News from Machines Plus

The Secret Behind the Labels: How the Epson V1060 Powers Julius-K9 Customisation

Fri, 17 Apr 2026 06:03:22 GMT

The Secret Behind the Labels: How the Epson V1060 Powers Julius-K9 Customisation

At Julius-K9 Australia, we know that your dog isn’t just a pet, they are a personality. Whether they are a "Service Dog in Training," a "Social Butterfly," or just "Dave," their harness should say it loud and clear.

But have you ever wondered how we get such crisp, vibrant, and indestructible text onto those iconic side patches? The secret is in our latest tech investment: the Epson SureColor V1060 UV Desktop Printer.

What is the Epson V1060?

The Epson V1060 is a professional-grade UV flatbed printer. Unlike traditional screen printing or basic heat transfers that can crack and fade, the V1060 uses UltraChrome UV Ink. This ink is cured instantly by UV light, creating a bond with the material that is tough enough to handle mud, rain, and the roughest bush walks.

Why It’s a Game-Changer for Your Dog’s Harness

1. Unmatched Durability Dog gear takes a beating. From rolling in the grass to salt-water splashes at the beach, your custom labels need to last. The V1060’s UV-cured ink is scratch-resistant and weather-proof. When we print a label for your IDC®Powerharness, it’s built to stay as bold as the day it arrived.

2. High-Definition Detail Want more than just a name? The V1060 allows us to print incredibly fine text and even complex logos with "Precision Dot" technology. This means your contact number or specialized service-dog instructions are perfectly legible, even on the smaller "Baby" size labels.

3. Vibrant White & Varnish Effects Most printers struggle to print bright colors on dark backgrounds. The Epson V1060 features a dedicated White Ink channel. This acts as a "base coat" on our black Velcro patches, making your custom text pop with a brightness that standard printing simply can't match. We can even add a Varnish layer for extra gloss and protection!

4. Eco-Friendly & Fast We love dogs, and we love the planet. The V1060 uses an eco-conscious ink-pack system that reduces waste. Plus, because the ink cures instantly, we can get your personalised dog harness out the door and into the mail faster than ever before.

Get Your Custom Look Today

Ready to upgrade your pup’s kit? Our personalization service is available for the entire Julius-K9 range, from the classic Powerharness to the breathable Powair.

Shop Personalised Dog Harnesses Here and see the Epson V1060 quality for yourself!

Monomeric vs Polymeric vs Cast Vinyl: Which Self Adhesive Vinyl Is Right for Your Application?

Fri, 27 Mar 2026 00:13:16 GMT

Monomeric vs Polymeric vs Cast Vinyl: Which Self Adhesive Vinyl Is Right for Your Application?

Understand the difference between monomeric, polymeric and cast self-adhesive vinyl, and choose the right SAV for signage, stickers, decals and vehicle graphics.

Monomeric vs Polymeric vs Cast Vinyl: Which Self Adhesive Vinyl Is Right for Your Application?

If you work in signage, stickers, labels, branding, retail graphics or vehicle graphics, choosing the right self-adhesive vinyl matters. A lot of people treat SAV as if it is all the same. It is not.

The wrong film can shrink, lift, fail on curves, or simply cost more than the job requires. The right film makes installation easier, improves finish quality, and gives the graphic a lifespan that actually matches the application.

If you are looking for media for signage, stickers, branding or wraps, browse our Self-Adhesive Vinyl (SAV) Store .

What is the difference between monomeric, polymeric and cast vinyl?

The core distinction is simple. Monomeric and polymeric are both calendered vinyl films, while cast vinyl is made differently. That difference affects stability, shrinkage, conformability and long-term performance.

What is monomeric vinyl?

Monomeric vinyl is the entry-level, short-term option. It is commonly used where price matters more than long-term performance. It is best suited to flat surfaces and simpler jobs where the graphics do not need to last for years in demanding outdoor conditions.

short-term promotions
temporary retail signage
basic decals
labels
flat-surface graphics
budget-sensitive jobs

What is polymeric vinyl?

Polymeric vinyl is the step up from monomeric. It offers better dimensional stability, better outdoor durability and better overall performance. It is a strong choice for everyday commercial signage where you want a better result without moving into premium wrap-film pricing.

business signage
window graphics
branding decals
medium-term outdoor graphics
flat and slightly curved surfaces

What is cast vinyl?

Cast vinyl is the premium category. It is designed for jobs where finish, flexibility and long-term stability matter most. Cast film is the correct choice for difficult surfaces and premium applications where cheaping out usually causes problems later.

vehicle wraps
fleet graphics
corrugations and rivets
deep channels
complex curves
long-term outdoor branding

Monomeric vs polymeric vs cast vinyl: the real difference

Monomeric vinyl

lowest cost
suited to flat surfaces
short-term applications
more shrinkage risk
not ideal for premium outdoor or curved installs

Polymeric vinyl

mid-range option
better dimensional stability
good for flat and slightly curved surfaces
stronger outdoor durability
better all-round commercial signage choice

Cast vinyl

premium option
best conformability
lowest shrinkage risk
made for curves, recesses and vehicle graphics
strongest option for long-term premium work

Which SAV should you choose?

If the graphic is temporary and flat, monomeric is usually enough.

If it needs to stay put longer and still look sharp on flat or slightly curved surfaces, polymeric is the safer call.

If the surface is curved, recessed, riveted, contoured or part of a wrap, cast is usually the correct material.

A lot of failures are not a print problem. They are a product selection problem. That is why choosing the right vinyl at the start matters.

If you need the right media for the job, browse our Self-Adhesive Vinyl (SAV) Store and our Signage Tools & Accessories to support installation.

Why this matters for print shops and sign businesses

If you produce stickers, decals, labels, retail graphics or vehicle graphics, vinyl selection affects more than just lifespan. It affects installation time, rework, edge lift risk, appearance on difficult surfaces, and whether the finished job feels cheap or professional.

If you are building or expanding your signage workflow, see our Roland DG Cutters, Print & Cut and Consumables range.

Final word

There is no single best self-adhesive vinyl. There is only the right film for the right job.

choose monomeric for short-term flat graphics
choose polymeric for better durability and general-purpose signage
choose cast for wraps, contours and premium long-term performance

If you are not sure which SAV fits your application, contact Machines Plus and we will point you in the right direction.

Broken Spoke Creations: Custom Printing in Bendigo

Thu, 12 Mar 2026 05:45:43 GMT

A versatile custom printing and branding hub in Bendigo

If you are looking for custom apparel in Bendigo , business signage in Bendigo , or a reliable local business for stickers, branded merchandise, laser engraving, embroidery, and personalised products , Broken Spoke Creations has built a strong reputation as a one-stop creative production hub.

In regional business, the operators who stand out are the ones who combine quality, consistency, versatility, and genuine local relationships . That is exactly what Broken Spoke Creations has created in Bendigo. More than just a print shop, it has become a trusted local destination for businesses, clubs, events, and individuals who want high-quality custom products backed by real service and practical know-how.

Broken Spoke Creations offers a wide range of services across custom design, business branding, custom merchandise, and personalised products . That broad capability matters, because customers are not just looking
for a machine — they are looking for one reliable local business that can take an idea and turn it into a finished product that looks sharp, lasts well, and represents their brand properly.

With a highly capable setup, Broken Spoke Creations can produce:

DTG and DTF printing with an Epson F2160
Signage and stickers with a Roland DG SG3-540
Dye sublimation printing with an Epson F560
UV printing with the new Epson V1060
Laser engraving
Embroidery services

This gives customers in Bendigo access to a wide range of production methods under one roof, making it easier to create the right product for the right purpose.

Custom apparel, uniforms, signage and promotional products

Because of that versatility, Broken Spoke Creations is well placed to help with:

Custom T-shirts
Custom uniforms
Branded workwear
Custom hats
Small and large signage
Stickers and decals
Stubby holders
Bar mats
Laser engraved products
Embroidered garments and accessories
Promotional products
Personalised merchandise

Whether the job is for custom shirts in Bendigo , uniform printing in Bendigo , business signage in Bendigo , or custom promotional products , the benefit is simple: customers can work with one experienced local operator
who understands production quality, branding, and how to match the best process to the job.

Local relationships that help businesses grow

Another part of what makes Broken Spoke Creations stand out is its strong local connection. Being part of a
BNI Chapter in Bendigo is another sign of a business built on relationships, referrals, trust, and community. In a regional area, that matters. People want to work with businesses that are visible, reliable, and genuinely invested in helping other local businesses grow.

That is part of what makes this story so good to watch. Success is not just about having the right equipment. It is also about building the right relationships, showing up consistently, and creating a business that people want to come back
to and recommend.

Built with the right support and real experience

Over the years, we have also had the opportunity to support Shane through the installation and training on the Roland and Epson products in his setup. It has been rewarding to see that investment turn into real output, stronger capability, and a growing local business that can now service such a wide range of customer needs.

That kind of journey means a lot, because real business growth comes from more than transactions. It comes from
backing people properly, caring about outcomes, and building relationships where both sides genuinely want to see each other succeed.

Need custom printing, signage or branded merchandise in Bendigo?

If you are in or around Bendigo and need help with custom apparel, uniforms, stickers, signage, UV printing,
dye sublimation, embroidery, laser engraving, or branded merchandise , Broken Spoke Creations is well worth speaking to.

From custom T-shirts and workwear through to stickers, decals, bar mats, stubby holders, engraved items,
and personalised promotional products , Broken Spoke Creations has the tools, experience, and local reputation to help bring your next idea to life.

Building Creativity, One Brick at a Time! With the Epson SC-V1060

Tue, 15 Jul 2025 23:56:00 GMT

Building Creativity, One Brick at a Time!

We were beyond excited to team up with the legendary crew at Brickvention for their latest creative upgrade, the installation of the Epson SC-V1060 UV Desktop Printer ! As long-time LEGO lovers ourselves, this was a perfect match. With the V1060 now part of their toolkit, the Brickvention team can add a whole new layer of personalisation to their iconic bricks, and we’re thrilled to be part of their custom merch journey and share their story with you!

Machines Plus: “When did Brickvention start?”
Brickvention : “Brickvention will be celebrating it’s 20th Birthday in 2026!”

Machines Plus: “Could you give a brief overview of what Brickvention does?”
Brickvention: “Brickvention is Australia’s Premier LEGO Fan Event, held annually at the Royal Exhibition Building Carlton. The event features hundreds of original LEGO displays, engaging activities, guest appearances and family friendly fun - uniting fans, families and builders of all ages through the universal language of LEGO. Brickvention is proudly community driven, powered by a dedicated team of volunteers and fuelled by the boundless creativity of LEGO fans across Australia. More information can be found at www.brickvention.melbourne.”

Machines Plus: “Why did you make the leap to bring printing in-house?”
Brickvention: “We have lots of ideas for things we can create for Brickvention that will be further enhanced by the ability to print! We also wanted the flexibility to be able to experiment and develop our ideas without having to rely on third party printing. Not to mention it will help us keep costs down by printing only exactly what we need when we need it. We’re genuinely excited for the possibilities!”

Machines Plus: “What experience have you had printing merchandise yourself?”
Brickvention: “None - all of our printing has been outsourced”

Machines Plus: “How did you find Machines Plus?”
Brickvention: “We were searching for UV printer distributors and you are located close to us!”

Machines Plus: “How did you find the installation process of the Epson SC-V1060?”
Brickvention: “Seamless! We have been able to get up and running with printing very quickly, and we are grateful for the flexibility and helpfulness provided during the installation process.”

Machines Plus: “We always talk about the “Plus” in Machines Plus. What does it mean to you?
We know it is early days working with Machines Plus, can you provide an example of a time when you experienced the “Plus” in Machines Plus?
Brickvention: “For us, at this early stage, the “Plus” has been the friendly, helpful and responsive support provided by Gus. He has thoroughly explained everything and is always willing to talk us through when we have a quick question or need more help.”

Thanks for the kind words Brickvention!
Keen to create your own custom merch? We’ve got the tech, the know-how, and the best prices to help your ideas come to life.
Chat with us today!

Enhance Your Printing Game with Machines Plus: Your DTG Solution Experts!

Tue, 07 May 2024 00:00:08 GMT

Did you know that out of the 20 Epson SC-F3000 models in Australia, Machines Plus has installed a whopping 9 of them? We're not just about recommending equipment; we're all about providing tailored solutions to meet all your direct-to-garment and printed merchandise needs!

We're thrilled to share an inspiring success story with you. Recently, we had the pleasure of teaming up with Merch Bunny to install the Epson SC-F3000 (the 20th in the country), marking a significant milestone in their journey.

James embarked on his DTG adventure a few years back with the Epson SC-F2160. Despite being new to the t-shirt printing realm, he dove in headfirst, pouring his heart and soul into building his business, Merch Bunny. And boy, did he soar!

Machines Plus has been by James' side from day one, providing not only top-of-the-line equipment and consumables but also invaluable technical expertise honed over decades in the printing industry.

When James approached us seeking ways to streamline operations and boost efficiency, we were eager to lend a hand. With the Epson SC-F3000 now in place, Merch Bunny's production has skyrocketed, tripling their speed and efficiency!

After the installation of the SC-F3000, James graciously sat down with us for an interview about his journey with Machines Plus. You can catch the video on our YouTube page or read the full transcript below.

James, here's to your continued success and growth! And to all aspiring entrepreneurs out there, remember: with the right tools and support, anything is possible!

Machines Plus: “How did you find the installation process of the Epson SC-F3000 today?”
Merch Bunny: “Pretty good. Good. Pretty good. Pretty great. No issues. And I guess I was pretty happy because, the machine was set up pretty much on, arrival with lots of things. So it didn't take us very long, we got some good prints, pretty much straight away, so pretty effortless.”

Machines Plus: “How long you been working with Machines Plus?”
Merch Bunny: “I think about three years. Somewhere in the three years? Yep. My first machine, which was a 2160. So upgrade it now to the 3000.”

Machines Plus: “Prior to this, have you had any experience printing t-shirts yourself?”
Merch Bunny: “No. So, before this machine. Yes. I've spent a couple of years with the Epson 2160 which has been great, but before that, no, I never printed shirts before. I did so me research, but learned a lot from Gus and the team, and, it was pretty easy to do. Bar a few nuanced things. But yeah. Haven't had any issues since. It’s been pretty good.”

