Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is NaturaLink®?
A: NaturaLink
is a DTG (Direct to Garment) ink, originally developed by Sawgrass
Technologies for its Direct Advantage (DA) line of printers. The ink was subsequently improved and modified to yield two different formulations. One formulation (B) is designed to replicate Brother® International’s ink for its GT-541 garment printer. The other formulation (E) is custom-designed for DTG printers based on Epson print-head technology. These printers include the Stylus® Pro models 4800, 4880, as well as Stylus® models 1800, 2200 and 2400. NaturaLink is a water-based pigment ink, environmentally friendly, and with high performance properties.
Q: Why should I buy this ink?
A: You will save money—the price is lower than that of OEM inks—while sacrificing nothing in return. Indeed, you have everything to gain and nothing to lose. You will obtain similar and, in some cases (such as wash fastness) better performance at a lower cost. NaturaLink ink creates a direct chemical bond with the cotton fibers in your garment, so there is no hand left behind, while yielding rich, vibrant colors that last. This chemical bond enables the garment to stand up to multiple washes, resulting in superior wash fastness. In
addition, the ink was designed to be both environmentally (it is water
based) and chemically friendly to you and your printer. The unparalleled stability of NaturaLink provides for superior printer performance and reduced downtime.
Q: How does the wash fastness of NaturaLink compare to that of other DTG inks?
A: NaturaLink from GarmentInk.com has superior wash-fastness! After five washes, in a side-by-side comparison, NaturaLink from GarmentInk.com has substantially less loss in optical density than Brother or DuPont DTG inks (see table below). This means that your prints will stay brighter longer. Optical density (OD) is a measure of the intensity of the color in a printed image. The higher the OD, the more intense the color. Over time, and with repeated washes, colors fade. A faded color is a color that has lost intensity, and has, therefore, a lower OD—the result of OD loss. For comparison purposes, a lower OD loss, in percentage terms, is shown as an improvement in wash-fastness in the table below.
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Wash Fastness Comparison – NaturaLink vs. OEM Inks |
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|
|
Optical Density (OD) Loss after 5 Washes |
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|
Color |
NaturaLink® |
Brother® |
% Improvt. |
NaturaLink |
DuPont® |
% Improvt. |
|
Cyan |
17.15% |
18.62% |
7.9% |
7.72% |
19.49% |
60.39% |
|
Magenta |
11.34% |
16.60% |
31.7% |
13.39% |
15.41% |
13.12% |
|
Yellow |
13.26% |
17.22% |
23.0% |
4.91% |
14.81% |
66.85% |
|
Black |
10.73% |
23.40% |
54.1% |
13.03% |
14.12% |
7.72% |
A: For optimum printing performance, make sure that there is no original ink left in the cartridge you are refilling. The small amount of original ink remaining in the in the lines and dampers will not have a noticeable effect on printability. NaturaLink
ink B is directly compatible with the Brother® International ink you
have been using, and extensive testing has shown no difference in
behavior in the GT-541 DTG printer. NaturaLink
E is also directly compatible with the DuPont DTG ink currently being
used in some Epson print-head-based DTG printers, having been used
successfully in 4000 Stylus Pro series printers for more than two years.
Q: Can I install NaturaLink directly in my Brother® GT-541 printer?
A: Yes. NaturaLink B was developed specifically for your Brother® GT-541 printer. As
a result, you may simply replace an empty Brother® cartridge with a new
one containing NaturaLink B without concern. You are unlikely to notice
performance differences, except for an improved wash-fastness.
Q: Can I install NaturaLink directly in my Epson Stylus® Pro 4800 or 4880 printer?
A: Yes, as long as the cartridge to be refilled is empty. NaturaLink
E was developed specifically for Epson print-head-technology-based
printers, including the 1800, 2200, 2400, 4800 and 4880 Stylus® models. As
a result, you may simply replace an empty Epson cartridge containing
DuPont DTG ink with a new one containing NaturaLink E without concern. You can also refill an empty cartridge with NaturaLink E. You will experience an overall improvement in wash-fastness, and the color gamut will be different..
Q: Can I use NaturaLink in any DTG printer?
A: You can use NaturaLink only in the aforementioned printers. These NaturaLink formulations were developed specifically for the Brother® GT-541 and Epson-based garment printers. There are different formulations for each print-head technology (E for Epson, and B for Brother, DA for Direct Advantage), so be sure to order the correct type.
Q: Can Brother® or Epson® void my warranty if I use a third-party ink?
A: No. In the
Other Sources:
A: This
question demands a two-part answer. (1) There is no difference in color
rendition, or chemical behavior that your printer can detect, between
NaturaLink and the Brother ink. (2) There is no
difference in chemical behavior that your Epson-based printer can
detect, but NaturaLink’s color gamut is different from that of DuPont
ink. (2) There are differences in performance and price—NaturaLink yields an improved wash fastness at a lower price.
Q: What about curing?
A: There
is no difference in the curing parameters between NaturaLink B and
Brother ink, but the curing parameters for NaturaLink E differ from
those of DuPont ink . Cure your printed image in
your standard heat press at 360° F for 35 seconds with medium pressure
(40 psi) for NaturaLink B, but at 375° F for 25 seconds with medium
pressure (40 psi) for NaturaLink E and DA.
Q: What is the shelf life of this ink?
A: NaturaLink can be stored safely in a standard office environment (60 - 80° F, 40 – 60% R.H.) for up to 12 months.
Q: Will I save money with this ink?
A: Yes, your printing cost will be lower.
Q: How do I order this ink?