paint sprayer, you may need to dilute
the solution with water. If you dilute the Primer, two coats may be
necessary.
Clean up spills and brushes with soap and water immediately after use. •
Allow the Primer to dry thoroughly before applying the Non-Textile•
Pretreatment. Dry time will vary but can take up to one hour or more. To speed up the drying process, you may use a hair dryer, heat lamp or a heat
gun set on a low temperature setting.
A Heat Press may also be used by setting the non-textile item under the •
heating element. However, DO NOT allow the heating element to touch the
non-textile item.
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Chapter 6 - Printing on Other Items
cc
e
TT
aa
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dd
cc
Fast T-Jet Non-Textile Pretreatment
Fast T-Jet Non-Textile Pretreatment is designed for use as an inkjet ink
receptive base coat when printing directly onto non-textile materials
such as plastic, metal and wood. For increased durability of the fi nal
print use our Fast T-Jet Post-Treatment on top of the fi nal print. When
using a Fast T-Jet Inkjet-to-Garment Printer and FastINK Textile ink, you
WILL NOT need to change inks when using this product.
DIRECTIONS:
Dip a fi ne bristle brush in the Pretreatment, wiping • off any excess on the side of the bottle. Gently brush
Pretreatment over the surface of the non-textile item,
making sure there are no uneven areas. If Primer was
applied, then the entire Primer treated surface must
be covered with Pretreatment.
The Pretreatment must be applied in a thin even •
layer to ensure optimal print quality.
Use a second brush to apply Pretreatment. After the application is
complete, clean the brush thoroughly with hot water to remove all
residual Pretreatment.
rer
This product may be sprayed on, but the application may not be
as smooth as necessary for good print reproduction. If applying
with an airbrush, spray bottle or paint sprayer, you may need to
dilute the solution with water. If you dilute the Pretreatment, two
coats may be necessary.
Clean up spills and brushes with soap and water immediately after use• .
Allow the Pretreatment to dry thoroughly before applying the Non-Textile•
Pretreatment. Dry time will vary but can take up to one hour or more. To speed up the drying process, you may use a hair dryer, heat lamp or a heat
gun set on a low temperature setting.
A Heat Press may also be used by setting the non-textile item under the •
heating element. However, DO NOT allow the heating element to touch the
non-textile item.
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SSrere
pp
bb
Since the pretreatment process can take some time to dry, we
recommend you pretreat as much of the production run as
possible to avoid delays due to drying time (Do this only after
becoming profi cient with the Non-Textile Primer/Pretreatment).
Setting up an Image for Print
To setup an image for print, you must use a graphic application such as
FastARTIST, Photoshop, or CorelDRAW. Any these applications are capable of
printing to FastRIP, but for this Reference Guide we will setup the image using
FastARTIST. The steps required for printing with other graphic applications will be
very similar- please consult your application’s Owner’s Manual if needed.
Setup the printing area in which you will be printing on. To do this you will 1.
need a measuring tape and will need to measure the width and height of
the Non-Textile item. From within FastARTIST select File > FastRIP Setup.
From the 2. Setup window, select Page Setup. In
the Page Setup window, select Custom under
the Page option. Enter the Height and Width of
the Non-textile item you have measured. After
entering the values, click OK to return to the
workspace.
Select 3. Layout > Page Size. For the Page Size,
enter the Height and Width of the Non-textile
item you have measured. After entering the
values, click OK to return to the workspace.
The non-textile item dimensions will now be
represented by a black box located within the
workspace. If this is not displayed, click View >
Show Page Size to view the black box.
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Chapter 6 - Printing on Other Items
Import4. your image for printing and position the image as you would like it to
print on the non-textile item. For further details, please refer to your FastARTIST
User’s Manual.
Select 5. File > Print to FastRIP > Position the image and click on the printer icon
located in the Printer Toolbox. This will send the image to FastRIP.
Printing to FastRIP Using Adobe Photoshop
Select File > Print with Preview and click on Page Setup. Click on Printer. In
the PageSetup menu, select your Fast T-Jet printer. Click Properties. Click
Advanced. Set the Page Size. Go to the Printer Features section and select the
Print Mode menu. Scroll down and select the Color Print Mode. Drop down the
Underbase Mode menu to select the Underbase Print Mode. Set the number
of ink passes for the Underbase and Top Colors and click OK. In Document
Properties, set to Landscape or Portrait for Orientation and click OK. Click Print.