Machines Plus: “What motivated you to choose to do business with Machines Plus?”
Merch Bunny: “I did a lot of research on the types of printing, what to do, what you can do at home. You know, what people do with, vinyl and all types of stuff, and then I found obviously a lot about DTG. Then I started to look what was available, then I started to do research and what was reliable, and obviously that there's two different brands that came up and Epson was one of them. And then I basically found you guys pretty easily through your website site, and then I called you and we had a discussion on the phone here if you recall, and you said, come down straight away, and have a look. So, the reason I decided to go with you is mostly because of the customer service. I wasn't that far away at the time, and you said come on down now. So I was like, all right, I'll come down and may as well have a look. So it was just that, connection and that, you know, sort of willingness to help and sort of got me, interested in your business.”

Machines Plus: “Has machines Plus been a reliable presence for you?”
Merch Bunny: “Yeah, absolutely. You've always been there when I needed you. Theres been periods that we've had, I've had challenges of things I had to deal with, with any personal or, you know, with, with certain technical things. And you've always been there to help me and, and gone above and beyond, with if I've had problems with equipment and stuff like that, you’ve loaned me things, you help me out. You've done lots of different things, that you didn't have to do, and supported me and. Yeah, you partner well with people, you don't just leave them in the lurch and sell them a machine. Which is really good, so that's not only why, I didn't sense that from the beginning, but obviously that was how it was approached from the start. And then that was realized as you go through the journey that you guys are always there and willing to partner, you know, when you put your tagline create with with you...”
Machines Plus : “Creating with you”
Merch Bunny: “Yeah, Yeah, you live that value. I see that in how you approach business."

Machines Plus: “What would you consider the Plus in Machines Plus?”
Merch Bunny: “You know, you can easily sell a machine and go, there you go, there’s your machine. Help you set it up. Good luck to you. Yeah. Where's the next one? You know, but you don't do that. So that's important for people like me who are doing it like this on their own. Need someone to call. And it's part of the reason of having someone that is reputable that I felt comfortable with because I knew I would need that service, need that would help, and, if I need help, sometimes I need help now. If I don't get it now, I'm screwed, and every time I've been in that position, Gus has always helped me. So, And, yeah, I'm not one to ask for things. He's just giving it to me, you know? And I'm like, yeah, I'm blown away by that generosity."

Machines Plus: “Could you provide an example of a time when you experienced the ‘Plus” in Machines Plus?”
Merch Bunny: “When I first got the 2160 machine. There's was some dramas with it. That 2160, it's Christmas time. Near Christmas time. It wasn't. It was something minor, but no one could really work it out. Everyone was available because Christmas time, Gus came and dropped off your machine from your office to me over Christmas time and a couple of weeks after Christmas"
Machines Plus: “No, I think it was before New Years eve, it was more like the 27 or the 28”
Merch Bunny: “Something like that. Yeah, and I printed because I had orders to print over Christmas, and then when, Epson were able to come in and fix mine, we did a swap over. So I didn't lose out, and I used your machine to print a couple hundred t-shirts. You know that he didn’t have to do that, he did it on his own time, during the holidays. So, yeah, I mean, that helps, you know, obviously with trust in other things, to know that if, you know, I guess, you don’t only want to create, you want to support your customers and believe in that, if you, if you're there for them, they'll always continue. And obviously, those are the types of customers you want to deal with as well. Not loyal, but respect and want to succeed together.”

Machines Plus “Why did you make the leap from the SC-F2160 to the SC-F3000?”
Merch Bunny: "Well, for me, time, and it’s going to be different for everyone. Doesn't mean I don't want to make money. Sure, but I can make money, I can't get back time. So if I can save time, then I can use that time to live my life or do whatever I want, I can make more money in that time. But at least I get the choice. And the reason for me switching is time. I want to have more time to do whatever I want to do and yeah, this is just, with the print time on this, it's it's going to change, it's really obviously going to change my life. It just is. So, we just have to get in the tunnel dryer to keep up with this, because press’ is just not going to keep up with it. Yeah."

Machines Plus “How does having the right tools at your disposal impact your ability to perform your job effectively?”
Merch Bunny: “A lot of it's to do with quality of life for me, given what I've been through in my challenges, personally. I want more time to live my life. I enjoy this, but I want more time to do the important things. And this will afford me that, and still being able to grow and do these things, you know, without freaking out when I get lots of orders, you know. Sure, that'll happen still at some point but with the 2160 like at the moment, it's like I have to hold, that I have to sort of push people's expectations down a bit. Whereas now it's gonna allow me not to have to do that and get things done quicker, but also more volume as well, when I need that."

Machines Plus “What are your initial comparisons between the SC-F2160 and the SC-F3000?”
Merch Bunny: “Obviously the speed, you can't get past the time difference. You know, it's almost basically halved it, you know, that's going to be huge. I guess, to be honest, like, with a little bit of time, it's not complicated, you know, even though it's bigger, it's not complicated. If you used the 2160 and you're familiar with that, which is very easy to learn, this is just a bit bigger version of it. The cleaning process is the same, the maintenance is pretty much the same. Obviously the panel, the display, and stuff and stuff like that makes things a little bit easier to see. And I noticed that, you know, when you do the maintenance stuff, it also it steps you through it. So it's pretty idiot proof, if I can use those words in that sense. But looking at it, if you're experienced with the 2160 jumping to this is not really a jump from a knowledge learning point of view. I'm like, even right now, I'm pretty confident with you and you haven’t been here that long, and I've done a few things. I'm pretty confident that this is just be another step up. It's just easy for me to manage. It won't be any different, really, to be honest."

To view the interview and see the SC-F3000 in action, head to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kBDtxqzrYjg

The Evolution of T-Shirt Printing: From Screen Printing to DTG

Tue, 13 Feb 2024 03:58:49 GMT

Evolution of T-Shirt Printing: A Fashion Staple Transformed

T-shirts have been a staple of fashion and self-expression for decades, and the art of printing designs onto them has evolved significantly over time. From the traditional method of screen printing to the innovative technology of Direct-to-Garment (DTG) printing, the t-shirt printing industry has undergone a remarkable transformation. Let’s explore the fascinating journey of this evolution and the impact it has had on the fashion world.

The Rise of Screen Printing:

Screen printing, also known as silkscreen printing, emerged as the dominant method for printing designs on t-shirts in the mid-20th century. This technique involves creating a stencil, known as a screen, and using it to apply layers of ink onto the fabric. Screen printing offered versatility, allowing for vibrant colours and intricate designs to be reproduced with precision. It became the go-to method for mass-producing t-shirts and revolutionized the apparel industry.

Challenges and Limitations:

While screen printing was highly effective for large-scale production, it had its limitations. Each colour in a design required a separate screen, making multi-colour designs complex and time-consuming to produce. Additionally, screen printing was not cost-effective for small batches of t-shirts, limiting its accessibility to independent designers and small businesses.

The Advent of DTG Printing:

In the late 20th century, technological advancements led to the development of Direct-to-Garment (DTG) printing, revolutionizing the t-shirt printing industry once again. DTG printing utilizes ink jet technology to print designs directly onto the fabric of a t-shirt, eliminating the need for screens and stencils. This process allows for highly detailed designs, smooth gradients, and unlimited colour options, making it ideal for small batch production and custom orders.

Advantages of DTG Printing:

DTG printing offers several advantages over traditional screen printing. Firstly, it enables on-demand printing, allowing businesses to fulfil orders quickly and efficiently. This flexibility is particularly beneficial for e-commerce retailers and custom apparel companies. Additionally, DTG printing produces minimal waste compared to screen printing, making it a more environmentally friendly option. Furthermore, DTG printers are capable of printing intricate designs with fine details, giving designers unparalleled creative freedom.

The Future of T-Shirt Printing:

As technology continues to advance, the future of t-shirt printing looks promising. Innovations such as sustainable ink formulations, faster printing speeds, and enhanced colour accuracy are driving the industry forward. Additionally, developments in automation and robotics are streamlining the production process, further improving efficiency and reducing costs.

Conclusion:

The evolution of t-shirt printing from screen printing to DTG represents a remarkable journey of innovation and progress. While screen printing remains a popular choice for large-scale production, DTG printing has democratized the industry, allowing independent designers and small businesses to thrive. As technology continues to evolve, the possibilities for t-shirt printing are endless, promising an exciting future for the world of fashion and customization.

Ensuring a Merry Shutdown

Tue, 19 Dec 2023 06:03:31 GMT

Maintenance Tips for Ecofreen Mister-T2 and Epson SureColor F2260/F2160 DTG Printer

As the holiday season approaches, it’s time to wrap up the year on a high note and prepare your print shop for a well-deserved Christmas break. To ensure a smooth return to business, proper maintenance of your Ecofreen Mister-T2 Pre Treater Machine and Epson SureColor F2260 or F2160 DTG Printer is crucial. Here’s a handy guide to help you bid farewell to 2023 on a maintenance-savvy

note.

1. Ecofreen Mister-T2 Pre Treater Machine:

Cleaning:

Before closing shop, thoroughly clean the pre treater nozzles, spray tips, and the entire system. Remove any leftover solution to prevent clogs and ensure optimal performance upon your return.

Flush the System:

Flush the system with a cleaning solution to prevent any residual pretreatment from drying up and causing blockages during the downtime. Follow the manufacturer’s guidelines for the appropriate cleaning solution.

Check Fluid Levels:

Ensure that the pretreatment fluid levels are adequate. If necessary, top up the fluid reservoir to prevent any potential damage caused by low levels.

2. Epson SureColor F2260/F2160 DTG Printer:

Not using your printer for one to two weeks:

Replace the white ink with cleaning cartridges to avoid clogged lines. Menu > Maintenance > Replace White Ink (Two cleaning cartridges are required). After the procedure is complete, DO NOT turn the machine off.

Not using your printer for MORE than two weeks:

You must place the machine in Storage Mode. Menu > Maintenance > Storage Mode (Seven cleaning cartridges required). After the procedure is completed, turn the machine off.

When the machine is restarted, you will need to load all inks - Full CMYK and White cartridges required.

Nozzle Check and Cleaning:

Perform a thorough nozzle check and cleaning to maintain print quality. Follow the printer’s manual for the correct procedure. If any clogs are detected, address them before shutting down.

Cap the Printheads:

If your printer has a capping station, cap the printheads to prevent them from drying out. Use a cleaning solution compatible with your printer to avoid damage.

General Tips:

Secure the Environment:

Ensure the printer and pre-treater are stored in a clean, dust-free environment. Cover the machines to protect them from dust and environmental contaminants.

Schedule Regular Maintenance:

Consider creating a regular maintenance schedule throughout the year to keep your machines in optimal condition. This will make year-end preparations more manageable.

By investing time in proper maintenance before closing down for the Christmas break, you not only protect your equipment but also set the stage for a seamless return to production in the new year. Happy holidays and see you in 2024, ready to conquer new printing heights!

Dye sub your dancewear with Pink Lemon

Wed, 13 Oct 2021 22:29:51 GMT

Pink Lemon is an Australian made dancewear brand that was re-established by Dion & Kristy Listro, taking them from part-time work at home to full time in a new factory! All their designs are created in-house with a team that can put together the perfect costume for your routine or even manufacture a custom collection.

With this new environment and the purchase of their Epson SureColor F6360 dye-sublimation printer, Pink Lemon now has the ability to be better and faster with their production, producing high-quality designs on a variety of fabrics.

Dion and wife Kristy have a beautiful passion for business ownership - Pink Lemon is not their first foray into the realm, they also operate activewear brand Scout Active and new mum and bub accessories brand Zoe Sage.

Remarkably, the pair’s ten-year-old daughter is already involved with the family business - she works with their socials and models their beautiful designs. We can really see her running the show one day! Kristy is a real super mum, running these businesses and packing orders from the warehouse, along with being a full-time parent (and homeschooling) their 2 beautiful children and putting food on the table every night. When asked why they started all these brands and where they hope to be in the future, Dion replied with;

“It’s a life goal of running a strong business to better our children’s future and pass on the legacy.”

We couldn’t support these guys more and are so inspired by their hard work and dedication, especially through the Covid-19 pandemic. The effort and work both Dion and Kristy put in is the reason we know Pink Lemon will continue to grow and be one of the best dancewear companies in Australia, or even worldwide.

Want to try Pink Lemon dancewear out for yourself? Check them out!

https://pinklemondancewear.com.au/

info@pinklemondancewear.com.au

Po Box 4014 Dandenong South Business Hub VIC 3164

DTG is all Bagus with Hanler Creative

gus@machinesplus.com.au (Gus Altmann) — Tue, 28 Sep 2021 03:35:54 GMT

Hanler Creative is a screen printing and design studio with over 30 years of experience in the printing industry. They are also the brains behind the Bagus Surfwear brand.

They offer both large and small garment print run jobs with a fast turnaround. If you need assistance in designing your brand or any printing needs, all you need to do is contact them with your brief and they’ll get the ball rolling.

Machines Plus took the time to get to know Steve Limb, CEO and founder of Hanler Creative, during the easy installation of his new Epson SureColor F2160. Steve was up and running quite quickly, his DTG (direct to garment) journey underway.

Steve has been in the printing game for over 30 years now and started a screen printing business just over a year ago. Whilst beginning with traditional silk screen printing, he soon realised that he required a machine that could do small run jobs with the same quality as the equipment he already had, which led him to DTG.

When we asked Steve how he felt about the Epson F2160, it was clear he had made the right decision for bettering his business:

“This is a great machine, I have been using Epson printers most of my professional life and the brand hasn’t let me down yet; easy to use and professional results, very impressed.”

Moving forward, Hanler Creative’s goal is to be a national brand - but also to remain active in the local market. From what we’ve seen and the quality of the finished product, we can definitely say that Hanler Creative is going to be very successful in this market and a well-trusted business to work with.

“Gus and the team know their stuff, every question answered in a timely fashion. What made Gus and the team stand out was their willingness to get me up and going ASAP and even making an additional trip onsite to help with extra training.”

