Epson Fast T-Jet 3 PLUS User Manual

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User’s Manual
JULY, 2008 VERSION 1.1
Tempe, Arizona USA
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Basic Safety Instructions
.
Please read this entire Manual before attempting to Print.
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Caution:
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Safety Instructions for Ink Cartridges:
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.
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Table of Contents
v
Basic Safety Instructions vii
Cautions vii Safety Instructions for Ink Cartridges: vii Legend of Symbols vii
eettyy IInnssttrruuccttiioonnss vviiii
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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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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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 Balls 76 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
Support Hours 88
Chapter- 8 Preventative Maintenance/Problem Solving 89
Keep Your Encoder Strip Clean 89
Clean the Encoder Strip DAILY 90
Clean Capping Station and Wiper Daily 90
Cleaning the Wiper 91
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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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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Chapter 1
WARNING
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Introduction
The T-Jet3 PLUS is an inkjet printer that has been modi ed 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.
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Support Hours
Chapter 1 - Introduction
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Fax +1  E-mail: support@HTXLSPHQW]RQH.com Internet: KWWSVXSSRUWHTXLSPHQW]RQHFRP
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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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 nd a wealth of articles, industry links, a Buyer’s Guide and open Forums.
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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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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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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
Box 2
Industrial Bulk Ink System Parts
White ink
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Waste Ink Bottle
Waste Ink Bottle
Secure Nut and Ink Line Fitting
Exhaust Fan
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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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!
:HDUH not responsible for any damage
caused by disregarding Maximum Height warnings. Replacement of Print Heads is NOT covered by your warranty.
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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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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
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
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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 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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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.
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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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 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. :HDUH 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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Yellow
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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. Ink Line Guide 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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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.
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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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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 PLUS Low Ink Indicator lights will warn you that you are low on ink by either ashing or remaining solid.
1
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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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Software Overview
The T-Jet3 PLUS is a high performance inkjet printer. Graphic les 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 les over to the PC “workstation.”
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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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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 Underbase Wizard 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:
FastRIP is extremely easy to use and is almost transparent when working with the T-Jet3 PLUS.
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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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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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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 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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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 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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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 le is CMYK from another application, FastARTIST will Open/
Import it as RGB. However, FastARTIST will open the 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 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 nal print size.
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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
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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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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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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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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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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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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 Extract fi 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
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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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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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2. A security warning screen will open. Press
Run.
3. Click OK for
the Self Extractor Window
4. Another Self Extractor Window opens. Where
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
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.
yy pp
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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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 Passes Counter 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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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. Ofce +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 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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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)
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
AA TT 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.
:H DUH 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 ¾ Load 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 ¾ Page
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 something in 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 ¾ AmberAmber and Green to solid Green when there is an
obstruction.
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Prepare Your Artwork for Printing
Create or choose the artwork to print from within your favorite graphics 1. application (FastARTIST preferred).
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:
Photo Print Modes are designed to:
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Eight Color Print Modes
The T-Jet3 PLUS also supports Eight Color Print Modes that utilize the additional colors of Red, Green, Blue and 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 Normal Underbase 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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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 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
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.
the bottom of the head to remove cotton lint.
Adjustment Utilities Program. Refer to Chapter 7 for more information.
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.
instructions of: Turn print inside out before washing or drying. Use Cold Water Only and a Medium Dryer Temperature.
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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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 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:
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
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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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.
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.
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
bers properly. A conveyor dryer or similar method of drying the Pretreatment will not fl atten the 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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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 Print Mode 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- Curing Your
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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.
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
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.
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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 Box Clean 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.
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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 / InfantStandard Sleeve Quad
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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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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
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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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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:
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.
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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:
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 .
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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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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 Page Setup 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
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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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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 Height Bar 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 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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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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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 Band Pass Incline 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 Head Incline. 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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n
ss
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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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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 Red Ink 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 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 Nozzle Check section of the Head Cleaning Utilities
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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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:HDUH 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
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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.
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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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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.
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Chapter 8
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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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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.
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