IColor™ Transfer Printer FAQ
What’s so unique about the IColor™ line of Digital Color + White Transfer Media Printers?
The IColor™ 540/560/650 Transfer Media Printers offer several unique advantages:
- The ability to print white as an underprint® AND an overprint® in the same machine, in one pass, using the IColor™ ProRIP software.
- The white opacity of UNINET’s unique blend of toner is double that of any other brand, giving you the brightest whites and solid background to bring out the vibrancy of your colors.
- The true black cartridge is included with the printer, allowing you to switch to CMYK mode to print items such as brochures and menus when white is not needed.
- Optional dye sublimation, fluorescent, security and clear toner cartridge kits (Gold and Silver toner kits available for the 560 and 650 models)
- Lowest cost and most flexible machine available.
- No maintenance associated with ink based machine is necessary, the IColor™ transfer series are all toner based systems.
- Large array of media available for virtually any project.
- Easily swap back and forth between regular and specialty cartridges, eliminating the need to purchase separate machines to accomplish each function.
What is the Difference between the IColor™ 550 and the IColor™ 560?
The IColor™ 560 is the updated version of the 550 with many common characteristics, with these differences:
- WIFI capability included
- Higher-yield specialty toner cartridges
- A ‘one at a time’ feeder for the bypass tray which is less susceptible to jamming, as well as a heavier duty fuser assembly.
- Maximum print length of the 560 is 14” vs 49.6” long on the 550.
- No color touch screen.
What are the differences between the IColor™ 560 and 650?
The IColor™ 560 has a maximum paper width of 8.5” and features all-in-one print cartridges. The IColor 650 has a maximum paper width of 11.8” for tabloid printing and features toner/drum combination print cartridges. Otherwise, the machines share all of the same great features and benefits. If you are printing the occasional oversized image, use the IColor™ SmartCUT software in combination with the IColor™ 560, which allows you to split larger graphics and designs in such a way, that the final assembly onto the substrate is seamless. For higher volume tabloid or larger prints, consider the IColor™ 650.
What is the difference between the IColor™ 540 and 560?
Designed for the 220v market, the IColor™ 540 has a larger capacity bypass tray, and shares most of the same great features as the IColor™ 560, but only accommodates standard yield cartridges (3,000 page yield vs. 7,000 page yield).
What is the difference between the 650 and 800?
The IColor™ 650 and 800 are both larger format printers. The IColor™ 650 can print a maximum width of 11.8 inches wide and the IColor™ 800 can print the maximum width of 12.5 inches wide. The IColor™ 650 has the same versatility of the IColor™ 560; you can overprint® and underprint® in white, as well as print sublimation, fluorescent colors, gold, silver and CMYK. The IColor™ 800 is a white overprinting printer only and does not support specialty toner kits or moving the position of the white cartridge. The 800 also is faster and has significantly lower cost per page due to its higher yielding cartridges. The 800 has a color gamut 30% wider than the IColor™ 650, which means it can print a wider variety of colors.
Tell me more about the IColor™ SmartCUT software?
Easily print oversized images on letter / A4 sized printers (or larger) with UNINET’s optional IColor SmartCUT software. SmartCUT allows owners of smaller width printers to gain the benefits of tabloid or larger sized printers. SmartCUT is a cross platform, user centric tool that is a key component to expanding the size constraints of popular print methods, especially as it relates to transfer printing commonly associated with garment decoration. This ground breaking application turns your letter/A4 sized printer into a tabloid ‘plus’ capable machine, allowing for the splitting and splicing of one graphic across two or more printed transfer sheets.
Use any oversized graphic, and the software will split it in half along the most logical path. You can choose to have it split along dark or light areas, depending on the color garment you will be pressing onto. With this software, you can make 3XL shirts that are not possible with even the most expensive of printing systems because you can gang up as many transfer sheets as you want.
SmartCUT is more than just ‘splitting software’ – it’s a RIP enhancement tool!
New features include:
- The ‘Selective Masking Tool’ allows you to point and click to rasterize or distress elements of your design based on color or shape.
- IColor™ ProRIP software integration for ease of use.
- The ‘Real Preview’ tool which applies the white adhesive behind the image (digitally) and then applies the image it to the color and texture of a shirt. The result is a much more realistic preview of how your image will look once pressed.
What is Overprint® and Underprint® Configurations?
The IColor™ 560 and 650 are both capable of printing white as an underprint® and an overprint® through the use of the IColor™ ProRIP software. Within the software is a cartridge configuration setup, where the white cartridge can be placed either in the first slot of the printer or the last. The Underprint® Queue is suitable for white underprinting and ‘right side reading’, where you would want a white underbase, printed first and then color on top for clear or dark substrates. The Overprint® Queue (ProRIP) would be used for white or clear overprinting for reverse print applications when printing any type of transfer (textiles or hard surfaces).
Why would I choose the IColor™ 650 over the IColor™ 560?