Want to try Hanler Creative out for yourself? Check them out!

https://hanlercreative.com.au/

hanlercreative@gmail.com

Located in Melbourne, Australia

Hustling into DTG

gus@machinesplus.com.au (Gus Altmann) — Mon, 19 Jul 2021 01:16:24 GMT

With over ten years of combined experience in the craft beer, hospitality, merchandise, and promotional items industry, Brand Hustle understands the importance of creating the best possible products to promote your brand.

Melissa and Heath came to Machines Plus looking to improve their merchandising sales with Direct to Garment printing. Our sales team worked closely with them to find a printer that would meet their needs; the Epson SureColor F2160 was a done deal.

During the installation, the Machines Plus and Brand Hustle teams built a business relationship like no other - training and printing went exceptional with Heath eager to learn. Conversation flowed around their past work, with us learning how hard Brand Hustle have worked to achieve their goals. This is why Brand Hustle comes highly recommended for all your business branding

needs - in fact, they should be top of your list!

The team at Brand Hustle are very welcoming, with an amazing showroom setup where they display all their samples and a passion for their brand. Not only was it an absolute delight to train and spend time with the team, it was also so interesting to learn the history and knowledge that both Heath and Melissa have when it comes to merchandising and craft beer.

Machines Plus is thrilled to have Brand Hustle on board; we are confident they will continue to grow bigger and kick more goals as the years go on.

Want to try Brand Hustle out for yourself? Check them out!

https://brandhustle.com.au/

0407 277 288

hustler@brandhustle.com.au

2 Mirra Court, Bundoora, VIC 3083

What Do I Need To Know About Copyright?

Thu, 25 Feb 2021 01:14:29 GMT

Did you purchase in your DTG printer or vinyl cutter because you thought creating your own licensed merchandise would be a great moneymaker? Have you been approached by a customer who wants you to create a garment using someone else’s imagery? Whilst you can do wonderful things with these machines, it’s important that you have some understanding of copyright law to avoid getting into trouble.

Many of our customers’ common questions revolve around copyright, especially when it comes to images that have been downloaded from the internet and obtained from stock photo services (such as iStock Photo, Adobe Stock, Shutterstock and so on). Some images are watermarked, which clearly indicates that the owner does not want their artwork used without permission, but others may have no markings at all.

It is your responsibility to find out if the images you would like to use are covered by copyright. There’s no grey area when it comes to the law, so ensure that you have protected yourself against possible infringement.

Stock Images

Many people believe that paying the download or subscription fee when using a stock image library entitles them to unlimited usage of the image. You might be surprised to learn that this isn’t necessarily the case. Most images that you get from stock services come with a standard license, which entitles the downloader to a certain number of uses and views on social media, mobile advertising or email marketing (to name a few).

It’s important to note, however, that a standard license doesn’t entitle you to use the image on merchandise or products that you intend to sell or profit from. If you want to use the image on printed or promotional items that you intend to sell, most stock services will be able to provide you with an extended license - but this will be at an additional cost.

I Won’t Get Caught

Thanks to the internet, an image owner doesn’t need to randomly stumble across your website to discover that someone has used their work illegally. Tools like Google Image Search allow literally anyone to perform a reverse image search, which helps owners find out where their images are being used. If you’re using copyrighted images without permission, you’re breaking the law and the owner can take legal action against you - even if you remove the image.

Don’t fall into the trap of thinking that you’re just a little player and that large brands won’t bother - we’ve heard of plenty of small businesses that have received cease and desist letters, so it does happen and can very easily happen to you.

Customer’s Responsibility?

Whilst it can be tempting to go along with whatever the customer wants and place the blame squarely on them for any consequences, it’s important to remember that you (as the printer) are liable for any copyright infringement because you’re the one actually profiting from it. You might need to turn away some jobs, but it’s definitely worth it in the interest of protecting yourself and your business from possible legal action.

Due Diligence

If a customer brings you an image and you’re unsure whether they have permission to use it, be sure to ask them where they got it or if they own it. In most cases, the customer will be unaware that the image may be covered under copyright and will understand if you cannot print it.

If you’re using the images for your own business and intend to profit from the products they’re printed on, always make sure that you’ve read the fine print of the copyright license. If in doubt, reach out to the stock service you’re using for clarification.

Whilst we hope that this blog has given you some understanding of copyright law and how it relates to your garment decoration business, we must stress that we are not legal professionals so it is important that you do your own research into copyright law and seek assistance from a lawyer if necessary.

Our Top Tips For Successful Dye Sublimation

gus@machinesplus.com.au (Gus Altmann) — Fri, 11 Sep 2020 03:47:33 GMT

It doesn’t matter whether you’re printing fabric for garments, mugs, stubby holders or even general prints - if you follow our top tips for dye sublimation, you can rest assured that you’ll get the best possible results each and every time.

Look after your printer
A printer that isn’t in perfect working condition will produce poor quality prints. So ensure that you store and operate your machine, inks and paper within the recommended environment. Always leave your printer powered on when not in use and perform maintenance as required.
Come to grips with your graphics application
Knowing how to manipulate an image within your graphics application - such as resizing or enhancing its overall quality - is key to producing a quality finished product. There are many courses and training resources available to help teach you the basics of most popular graphics applications.
Use impressive images
Keep in mind that your printer will only reproduce your artwork, it won’t improve it - if it starts out poor quality, it’s still going to be poor quality once printed. This is why you should always use high resolution images with great clarity and vibrant colours to ensure the best possible results.
Know your time, temperature and pressure
Ensure that you know the right time, temperature and pressure settings for your heat press and the substrates you’re using. Every substrate brand requires specific settings, and these may vary from press to press. It’s also a good idea to check the calibration of your press every now and then.
Choose suitable printer settings
Using the correct colour management software will help to streamline the printing process, but there are still some settings that need to be selected to ensure that everything runs smoothly. Keep in mind that these settings will vary depending on your selected graphics application.
Monitor your ink cartridges
Remember that all ink cartridges have a shelf-life - and for good reason. Over time, the chemical makeup of the ink can change, which can affect the colour output and even has the potential to damage your printer. There is an expiry date printed on the cartridges, so be sure to monitor them.
Arrange your workspace
Sublimation setups can vary in size from around A4 to over 3 metres wide, so plan your workspace carefully. Keep your printer at least 1 metre away from heat sources and ensure that the room is kept between 15 and 25°C. You’ll also need a preparation area to apply transfers and a cooling area.

Whether you’re new to dye sublimation or just looking to hone your skills a little, we hope that you find our above list of tips helpful in getting the best success for your business. Need help choosing a printer or consumables? Machines Plus is here to help.

Why Humidity Is Important In Every Print Room

gus@machinesplus.com.au (Gus Altmann) — Tue, 01 Sep 2020 05:18:24 GMT

Although most of us are aware of the temperatures required for our printers to operate at their premium, some people may be unaware that humidity (specifically relative humidity) can also play a role in how the machine operates.

In this blog, we’ve taken a closer look at why humidity is important and what sort of effect it can have on our print rooms and final products. Are you aware of the humidity in your environment?

Low and high humidity

So, how does relative humidity differ from actual or absolute humidity? In layman’s terms, it is the measure of water vapor comparative (or relative) to the temperature of the air. Relative humidity is most often what’s cited in weather forecasts, as it affects the “feels like” temperature.

To get a bit more technical, it’s expressed as the amount of water vapor in the air as a percentage of the total amount that could be held at its current temperature. Warm air can hold far more moisture than cold air, meaning that the relative humidity of cold air is far higher than that of warm air (if their absolute humidity levels were equal).

Humidity and your print room

Humidity can pose quite the challenge when it comes to printing, as we want to ensure that our staff are comfortable but it can have various effects on our setup (ie printers, papers and ink). Some common problems that occur in print rooms as a result of humidity include printheads drying out during a print cycle (if the room is too dry) and cockling of the paper which can cause inconsistent prints (if there’s too much moisture in the air).

To remedy this challenge, many people turn to humidifiers. The use of such devices may increase the humidity in the room to more acceptable levels (between 45 and 85%), but you will find that most printer setups work best when the environment is closer to the top end of this range. You should also take note of what your printer manufacturer recommends as the acceptable RH levels.

Epson recommends an environment between 40% and 60% RH for their dye sublimation printers.
Roland recommends an environment between 20% and 80% RH for their solvent printers.

Whilst a good quality humidifier will set you back around $700, when you compare this to the costs of replacing your printheads, dried up ink cartridges, damaged paper and lost production time it quickly becomes clear that investing in one is the safer option. If you have any questions about the correct humidity for your machine or controlling the environment in your print room, make sure that you get in touch with the team at Machines Plus.

How To Use The Coronavirus Downtime To Your Advantage

Wed, 27 May 2020 23:13:31 GMT

Many businesses are experiencing some sort of downturn as a result of the coronavirus pandemic - some have chosen to temporarily close their doors, others have had to stand down staff to comply with social distancing rules in the workplace, and others still just aren’t getting the volume of work that they used to. If you’ve found yourself twiddling your thumbs in your downtime, here are some ways that you could be using it to your advantage:

Update your website (or create one if you don’t currently have one)

How long has it been since you did any updates to your website? Now is the perfect time to sit down and really think about what you want your online presence to look like. If you’re in the small percentage of businesses that doesn’t have a website, there is no better time to actually put one together. We understand that you may not have the money for a custom design at the moment - even a free template is better than nothing.

Get a handle on your site’s search engine optimisation (SEO), which determines how it ranks in search engine results.
Get some new product photography done and update your site’s images or take it a step further and look into video.
Give your site’s look and feel a bit of a refresh - are there better ways of laying out your content, or could your text do with a rewrite?

Create a marketing plan

It’s difficult to draw business in if potential customers don’t know you exist, so it’s definitely worth spending some time on putting together a marketing plan for your business. You could focus on how to drum up business whilst coronavirus restrictions are still in place, or you could look to the future and plan for when life is starting to get back to normal. If you have the time and motivation, we recommend planning for both!

Let potential customers know that you’re still open; many people are under the assumption that a lot of businesses have closed.
Now is a good time to focus on more “feel good” messages in your marketing; why not share snapshots of your life (kids, pets, etc)?
Look to special occasions or events occurring in the future that could be relevant to you - how can you use them to bring business in?

Get all that testing out of the way

Why not finally try out that new product you’ve had your eye on (such as a pretreat for your DTG printer)? Or try your hand at a printing/decorating technique that you’re not familiar with? Or do some testing on a new garment range or type of fabric that you’ve been getting a lot of enquiries about? Many businesses often find they’re too busy to perform any sort of trials, particularly as it takes time to finesse and get the processes right.

Update your product listings

If you offer a range of ready made products, now is the ideal time to go through them and make sure that they represent the very best that your business has to offer. Remove products that aren’t really selling or think about ways you could alter them in order to generate interest again. This is also a good time to look into some exciting new products that you could add to your store and that are more reflective of the direction you want to go.

Upskill or undertake some training

Now is also a great time to further your skills, so that when life does start to look more normal your business will be able to tackle it by the horns. This could be directly related to your industry (so learning how to use a new machine or even a new garment decoration technology all together) or it could be supplementary to your business (so learning a bit more about marketing, social media, enewsletters and so on).

Sign up to an online short course, many of which allow you to work at your own pace and at a time that is convenient for you.
Participate in webinars and online classrooms; many printer manufacturers are offering these resources during coronavirus.
Sign up to a university degree (if you’re okay with it taking a few years and costing more to obtain a qualification).

Got any questions or concerns about your garment decoration business or printer during this difficult time? Make sure you get in touch with the team at Machines Plus - we’re more than happy to help in any way we can.

How Can My Garment Decoration Business Survive The Coronavirus?

Mon, 13 Apr 2020 22:40:56 GMT

Over the past month, we have experienced a lot of uncertainty surrounding the spread of the dangerous virus, COVID-19, throughout the general population. The increasingly strict restrictions and encouragement to practice social distancing or self-isolation has left many small and medium business owners in particular wondering what is next for them. Some have already had to close their doors, bringing home how serious this issue is for all of us.

If you have a garment decoration business - using either direct to garment printing (such as the Epson SC-F2160 or the Ricoh Ri 100) or print/cut technology (such as the Roland GS-24 or BN-20) - and you work from home, you have an advantage in that you can continue working when other businesses are forced to shut their doors. It’s time to think outside the box and come up with ideas that could see you still earning an income.

Tap into a niche you haven't previously
As with most small businesses, you probably have a niche market that you market to or a niche product offering. If you've seen a downturn in sales and enquiries, your niche could be one of those suffering in the current climate. Why not consider tapping into a niche that's outside your usual? If you normally create sporting uniforms and merchandise but aren't getting any sales because most sports are cancelled, why not move into children's wear or giftware?

This change doesn't have to be permanent - once restrictions start to lift and life goes back to normal, you can return to your bread and butter niche. Or you might find a new market that you absolutely love.
Special events are just around the corner
Whilst much of the country is avoiding social gatherings, remember that the world doesn’t just stop turning - holidays and special events are still happening. We've just celebrated Easter and Mother's Day is coming up in a few weeks. On top of this, people are still celebrating birthdays and having new babies. We may not be able to celebrate these milestones with our friends and extended family, but we can still let them know that we're thinking about them by having a gift shipped direct to their door.

Think about products that you can offer to help brighten somebody’s day. From personalised t-shirts and hoodies to customised goodie bags and mugs, there are plenty of items that people will still use and appreciate.
Children need to be entertained
If you have kids, you’ll be well aware that they can become bored easily and that activities don't hold their attention for long. With many of us having to stay at home indefinitely - and over the school holidays no less - boredom is something that parents are definitely looking to combat. Is there a way that your business could answer this need? These may not be products that you usually offer, but they could definitely help to bring in some income.

Why not print an outline on a t-shirt - kids can use waterbased markers to colour them in again and again. Or customise some blocks with vinyl letter cut outs - if kids find learning enjoyable, they’ll return to the toy over and over again.
People need a good laugh
Have you ever heard the saying 'if you don't laugh, you'll cry'? For many people, this definitely rings true at the moment. Why not try to inject some humour into the situation by offering a line of Coronavirus themed products? From t-shirts emblazoned with slogans about surviving COVID-19 to mugs telling the world that social distancing is how you lived before all this, there are plenty of ways to make people laugh and relate.