Printing to FastRIP – CorelDRAW
Go to File > Print. From the General tab, select your Fast T-Jet printer. Click
Properties. Click Advanced and set the Page Size. Go to Printer Features. Drop
down the Print Mode menu to select the Color Print Mode. Drop down the
Underbase Mode menu to select the Underbase Print Mode. Set the number
of ink passes for the Underbase and Top Colors and click OK. In Document
Properties, set to Landscape or Portrait for Orientation and click OK. Click Print.
Printing Multiple Items on the Print Bed
When printing multiple items simultaneously, you must confi gure FastARTIST or
another graphics application so that each individual image is applied in the
proper location.
The total print area of all items must be determined measuring the total 1.
length and height of all the items.
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CorC
Within FastARTIST select 2. File > FastRIP
Setup. From the Setup window, select
Page Setup. In the Page Setup window,
select Custom under the Page option.
Enter the Height and Width of the Non-
textile item you have measured. After
entering the values, click OK to return to
the workspace.
Select 3. Layout > Page Size. For the Page Size,
enter the Height and Width of the Non-textile
item you have measured. After entering the
values, click OK to return to the workspace.
The non-textile item dimensions will now be
represented by a black box located within the
workspace. If this is not displayed, click View >
Show Page Size to view the black box.
Upper Left-hand
pp
pper er LefLeft-ht-handand
Corner is 0,0
ornerner is is 0, 0,00
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Chapter 6 - Printing on Other Items
Now that the total print area has been set, you must now determine the location
for each individual image that will be printed.
Using the fi rst non-textile item that is closest 4.
to the upper left hand corner of the print
bed, measure from the left side of the print
bed to the center point where the image is
to be located (X axis). Fractions of an inch
matter, so be precise.
Logo
For reference:
1/8 = .13 1/4 = .25 3/8 = .38
1/2 = .50 5/8 = .63 3/4 = .75
Upper Left-hand CornerUppUpper er LefLeft-ht-handand Co Cornernerr
7/8 = .88
Using the same item, measure from the top 5.
of the print bed down to the bottom point
where the image should stop on the non-textile
item (Y axis). The red dotted line identifi es the
measurement taken for the bottom of the logo.
Logo
Steps 4 and 5 will give you the location in which to position the fi rst image. 6.
Using the rulers framing the FastARTIST workspace, place the image in the
proper location. You may also type in the desired location in the X/Y boxes
with the image selected.
Repeat steps 4, 5 and 6 for each of the remaining items. We recommend
measuring items starting in the upper left hand corner and moving left to right
and from top to bottom.
Setting up FastRIP
Once the Print command is given, FastRIP will open and proceed to spool the
print job.
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T-Jet3 PLUS User’s Manual
Double-click1. on the fi le in the Queue
window.
This will bring up the 2. Job Ticket Properties
window. Within the General tab, select
Max Ink. Check the Overwrite Print Mode
Max Ink Data box and change the Max Ink
Level from 400 to 300. Click OK.
Printing to Golf Balls
For printing golf balls you will need to use the optional Golf Ball Holder, Fast T-Jet
Non-Textile Pretreatment, and Fast T-Jet Non-Textile Post-Treatment. Fast T-Jet
Non-Textile Primer is not necessary.
Load the Golf Balls into the Holder and place the Overspray Shield on top of 1.
the balls. The Shield will protect areas not intended to be printed upon from
Pretreatment and overspray.
Dip a fi ne bristle brush in the Pretreatment, wiping 2.
off any excess on the side of the bottle. Gently
apply the Pretreatment to the exposed golf ball
surface, making sure there are no uneven areas.
Allow the Pretreatment to dry thoroughly before 3.
printing. Dry time will vary, but it may take up to one hour or more. To speed
up the drying process use a hair dryer, heat lamp or heat gun set on a low
temperature setting.