The IColor™ 560 and 650 share all the same great features and upgrade capabilities. The IColor™ 650 can handle tabloid / A3 sized paper, allowing you to print larger images for XXL shirts or other large fabrics. The IColor™ 650 is much more portable than any other wide format printer on the market today. If you will be printing a lot of oversized images, the 650 would be your best choice. If you are printing occasional oversized images, the 540/550 with SmartCUT would also work.
What kind of upgrades are available for the IColor™ 540/560 and 650?
Both machines have the ability to be upgraded to dye sublimation, fluorescent, security, and clear toner. Simply swap the cartridge(s) for the specialty cartridge(s) and you are ready to print. The IColor™ 560 and 650 also support gold and silver toner upgrade kits.
Why would I want security toner?
UNINET® security toner contains special RF fragments which can be read by a reader. Most commonly used as a yellow cartridge, simply print a portion of your image in yellow for increased security and authenticity. The resulting print can be read by a special reader to confirm authenticity.
Why would I want clear toner?
UNINET® clear toner is great for watermarking and adding a level protection to your printed items. Clear toner works just as white toner, where you can print it either as an underprint® or overprint®. It is also used in conjunction with the glitter adhesive media. Using white toner as an overprint® will block out the glitter effect. Clear toner ensures a good bond between the transfer and adhesive media, but is transparent to clearly show the glitter.
What is the IColor™ ProRIP software and why would I want to use it?
Simply put, the IColor™ ProRIP software is the magic behind one pass printing with white as an underprint® or an overprint®. The most important point of the IColor™ ProRIP software is that it allows colors to be put down in layers. Regular printer drivers only concern themselves with what the eye sees on the top layer, the RIP allows you to separately control each layer, thus giving you the ability to control not only what you see, but what is behind that top layer (typically the white layer). The IColor™ ProRIP gives you the unique ability to use one machine to print images with white as an underprint® or an overprint®. You can now print vibrant colors on clear or dark media regardless of the background to which it is applied, where the white is put down first and the colors afterwards. The IColor™ ProRIP ‘Color Mapping’ feature also allows for ‘Reverse Printing’ when printing and transferring to garments where white is put down last. This is the only way to achieve white underprint® and overprint® in one pass, and you will not find another software and hardware combination on the market today that can do all of this. The software also allows for color manipulation and removal, rasterization, white opacity control, substrate color preview, cost calculation and advanced layout tools.
What is the warranty of each machine?
The IColor™ 350, 540 and 560 have a one year warranty. The IColor™ 650 has a 2 year warranty. The IColor™ 800 Desktop model has a 1 year warranty and the IColor™ 800 Pro model has a 2 year warranty. All warranties cover parts and labor. If required, machines must be sent back to your dealer for repair, onsite service is not included in the warranty. Customer covers the freight charges to Uninet. UNINET® will cover the freight charges for the return. Save your box and packaging! The warranty does not cover any consumable except in cases where they are DOA. This includes toner and drum cartridges, transfer belts, waste bottles and fusers. Your ProRIP dongle is covered by the same warranty as the printer but does NOT cover any physical damage that may cause the dongle to stop functioning.
What kind of transfer media does UNINET® offer?
UNINET® has done extensive testing and R&D to come up with a variety of transfer media and add ons to satisfy nearly any situation or job. Available in a variety of sizes, these papers allow you to express your creativity affordably. For use in the IColor™ 500, 600 and 800 series of transfer printers, as well as compatible brands.
What else can I print with these printers?
Because of the flexibility of cartridge mapping, you are able to print transfers as easily as regular everyday documents. With the white toner installed in overprint® mode, now you are printing in reverse with a white overprint® for any type of transfer print. Print on a variety textile and hard surface transfer media, all 100% certified and qualified to work with our series of printers. Create custom garments, mugs, plaques, awards and much more.
Move the white to the other side of the machine –underprint® mode – and now you can print on clear or dark material with a white underprint®. This is necessary to improve the brightness and clarity of your print. Try printing color on a black piece of paper using your regular color laser printer and you’ll see the difference! This is also helpful when printing on transparencies and window cling!
When white toner is not needed, swap with the included black cartridge to convert to CMYK mode for everyday prints such as brochures, documents, cards, stationary, signs, or emails and boarding passes, directly from your favorite program.
What’s so unique about the IColor™ 350 Toner Based Dye Sublimation printer?
- The IColor™ 350 offers the convenience of dye sublimation printing in a small footprint without the costly care associated with ink based systems.
