1. Design the patterns in your computer, all image format is acceptable, but ensuring all image clear and high-quality.
2. Print your pattern onto the blank hydrographics film. Make sure the shiny side is up! You must print the pattern at Mirror output model, or your pattern will be an inverse image on the substrate.

The pattern must be printed on using an inkjet printer loaded with pigment-based inks(see our list of recommended printers). Dye, solvent, eco-solvent and latex type of inks will not work on this film – nor will laser toner printers.
3. After your printed pattern comes out of the printer, you’ll need to use the tapes to stick the edges of the film, avoid the film curling.
Then spray Activator A(you can get it from my company) onto it. Spray enough of this liquid to fully and evenly coat the picture; don’t to soak it…
The newly sprayed print pattern will need to air dry for at least 10 minutes. If you want to dip quickly, you can use a hairdryer to make it dry in 2-3minutes
A3+ large format borderless printing,
better performance Optimized for 5760dpi,
the droplet size can be as small as 1.5 picolitres Six-color original ink,
delicate image quality,
long-lasting beauty Larger print (about 2,600 pages in black / 4,700 pages in color),
cost-free No toner dust,
zero ozone emission*,
original factory warranty (including print head),
peace of mind Print resolution: 5760×1440 dpi (with smart drop conversion technology)
Print black text (A4): approx. 37 ppm (economy mode) *1 / approx. 5 ipm*2
Print color text (A4): approx. 38 ppm (economy mode)*1 / approx. 4.8 ipm*2
Photo (4*6 inches): approx. 45 seconds (photo default mode, no margins)*3
Minimum ink drop: 1.5 picolitres
Printing method: On-demand inkjet (micro piezoelectric printing technology)
Number of nozzles: 90 nozzles per color (black, cyan, magenta, yellow, light blue, light magenta)
Print orientation: bidirectional logic lookup
Product Dimensions – Epson Ink Tank <sup>®</sup>L1800
Product Specifications
The maximum resolution of this machine: 5760×1440 dpi (with smart ink drop conversion technology)
The minimum droplet size of this machine: 1.5 picolitre printing speed:
Black and white is about 5ipm, color is about 4.8ipm (A4, normal mode)*1
Black and white is about 37ppm, color is about 38ppm (A4, economic mode)*2
Photo (10×15 cm / 4×6 inches) for about 45 seconds (photo default mode, no margins) *3
Duplex printing: manual
Paper handling: Paper feeding method: friction feeding Number of feeders: 1
Feeder capacity 100 pages (A4 plain paper 75g/m2) 30 pages (high quality glossy photo paper) 50 sheets of paper output, A4 plain paper (standard mode) 50 pages, A4 plain paper (economic model) 50 pages, A4 plain paper (economic model) 20 pages, high quality glossy photo paper (10×15 cm / 4 x 6 inches, 13 x 18 cm / 5 x 7 inches, 9 x 13 cm / 3.5 x 5 inches)
Support paper size A3+ 329 × 483 mm, A3 297 × 420 mm, B4 257 × 364 mm, A4 210 × 297 mm, A5 148 × 210 mm, A6 105 × 148 mm, 10 × 15 cm (4 × 6 inches), 13 × 18 cm (5 × 7 inches) 16:9 wide size (102 × 181 mm), Letter (8 1/2 × 11 in), Legal (8 1/2 × 14 in)
1. Design the patterns in your computer, all image format is acceptable, but ensuring all image clear and high-quality.
2. Print your pattern onto the blank hydrographics film. Make sure the shiny side is up! You must print the pattern at Mirror output model, or your pattern will be an inverse image on the substrate.
The pattern must be printed on using an inkjet printer loaded with pigment-based inks(see our list of recommended printers). Dye, solvent, eco-solvent and latex type of inks will not work on this film – nor will laser toner printers.
3. After your printed pattern comes out of the printer, you’ll need to use the tapes to stick the edges of the film, avoid the film curling. Then spray Activator A(you can get it from my company) onto it.
Spray enough of this liquid to fully and evenly coat the picture; don’t soak it… The newly sprayed print pattern will need to air dry for at least 10 minutes. If you want to dip quickly, you can use a hairdryer to make it dry in 2-3minutes.
The blank hydrographics film can’t be successfully used without Activator A. You will not get satisfactory results in the form of color saturation and print quality without Activator A.
When the film is placed on water, it will be activated in an uncontrolled way without the use of activator A.
4. Clean and Degrease your item. Before proceeding, make sure the part is dry and free of dust.
5. Prime the part you plan on dipping.
If plastic such as PP, PC, PS, PVC, PA(Nylon) use CPO primer, but the primer must match with the material(this is a primer used to promote adhesion on plastic surfaces and can be purchased at any paint supplier) any brand will do.
If using on bare metal, we suggest using DuPont etch primer; then go over with a primer-sealer, and then start with your basecoat. Let the item dry for at least three hours but not more than six. If you have a drying oven or microwave oven, you can put them into it for 15-20minutes at 65℃。
MAKE SURE THE PART IS SOMETHING YOU CAN SAFELY SUBMERGE INTO WATER without damaging it!