Golf Ball Holder Placement
Align the four holes in the base of the Golf
Ball Holder with the four pins of the Adjustable
Shirtboard base and then place into the Print Bed
without a Shirtboard. Place several golf balls within
the Holder and use the Maximum HeightBar to
make sure they maintain the proper clearance
from the Print Head when loaded. Use this Bar as a reference, but remove before printing. (Refer to
Chapter 2 of this Manual for more details).
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Chapter 6 - Printing on Other Items
Additional Instructions for Printing Non-Textiles using a T-Jet3 PLUS
The FastARTIST Golf Ball
Template for the T-Jet3 PLUS is
designed to print 1” offset from
the top and bottom of the Golf
Ball Holder. Do not place golf
balls in the fi rst and last row of
the Holder, they will not receive
an image.
Do not place golf balls in these rows
Loading Golf Ball Template (FastARTIST Only)
Go to File > Open and 1. double-click on the Golf Ball Holder Template to open.
Import2. the images or text you wish to print and place them inside of the grid
lines.
Choose a Non-Textile Print Mode. (For a list of available Non-Textile Print 3.
Modes refer to Chapter 7 of your FastARTIST User’s Manual.)
Print to FastRIP.4.
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Finish with Fast T-Jet Non-Textile Post-Treatment
Fast T-Jet Non-Textile Post-Treatment is a protective coating used for prints on
non-textile surfaces. This post treatment will prevent fading of ink colors, extend
the life of the image as well as waterproofi ng and acting as a UV protectant.
DIRECTIONS:
Shake the can before each use and apply to nontextile, printed surfaces only after all ink has dried
thoroughly. Apply a thin coat, holding the can 4 to
8 inches from surface and using a swift motion to
prevent overspray and unwanted build-up. If buildup does occur, use a lacquer thinner to remove. A
second coat may be applied after approximately
two minutes of drying time. Allow treated surfaces
to dry for 30 minutes to one hour in a clean, dust
free area before handling. Allow 24 hours cure time
prior to placing coated articles into service.
Clean the valve after use by turning the can upside down and spraying a
short burst until cleared. If the nozzle is clogged or sprays irregularly, check for
clogging within the opening. Scrape off excess coating with a soft object and
twist the valve one half turn to close.
Non-Textile Printing Tips
When brushing on any of the treatments, make sure they are applied in o
smooth, even and thin layers.
Having two brushes can make the pretreatment and priming processes o
easier. Use one for Non-Textile Primer and one for Non-Textile Pretreatment.
Cleaning the brushes when done with hot water and letting dry will prevent o
them from drying out and ruining the brushes.
When printing on Non-Textile items, use a piece of fi lm that covers the whole o
item and print a test print to see if it is aligned with the desired printing area.
The maximum printable area of a T-Jet3 PLUS is 13” x 22”. To maximize o
production, you can position multiple items next to each other to print more
then one item at a time.
If you have a Heat Press, you may dry items faster by placing them under o
the element, but you MUST avoid contact between the item and the heated
surface.
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Chapter 6 - Printing on Other Items
Post-Treatment Warnings and Safety Information
Use Fast T-Jet Non-Textile Post-Treatment only in a well ventilated area.
Fast T-Jet Non-Textile Post-Treatment VAPOR is HARMFUL and MAY AFFECT THE
BRAIN OR central NERVOUS SYSTEM, CAUSING DIZZINESS, HEADACHE OR NAUSEA.
It may CAUSE NOSE, THROAT IRRITATION and LUNG IRRITATION. OVEREXPOSURE
MAY CAUSE LIVER, KIDNEY OR BLOOD DAMAGE. It may CAUSE EYE or SKIN
IRRITATION. Fast T-Jet Non-Textile Post-Treatment is HARMFUL IF SWALLOWED.
Reports have associated repeated and prolonged occupational exposure to
solvents with permanent brain and nervous system damage. Intentional misuse
by deliberately concentrating and inhaling the contents may be harmful or
fatal.
CAUTION: Do not puncture or incinerate (burn) container. Exposure to heat or
prolonged exposure to sun may cause bursting. Do not expose to heat or store
at temperatures above 120°F. Vapors may ignite explosively. Keep away from
heat, sparks and fl ame.
VAPORS MAY CAUSE FLASH FIRE. Do not smoke while using this product.
