Disk Space Error Message

PROBLEM DESCRIPTION: 

I get a message reading 'not enough disk space' when I try to rip or send a file to the print software.

This problem is caused by two things: the volume of space on your computer, and the sheer size of Direct to Film (DTF) graphics.  Even a normal image can be several megabytes in size, but with the typically large size of print graphics, it can rapidly use up the space on your computer, and impact your ability to rip and print images to your printer's print software. 

POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS:

1. Move Files Off Your Computer Onto Portable Media. If you need to keep your designs, as most print companies do, then move them onto a large capacity thumb drive, or SSD external hard drive.  There are several different sizes and brands out there.  Our recommendations is to get a drive with at least 500gb of space on it.  We also suggest that you make backups of your files on another drive or to cloud storage as well to avoid any potential loss of your designs or the designs of your customers. To avoid potentially losing your files we recommend copying them, and then pasting them to the portable media.  Once you are sure they have been copied, then remove the files from your computer. When looking for a flash drive/thumb drive or SSD, make sure that you buy the right type.
   
   Avoid metal encased thumb drives or keychain drives.  If you have an external hard drive or SSD encased in metal, it should work fine;  however, a metal thumb or flash drive, particularly one that is attached to a keychain is a very bad idea. Why? First off, the storage inside the casing is magnetic-based.  If any magnet touches the metal casing, or even the keyring, it can potentially wipe the memory inside. Flash memory also has a tendency to run hot, and with it being encased in metal, it can heat up to the point that it shuts down. It can even be hot enough to burn your finger if you touch it!
   
   Do not go cheap, or use off-brands. While you can conceivably get flash drives for a small amount of money, you run the risk of losing your files, even if you have a backup. We recommend that you do some research, but some of the better brands out there include Lenovo, Seagate, Samsung, Crucial, WD (Western Digital), and SanDisk. These brands are durable as well as reliable, and they won't break the bank when you want to buy them. A SanDisk 512gb thumb drive, for example, runs between $30 and $40.  If you buy an off brand simply because it's cheap, you stand a good chance of having your data wiped out or corrupted. One popular trick for fly by night companies to use is to package their thumb drives with bright colors in a multipack of five or more. It looks like you're getting a great bargain, but there have been stories including from one of our techs that bought these packs, only to have three of the five drives fail.  
    
   
2. Delete Unused Files. First off there are some things to be aware of before you delete files. First off, be very sure that you do not need the file anymore. Most of the time, computers have a failsafe so to speak, like a Recycle Bin, but if you delete it from portable media, it will wipe out the file completely with just one warning before you click 'Yes' or 'OK.' And while it is possible to recover data that has been deleted by using a data recovery service, such services can be prohibitively expensive. Once you know for sure that you can remove the file, delete it, and remove it from the recycle bin to clear up space.  But when in doubt, do not delete the file, move it to portable media instead.