[Untitled]

Greg Hamaoka

3/22/2002

Hello again. Here are some of the replies I've received so far from people
in the P/O field concerning the making of personal transfers for Orthotics.
I'll post any more responses I receive. One of the Orthotists I work with
has contacted a company for samples of images made with sublimation ink.
I'll post the results and any info such as printer/software /paper they use
(if they tell us).

* I called friddles and spoke with someone there and got the whole low
down on the process. sublimation ink is what you use along with sublimation
paper. check out the link below they are the industry leaders in
sublimation, I have an Epson c80 printer and they are making cartridges for
my printer. if you have any questions please feel free to contact me at my
number below.
      Try this website: <URL Redacted>
* I know for a fact that dye sublimation is what's happening. xxxx
who makes the transfers himself does it and has told me so. Basically the
process is the one like when you go and get a picture put on a mug. I'm sure
you've seen this type of thing usually at malls where you give them a
picture, they scan it and then transfer it to a mug. The reason works is
because the ink transfers from the paper and sinks into the hot plastic.
(The mugs have a very thin layer of this same plastic.) I talked to a fellow
in Sault Ste. Marie who sell the printers. They're about $ 2000 CAN. I took
an afo with the design on it and he said no problem. If you can find ink
that is dye sublimation type for a regular printer then I think it could be
done with a normal bubble jet (Cannon, Epson,.. ) style printer.
* I figured out how to do this on an inkjet printer, and set up a
small business
      for my wife. I spent around $700 on a printer, inks, and software to
get
      started doing the transfers. It really depends on what kind of
printer you
      want to use, but you don't need $2000 to do it. If you already have a
program
      to handle graphics, you could do this for around $200(US). An inkjet
is much
      cheaper to start with, but there are a few tricks you need to know to
make it
      work. A laser printer will work fine but costs a lot more to start
out with.
      A print shop with the right inks can make the transfers for you, but
they
      sometimes have a hard time getting the colors right.
* This may not be what your looking for but I know of a possible
option. I talked to Positive Image Orthotics, Inc., in New Jersey, and
found out that they can do custom prints. I can't remember the exact cost
or the amount of prints included but I think that it was about $1000.00
minimum for a custom image order. I believe this was a quarter page print
with only one color. If you are wanting to make many single prints, this
will definitely be too costly. Although, if you wanted a descent quantity
of a single print from time to time, this may be an option. If you are
interested, they can be reached at 732-286-0690.
Something to try:
An orthotists I work with was given a package of Crayola fabric crayons by
one of his clients. One of the techs colored a picture on plain photocopy
paper with these crayons, and then applied it to a piece of hot
polypropylene (sprayed with silicone). The image transferred onto the
plastic. We don't believe it penetrates as far and good as a commercially
printed transfer, but it could be an alternative. We have not tried it on
an actual AFO, so we don't know how long it will last, fading, etc. If you
try this, don't apply the crayon transfer to any area that needs to be
eased, because the heat of the flame just destroys the picture. Might be
okay on the backs of the AFO's. The company that sells this crayon is
Dritz. <URL Redacted>
Thanks for all the replies.

Greg Hamaoka R.T.P.O.(c)
Orthotics Department
Bloorview MacMillan Centre
Toronto, Ontario
M4G-4R8
(416) 424-3826