Extinguish all fl ames and pilot lights and turn off stoves, heaters, electric
motors and other sources of ignition during use and until all vapors are gone.
Prevent buildup of vapors by opening all windows and doors to achieve cross
ventilation. Use only with adequate ventilation. Do not breathe dust, vapors or
spray mist. Ensure fresh air entry during application and drying. If you experience
eye watering, headache or dizziness or if air monitoring demonstrates that
vapor/mist levels are above applicable limits, wear an appropriate, properly
fi lled respirator (NIOSH/MSHA approved) during and after application. Follow
respirator manufacturer’s directions for respirator use. Avoid contact with eyes,
skin and clothing. Wash thoroughly after handling.
KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN
First Aid: in case of contact, immediately fl ush eyes or skin with plenty of water
for at least 15 minutes. Remove contaminated clothing and shoes. Get medical
attention. Wash clothing before reuse. If swallowed, get medical attention
immediately. If you experience diffi culty in breathing, leave the area to
obtain fresh air. If continued diffi culty is experienced, get medical assistance
immediately. If spilled, contain spilled material and remove with inert absorbent.
Dispose of contaminated absorbent, container and unused contents in
accordance with local, state and federal regulations.
The Manufacturer shall not be liable for loss or damages whether direct, indirect,
incidental or consequential, regardless of the legal theory asserted, including
negligence and strict liability. Read Material Safety Data Sheet before use.
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T-Jet3 PLUS User’s Manual
Version 1.1 Revised July, 2008
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Chapter 7
ofof
Utilities to Improve Print Quality
“Banding” is a common issue that arises during printing and two of the most
common causes of Banding are a dirty or clogged Print Head or one that is
misaligned. If your prints are unexpectedly light or should one of the ink bottles
in the Bulk Ink System run dry, one or more Head Cleanings may be necessary.
In addition, if your printer has not been used for several days a Cleaning may
be required to unclog the nozzles so they can deliver ink properly.
When your T-Jet3 PLUS is not in use, make sure that the power is OFF so that
the Print Head remains docked with the Capping Station. This will help prevent
the ink within the Nozzles from drying up and clogging. When the printer is
powered ON, it will proceed with its normal start up cycle.
a a c comommomon n isissusue e ththatat a aririseses s duduriringng p pririntntining g anand d twtwo o ofof t thehe m mosostt
s
BaBandndiningg a arere a a d dirirtyty o or r clclogoggeged d PrPrinint t HeHeadad o or r onone e ththatat i iss
Although Head Cleanings can use a lot of ink, we recommend
you do at least one regular cleaning each day. To initiate a this
cleaning cycle, hold down the Ink button on the T-Jet3 PLUS
Control Panel for three seconds.
Epson Adjustment Program
There are four Utilities that may be run to calibrate Print Head Alignment and
ensure your Fast T-Jet3 PLUS will print the best quality images possible. In fact,
should you have banding or registration issues, these utilities may solve the
problem without the need for a strong Head Cleaning. Try these fi rst!
These Utilities are accessed through
the Epson Adjustment Program
software that is available for download
from the Support section of www.
mytjet.com. To run these maintenance
procedures, you must install the
application on the computer to which
your Fast T-Jet3 PLUS is connected.
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T-Jet3 PLUS User’s Manual
Once the application is installed, run the program
and select the Particular Adjustment Mode. A popup window (Setting) will ask you to select the Port
to which your printer is connected. Scroll through
the list and select Epson Stylus Photo 1800. This is
your Fast T-Jet3 PLUS.
You will then be taken to the Main Selection
Screen. From here you will select the fi rst Utility to
run- Head Angular Adjustment.
Head Angular Adjustment
You will need to place a standard 8.5” x 11”
sheet of paper on a Shirtboard to perform this
procedure. Once the paper is loaded, press Print
and the Fast T-Jet3 PLUS will print two groups of
parallel lines labeled Band Pass Incline 0 > > 80
and BandPassIncline 0 < < 80. These groups of
lines will be assigned numbers from -6 to 6. The lines
to either side of the numbered lines are marked
NG and these are not used for calibration. A
third printout labeled Head Incline will print at the
bottom of the page and will consist of seven boxes
broken into horizontal line segments. The fi ve boxes
of concern will be numbered 70 to – 70.
