FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is i-Dot's Maximum image area?
What is included with an i-Dot System?
How much does it cost to print each image?
How long does it take to produce a print?
What is pretreatment?
Do all garments require pre-treatment?
How is pre-treatment applied?
What kind of inks are used?
Do the inks need to be dried?
What’s the best way to dry digital garment prints?
What inks are included in the i-Dot purchase price?
When should I consider a bulk feed system?
I have heard that clogging of the print heads is a common problem; how has M&R addressed this?
How well do digital textile prints survive washing?
How long is the i-Dot warranty?
What types of file formats can be used with the i-Dot?
Do image files require special processing in order to print images on the i-Dot?
Where is the i-Dot built?
How does i-Dot differ from the competition?
What is i-Dot’s maximum image area?
16” x 20”
Back to TopWhat is included with an i-Dot System?
The system includes the printer; 14" x 20.5" pallet; computer, monitor, mouse & keyboard; printer/computer stand; RIP software; cartridge-chip re-setter; one set of ink cartridges (four white cartridges and one cartridge each of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black); a set of eight cleaning cartridges; and an extensive owner’s manual. i-Dot is the only machine on the market that comes complete with a fully loaded computer system.
How much does it cost to print each image?
The per-print cost of ink is subject to variables like image size and the percent of coverage. However, the average per-print cost of a full-size image on white and light garments is between fifty cents and one dollar. The average per-print cost on black and dark garments is between $3.00 and $4.00.
How long does it take to produce a print?
As with ink costs, print time depends on several variables, including image size, percent of coverage, and image resolution. Average print time for white and light garments is 60-90 seconds. Black and dark garments take from 3-5 minutes.
An exclusive feature of M&R’s i-Color RIP software is the ability to estimate print time and ink cost for each image once the user enters the size of the ink cartridge and the per-cartridge cost. That information only has to be entered once, though it does need to be updated if the source or cost of ink changes.
The time and cost estimates are calculated while the image is being printed. Subsequent prints of the same image should have nearly identical print time and ink cost.
Pretreatment chemicals—used primarily on black and dark garments—cause white ink to gel as soon as it’s applied to the textile substrate. If white ink doesn’t gel, it can’t provide the base necessary for the colored inks that follow.
Do all garments require pre-treatment?
Black and dark garments require pre-treatment for maximum opacity of the white ink. Pastel garments may require a light pre-treatment, if a white highlight print is being used. In most cases, white garments do not require pretreatment.
Pretreatment involves three steps (shown below). However, the amount of pretreatment chemical used and the length of curing time required is dependant upon factors like the type of garment, the type and weave of the fabric, the color, the manufacturer, the garment line, and even the lot. Test prints are the best way to determine optimal pretreatment, print, and cure parameters.
1. Spray the pretreatment chemical onto the image portion of the garment (we recommend using an airless sprayer like the 250-watt Wagner® Master Series HLVP. It and similar airless sprayers are available online and at home improvement stores.
2. Use a foam-rubber roller to make sure the chemical is spread evenly over the print area (even application of the pretreatment chemical is essential for a consistent image)
3. Dry the garment in a heat press
i-Dot uses the highly specialized Artestri™ water-based ink system from DuPont®
Yes. Even though the ink may feel dry to the touch, it requires heat to set. Failure to adequately cure the ink will result in image degradation and disintegration during washing.
What’s the best way to dry digital garment prints?
Curing can be supplied by a heat-transfer machine. These inks will not properly cure in a radiant or smaller convection conveyor dryer.
What inks are included in the i-Dot purchase price?
i-Dot comes with eight 220 ml cartridges, one of each color (cyan, magenta yellow and black) and four white cartridges. A bulk ink system is optionally available.
When should I consider a bulk feed system?
The cartridge system is the best choice for those consuming less than two liters of ink per-color per month. While sealed cartridges are slightly more expensive than bulk ink, they are a better choice for i-Dots that are used infrequently. The bulk system should be considered for i-Dots using more than two liters per color per month and printing garments at least several hours per day.
I have heard that clogging of the print heads is a common problem; how has M&R addressed this?
While clogging can be a problem with any inkjet printer, it’s most likely to occur when the machine remains idle for long periods of time. i-Dot has a built-in nozzle-check feature that allows the user to program nozzle checks at preset intervals. The nozzle check sends a tiny amount of ink through each printhead when the i-Dot is not in use. This process dramatically reduces clogging. It’s also very important to follow the prescribed maintenance schedule.
How well do digital textile prints survive washing?
When properly cured, i-Dot images rival conventional screen prints.
How long is the i-Dot warranty?
i-Dot comes with a one-year limited warranty. Contact M&R for warranty details.
What types of file formats can be used with the i-Dot?
i-Dot can print images in nine file formats (jpg, psd, tiff, png, tga, gif, bmp, pcx, dib). i-Color even recognizes and preserves Photoshop channels for creating transparencies and highlights in your artwork.
i-Color can’t use eps or vector-based art. However, these files can be opened in Illustrator and exported as 300 line-per-inch (lpi) Photoshop files that can be utilized by i-Dot’s i-Color RIP Software.
Do image files require special processing in order to print images on the i-Dot?
Unlike many of our competitors, most files require no preparation at all. i-Color RIP software converts and prepares files on the fly, with point-and-click simplicity. However, i-Color offers a full range of image adjustment and manipulation tools. These tools include the ability to create and fine tune transparency channels.
The units are designed and assembled in M&R’s facility in Niles, Illinois, USA.
How does i-Dot differ from the competition?
While the i-Dot may look similar to other printers on the market, there are several distinct and important differences.i-Dot is designed and manufactured by the M&R family of companies. M&R is the largest, most respected manufacturer of screen-printing equipment in the world.
i-Dot uses superior Absolute Position™ Technology (APT) to produce far superior prints, especially on difficult dark garments. Absolute Position™ Technology is an exclusive M&R feature that utilizes a combination of a highly sophisticated servo-drive system working hand in hand with specialized software and firmware to produce perfectly registered prints every time.
i-Dot comes complete with i-Color RIP software. i-Color is the most sophisticated direct-to-garment RIP in the world. i-Color is robust, feature packed, and incredibly user friendly.
The combination of these and other key features makes i-Dot unique. Not only does it offer the most value in its price range, it’s superior to printers costing more than twice as much.