Just be careful that you’re not being insensitive to the plight of others - remember that, for some of the population, this is quite a serious illness and that hundreds of people all over the world have already lost their lives to it.

With more of the country shutting down every day, there is no reason that you should have to close the doors to your garment decorating business too. Most people are choosing to shop online, as it prevents unnecessary contact with others, so your little online business is the perfect means to keep some money rolling in during these tough times. Keeping your business afloat, however, may require some thinking outside the box.

To Hibernate or Not To Hibernate, That Is The Question

Wed, 01 Apr 2020 00:46:34 GMT

With the situation in Australia evolving on an almost daily basis, it has left the future for a lot of businesses uncertain.

Whilst our direct to garment printers are a fantastic way to make some extra cash, they can also be costly to run - it’s completely understandable that some business owners are wondering whether they should put their printers into storage mode or not. Use our list of pros and cons to help you answer this question.

Pros

Avoids expensive repairs
Turning your printer off or leaving it on without print jobs can lead to all sorts of issues, from irreparable damage to your printhead to ink drying in the lines and completely blocking them. These issues can cost thousands of dollars to fix - money that you may not have after months of not working. Even if you do have access to the money, you may not be able to get a technician out straight away, which causes even more delays.
Keeps your warranty valid
Have you ever read the fine print on your printer’s warranty? As the owner, you’re actually required to do everything in your power to keep the printer working at its optimum. You will find that damage caused by improperly hibernating your machine or failing to hibernate it at all is not covered by the warranty. This means that you’ll need to pay for any repairs or replacements, which gets costly quickly.
Get back to printing when you’re ready
Putting your printer into storage mode ensures that it will be ready for you once you’re ready to get back to printing - all you’ll need to do is put some ink cartridges in and ink up the machine. By avoiding the need for repairs and maintenance, you’ll be on the front foot when it comes to getting your business back up and running - you won’t be dictated by the technician’s availability or the delivery of parts.

Cons

You can’t take on any orders
Whilst you may not be getting many orders at the present time, putting your printer into hibernation means that you won’t be able to complete any jobs that come your way. There are a couple of ways around this - you could have everything ready to shut down your machine and just wait until you’re getting no enquiries (or we go into a full lockdown), or you could find someone else to help with your printing.
You might be wasting ink
When you’ve only just placed cartridges into your printer, the idea of flushing the lines and wasting all that precious ink can be difficult to swallow. Keep in mind that if the cartridges are around 80% full or more, you should be able to reuse them to ink up your machine. If they’re emptier than this, you could consider printing until the ink is at a level that you’re comfortable with disposing of and then hibernating your machine.
You’re paying for a printer that you aren’t using
At this stage, many owners are expected to continue making repayments on their printers, so it’s understandable that you may not want to pay for a machine that you’re not using. Some lenders are deferring payments for people who are experiencing hardship as a result of Covid-19 - get in touch with your financing company if you need to hibernate your machine to see how they can help.

If you have decided that now is not the right time to put your printer into storage mode, it never hurts to be prepared. With the situation changing on an almost daily basis and new restrictions being enforced all the time, it’s hard to know what we’ll be doing tomorrow let alone next week. By having a complete set of cleaning cartridges on hand, you can ensure that you’re ready to hibernate your printer at a moment's notice.

9 Reasons to Convert Your SG or VG Printer to TR2 Inks

Thu, 12 Mar 2020 22:48:25 GMT

Did you know that TR ink (used by Roland DG’s TrueVIS VG and SG Series) will be discontinued by February 2021 and instead replaced by the new and improved TR2 ink?

If you are a current user of the original VG or SG generation printer/cutters, you’ll need to make sure that you’ve converted your machine by then if you want to ensure that you can continue using it (plus take advantage of a host of new features).

But what are the main reasons that you should make the switch sooner rather than later?

Print, Finish & Install Graphics on the Same Day
Are customers’ demands for faster turnaround times something that has always gotten you frustrated? With the new TR2 ink, you’ll be able to satisfy their demands without compromising on the quality of the finished product - prints will be ready to laminate and then immediately finish after only 6 hours.
New Certifications from Industry-Leading Media Manufacturers
The VG Series using new TR2 ink is certified for long-lasting results by the 3M™ MCS™ Warranty, whilst both the VG and SG Series using TR2 ink are certified by the Avery Dennison ICS™ Performance Guarantee (which provides protection for up to 4 years outdoor durability and up to 7 years indoor).
Produce Stunning Quality, Colour-Accurate Prints
The new ‘True Rich Color’ preset allows you to take full advantage of both series’ great colour reproduction capability, as well as the TR2 ink’s wide colour gamut. There’s no need to compromise on colour vibrancy or accuracy - deliver vivid output whilst maintaining neutral greys, natural skin tones and smooth gradations.
Significantly Reduce Ink Consumption
Thanks to newly developed ink technology, the use of TR2 ink can actually significantly reduce the amount of ink used when performing printer maintenance. This not only means there’s more ink available for your paid jobs, you will find that you won’t have to replace the cartridges as often.
Produce the Most Demanding Applications
TR2 ink offers outstanding performance for a variety of indoor and outdoor graphics, including some of the most demanding applications where stretch, adhesion and rub resistance are imperative (such as car wraps). It offers up to 200% stretch, as well as delivers unmatched washability.

6. Enhanced Print and Cut Functionality & A Super-Streamlined Workflow

Once the conversion is complete, you’ll benefit from a host of intelligent and intuitive new features on your VG or SG printer/cutter. These features will help to optimise print and cut accuracy, as well as speed up production. They include a new crop mark option, PerfCut Mode, over cut function, and cut and print function.

7. Keep Track of Production Whilst on the Move

Perform even more functions from your smartphone or tablet, from test printing to cleaning. Mobile Panel 2 (available for download in the App Store and Google Play Store) with enhanced Bluetooth connectivity will also send you new push notifications to alert you when a print job or cleaning is completed.

8. Ultimate User-Friendly Operation

Many sequences (such as the workflow of manual cleaning and sheet cut sequence) have been streamlined for efficiency, to reduce user input and to save time. The new Nozzle Mask function will allow you to print using a selectable portion of the printheads, helping to keep your business running in the unlikely event of a printhead issue.

9. Compatible with New (Optional) Media Take-Up System

Once the conversion is complete, your VG or SG printer/cutter will be compatible with a new (optional) media take-up unit - the TU4. It supports 2 modes for improved take-up accuracy for various types of media, as well as a new mode of taking up whilst giving the media some slack.

Although there is still a year remaining before the original TR inks are no longer available, we highly encourage you to think about converting your VG or SG Series printer/cutter sooner rather than later. There is no additional cost for the conversion, you just need to ensure that you have a set of TR2 inks (in the same configuration as your current setup), cleaning liquid pouch and a bottle of cleaning liquid on hand.

Please contact the Machines Plus team for more information or assistance on making the conversion - info@machinesplus.com.au or 1300 167 587.

Why You Shouldn’t Accept Print Jobs Before Your Printer Has Been Delivered

Tue, 25 Feb 2020 04:21:41 GMT

“When will it be here, I have a job that needs to be printed by the weekend?” - this is a question we hear frequently after a customer has purchased their new printer.

Whilst we want you to take on jobs and be excited about your new business venture - we’d love for you to have job requests coming out your ears! - we never recommend taking on jobs before the printer has been delivered for a few good reasons:

You need to be trained in how the printer is used
Even if you have experience with similar models, you will still require some training in how the printer functions before you’ll be ready to tackle a job - it’s very rarely as simple as plugging it in and pressing go. Training is even more important if this is your first time using such equipment.

Your installer will have a far easier time training you if you’re prepared to take your time and utilise imagery that they are familiar with (rather than trying to tackle your paid job that they have never seen before and is not their responsibility).
You need to practice to get your procedures right
There’s a reason why we often give away a care package of garments with printer purchases - you should practice and get your procedures right before you even think about taking on paid work. Pretreating, for example, requires some finesse to get right and can result in problems with the print when done incorrectly.

Plus, your customers are expecting a certain level of quality in the finished product. Failure to provide them with this can lead to complaints, which can have a negative impact on your new business.
There may be an issue with the printer or its setup
Keep in mind that your printer often requires a lot of different components to get up and running, in particular things like power cables and ink. What are you going to do if your printer is delivered and one of these crucial components is missing? Whilst installers generally carry spare ink with them, cables are another story.

You might also encounter an issue with the printer’s setup - the software may not be compatible with your computer, for example, or there may be a defect with the hardware that was not immediately visible. These things can take time to rectify.
There may be delays due to stock levels or shipping
It’s important to remember that dealers very rarely have printers in stock; instead, they are shipped out to you directly from the manufacturer. If a lot of people have placed orders around the same time, this can cause delays on the manufacturer’s end as they manage stock levels and work through the backlog.

Couriers and postal companies may also cause delays, particularly if they somehow misplace your package. Things like bushfires and floods, which are completely beyond everyone’s control, can also cause shipping delays.

If you are in the market for a new printer, from direct to garment (like the Epson SC-F2160 or the Ricoh Ri 100) to print/cut (like the Roland DG BN-20 or SG2-540), we really hope that you’ll think twice about accepting jobs before it has been delivered. At the end of the day, isn’t it best to lower your stress levels and ensure that you’re fully confident in using the machine before you start taking on paid work?

Epson Announce The SureColor F3060 Launch

Thu, 30 Jan 2020 01:15:58 GMT

Planning on attending Epson’s Productivity & Efficiency Showcase being held in Melbourne on the 20th and 21st of February? If you are, you’ll be among the first to see their brand new, industrial DTG printer - known as the SureColor F3060 - when it’s unveiled.

The machine has been designed specifically for mid-to-large size garment printers who are looking for high-production, cost-effective equipment.

Designed to provide a low total cost of ownership (TCO) as well as reliability for exceptional performance and savings in high-production environments, the SC-F3060 offers the ability to produce a full-size t-shirt in around a minute. Users will be able to print literally hundreds of shirts every day.

This is Epson’s first direct to garment printer to utilise dual printhead technology and a bulk ink pack system, providing users with an unusually low ink cost plus minimised waste (when compared with Epson cartridge systems). The machine is capable of housing 1.5 litres of each colour (CMYK) and 3 litres of white, so you won’t need to refill the machine as often as well as experiencing lower operating costs.

An ideal choice for printing on a variety of fabrics - including cotton, linen and rayon - the F3060 has been designed to meet the increasing market demand for unique clothing driven by the millennial population.

Some of the other features you can expect to see include:

PrecisionCore printhead technology (dual 10-channel printheads with 16,000 nozzles delivering industrial quality output at impressive speeds);
Bulk ink system (replaceable bulk ink packs for less frequent refilling and lower costs compared to cartridge systems);
High quality DTG printing (Epson UltraChrome DG inks are durable, vibrant and safe with outstanding colour performance);
Automatic printhead adjustment (optimised for garment thickness for improved print quality without user intervention);
Low TCO (low maintenance time and cost thanks to dedicated cleaning solution channels and fabric head wiper system);
Fast loading for more productivity (the all new, easy to use quick-load platen reduces traditional hoop platen load times);
Intuitive, easy to learn workflow (the updated Epson Garment Creator Software includes a cost estimator, text tools, hot folders and automation SDK); and
Scale seamlessly (scale production capability with additional printers thanks to its easily re-positionable compact design).

Details on pricing and availability of the Epson SureColour F3060 are set to be announced after the Showcase, however we don’t expect to see this machine available on our shores until mid year.

If you think this printer could be the perfect addition to your business for 2020 and would like to see it in action, register to attend the Productivity & Efficiency Showcase on either the 20th or the 21st of February in Brunswick East here or get in touch with the Machines Plus team on 1300 167 587.

Understanding the Expiry Dates on Your Epson DTG Inks

Tue, 03 Dec 2019 23:46:23 GMT

There’s a lot of conflicting information out there. Some sources tell us to order a new set of ink as soon as a cartridge is placed in the printer to ensure that you have some on hand when your supply inevitably begins to run low again. Others tell us not to order ink until the printer notifies us that it’s running low to ensure that spare cartridges don’t inadvertently become expired.

So what is the correct advice to follow? If you run an Epson SureColor F2160 (or F2000), having spare ink and cleaning cartridges on the shelf is always the way to go. And there is no risk of it expiring thanks to the long shelf life of Epson DG UltraChrome inks.

What is an expiry date?

An expiry date is a date that manufacturers place on ink cartridges to tell us how long the ink will work as it’s intended. This means that all of the ingredients and chemicals in the ink will flow correctly through your printer’s tubes, filters and printheads. The ink will also do the job it’s intended to do once it hits the substrate.

Why shouldn’t I ignore expiry dates?

Using ink that has passed it’s expiry can cause countless problems with your DTG printer. Some of these problems may not be immediately evident, but your printer could sustain internal damage that may impact its performance in the future. An ingredient that is added to help the ink flow through the printhead, for example, could separate from the solution and cause particles to start building up inside it. Once the buildup is great enough, it will eventually cause your printhead to fail.

Beyond the problems caused with your printer, using ink that has passed it’s expiry can also result in issues with your prints. Some of the pigment may disappear from the solution, for example, causing variations in colour to occur. Your prints won’t turn out as expected, which can result in some very unhappy clients.

It’s also crucial to note that, in most cases, using expired ink in your machine will void your manufacturer’s warranty.

Why keep ink on the shelf then?

Whilst using expired ink can be hugely detrimental to your printer, letting the ink cartridges run completely dry can be even more so. Your printer requires ink in the lines to keep everything running smoothly and prevent damage to its fragile parts, like the printhead. Letting the ink run down completely and then not replacing it immediately can cause whatever solution remains in the tubes, filters and printhead to dry, which leads to all sorts of problems when you try to start up your machine again.

Plus, if you’re in the middle of a job, you’ll be forced to cease printing until you’re able to have some new cartridges delivered. We regularly receive calls from customers needing ink as soon as possible because their printer has run out and they have jobs to complete. This can be extra stressful for them if they have missed postal cutoff times or if their ink has run out on a Friday.