- No printer maintenance required: No clogging or printhead cleaning resulting from non-use like ink-based systems; toner-based systems do not have this maintenance issue
- Provides superior durability – over 150 wash cycles
- Toner-based dye sublimation delivers softer transfers for garment decoration
- Ensures significantly extended yields and lower imaging costs
- Features significantly faster print speeds: 20 pages per minute vs. 1 page per 2 minutes for ink (photo mode), suited for production level environments
- Toner-based dye sublimation produces better pastels and gradients with a wider color gamut for vibrant and true-to-life color reproduction
- Keep printing costs low by using regular copy paper instead of expensive dye sublimation media
- Does not require special software
- Much longer expiration date on toner; ink expires within one year
- Included ICC color profile for the most accurate colors possible
What is involved in maintaining my IColor™ printer?
When printing with a toner printer, very little maintenance is required. Toner printers do not create experience clogged heads like inkjet printers do. The printer can be switched off for an extensive amount of time and then print normally without have to perform a major cleaning.
Why does my IColor™ printer say “Cannot connect to server” and to “Contact administrator”?
This message is normal if you are not connected via network cable. You should be connected directly from ProRIP by using either a network cable to your router or USB direct to computer.
Quick Start and Manual covers how to connect in depth.
Why do I need toner already when the stated cartridge yield is 7,000 pages?
Toner yields are based on 5% print coverage on letter sized paper. 5% coverage is the international standard for measuring toner cartridge yields, adopted by all major manufacturers of laser and LED printers. If you’re printing full coverage letter size prints, you are printing at a percentage much higher than 5% coverage. Most graphics have far more coverage which will lessen the amount of pages a cartridge will actually print.
Are toners cross compatible between models?
Toner cartridges are not cross compatible. They will only work in the machine they are built for.
What is the difference between white toner heat transfer and sublimation?
Heat transferred graphics can be used on most types of fabrics and virtually any color; heat transferred graphics lay on top of the fabric with adhesive base to adhere to the textile.
Through sublimation, the graphic transfers into the fabric instead of sitting on top of it. Sublimation will last much longer, but it only works on white or lighter colored polyester substrates.
How durable is a graphic once transferred to textile?
When working with IColor™ Standard or Select paper transfer paper, you should get around 30-50 washes. Rasterization and destressing of the graphic will help extend the life of the graphic. Premium and Premium Stretch paper are rated for about 100 washes. Make sure you post press your graphics with silicone-coated kraft paper or a T.Seal finishing sheet for better durability and longevity.
How important is it to rasterize and distress my graphics?
Rasterization, destressing adding negative space to your graphics is very important when considering the durability and the feel of the graphic. If you are going to print a graphic wider than 3 fingers, then you should rasterize or add distress to your graphic.
How important is the quality of the heat press?
Good quality swing-away heat presses are very important when working with a white toner printer, as they have consistent pressure and temperature. Having the proper equipment will save lots of time and waste. Cheaper heat presses can be inconsistent, leading to less than desirable results.
Why should I have T.Seal and kraft paper?
You can have successful prints when working with either kraft paper or T.Seal. Kraft paper removes some of the gloss and retains a lot of the original color. T.Seal is a textured sheet that really pushes the graphic into the fabric of the shirt, creating more of a matte finish; T.Seal can also help with durability. Having both finishing sheets gives both you and your customers’ options with what the end product will be.
Which paper is better: Select Ultra Bright or Standard?
Both papers are great and are rated for 30 to 50 washes. Ultimately, this will come down to individual tastes and needs of the customers. Select Ultra Bright has more of a matte finish and has more stretch, along with vibrant colors. Standard is the easiest to marry and also has very vibrant colors. We suggest starting out with Standard when you purchase an IColor™ printer because it is the easiest paper to work with.
Why do I need SmartCUT if for the IColor™ 650/800?
SmartCUT not only allows you to split large images, but also has been a RIP enhancement software. SmartCUT can be used to real-time preview what a graphic will look like on the shirt, or apply different raster masks to different parts of your graphic.
Should I change settings in ProRIP to increase the graphic’s vibrancy?
It is not suggested to change any settings when working with ProRIP software. More white will not give you more vibrant colors when using the 2-step process. It will help, however, when you are using 1-step paper. ProRIP’s default settings were rigorously tested with every type of paper that UNINET® sells. Using more white will cause your graphic to be thicker and may cause it to crack sooner.
Does ProRIP work with Mac?
IColor™ ProRIP Software does not work with Mac; it only works on Windows PC. Most of our Mac customers either run a windows emulator or purchase a Windows PC to run the rip software.
I lost/damaged my ProRIP/SmartCUT dongle. How can I get a replacement?
We offer a discount for replacement dongles in case yours is lost or damaged. In the event that this happens, please reach out to our staff
Does my White Toner Master Class access expire?
Once you purchase the White Toner Master Class, you have it forever. The masterclass will go over every aspect of the machine and heat transfer process, from preparing your artwork for the white toner printer to post-pressing your graphic and will save a lot of time and money from trial-and-error.
I’m having an issue with my printer. How can I get support?
The best way to get assistance is to submit a ticket to IColor™ Tech Support. Go to “Support” tab on top. Once you submit the ticket, you should receive an email confirmation that the ticket was sent in.