6. You’ll need a base coat of paint on the item. The common base paint type is for wooden grain(yellow,red,Amber red, mud red, mud yellow),flower print(white), carbon fiber(black, gold, silver, red, blue, pink, purple).
Certainly, the base coating must match with the main color of hydro dipping film and the items. Usually, the color is one of the colors in the print – but that is up to the dipper…
Just be sure to use a good-quality acrylic paint!
7. Use TSAUTOP DIY hydro dipping tank with dividers or a container about the same size in length and width as the blank hydrographics film you’re using (example: if your film is 8.5 x 11 inches; the ideal size container would be 9 x 11.5).
Most importantly – make sure your container is deep enough to fully submerge the entire part and be careful not to bang your object onto the bottom or side of the tank when dipping.
If you are using a hydro dipping tank that is larger than your blank hydrographics film, you’ll need to use some masking tape around the blank hydrographics film to control the expansion.
We do not cut the corners for relief expansion, but that is up to you… There are tons of videos on YouTube showing this procedure.
8. Fill DIY hydro dipping tank with normal water. The water temperature must be between 77-95 °F or 25-35 °C. Use a thermometer or some tank that has a digital thermostat! If the water is too cold, the film will dissolve too slowly. Too warm too quickly.
Keep in mind that water temperatures & thermometer readings may vary due to different elevations. You’ll need to play around a bit for the best temperature for your area.
9. Carefully remove the paper backing from the blank hydrographics film.
10. Gently place the blank hydrographics film onto the vat of water (INK SIDE UP)– do it slowly and on the angle to keep from trapping air bubbles under the film.
The blank hydrographics film will immediately ruck – but will slowly disperse. If air bubbles are noticed, try to gently blow them out. Do not touch the floating blank hydrographics film.
10. Once the film is on the water – wait 60 to 80 seconds until the blank hydrographics film is completely tiled on the surface of the water. You can see that the film is fully soluble in the water.
11. Then spray the floating film with activator B(common activator). Spray an even amount of this activator B onto the floating film and allow the activator to work for 5-15 seconds.
Note: When you spray activator, your spray gun is 30-35cm from the surface of the water, make sure the pressure and the liquid atomization is the best. You can test the gun beside the tank. Usually, 1liter activator B can spray 35-45sqm hydrographics film.
12. After spraying the activator B – slowly and steadily dip the item through the film. Do this by holding the item in an area that will not be covered. Enter the water at an approximate 35 to 45-degree angle (depending on the shape of items).
Ensure that the contact surface of the object with water is minimal, in order to avoid bubble generation.
Once through the film – gently shake the item below the water level to separate the remaining film on top – so you won’t get it on the item when you come back up.
Continue slowly and gently shaking the item while submerged in the water for about 30 seconds more.
13. Then rinse it off under moving water or high-pressure water gun or rinse station for 3-5 minutes until all shiny residue on the part is gone and the item is dull without shine.
If you touch the surface without sticking it, it means it has been rinsed out. Do not rub the item. Allow slow-moving water to do it for you.
14. After all shiny residue has been removed by the rinsing process. Set item aside and allow to completely air dry, or use a hairdryer to dry in 3-5minutes.
15. When fully dried – you must clear coat the item to protect the dip.
Depending on the item you are working on -you may want to consider your options about flat, semi-gloss, or gloss finishes for the final clear coat.
If using in a place that may be exposed to high temperatures 60-70℃ 45minutes for plastic, 100-120℃ 45minutes for metal.
TSAUTOP BLANK HYDROGRAPHIC FILM FEATURES
1. TSAUTOP BLANK HYDROGRAPHIC FILM is made from the 30-40μm thick transparent blank printable hydrographic film with high-quality 150gsm primer paper or PET, ensure to be enough thick and hard to be printed.2. TSAUTOP BLANK HYDROGRAPHIC FILM has a Specialized coating layer for good ink acceptance ensuring instant drying.
3. TSAUTOP BLANK HYDROGRAPHIC FILM need to spray activator A for fastening image on the film and easily activating in the water. Then spaying activator B for hydro dipping after A drying.
4.TSAUTOP BLANK HYDROGRAPHIC FILM prints any images without developing a printing plate, and can transfer that image onto nearly any substrate. So Blank Hydrographic Film is very suitable for customizing and making printing sample.
5. TSAUTOP blank Hydrographic Film covers 1.27*50/100/250m, 1.27*50m, 0.21*10/20m, 0.3*10/20m, 0.42*10/20m, 0.6*10/20m, A3/A4/A2/A1 size or your custom size.
6. TSAUTOP BLANK HYDROGRAPHIC FILM can be printed by standard inkjet printer with pigment-based ink, such as EPSON, CANON, HP. You can print your any designs on Blank Hydrographic Film and do water transfer printing that you like.