By keeping a spare set of cartridges on the shelf, you will be prepared for times when your printer runs low on ink. This also decreases the possibility of disruptions to your workflow, particularly during the Christmas period when many suppliers are closed or in the case of a natural disaster (such as bushfires and floods) when you may not have access to ink as quickly as usual.

But what about the expiry date?

The great thing about Epson DTG inks is that they have a fairly long shelf life. From the time of manufacture to the time of expiry, you can expect a usable period of around 22 months. When you consider that most users who are regularly printing go through 2 white ink cartridges every 3 months or so, you can see that you have ample time to use the ink before it expires.

Whilst most users, even those who are printing regularly, take a little longer to go through CMYK (around 6 months or so), the almost 2 year shelf life of the cartridges ensures that you have adequate time to use the ink before it expires.

Cleaning cartridges have an even better shelf life - they’ll be good for 5 years from the date of manufacture. There is no reason not to have 2 spare cartridges sitting on the shelf at all times - enough to flush the white ink lines if needed.

What is our recommendation?

In a perfect world, Machines Plus and Epson would recommend that you purchase new cartridges whenever you place your spare ones in your printer.

We understand, however, that cashflow and the regularity with which you print can play a major role in the way people purchase. If either of these are of concern to you, we would recommend buying spare cartridges when the ones in your machine are around halfway used. The longer you wait to purchase new cartridges, the higher the risk that your printer will run out of ink completely before you receive them.

Is Your Business Taking Advantage of Holidays and Special Events?

Thu, 14 Nov 2019 04:45:18 GMT

Whilst most businesses have their niche that they don’t like to stray too far from, you aren’t doing yourself any favours by not taking advantage of holidays and special events throughout the year. From a range of ready-to-ship products to custom print jobs, there are a number of ways that you could profit from the holiday season.

Christmas

With Christmas a little over a month away, now is the perfect time to begin promoting festive t-shirts and other garments for the whole family (including the four-legged members). From personalisation to standard Yuletide greetings, the options are endless. Why not branch out into Santa sacks, stockings or even table linen with a holiday theme? There are so many ways to inject some holiday cheer into your business.

Easter

With more people becoming health conscious every year, Easter is becoming less and less about the chocolate. From cute bunny-themed garments and accessories to personalised Easter egg buckets and bags, there are plenty of ways to incorporate this holiday into your businesses’ product range. Depending on your market and your own personal values, keep in mind that Easter is also traditionally a religious celebration.

Mother’s Day

What mother wouldn’t love to receive a t-shirt with her children’s handprints emblazoned across the front? I’m sure she would also love a tea towel, reusable shopping bag, pot holder, pillowcase, mug, plate or any other item you can think of. This is the sort of special event where sentimental gifts reign supreme - direct to garment printing, heat transfer and dye sublimation are all perfect ways to personalise everything.

Father’s Day

Dad’s love personalised gifts too! From t-shirts and hoodies to mugs and caps, whack a simple slogan like “world’s greatest dad” on it and he’s pretty happy. Or, take it one step further by including his children’s names or even photograph. Advances in DTG, heat transfer and dye sublimation have made it easier than ever to customise and decorate a whole range of items that you’ve never even imagined.

Halloween

Once seen as only an American tradition, it is becoming increasingly common for Halloween to be celebrated here in Australia. This spooky holiday can allow you to have some real fun with your designs, from t-shirts and other garments to personalised loot bags and other trinkets. Don’t make things that people wear? Don’t worry - many families are choosing to decorate their homes for the spooky season, too!

And let’s not forget some of the other holidays and special events that people in the community may celebrate, including: Australia Day, Chinese New Year, Valentine’s Day, St Patrick’s Day, Holi, ANZAC Day and even the AFL Grand Final. If there’s a holiday or event that you feel strongly about, why not use it to make your business even more successful?

A Guide to Choosing the Right Mug for Dye Sublimation

Thu, 10 Oct 2019 00:39:45 GMT

Did you know that coffee mugs are the most popular product to sublimate in the world? They’re an item that everyone uses, whether they’re enjoying a hot beverage or using it for something more unusual (such as a makeshift pen holder).

Making the right choice of mug, however, is not as easy as it seems because blanks are not all created equally. This is why we’ve put together this handy how-to guide to ensure that you’ve made the best choice for your business.

There are many different styles and sizes of dye sublimation mug available, from plain white and matte textured ones through to cool colour changing and jumbo 15oz options. There isn’t really a wrong choice. Once you’ve settled on the style, shape, size and colour of the mugs you want to create, there are a number of other factors that you should consider:

Quality Coating

The ink penetrates through the polymer coating during the dye sublimation process. Therefore, the higher the quality of the coating, the higher the quality of the finished product. The coating should also have been applied as perfectly as possible. Lower grade blanks can have many defects in the surface, which usually comes down to dust or particles underneath the coating that have resulted in ‘pimples’ in the surface.

Dishwasher Fast

Keep in mind that not all coatings are suitable for dishwasher use, which means they will fade when exposed to the high temperatures that a dishwasher produces. Some coatings have been known to fade as quickly as the first wash, whereas others could take 10 to 20 washes before it starts to breakdown.

Don’t be fooled by lower quality coffee mugs that claim to be dishwasher safe but don’t offer a guarantee. We’ve heard all sorts of horror stories from people who have purchased cheap mugs from places like eBay and then been flooded with returns after the print has washed off after only a couple of uses.

Remember to always use mugs that are specifically designed for dye sublimation.

White = Bright

Another thing to remember with dye sublimation is that an accurate colour reproduction is best achieved when working with a white substrate. Choosing a mug with a bright white finish will provide accurate and ultra-sharp prints, as well as brilliant colour reproduction.

If the mugs you’ve chosen are slightly yellow or otherwise discoloured, your finished product isn’t going to have the high quality that you want to sell (or that customers are going to be willing to pay for).

Drink or Decor?

It’s also important to double check that the mugs have been certified for contact with foodstuffs (in other words, that they’ve been certified to be drunk from). Not all blanks will have the required certifications, so this is something that you need to determine prior to printing.

Be sure to check out our range of dye sublimation blanks. Our range has also recently expanded to include more coffee mug colours, as well as plenty of other options (including ornaments, travel mugs and key rings). Got any questions? Give us a buzz!

Epson Reveal the SC-F560 at PrintEx

Wed, 28 Aug 2019 05:52:15 GMT

If you were at PrintEx19 in Sydney in mid August, you may have noticed that the Epson stand had something very interesting on display - their very first 24-inch dye sublimation printer, known as the SureColor SC-F560.

Developed especially for promotional houses, photo labs, clothing producers and copy shops, the F560 can help to increase customer choice via flexible, high quality printing.

The SC-F560 joins Epson’s range of complete end-to-end printing solutions, which includes inks, software and paper that are designed to work together in perfect harmony. Create custom mugs, phone cases, mouse mats, cushion covers or even t-shirts as effortlessly as possible.

This printer is the ideal choice for businesses looking to get started in dye sublimation - it doesn’t require any specialist knowledge to set up, operate or maintain. It’s also highly suited to businesses who are looking to increase their production or expand into large substrates, as it is sure to boost both production and profits (thanks to its exceptional speed, productivity and efficiency).

Businesses of all shapes and sizes will benefit from the printer’s fast turnaround times, reliability, compact size and low total cost of ownership (TCO), as well as its ability to handle both roll and sheet-fed media.

Built with ease of use, productivity and efficiency in mind, the F560 will be able to keep any business agile and responsive to their customers’ needs. This is further achieved through:

Refillable ink solution (140ml bottles that can be refilled even whilst the printer is in operation);
Wi-Fi connectivity (the first Epson in the dye sub range);
Media auto-switch (switch seamlessly between roll and sheet media);
Epson’s LFP Accounting Tool (to accurately calculate print costs);
Head guard (for dust prevention); and
4.3 inch touchscreen (for ultimate ease of use).

Although there is no word yet on when the SureColor F560 will be available to the general public, we look forward to it joining the Machines Plus family. Keep an eye on our socials to be in the know when the printer officially launches and register your interest with us today on 1300 167 587!

The future is bright with heat transfer vinyl

Wed, 21 Aug 2019 03:23:44 GMT

Daniel Rim has always been interested in graphic design.

No stranger to the realm of sticker and garment creation thanks to his position as ecommerce manager for an Australian snowboarding group, when he started looking for a side venture a couple of years ago, it made sense that this sort of industry is where he focused his attention.

The Colour Cartel is Daniel’s brainchild, where his stickers and apparel are made available to his customers.

Getting the best ideas when you least expect it

Daniel says that the idea of making his own stickers really took root whilst attending the Outdoor Retail and Snow Show in Denver, Colorado, earlier this year. He got talking with a friend of a supplier, who owns a Canadian based company that makes ski and snowboard wax. “He was pouring his own wax and he had to make his own packaging. He was like ’I bought a sticker printer to make my packaging, and now I’m doing more stickers than I am bloody wax’.”

“I was like, that’s a cool idea - ‘cause obviously, in the snowboarding industry, everyone’s got stickers for everything. That was where it started and it sort of stuck in my brain...I guess that’s where the initial idea came from.”

Settling on the BN-20 was simple

Once he returned to Australia, he threw himself into research and it quickly became clear that Roland DG’s VersaStudio BN-20 was the right choice.

“It was more just about getting something that was going to give a high quality print cut and something that I could obviously sink my teeth into and learn,” Daniel says.

“I loved the fact that the BN-20 was a printer cutter, something that...had quite a wide range of applications that I could use it for. Whether it be printing vinyl stickers, whether it be t-shirt transfers - whatever you can think of, the BN-20 can do it all.”

Daniel was also looking for a machine that would be relatively hands free. He liked the idea of setting it to print, going to work and coming home at the end of the day to the job being completed. Although the BN-20 requires more of a hands on approach at the moment, as he is still learning the ropes and performing testing, he looks forward to the day when he can do just this.

“And the size as well. The size for me was a big one, ‘cause...it’s in the spare room at my house.”

Extensive research has paid off

When asked how he is finding the BN-20 so far, Daniel says it’s fantastic.

“The other bonus is all the tutorial videos...that Roland DG put up as well. It’s good to go through those and then go off Gus’ recommendations as well, just so you’re getting all sides to the story.”

“Just finding what works for you - what works for me might not work for someone else.”

He says that he is very thankful he made the decision to purchase the BN-20 through Machines Plus. “[Gus] was very very educated on the topic - something that I had very little education in - and he answered a lot of the questions that I had outstanding as well, something that I struggled [to find] with everybody else”.

Daniel has found himself really enjoying the BN-20 so far. “I actually quite enjoy making [stickers],” he says, “it’s something that I enjoy doing in my spare time. Even if I don’t have a job on, I’ll sit there and I’ll start designing stuff for myself.”

So what’s next?

With his whole life a bit of a juggling act at the moment - Daniel is an avid lacrosse player on top of his ecommerce position - he is hopeful that he’ll be able to grow The Colour Cartel over the summer months when things have died down a bit. “Over the coming year, I’d like to be able to consistently turn over some stickers and [t-shirts] each week. In the next couple of years, I’d like to...employ someone and to continually grow and move, maybe add a couple of extra machines.”

Not alone in his love of graphic design, Daniel has a handful of friends who also enjoy designing in their spare time. “They’ve all got very different styles. If they’re able to create designs in their own style, then they’re more than happy to do it but if they’re restricted to doing what other people want from them and working from a brief, then they find it a lot harder.” It is his hope to feature them on The Colour Cartel website, offering their work as an option to his customers.

“I’m burning the candle at both ends at the moment, but...it’s enjoyable. I like doing it, it’s not a chore - I enjoy making logos and stickers. It’s not something that I dread to do, it’s something that I’m quite energised to do.”

We see some great things on the horizon for Daniel and The Colour Cartel, and wish him the best of luck for the future.

Machines Plus is a supplier of quality printer/cutters for heat transfer vinyl, as well as accessories, for the garment decorating industry. Gus and his team help digital decorators to get ahead in their business by selling the latest in machines, consumables and apparel for direct to garment printing (DTG), heat transfer, dye sublimation and UV printing. They supply big name brands like Epson, Ricoh and Roland DG. They partner with customers, matching the right solution to their business and provide unbeatable value and experience. Gus and his team support customers in regional Australia as well as major cities, both domestically and internationally.

Epson UK Launch the SC-F6300

Wed, 31 Jul 2019 05:23:53 GMT

Building on the success of the SureColor SC-F6200, Epson UK has announced a successor - the new SC-F6300, a 44-inch dye sublimation printer.

As reported by Visual Impact Magazine , the SC-F6300 was developed for textile producers, photographic studios and promotional goods businesses. It offers users improved productivity and reduced downtime due to its simple installation, ease of maintenance and a complementary suite of bundled software (which allows users to better manage their printing efficiency).

The bundled software includes: Epson Edge Print RIP, Epson Edge Dashboard Support (including EMX profiles) and Epson’s LFP Accounting Tool. Combined, they provide the most appropriate level of software support to help businesses run more efficiently.

“Epson’s printer heritage speaks for itself and we’re delighted to offer users the complete end-to-end production package, for their peace of mind and convenience,” says Phil McMullin, sales manager at Epson UK. “We’ve also made sure that installation and maintenance is simple; so simple, that no specialist knowledge, or tools, are required.”

“We’re confident that we’ve designed a dye sublimation printer that will keep businesses running at peak efficiency and requires little user intervention.”

A range features and enhancements have been added to reduce users’ TCO. Thanks to easy user access and printhead maintenance, the need to call on an engineer will be minimised. Businesses will get up and running as quickly as possible thanks to the printer’s out-of-the-box, easy start-up from delivery. The improved specifications of key parts increases the product life and ROI.

The SureColor SC-F6300 can be used to produce an incredible range of items, from sports tops and lightweight fashion items to key fobs and mugs, and has been designed to play a crucial part in the seamless delivery of an end-to-end colour printing solution.

Epson Australia are set to launch the new model (known as the SC-F6360 here) at PrintEx19; we encourage you to visit the Epson stand to get your first look at the new SureColor F6360. Machines Plus will be officially offering these printers from the commencement of PrintEx19 on August 13 - register your interest with us today on 1300 167 587!

