Images Magazine Digital Edition July 2018

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT www.images-magazine.com 40 images JULY 2018 W hen businesses invest in production kit, it’s typically to meet a specific need. The new kit fulfils that need and so becomes the go-to machine for that particular type of job. However, with the breadth of capability that a wide format dye sublimation printer has to offer, it’s important to look beyond that original requirement to uncover the machine’s true potential and the sales opportunities it can help you to realise. “It’s not unusual to find businesses barely scratching the surface when it comes to what they could be getting from their print hardware,” says Brett Platt, textile product manager at Hybrid Services, Mimaki’s UK and Irish distributor. “With the increase in speed of the latest generation of printers, the capacity is there to allow companies to investigate the many other profitable product opportunities that the systems can offer – and frequently with minimal additional outlay.” For garment decorators, the most obvious first step is into other apparel lines – and this highlights a common theme: the process to produce these new products is fundamentally similar to what businesses are already doing. “For a company that specialises in corporatewear to move into fashion, it simply requires them to strike up conversations with a new type of customer,” states Brett. “It’s highly likely the skillset is there, so it’s just Diversify your dye sub printing Use your wide format printer to its full potential with some expert advice and production tips from Brett Platt of Hybrid Services Mugs: “You need a mug press and getting one that allows you to control the pressure is very important. Mugs with a straight side rather than shaped ones will always work better. Mugs must have a polyester coating on them for process to work.” Apparel and décor: "A good press is a must and a rotary heat press means you have no restrictions on the length of fabric. My best tip when it comes to the fabric is to check if the fabric shrinks when heated. If this happens when you’re transferring your image, you can get distortion or even ghosting on the fabric. In an ideal world, I’d advise buying fabric that has been heat-set but if that’s not possible, put the fabric through your press before transferring the image onto it in order to pre-shrink it."