Examine the fi rst group parallel lines labeled Band Pass Incline 0 > > 80 and note
which set contains the straightest segment. If you look closely, you will see most
of the lines are slightly offset in the middle. Note the number of the one with NO
offset and enter this in the applicable data fi eld by placing a checkmark in the Band box and entering the line segment number in the box next to the correct
group name. Next, examine the second group of lines and select the straightest
segment from that group. Enter that line’s number in the next data fi eld.
Place a check in the Raster Offset box and examine the set of boxes under
the heading HeadIncline. Select the set of interlocking lines that interlock but
that DO NOT overlap any line above or below it. Enter this number into the
applicable data fi eld.
Click on Input and the application will do some calculations before placing its
own data in the fi elds. Once the calculations are complete, click on Finish and
you will be taken back to the main selection screen.
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Chapter 7 - Utilities to Improve Print Quality
n
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cc
Once you have entered data on this screen you must click on the
Input button FIRST and then click on Finish. If you do not follow this
InI
sequence, or you click on any other buttons in between Input and
Finish, your data will not be stored properly and you must rerun this
calibration process.
Auto Bi-Directional Adjustment
You will need to place a standard 8.5” x 11” sheet of paper on a Shirtboard
to perform this procedure. Once the paper is loaded, from the main selection
screen of the Adjustment Program, select the Auto Bi-D Adjustment routine.
On the next screen, select Perform and the routine will print automatically and
make the necessary calibrations. You will not need to input any data manually.
When the Auto Bi-Directional Adjustment procedure is complete, you MUST click
on Finish for the data to be properly stored. You will then be taken back to the
main selection screen.
PF Roller and Eject Roller Adjustments (PF Adjustment Utility)
You will need to place a standard 8.5” x 11” sheet
of paper on a Shirtboard to perform each of
these procedures and both are run from the PF Adjustment Utility.
Select the PF Roller Utility and press Print. A group
offset boxes will printout along with 7 colored
boxes at the bottom of the page. The offset boxes
will be numbered from -3 to -13 and these are
what is used to calibrate the PF Roller.
Carefully examine the offset boxes and note the
group with NO GAP between the upper and lower one. Place a checkmark
next to PF in the Input & Read section and enter the number that corresponds
with the two boxes you have selected.
To calibrate the Eject Roller, you will need to place a clean sheet of standard
8.5” x 11” paper on the Shirtboard and select Eject Roller and Letter for paper
size. Press the Print button.
About halfway down the sheet of paper, a thick line will print with a series of
small blocks below it. These blocks will be numbered -15 to -2. Carefully examine
the blocks and select the one that TOUCHES the long bar above it, with NO GAP
or OVERLAP between them. Place a check mark next to Eject in the Input &
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T-Jet3 PLUS User’s Manual
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inin
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Read section and input the box you just selected into the data fi eld.
Click on Input and then click on Finish.
You have now completed the necessary initialization procedures for your
Fast T-Jet3 PLUS and you may close the Adjustment Program. Close the main
selection screen and select Quit from the program screen.
Head Cleaning Utilities
If a Head Alignment Procedure does not fi x your printing issues, you will have
to initiate a Head Cleaning. Additionally, if your
printer has been idle for several days, or you
believe you have a clog, a Head Cleaning may
be the solution.
To execute a Head Cleaning, make sure your
printer is ON, but not printing, and all of the RedInk lights are off.
Load the Epson Adjustment Program and select
Particular Adjustment mode. From the main selection screen choose Head
Cleaning. From the Head Cleaning window press Cleaning and follow the onscreen instructions. A Head Cleaning will take about 45 seconds, during which
time the printer makes noise and the Power light and the red Ink lights will fl ash.
You should never turn OFF the printer while the Power light is
fl ashing! This may damage the printer. A Head Cleaning cycle also
wipes the bottom of the head, therefore it is recommended you
initiate a Head Cleaning if you start to see drops of ink on garments
or if the Print Head comes in contact with a garment
Perform a Nozzle Check
When both the Power light and the Ink lights
stop fl ashing, perform a Nozzle Check. You
will need a few sheets of letter size paper OR
clear inkjet fi lm for this purpose. It is hard to
see White ink on White paper when doing a
Nozzle Check, so the fi lm is a better choice.