Machines Plus, established in 2014, is committed to providing our customers with the right garment decorating solutions for their needs. We supply a range of dye sublimation printers, direct to garment printers, heat transfer solutions and UV printers, as well as a wide range of inks, accessories, apparel and other consumables - making us your one-stop-shop. We also offer training, servicing and support to ensure our customers are up and running no matter what. We strongly believe in building relationships with our customers - we support you and you support us so that, together, both of our businesses will grow.

Ricoh to Launch the Ri 1000 at PrintEx19

Wed, 24 Jul 2019 03:44:54 GMT

Ricoh Australia (established in 1967 as Nashua Australia), has been committed to keeping their customers at the forefront of technology since the beginning. They understand that we no longer need a physical office to be “in the office”, which is why they provide business solutions that enable us to automate, connect and communicate wherever we are. They’re always thinking towards the future - their next advancement is never too far away. In more recent years, Ricoh have expanded their product range to include direct to garment (or DTG) printers, with the aim of offering machines at varying price points to match consumer demands.

As reported by Image Magazine , Ricoh plans to introduce their newest direct to garment printer, the long-awaited Ri 1000, at PrintEx19 in Sydney, which kicks off on the 13th of August. It is set to join the Ri 100 and Ri 6000 in Ricoh’s rapidly expanding portfolio of DTG solutions.

Replacing the Ri 3000, the Ri 1000 has been created in response to the growing demand for easy to use, efficient and affordable garment decoration solutions. Faster than its predecessor, it delivers greater print quality with an enhanced resolution of 1200dpi x 1200dpi. It supports CMYK plus white ink, ensuring dazzling results on fabric of any colour. The printer’s application flexibility is supported by a new pre-treatment (suitable for 100% light polyester and polycotton blends), which opens greater opportunities for garments and textile products in a number of sectors, such as sports.

The ability to smoothly switch between multiple styles of platen (up to 406.4mm x 508mm) makes quick operation and production versatility a breeze. The addition of a magnetic mechanism allows for platens to be easily snapped on and off without the need for additional tools. This flexibility supports continuous production and a wide range of print capabilities (from children’s sizes through to super wide designs).

Minimal maintenance with customisable cleaning options allows you to enjoy maximised production uptime. For those maintenance tasks that aren’t automated, the printer’s 7-inch touchscreen display provides smart alerts, notifying operators when to perform manual maintenance tasks.

Although no official launch date has been set, Machines Plus is excited to add the Ri 1000 to our repertoire of direct to garment printers. We feel this is a fantastic entry level option for those looking to print white ink as well as CMYK, enabling decorators to offer both black and white garments. There is no word yet on how much one of these printers will set you back, but be sure to stay tuned - more information is coming soon.

Machines Plus, established in 2014, is committed to providing our customers with the right garment decorating solutions for their needs. We supply a range of direct to garment printers, dye sublimation printers, heat transfer solutions and UV printers, as well as a wide range of inks, accessories, apparel and other consumables - making us your one-stop-shop. We also offer training, servicing and support to ensure our customers are up and running no matter what. We strongly believe in building relationships with our customers - we support you and you support us so that, together, both of our businesses will grow.

What are you actually paying for when you buy a DTG printer?

Wed, 10 Jul 2019 23:32:51 GMT

If you’re in the market for a direct to garment printer, it’s important to understand what you’re actually paying for before deciding whether it’s within your budget or not. Many people experience sticker shock when they receive their first quote and will instantly start to search for the cheapest option possible. But is this really the best decision?

Let’s take a look at what’s included in the price when you buy a DTG printer:

Printer

Of course, you’re paying for the machine itself. When you consider all of the different parts - from the print head and software to the grip pad and the physical housing of the printer - it becomes clear that there’s a lot involved in helping you to create beautiful garments. And we haven’t even considered the time and specific skill set of all the employees working away behind the scenes yet.

Although manufacturers include a startup pack as standard, some dealers like to throw their own little freebies into the mix too (ranging from free garments to extra inks). This is their way of ensuring that you have absolutely everything you need to get up and running.

Functionality

DTG printing is a fairly new method that has really taken off in more recent years thanks to advancements in technology. Ink is applied directly onto the garment you’re customising (in much the same way as the inkjet printer you use with paper at home), resulting in a precisely printed design that features a high level of detail. This sort of accuracy is simply not possible with other methods (such as screen printing) and results in higher manufacturing costs; this has meant that the machines carry a slightly higher purchase cost.

Support

You might be all set to start printing now, but what happens in a few weeks or months time when you have a question, an unusual print request or something odd happens with your machine? Purchasing through a dealer that offers ongoing support, like Machines Plus, ensures that all of your queries will be taken care of in a timely manner. Support can be provided in person or even in the form of a telephone call or video chat (via Facetime, Skype or Team Viewer); great if you’re not located nearby or even based interstate.

Repairs

On occasion, you may discover that your DTG printer is experiencing an issue that requires a technician to repair it. If your machine is still covered under warranty, these repairs (including both the parts and the technicians’ time) are generally completed free of charge.

Depending on the manufacturer, they may require the technician to be certified by them in order to complete printer repairs or servicing. This often requires the manufacturer to send out one of their own technicians, unless your dealer (like Machines Plus) employs their own certified team.

Knowledge & Expertise

These days, it’s not uncommon for sales reps to simply memorise the product brochures rather than gaining a real understanding of the printers they are trying to sell. By purchasing through a dealer whose reps understand these machines inside out and back to front, you can rest assured that you’re receiving valuable knowledge and expertise that could very well make or break your business.

Gus’s experience in the DTG industry makes him a leading authority on all things digital printing - he knows these machines like the back of his hand. Ask whatever questions you want and feel secure in the knowledge that they will be answered by someone who knows exactly what they’re talking about.

And let’s take a look at what will cost extra:

Shipping

The size of most DTG printers requires them to be shipped to your premises. This is usually handled by the manufacturer, who books a third party freight company. It is definitely worth having the printer shipped directly to you rather than trying to handle delivery yourself - when spending thousands of dollars on a machine, you want to ensure that you’re covered on the off chance it is damaged during transit.

Installation

In the case of most larger DTG printers, there’s more to them then plugging them in and switching them on - they require some level of installation. This is particularly important if you have never used one before, as it is unlikely that you will know how to properly set it up. Machines Plus will send a qualified technician who will ensure that the printer is ready for your first print job before leaving.

A qualified installer will ensure that the machine has been set up correctly and that everything is working as it should be (ie. not making any funny noises). Correct installation is also tied directly into the warranty, as manufacturers will void it if the printer has not been installed by a qualified technician.

Training

If you’ve never used a DTG printer before, it makes sense that you would require some level of training before you’re ready to start. Believe it or not, not all dealers supply training as a part of the package. Being shown how to pre-treat garments, how to use the Garment Creator software and adjust settings, and what to do should a print not turn out how you planned are crucial for your success as a business.

Machines Plus offers 2 days training as standard, included with your installation fee; we want you to feel comfortable and confident in your abilities.

Repairs

You may have noticed that we’ve included repairs twice. If your machine is no longer covered under warranty (or if it has been decided that the fault is a result of user error and, therefore, not covered under warranty), then you will need to pay for any repairs required.

What do you sacrifice when you haggle on price?

When you ask for a discount on the quoted price of a DTG printer, the dealer may be happy to oblige - but it’s important to understand that it will come at a cost.

In most cases, you will have to sacrifice on the level of training and/or support provided. The dealer may show you the very basics to operating the machine, but not the nitty gritty. When you have a question or a problem, you may find that the dealer isn’t all that willing to help you out or they may charge you for their time.

The dealer may also remove any freebies that they were offering from the package, as the understanding is that you will receive these items if you pay $X amount for the printer.

Before baulking at the quoted price of a direct to garment printer, take the time to actually understand what it is you’re paying for. There’s a lot more to the purchase than the machine itself - there’s also the time, knowledge and expertise of the dealer that you’re able to take advantage of.

Ricoh's instant t-shirt printing a hit at Sydney's Powerhouse Museum

Sun, 30 Jun 2019 23:19:09 GMT

This case study on the Ri 100 has been supplied by Ricoh

Established 140 years ago, Sydney’s iconic Powerhouse Museum draws thousands of visitors, tourists and students through its halls every year.

Part of the Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences (MAAS), the Powerhouse Museum’s working exhibitions demonstrate how technology, engineering, science and design impact Australia and the world.

The opportunity

With many visitors from schools and learning programs, the museum is always looking for innovative solutions to better manage its exhibitions and keep people engaged with memorabilia.

Owen Conlan, who looks after technology in the organisation, is always looking at innovative and interesting technology opportunities and how that can be implemented at the museum.

Conlan came across the Ricoh Ri 100 and was interested in discovering how a compact garment printing device could be used at the Powerhouse Museum.

“School holiday programs wanted to take pictures and every holiday period I got asked about on-demand printing so it will be very useful during the holidays,” he says. “Another application the team saw an opportunity with, was the large number of workshops held at the Powerhouse Museum in which clients design or create a drawing that is transferred onto a t-shirt, a value add.

The solution

“We did a trial with the [new Ricoh Ri 100 Direct to Garment] printer for a few weeks and got stakeholders involved to see the end result and feedback was received on how they could use it. With varying usages across different teams the cost was spread across the business,” said Conlan.

“As a technology manager I look at a range of applications and technologies to evaluate how it would be beneficial to our visitors, in this case we can now print t-shirts in-house. We always have the option of getting t-shirts printed externally, but that would need to be a larger run.”

The Ri can scale up to business requirements, a single t-shirt can be printed or 5 depending on the demand.

Conlan says this project did not involve a competitive play because the Ri 100 technology is quite an innovative solution.

“Other vendors have a big process for printing garments, but with Ricoh it was quite simple,” he says.

The evaluation process considered how easy it would be for non-technical people to use it and the costs for small runs of between 10 and 20 t-shirts.

“The Ri 100 is super easy to operate and is very cost effective for the amount we print,” Conlan says. “Also, the print quality was impressive.”

The machine itself is comparable in size to two desktop computers and consists of the printer and the heating tray. The whole system sits on a table and can be moved easily. T-shirts are loaded onto a tray like compartment and the tray is then loaded into the printer.

The benefits

The immediate business benefits were another revenue stream and improved engagement

with visitors, who can take something tangible away from their time at the Powerhouse Museum.

Another operational benefit relates to how staff engage with visitors. The museum now has the option of printing t-shirts for staff and volunteers for a specific exhibition.

Conlan says the museum experienced a good level of value and benefit by engaging with a Ricoh partner for the project.

“The printer gives us a bit of an edge as not many museums allow people to print their own t-shirt to take home.”

Future plans

Looking ahead, the museum is better placed to explore ideas for creating content that can be printed along with a theme or exhibition.

“We can offer a package as part of a workshop, where customers get a t-shirt to take home,” Conlan says. “We use more software, but there is still a need to print things. Print allows you to see a digital image in a different way, not just on a screen.”

Mining to the depths of DTG printing

Mon, 24 Jun 2019 01:37:08 GMT

After working night shift as a coal miner for 15 years, Wollongong-based Shannon Riley decided it was time for a new direction. He was inspired by the paintings and designs his daughter was creating, thinking that selling t-shirts could be a profitable little business for the two of them.

He has since moved onto creating his own designs (based on the coal mining industry he knows inside out) as well as custom projects for local businesses.

But none of this would have been possible without the Epson F2160.

The curse of old and outdated DTG printers

“I started off with a second hand machine, but it ended up being the wrong thing to do at the time,” says Shannon. “I bought an old Viper off Gumtree. [The seller] didn’t want to set it up for me. It was really hard to get going and the program wouldn’t work at first. It just ended up being a nightmare. I did a couple of jobs with it and they didn’t turn out right, there was a lot of mucking around with it.”

Not wanting to make the same mistake twice, Shannon invested considerable time into researching the various options available when he came across Machines Plus. Having been turned off DTG by his experiences with the old Viper, he was actually interested in another type of machine all together.

Advice and recommendations you can trust

“I was going to go with a UV [printer], where you don’t have to heat anything,” he says. “Gus changed my mind, as he said it wasn’t good for the skin.”

Gus Altmann, Founder and Product Specialist at Machines Plus, says that UV printing is not designed to be used for t-shirts and other garments worn close to the skin. “The ink contains volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which can cause skin irritation, and should be kept away from kids especially,” he explains. Instead, it is designed for hard surfaces (such as pens, USBs and even tiles).

After his experiences with the Viper, Shannon was looking for a printer that was easy to use and did all of the hard work for him. “The Viper was really hard to use, [even] just the program,” he says, “but Gus reassured me that [the Epson] is quite easy to use - and it is.”

“Gus sold me on it because he knew what he was talking about.”

What does he think of the upgrade?

It’s been more than 6 months since Shannon invested in the Epson F2160 and it’s clear that he’s enjoying the much easier printing style offered by the latest in DTG technology.

“I’m only a new business, so I haven’t had much to do with anything else bar the Viper and the Epson. And it wins all over the Viper. The ink for the Viper was annoying, as was cleaning it, whereas [the Epson] is just a cartridge - you put it in and it cleans itself.”

So what’s next?

Currently doing most of his printing on the weekends, Shannon would love to get to a point where he can leave his job in coal mining and focus solely on his garment printing business.

“I want to do my own designs, really,” he says. “Everyone does stickers and stuff like that for coal mining but not shirts and jumpers.” He plans to add more of his custom designs to his store soon.

We cannot wait to see what’s on the horizon for Shannon and Shanic Printing & Design.

Machines Plus is a supplier of quality digital garment printers and accessories for the garment decorating industry. Gus and his team help digital decorators to get ahead in their business by selling the latest in machines, consumables and apparel for direct to garment printing (DTG), heat transfer, dye sublimation and UV printing. They supply big name brands like Epson, Roland DG and SawGrass. They partner with customers, matching the right solution to their business and provide unbeatable value and experience. Gus and his team support customers in regional Australia as well as major cities, both domestically and internationally.

The Epson SureColor F2160

Mon, 04 Feb 2019 01:14:59 GMT

The DTG revolution continues.

DTG or Direct to Garment printing revolutionised the garment industry.

