Inks for all of your cotton decorating needs
FAQ :: NaturaLink
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Using NaturaLink® in your Brother® or Epson-based DTG Printer
* Brother is a registered trademark of Brother International Corporation, and GT-541 is property of Brother®. Epson is a unit of Seiko Epson Corporation, Stylus is a registered trademark of Epson, and all other names and symbols are the property of the respective entities. We are currently accepting orders within the USA only.
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: Why are Brother GT-541 owners switching Sawgrass' NaturaLink-B?
A: NaturaLink® B is color-matched with OEM Brother® inks, so you can change out one color at a time or all colors at the same time. Our plug-and-print compatibility makes changeover a breeze. Providing a 25% savings and better wash fastness than OEM ink, NaturaLink® B is a win-win choice for you and your customers.
- 25% Savings Over OEM Brother Ink
- Color-Matched to OEM Brother Ink
- Superior Wash-Fastness
- Easy Plug-and-Print Compatibility
- Convenient Online Ordering at Garmentink.com
- You Save $200 on a Full Set of Cartridges
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.
| Wash Fastness Comparison - NaturaLink vs. OEM Inks | ||||||
| Optical Density (OD) Loss after 5 Washes | ||||||
| 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% |
Q: What special precautions should I take before installing this ink in my printer?
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 United States, the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Improvement Act of 1975, as well as the Sherman and Clayton Antitrust Acts that precede it, stipulate that a manufacturer cannot void your warranty for using third-party ink or cartridges. It is thus against US law for a printer manufacturer to void your warranty. Warrantors cannot require that only branded parts be used with the product in order to retain the warranty. This is commonly referred to as the "tie-in sales" provisions, and is frequently mentioned in the context of third-party computer parts, such as memory and hard drives.
Federal Trade Commission: http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/business/adv/bus01.shtm#Magnuson-Moss
Other Sources:
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnuson-Moss_Warranty_Act#cite_note-2
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnuson-Moss_Warranty_Act
- http://www.supermediastore.com/will-compatible-ink-toner-cartridge-void-printer-warranty.html
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?
A: You can purchase NaturaLink right here at our on-line store.