Lay the paper or fi lm on top of the Garment
Holder, butting up against the zero point of
the bed. Next, click on Print from the NozzleCheck section of the Head Cleaning Utilities
Version 1.1 Revised July, 2008
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Chapter 7 - Utilities to Improve Print Quality
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Screen. Follow the on-screen prompts. After the Nozzle Check Pattern has
printed, check to see if the lines have any gaps or bands in them. If the Nozzle
Check Pattern has no gaps or bands, click on Finish.
If the Nozzle Check Pattern has gaps or bands, click on the Cleaning button to
clean the Print Head again.
For serious clogs you may have to run this routine several times.
Doing this will use a lot of ink but will generally clear even badly
clogged heads.
We recommend you schedule Automatic Head Cleanings every 12
hours using FastRIP. This will help prevent Print Head and Capping
Station issues caused by dried ink. This is especially important if the
printer will be idle longer than ONE day (24 hrs). Refer to Chapter 7
of your FastARTIST User’s Manual for further details.
Check the Spit Tray on a Regular Basis
The spit tray (shown to the right) may become very
full depending on the amount of Head Cleanings
that are performed. For replacement pads contact
Technical Support.
Emptying the External Waste Bottle
As your T-Jet3 PLUS goes through head cleaning
cycles, it forces ink through the Print Head. This excess
ink goes into the External Waste Bottle located at the
back of the T-Jet3 PLUS on the control panel side.
To empty the waste bottle simply unscrew the top of
the bottle and remove, carefully placing the waste
bottle top with waste ink line attached on a rag or old t-shirt. Empty waste bottle
and replace waste bottle top. The ink is biodegradable and non-toxic so it can
be washed down a regular sink or basin drain.
--
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T-Jet3 PLUS User’s Manual
:HDUH not liable for any damage caused by ink to property
UU
such as carpets, fl ooring or furniture . Please read and understand
ss
all operating and maintenance procedures before using your
aa
T-Jet3 PLUS.
TT
In the rare instance that your printer thinks you have used enough ink to fi ll the
InIn tthehe rrararee ininststaa
entire Waste Bottle, all of the ink lights will blink and you will be unable to re set
the regular counters. This can happen once you have printed from 10,000 to
15,000 pages. At this point, you are not able to run the printer until you reset the
Waste Ink Counter in the printer.
Resetting Waste Ink Counter
You may reset the Waste Ink Counter through FastRIP if you have downloaded
Printer Package Update 4.5 for the Fast T-Jet3 PLUS. You may also reset the
Waste Ink Counter using the Epson Adjustment program.
Open the Epson Adjustment Program and select 1.
Particular Adjustment Mode.
The 2. Setting window will appear. Locate your Fast
T-Jet3 PLUS (Epson Stylus Photo 1800) and click on
OK.
Scroll down and select 3. Waste Ink Pad Counter from
the Maintenance section and click on OK.
Within the Waste Ink Pad Counter window, 4.
click on the Read button.
When the Information pop-up appears, click 5.
on OK.
Version 1.1 Revised July, 2008
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Chapter 7 - Utilities to Improve Print Quality
The Waste Ink Pad Counter window will still 6.
be present. Click on the Initialization button
as shown on the right.
Another Information pop-up will appear, indicating that the Waste Ink 7.
Counter has initialized properly. Click on OK.
Click on the 8. Read button once more to record the initial value of 1777.
When the Information pop-up appears, click on 9. OK.
Select 10. Finish from the bottom of the Waste Ink Pad Counter window and exit
the Adjustment program.
Turn OFF your Fast T-Jet3 PLUS by using the 11. Power button and
Power switch, located on the rear of your printer adjacent the
power cord.
Manually center the Print Bed by applying a light pressure against it with your 12.
hand.
The fi nal step is a Manual Reset of your printer. This will complete the Waste 13.
Tank Reset process.
While holding down the Power button, fl ip the Power switch. ▪
The Print Bed will begin to move back and forth. Don’t interfere with its ▪
movement, this is part of the reset process.
Allow the Print Bed to move back and forth at least 2 times, then turn OFF ▪
the printer using the Power switch.