It introduced the ability to do custom one of prints.

No more large production runs were needed, small quantity prints could be achieved effectively.

Now is the dawn of the next generation of garment printers. Faster, easier to use and more reliable.

The Epson SureColor F2160 is Epson's latest and most advanced printer to date. It is built upon on the success of Epson’s previous generation printer the SureColor F2000.

The SureColor F2160 uses Epson's state of the art technology to provide the best printing experience yet.

This printer is simple to use, simple to load and simple to run. (With Machines Plus comprehensive training)

It is self cleaning, and let's the operator know when it needs their intervention. All you need to do is prep and load the shirt, push a button and wait for the printer to finish.

The SureColor F2160 is Epson’s easiest to use garment printer to date.

Quick to set up and shut down this gives you have more time for production work.

The SureColor F2160 the next evolution in garment printing from Epson.

See more about the Epson F2160 SureColor DTG Printer HERE .

Epson Polyester Pretreatment Liquid

Wed, 30 Jan 2019 01:36:13 GMT

Epson polyester pretreatment for dtg printers is designed to work with the Epson Ultrachrome inks on the Epson SureColor F2000 and F2160.

Machines Plus has been testing the Epson Polyester Pretreatment on garments with different polyester mixes from 100% to a 50/50 mix.

During our testing of the polyester pretreatment process we discovered the following:

The garments need to be well soaked in the pretreatment.
Application is best with a roller when the pretreatment is undiluted.
Allow the inks to set properly before washing and stretching.
Cure with lower temperatures and little or no pressure.
Epson Polyester pretreatment for dtg printers has a thicker viscosity than the cotton pretreatment.

“The polyester pretreatment liquid is thicker than the cotton pretreatment. It is intended to be used at 1-parts pretreatment to 0-parts water. In general, diluting the pretreatment will result in duller colors but better wash fastness. When asked about diluting the solution to a 3-parts pretreatment to 1-part water (75/25 mix), the engineers at Epson felt that slight dilution will have only limited influence. The slightly diluted liquid should flow better through the sprayer."

T-shirt Forum

Epson suggest preparing the pretreatment as follows:

For dark fabrics Epson recommends that you generally use the polyester pretreatment undiluted. If you want to use a spray gun you can try 3 parts pretreatment and 1 part distilled water so not to over dilute pretreatment.

For light fabrics the Epson Polyester Pretreatment should be diluted generally in a ratio of 1 part pretreat to 6 part distilled water before application.

This is a guide and you can experiment with the ratios to find what works best for your garments.

Applying the Epson Polyester pretreatment for dtg printers.

Make sure to shake pretreatment before applying. Needs shaking often as it seperates quickly.
Ensure that all lint and pilling is removed before applying pretreat.
Undiluted pretreatment will need to be rolled on as it will not go through the noozles of the spray gun or pretreatment machines. When diluted it can be applied by spray gun, roller or with pretreat machine. Make sure to adjust nozzles when changing between pretreats.
Before printing on garments evenly apply the pre-treatment liquid (customers should follow their user guide for instructions). Make sure the pretreatment is cured on a heat press before printing.
Epson Polyester pretreatment is designed to be used with Epson Ultrachrome DG inks.

It is recommended that you run testing of the Epson dtg polyester pretreatment on the garments you use in your business. Just like with the the cotton pretreatment the polyester pretreatment can be affected by how the garment you use is manufactured, this will play a part in how the end products turns out.

Epson suggestions are a starting point for the polyester pretreatment process. You may find that you will need to tweak the pretreatment dilution or application to see what works best for your garments.

It is recommended that you keep notes of your successes and failures so you can build up a knowledge base for what does and doesn’t work in your business environment.

Epson Polyester Pretreatment Case Studies

Case 1: 100% Polyester

Applying the undiluted Pre-Treatment:-

Spray Gun ( electric )

Unsuccessful
No control of spray on garment ( narrow spray bandwidth )

Spray Gun ( Manual Spray )

Unsuccessful
No control of spray on garment ( narrow spray bandwidth )

Pre treater Machine ( Viper XPT-1000 )

Unsuccessful
No control of spray on garment ( narrow spray bandwidth )

Roller ( Foam roller )

Successful with mid-pressure
Pretreat went through first layer of fabric to second

Job Description

White Level 6 - 8 passes x 2

Color Level 2 - 10 passes x 1

Bi-Directional and Uni-Directional

30 sec pause

White +25/ +50 /+100

Heat Press

5 presses in total with light to no pressure.

130C x 60 sec (Dye Migration)
120C x 60 sec (White become transparent)
120C x 60 sec (White become transparent)
120C x 60 sec
120C x 60 sec

Notes:

Soaking the tee with pre treat had a much better result with white at 100% as well as pausing in-between passes.

Notes:
The roller needs to be applied evenly otherwise the printed image will be uneven like it is in this image.

Case 2: 100% Polyester

Applying the undiluted Pre-Treatment:-

Spray Gun ( electric )

Unsuccessful
No control of spray on garment ( narrow spray bandwidth )

Spray Gun ( Manual Spray )

Unsuccessful
No control of spray on garment ( narrow spray bandwidth )

Pre treater Machine ( Viper XPT-1000 )

Unsuccessful
No control of spray on garment ( narrow spray bandwidth )

Roller ( Foam roller )

Successful with mid-pressure
PT was through first layer of fabric to 2nd
With heavy Pressure PT was soaked through first and second layers

Job Description

White Level 6 - 8 passes x 2

Color Level 2 - 10 passes x 1

Uni-Directional only

30 sec pause

(Top) White +25 / Color +5

(Middle) White +50 / Color +10

(Bottom) White +100 / Color +30

Heat Press

4 presses in total

Air Dried at 19C for 10 min before placing on heat press

150C x 20 sec (Dye Migration)
126C x 60 sec (White become transparent)
120C x 60 sec (White Ink still wet)
120C x 60 sec (White ink Stabilized)

Stretched inks as soon as off the press here - evident in prints after washing

Washing

Both Jerseys washed on Cold, inside out, 20 min cycle and Air Dried
Do not stretch the inks to soon off the press - the result would be better washing wise, if i left the ink to cure completely as a solid

No Image for this test is currently available

Case 3: 60% Polyester 40% Cotton

Applying the undiluted Pre-Treatment:-

Spray Gun ( electric )

Unsuccessful
No control of spray on garment ( narrow spray bandwidth )

Spray Gun ( Manual Spray )

Unsuccessful
No control of spray on garment ( narrow spray bandwidth )

Pre treater Machine ( Viper XPT-1000 )

Unsuccessful
No control of spray on garment ( narrow spray bandwidth )

Roller ( Foam roller )

Successful with mid-pressure
PT was through first layer of fabric to 2nd
Heavy Pressure PT was soaked through first and second layers ( Light stain after wash )

Job Description

White Level 6 - 8 passes x 2

Color Level 2 - 10 passes x 1

Uni-Directional only

30 sec pause

(Top) White +25 / Color +5

(Middle) White +50 / Color +10

(Bottom) White +100 / Color +30

Heat Pressing

4 presses in total

Air Dried at 19C for 10 min before pressing

150C x 20 sec (Dye Migration)
126C x 60 sec (White become transparent / Some Dye Migration )
120C x 60 sec (White Ink still wet)
120C x 60 sec (White ink Stabilized)

Case 4: 50% Polyester 50% Cotton ( High Vis )

Applying the undiluted Pre-Treatment :-

Spray Gun ( electric )

Unsuccessful
No control of spray on garment ( narrow spray bandwidth )

Spray Gun ( Manual Spray )

Unsuccessful
No control of spray on garment ( narrow spray bandwidth )

Pre treater Machine ( Viper XPT-1000 )

Unsuccessful
No control of spray on garment ( narrow spray bandwidth )

Roller ( Foam roller )

Successful with mid-pressure
PT was through first layer of fabric to 2nd with heavy Pressure PT was soaked through first and second layers ( Light stain after wash )

Job Description

White Level 6 - 8 passes x 2

Color Level 2 - 10 passes x 1

Uni-Directional only

30 sec pause

(Top) White +25 / Color +5

(Middle) White +50 / Color +10

(Bottom) White +100 / Color +30

Heat Pressing

4 presses in total

Air Dried at 19C for 10 min before press

120C x 60 sec (Dye Migration)
120C x 60 sec (White become transparent / Some Dye Migration )
120C x 60 sec (White Ink still wet)
120C x 60 sec (White ink Stabilized)

Notes:

After washing the ink could be rubbed from the Tee

Washing:

All Washing done on a Front loader, using Omo Detergent on Sinthetics setting in Cold water ( Default is warm )
No Softener used
Low and slow on the heat press at 120C is better as i did not get any Dye migration on to the backing paper.
Small prints only, larger Prints would make garment to shrink around prints ( anything over 150mm )

Purchase Epson Polyester Pretreatment in 1L or 18L size

Resources:

https://www.t-shirtforums.com/epson-surecolor-dtg-printers/t868939.html

InfoTrends Blog - What Epson’s new DTG Solution Means for Polyester Printing

Machines Plus are a digital print supplier for garment and digital decorators, of any business type or size. Gus and his team help digital decorators to get ahead in their business by selling the latest in machines, consumables and apparel for garment printing (DTG), UV printing, sublimation and heat transfer. Brands such as Epson, Ricoh, Roland DG, SawGrass, Hix, Stahl's, Siser, and Image Armor.

They partner with customers, matching the right solution to their business and provide unbeatable value and experience. Gus and his team support customers in regional Australia as well as the major cities domestically and internationally.

Finding a new business with DTG printing

Thu, 06 Dec 2018 06:13:29 GMT

How a new DTG business started from having to print a company’s logo to their own work shirts. And soon became a local and online supplier for digital decoration for t shirts and garments.

Meet Kristy Pritchard, owner of Cotton Colour . It’s hard not to feel her enthusiasm for printing quality colour onto t shirts and apparel. And the pride she has in adding the Epson F2160 fabric printer to her business - it’s clear to see.

“We couldn’t be prouder of owning this machine. Because of what it can do,” says Kristy. “It means our business can deliver quality.”

Cotton Colour is a garment decorator in the Hunter Valley, offering custom printing on t shirts and apparel, vinyl transfer and embroidery.

After Kristy and her husband Shawn started investing in garment decoration equipment for work shirts, as part of Shawn’s transport company, they recognised a new business opportunity.

And the idea for Cotton Colour was born.

“We can now print photo images or any artwork on shirts, work shirts, kids clothing or any other apparel,” says Kristy. “And we’re working on our Cotton Colour Kids range .”

Wind back only a short time ago, Kristy and Shaun were screen printing at home to provide Shawn’s transport company with branded work shirts. “The artwork didn’t last long” , says Kristy. “It kept washing out after only a few months. It was also time-consuming and messy.”

“We started buying heat presses and vinyl cutters to add our logo and artwork to our work shirts. Very soon, we realised that we’d be able to do this for others” , says Kristy.

Why direct to garment technology?

“My logo for Cotton Colour is gradient”, says Kristy. “Screen printing can’t do this without any colour change, but DTG can.”

After researching the options online, Kristy saw what DTG technology could do. “We watched a few of Machine Plus’s training videos on YouTube and they were fantastic” , says Kristy. “We couldn’t believe what we were seeing. The t shirts, when they come out of the printer, are bright and vibrant.”

Kristy says that the decision to choose the Epson F2160 was easy. She had used Epson for computer printing and it was a brand she trusted.

And with DTG printing, there’s no need for minimum orders. Gus Altmann, Founder and Product Specialist at Machines Plus says, “DTG printing gives you the flexibility to print just one shirt or hundreds.”

From installation to printing in a matter of hours

“Gus installed our Epson F2160 and showed us how to use it” , says Kristy. “With the way he presents it and trains you, we were printing shirts in a matter of hours.”

“I tell all our clients to do your checks of the machine in the morning” , says Gus, “go make a cup of coffee, come back and the machine is ready for you.”

What you see is what you’re going to print

Gus suggests always doing a test print beforehand, which you can then use as samples. “By printing on each side” , says Gus, “using the different settings, you’re able to see which works best for the particular artwork.”

Kristy agrees and says using the Garment Creator RIP software is so easy. “I was expecting it to be fairly hard, but was pleasantly surprised. You go to settings, select the platten size, size the image to the platten, select the quality setting, pick which colour shirt you’re printing on to and away you go.”

What’s next?

“We’ll do some local markets to get our name out there and so people can see our products” , says Kristy. “We’re also planning our own label for Cotton Colour and Cotton Colour Kids online. And service as many customers as we can, printing photos, business logos and whatever our customers would like printed onto fabric.”

And we wish Kristy and Cotton Colour every bit of success.

Putting DTG Printing into Full Throttle

Wed, 28 Nov 2018 03:59:04 GMT

How a husband and wife team diversified their promotions and photography business, and brought custom t shirt printing in-house.

From the motor sports track side, owners of Hi-Octane Events Ryan and Amanda Cobb decided to bring production in-house and launch their merchandise business - Shirts 247 . With the help of Machines Plus and their new Epson garment printer, they’re set to put Shirts 247 in overdrive, as their lead income earner.

Deciding to in-source with DTG printing

Ryan and Amanda know how to promote motor sports. Their motor sports promotions and photography business, Hi-Octane, takes them all over Australia. But it was time to step into t- shirt printing and DTG. After having outsourced their merchandise to a local printer for many years, they decided it was time to do it themselves.

“Finding quality merchandise was difficult”, says Ryan, “and at smaller quantities. And bringing production in-house and extending our merchandise range was a natural next step for our promotions business.”

“We started looking at an alternative to screen printing. Screen printing is a big investment needing large quantities. When we found we could print just five to ten shirts at a time with DTG printing, we were very interested in becoming self-sufficient and producing our own merchandise.”

Choosing the right technology

After four months of research, Ryan and Amanda settled on the Epson F2160 to do all of their garment printing. “The Epson F2160 ticked all the boxes”, says Ryan. “We had been seriously looking at the F2000, but when the F2160 model became available we jumped straight to that.”

“We knew the reputation for quality that Epson has. The reviews of the F2160 read well and the price was right.”

