Hilton Images, Inc.     Finest Quality Laser Sublimation Products

Using SubToners for the HP 4500/4550

These cartridges are delivered ready to use. There is no strip to pull, just insert the cartridge and print.

To change cartridges, open the top door and close it again. The control panel will direct you to press “select” if you want to change cartridges. SubToner cartridges and regular toner cartridges can be changed and immediately printed with. When not in use, cartridges should be stored in the resealable bags in which the SubToner cartridges were shipped .

General Instructions:

Print on regular copy paper. We have found no advantage in using heavier or brighter papers. Use only laser or copier papers, never inkjet paper.

Images printed with SubToner will appear on the paper in black only. No color will appear until heat is applied. The printed papers will look like dark black and white images until pressed.

Press at 340F to 350F. Select the lowest temperature which causes the protective plastic on metal to melt into the paper in 30 seconds. Use moderate to heavy pressure.

For white metal press for 35 to 55 seconds, for gold and silver metals press for 45 to 60 seconds. For FR plastic press for 45 to 60 seconds. For polyester, press for 60 to 80 seconds. For ceramics press 5 to 7 minutes.

Equipment varies, and these times and temperatures are intended as starting points.

We recommend pressing through the protective plastic on metals and FR plastics. Excellent results can be obtained either way, although without plastic does yield a slightly crisper image after cleaning with a citrus cleaner. Laser sublimation leaves a dark residue which does not penetrate the protective plastic. If the plastic is removed, this residue will need to be cleaned.

Color Adjustments

Balanced Color cartridges should produce good color, reasonably close to the image on the screen, with no adjustments in software or printer calibrations. Since programs and monitors vary enormously, some fine tuning may be necessary, which can be done from either the software or from the printer calibration menu. If you feel that the images are consistently too yellow, for example, you should adjust the printer calibration to Y -2 or -3. The printer calibration controls run from -5 to +5, with 0 as our recommendation for a starting point for all colors.

Cartridges may change their intensity during their lifespan, especially 240 gram cartridges, and it may be necessary to increase the calibration density as the cartridges age.

Photographs

In laser sublimation images with halftones experience “dot gain,” which means that the little dots making up the image get fatter. Most photos will print just fine, as is, and not need any adjustment. However, images which are mostly dark will seem to get darker.

The best way to correct this is, in a program like Photoshop, go into the histogram or curves for the image, and in each color (C,M,Y and K) brighten the shadows. This may be complex for the inexperienced, and the easier way produces results which are nearly as good.

The easy way is to simply adjust brightness to +20 or +40 (using Photoshop numbers) and reduce contrast to -10 or -20. On some photos increasing brightness can wash out the lighter areas (highlights). But on most images this technique works well with darker photos.

White Substrates

Laser sublimation has a tendency to produce a hazy background on white metal and other white substrates. Our SubToner is specially formulated to reduce this.

This effect can be reduced even further, if necessary, by “pre-pressing” onto a polyester fabric. Take the printed paper and press it onto a scrap piece of polyester for 15 seconds. Then press that same paper onto your white substrate for the regular pressing time.

Cartridge maintenance

90 gram SubToner cartridges should require little or no attention during their life. Larger cartridges should be removed and gently shaken, side to side, every few months or 300 pages.

The relative health of the cartridges can be monitored by printing out a configuration page. On the control panel go to information menu and scroll (press item) to “print configuration.”

The configuration page includes an area on the bottom right which has blocks of pure colors (C,M,Y & K). If any one color is misbehaving it will show in these blocks. If one color is streaking call for assistance.

The control panel will read "toner low" while there is still approximately 40 grams in the cartridge. This is a good time to remove the cartridge and shake it gently back and forth. Doing this will distribute the toner more evenly and prevent void areas. The printer will stop running when it considers there is no toner in any one of the cartridges. It shines a light through two clear plastic windows on the cartridge and if the light isn’t stopped by some toner, the printer declares the cartridge empty. Factually, there is still 10 to 20 grams inside at that time. You cannot use ALL the toner and get decent results, but you can get some extra life out of a cartridge, even if the printer declares it to be empty, by putting masking tape over the clear plastic windows.

Frequently a clear plastic window will get dirty and not allow any light through, so the printer will not warn you that a cartridge is running out

SubToner cartridges are guaranteed for one year or until "toner low". If your images are not wonderful call tech support.