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T-Jet3 PLUS User’s Manual
Turn ON your printer, using the Power switch, but this time DO NOT hold down 14.
the Power button.
Press the 15. Power button and allow the printer to go through its start-up cycle.
Print Head Replacement
In the event that you damage the
Print Head by means of a head strike,
the Head will probably need to be
replaced. If you can’t get the Head
to print in alignment after numerous
alignment routines, it is most likely
permanently damaged and will have
to be replaced.
By design, replacing the head is fairly
straightforward and should take less
than 30 minutes. Replacement Print
Heads are available from XV
and come with complete written instructions.
If you are dependent on your T-Jet3 PLUS and cannot afford to be down for a
few days while awaiting a shipped replacement, we recommend keeping a
back-up head in stock.
If you need further assistance, contact Technical Support.
Version 1.1 Revised July, 2008
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Chapter 8
ifif y y
pppp
Preventative Maintenance
and Problem Solving
Your T-Jet3 PLUS should work trouble free if you take the time to understand and
perform the necessary machine maintenance. 95% of our technical support
calls come from people who have not maintained their machines properly.
While your T-Jet3 PLUS may appear to be just an inkjet printer, it is a VERY
SPECIAL inkjet printer. When printing on garments, the printer must print A LOT
more ink than when printing on paper. This can, and will, cause excess ink to
coat internal parts if the machine is not maintained on a regular basis.
When printing dark shirts with white ink, the use of a pretreatment is necessary.
This pretreatment is sticky and, if it’s sprayed near a machine, it can get on
the internal working parts of the printer. Also, inkjet printers in general do not
like hot dry room conditions or a dusty, dirty shop. Be aware of the climate
and conditions in which you use and store your machine. You have made a
substantial investment in your business when you purchased your T-Jet3 PLUS. In
order to get the most out of it, please take the time to learn the simple steps that
will keep your T-Jet3 PLUS happy and making you money.
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Keep Your Encoder Strip Clean
A main concern of many who call our
support department is when the printer gets
“confused” on how to print an image. The
way an inkjet printer tells the Print Head what
and where to print is a thin strip called the
Encoder Strip. A dirty Encoder Strip can cause
everything from images printing in the wrong
location and large blocks of ink spraying on
the shirt to double-images, dark bands across
the print, thin horizontal lines and much more.
The printer head continually receives data
through this strip while in motion. If the strip gets dirty with lint from shirts, or ink
from overspray, it can confuse the printer. To avoid this situation, do daily and
weekly maintenance on the unit as suggested in this section.
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T-Jet3 PLUS User’s Manual
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Clean the Encoder Strip DAILY
Press the Ink button to move the Print Carriage
off of the Capping Station. Manually move the
carriage to the center of the print bed. This will
allow you to clean the Capping Station side of
the Encoder Strip.
You can use foam-tipped swabs, water,
glass cleaner or cleaning fl uid, but for best
results use Isopropyl Alcohol Pads. Do NOT use
Rubbing Alcohol pads. Wrap the Alcohol Pad
around both sides of the Encoder strip and move the Pad in both directions. If
the pad becomes black then use a new pad and clean the Encoder strip
again. Press the Ink button again to move the Print Carriage back to the
Capping Station. Clean the rest of the Encoder Strip.
Allow the Encoder strip to AIR DRY.
The Encoder Strip is actually CLEAR with small marks on it. Be
careful to NOT scratch it or the sensor will not read it correctly.
Only use FOAM TIP cleaning swabs or Isopropyl Alcohol Pads when
doing any maintenance or cleaning inside your T-Jet3 PLUS.
Clean Capping Station and Wiper Daily
The Capping Station seals the Print Head when it is not in use. Ink residue around
the edge of the Capping Station may keep the head from seating and sealing
properly. This will cause Print Head clogs. Be aware that white ink will build up
faster and thicker than regular colors.
The Capping Station is the rectangular piece onto which the Print Head seats.
Make sure that the outer rubber seal is free from dried ink and garment fi bers as
well as the outer edge of the Print Head. Use a foam swab, water, glass cleaner,
cleaning fl uid or Isopropyl Alcohol to keep this clean.
Version 1.1 Revised July, 2008
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