Work by day. Print by night

In between their day jobs, they promote, photograph and host motor sports events around Australia and print merchandise by night. So you could say they’re fairly busy. HQ is on the beautiful Sunshine Coast.

And they’re loving their new t shirt printer. “It’s awesome”, say Ryan. “We use it each day and it just works.”

Integrating the Epson F2160 to the business environment

Gus Altmann, Founder and Product Manager for Machines Plus says “Shirts 247 have an Apple environment, so we made sure that their machine was set up to support this.”

“We were on-site for two days, installing and training. With Shirts 247 being a start-up, and knowing where Ryan and Amanda want to take their business, we knew that the F2160 was the right choice. The machine will grow with them.”

“The F2160 is easy to use, easy to clean and easier to print”, says Gus.

What’s next?

Over the next 12 months, Shirts 247 are on track to have their lead business come from their merchandise.

They’ve also got plans to build a climate-controlled shed on their Sunshine Coast property, build out their production team, extend their merchandise range and really put their business into full throttle.

We can’t wait to see where they take their customers next.

Successful t shirt printing business: 10 expert insights

Wed, 28 Nov 2018 03:08:51 GMT

What it looks like and how to get there

When it comes to starting a t shirt printing business, there’s a few things to consider - the technology choices, knowing your numbers and marketing your business. But beyond the decision to step into the world of custom t shirts and apparel:

What do you need to really be successful?

Is this is your first time as a self-employed business? Are you adding merchandise production to your existing business?

Knowing how the successful players do it will give your business a head start, or a power-up.

Here we share 10 insights on what a successful t shirt printing business looks like, using direct to garment printing. And our top tips on how to get there.

1. Understanding what success looks like for you

What’s the reason you’re getting into the t shirt and merchandise game?

We see the most common reasons people get into custom t shirt and apparel printing are:

Merchandise production is a natural extension to their business
It’s time to in-source merchandise production and improve margins
Create a business that works around you and your family
Create a business you can base from home.

Successful DTG printing businesses understand their main motivation for being in business. And use that to make the best decisions right from the start.

Whatever your reason, direct to garment printing, or DTG as it was previously known, makes custom printing affordable and accessible. It’s many advantages over screen printing has opened up a whole industry for new players over the last 10 or so years. Direct to Garment Printing or DTG printing, is also allowing screen printers to cater for a part of the market they’ve traditionally turned away.

Before direct to garment technology came along, screen printing and embroidery were the main players in town. And that meant customised, short run orders were expensive.

But now with direct to garment, custom orders and shorter productions are possible, thanks to the ability to print a single t shirt, with a rainbow of colours, in less than 1 minute.

2. Qualify your customers

Knowing how to qualify your customers and redirect them to a better solution brings about a win-win for both. When a customer asks you to quote on printing a batch of shirts with a particular colour, fabric or artwork that you know is not going to get the best outcome, then say so. Often times, your clients are looking to you for a better solution.

And sometimes saying no to a job is the best answer.

If you know a quality outcome isn’t going to be achieved, even after talking with your customer, or you’re not going to be able to meet the deadline, then say no. Gus Altmann from Machines Plus says “Most people are happy to pay for quality and they’ll appreciate your honesty if you think what they’re asking is not possible. And they’re the customers you want.”

They’re not the expert. You are.

When it comes to getting the graphics right, Mark Frahm, owner of Mammath T-Shirt Printing says “Work with the customers to fix the file. Many customers have no idea what is ‘print ready’ artwork. You can educate them by providing the necessary file requirements, but you will always have some artwork to fix. Don’t do that for free. Quote them to prep the file they supplied and they will either pay a little extra to get it right, or go away. Win-win.”

3. The right gear for the job

Choosing your equipment is the most important decision you will make, so do your research.

With direct to garment machines, there are many options in the market. The digital decorators who are winning have the right equipment to keep their business running day and night.

Gus Altmann says that understanding what you need the printer to do, is the first consideration. “If you need your printer to be printing quality t shirts and apparel, everyday, then you need a garment printer that can deal with that."

“Consider what you need the machine to do."

"If it’s only a few promotional items a week then the Ricoh Ri 100 is ideal, as it is designed for small scale production. If you are looking at larger scale production then the Epson F2160 paired with a quality heat press is better suited."

The second important consideration in choosing your machine is the level of support that comes with it. Gus suggests to ask these questions when shopping around:

How will I get the training I need?

Do I understand the warranty and what I’m buying?

Is it designed for the job?

Does it cover all parts and for how long?

Am I buying a reputable brand?

Who will support me when my machine’s not meeting the challenge of my customer orders?

If you do not consider these questions you could end up buying the wrong machines, that will not do what you want.

4. Know your numbers

Successful businesses of any kind know their numbers. It’s essential to know:

Your fixed costs to keep the lights on and the business running;

Direct costs associated with printing one t shirt or a batch of 50;

How much margin you’re making on each item you're printing; and

How you’re tracking against a financial budget that you regularly keep an eye on

How do you know what to charge?

Reaching the profit threshold quickly is critical in any business.

The first place to start is knowing the average cost of printing per item (factoring in your direct costs) and the time to print each shirt. This will vary depending on what printer you’ve got, as production speeds, ink costs and servicing all vary from brand to brand.

The digital decorators who are doing this successfully aim for a profit margin of at least 10-15%. They qualify their customers so they don’t take on jobs that will lose them money or damage their brand.

Generally speaking, you should plan to print at least 30 shirts per week to cover costs and repayments of a printer at $30-$40 per shirt. But this also depends on your cost base and business model.

But determine what’s right for your business.

Know your costs, research the market and set your profit margin.

5. Practice makes perfect

Making mistakes is the best way to really get to know your machine and the tricks of the trade. After setting up their new digital garment printer, new business owners often make the same mistake:

They wait for their first order before they print.

Mark Frahm says “The last thing I want is a dissatisfied customer returning products that have failed. Nothing goes out the door without me knowing that product will be something the customer raves about, not complains about. With such a variety of different compositions and styles of fabric, and artwork, a successful garment printing business should be sampling and wash testing every style and composition of garment they sell, continually, improving and perfecting. The key is to sell a product no-one can complain about.”

So don’t wait for your first order before you put your Direct to Garment Printer through its paces.

6. Know where you’re going

Map out your vision of where your digital decoration business is heading. Is it always t shirts and hoodies? Or do you want to print on caps, mugs and other promotional material to support your customers’ brands?

Most digital decorators know from the get-go that they’d like to get into other promotional items. So talk to your customers now and gauge a level of demand for these items. Establish those relationships early so that it’s you they order from.

Drawing a product roadmap can help you visualise and plan for your business to diversify. It’s likely that your business model will change, as you may need to bring on another staff member and you’ll need to factor into the budget any new technology, such as UV or dye sublimation printer.

Here’s an example of what a product roadmap for a digital decorator might look like:

7. Open up your network

Aside from knowing where you’re going, is knowing what you don’t want to do.

“Knowing your sweet spot is key,” says Gus. “DTG printers are perfect for runs of 1 - 250. Although capable of more, this is where the best market opportunity is for digital decorators using DTG printers.”

Don’t compete with screen printing. Embrace it.

Mark Frahm says “As a successful DTG business, you will receive enquiries to quote on volume orders that are out of the feasible DTG market. Don’t try and run those orders through DTG. Find a trusted screener to hook up with and work together. Find a contract textile screen print company so you can quote, and hopefully outsource larger orders. Screeners will have a bunch of small orders to throw your way in return, so everyone makes money.”

8. Mapping the steps

Successful printers have clear steps of the process, beginning to end. From the initial enquiry, creating a quote, scheduling the order, production, packing, accounting and following up.

Software solutions for accounting and scheduling are also important. So bring these in right from the start, so your business can grow into them.

For DTG production, Mark Frahm says that it’s best to break down pretreat and print as two elements in your process. “You have to visit every print area twice on every garment. I break it down into those two elements and find ways to be faster and more efficient at both.”

9. Have the right attitude

Running any kind of business is tough. Let’s face it. There’s loads of purks running your own home-based business, or being your own boss. But when things get tough, or you’re having ‘one of those days’, it’s up to you to keep yourself going.

The right attitude will help you through the tough times - keeping you in business for the long run.

So what is the right attitude? Gus says “embracing the challenges and using creativity to overcome the obstacles. Digital decoration is an industry for creative thinkers. Choose to look at a tough situation as an opportunity to grow and learn.”

Never Think It’s Easy

Mark Frahm says “No form of textile reproduction is. DTG printing looks easy, often sold as easy, but it’s not. There’s a little more to it than pressing a button. There is a continual learning curve, and there is never a time when you will know it all. The challenges are daily, so you need the right attitude to seize everyday. DTG printing takes commitment, perseverance, and a high level of problem solving skills - all the time.”

Surround yourself with the right support

Your employees, business partners and technology providers should all be there to play a key role in your business. Gus says “having the right support in place is as important as choosing the right technology. Successful players know what they need to do, who they can turn to when they need help with a job that’s not going to plan.”

10. Finding your people

Knowing your target audience, how to reach them and having a product that they want and love, is part of the secret sauce of successful digital decorators. Key ingredients to this secret sauce include:

Market testing your product
Creating your community
Building your brand and message
Using social media, a website or both
Helping people find you (Search engine optimisation)
Amplifying your message and Social proof.

Marketing your DTG printing business is critical. Working ‘on the business’ and just as important as working ‘in the business’.

Make time regularly to improve your marketing.

It might be just you in the business, as opposed to established digital decorators that might have some help with their marketing.

But remember, they were once like you.

Seek out courses, online communities or podcasts (our favourite at the moment is ‘Two Regular Guys’) to improve your marketing skills. The investment will be well worth it in the end.

Over to you

What do you think makes a successful t shirt printing business? Any recommendations to share? Please pop in the comments below:

About Machines Plus

Machines Plus is a digital print supplier for garment and digital decorators, of any business type or size. Gus and the team help digital decorators to get ahead in their business by providing the best brands for DTG garment printing, UV printing, sublimation and heat transfer.

Disclaimer: Any advice, financial or otherwise, in this article is purely the opinion of the author and Machines Plus. Seek professional financial advice before starting any business.

Why garment choice is important

gus@machinesplus.com.au (Gus Altmann) — Fri, 06 Apr 2018 09:52:37 GMT

Choosing the right garment can make or break the outcome of your design.

Can you see the difference in these two prints?

One of the most important variables in a vibrant DTG print can be the garment choice.

Many times, when using white ink in direct-to-garment (DTG) printing, I’ve noticed decorators’ tendency to complain that their prints just don’t look like what they saw at a trade show. “It just isn’t white enough and we are doing exactly the same artwork and everything — there must be something wrong with the printer or pre-treatment machine,” they’ll exclaim.

Well, it’s important to remember there are many factors that can affect the final output of a digitally printed shirt. One of the biggest is the one you probably wouldn’t think of first: the choice of garment.
While it’s probably a popular culprit for a poor white-ink print, let’s first look at the role of pre- treatment in digital printing and then examine how other factors come into play.

Pre-treatment’s Role

Pre-treatment achieves two basic functions for the digital printing process. The first is similar to the process of applying primer to drywall before painting. Primer is applied so that the paint doesn’t soak into the drywall. This is the same function that pre-treatment serves for digital garment printing.

Secondly, once white ink is printed onto a pre-treated shirt, it reacts with the pre-treatment and changes “state”. You can think of this “state change” as being similar to the flashing of white ink in the screen printing process.

A white underbase is flashed using a heat source so that a solid color can be printed on top of the white ink layer without a mixture of the two occurring. This results in a crisp, clean image. In direct-to-garment printing, when the white ink hits the pre- treated shirt, the pre-treatment “flashes” via a chemical reaction. Similarly, this allows other colors to be printed on a semi-solid surface, resulting in great detail and no messy or blurry wet- on-wet printing.

When using the same pre-treatment process, printing parameters and artwork on multiple garments, it still is possible to get amazingly different printed results. In the above picture, two different shirts are folded down the middle to highlight the difference in printing that can be seen in real-world production. There is a significant difference in the brightness and opacity of the printed garment on the right when compared to the garment on the left.

The print on the left showed more fibrillation and less optical brightness, making the printed design look slightly faded and not as white. The print on the right appears to contain more solid, thicker deposit of white ink. However, the only difference between the left and right prints — and one of the most often overlooked variables — is the style of shirt.

Choosing a ‘Good’ Garment

For most DTG printing shops, increasing garment quality can have a profound impact on the print quality received by customers. Moreover, it doesn’t matter whether it is a standard CMYK-only print on a white shirt or white ink on a dark-colored shirt. The better the garment quality, the better the print and product your customers will receive. That’s why Machines Plus uses the RTP Apparel for its pre treated shirts and AS Colour for a fashion feel

What factors should be sought in a quality shirt? In the above example, the left side was a standard carded open-end (COE) fabric — a basic option most often found at the lowest price point. Since everyone wants to save money, this unfortunately is the most-often-chosen style for direct-to-garment printing.

The second — and better — choice for DTG printing would be a garment constructed of combed, ring-spun cotton, possibly also featuring an enzyme wash. The tighter weave of this type of shirt means there will be fewer rogue fibers straying from the thread, resulting in a smoother printing surface and a much better looking finished print.

A smaller thread diameter (such as a 30/1 thread) also will allow a much more denser weave with fewer peaks and valleys, while the enzyme-washing process will help strip off surface fuzz from the shirt fibers — resulting in a smoother printing surface.

You can think of the difference between these two shirt types (construction and processing) as being similar to printing a photograph with your desktop inkjet printer. Using regular copy paper may yield a good image, but printing on photo-quality paper can result in an incredible looking photograph. The same concept applies to DTG printing.

Test It Out

Every shop is different, and it is best to procure a variety of different ring-spun and processed shirts for testing. Many companies now advertise their shirts as DTG-ready. Since individual pretreatments and printing processes will interact differently with shirts based on where they are manufactured, it would be best to test multiple brands to find the shirt that will print the best in your shop.

So, the next time you are having issues with your white ink DTG prints and you want to blame the printer or the pre-treatment machine, remember to check all the variables. Using the highest- quality shirt — though a little more costly than the standard shirt you may be using — will yield much better finished prints and more satisfied customers in the long run.

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