Ceramic toner and developer are sensitive to their environment in a way office toner is not. Density drift, background fog and short developer life almost always trace back to the room.
- Temperature: 20 to 25 °C, stable. Avoid rooms that swing overnight.
- Humidity: 40 to 60% relative. Dry air causes static and toner scatter; damp air clumps toner and marks paper.
- Air conditioning is recommended for production rooms. Keep the printer away from direct sunlight, heaters and kiln exhaust.
- Paper storage: keep decal paper sealed and in the same room as the printer so it acclimatises.
- No sudden changes: moving a printer from a cold van into a warm room and printing immediately will fog the developer. Let it stand for hours.
If your room cannot meet these, tell us before you buy; there are things we can do with enclosure and settings, but it is easier to fix the room.
Setting up a printer room
- Put a thermometer and hygrometer next to the printer and check them daily, or use a logger that records overnight
- Use air conditioning, a humidifier or a dehumidifier to hold 20 to 25 °C and 40 to 60% relative humidity all year
- Keep the kiln in a different room; its heat and exhaust affect both toner and paper
- Store decal paper, toner and developer in the printer room, sealed until use
- Keep the printer out of draughts from doors and windows
Signs the room is the problem
Many faults blamed on the printer or the toner start in the room. Look at the environment first when you see:
- A drop in print density after the heating comes on in autumn or winter
- Background fog or toner scatter in areas that should be clean
- Toner clumping, or decal paper curling and marking in the paper path
- Colour that changes between morning and afternoon runs
New printers and moves
After delivery or a move, let the printer, toner and paper stand in the room for several hours before printing, so condensation cannot form and the developer is not fogged by a sudden change in temperature. If a fault continues once the room is stable, contact INEQS technical service; most problems are solved within one working day.