Is anybody set up to print rice paper in wide formats … I can print small stuff on my inkjet, but I might be doing something LARGE in the near future and wonder who I can turn to for printing …
Any suggestions on printer settings? I get streaks sometimes … annoying …
Billy
Howzit Endless, How wide do you mean? I think there is pots in the archives about using Kinko's or maybe it was Staples to print large lams. I am looking into buying an Epson Printer that prints wider ( about 14" i think) but for $400-$500 it is a somewhat big investment for just doing rice paper lams. The paper I use is larger than 8 1/2 by 11 and have to cut the width but not the length since you can set up any ink jet to print on a longer piece of paper. Aloha,Kokua
Hey EndlessWinter, As far as the streaks are concerned, check out the the texture of the rice paper on each side. One is smooth and the other rough, relatively. I can’t remember which one prints better, try both and make a note. Also, my printer has a little ramp where the paper comes out, I get better prints when it is folded down.
peace
Hi EW,
I can go really LARGE. I have a desktop (HP Photosmart Pro B9180) that prints to 13"x19" and a 24" (HP designjet Z3100) wide roll fed printer: both are all pigment systems, with 8 and 12 inks respectively. I have access to the wider formats as well. I have been printing full boards graphics for the last couple of weeks. PM me, if nothing else, I would like to see what you are printing.
As far as the streaks, econo modes print fast, lay down less ink, and tend to have streaks and poor color, but can outrun the cockle of the media as it gets wet and expands. Best modes tend to scan slow and have lots of passes over the same paper, which is good for color and image quality, but can lead to smudges when the high points of the cockle get hit by the printhead.
A couple of tricks that I have tried to some effect are:
If the printer has the ability to adjust the pen to paper spacing, tell it you are printing on the heaviest weight media available (i.e canvas). This will head-fake the printer into the distance from printhead to paper. The consequences aren’t too bad in Best modes.
Use a hair dryer to blow hot air into the printzone to speed drying so the paper doesn’t have time to cockle. Again use best mode.
Where are you? Your sig suggests someplace other than San Diego.
I’m in Northern Wisconsin.
I’m uncertain exactly what I’ll be printing yet, but I have a couple ideas and one is a full board size. How much would you have to charge for something so massive? I have to find a high enough res file to blow up first.
Billy
I managed to get my hands on a HP DesignJet 500 printer on craigslist for $50 bucks! The guy who sold it to me was an architect and was just looking to make room in his garage. It works great, but I haven’t been able to find any wide rolls of rice paper. I am looking into doing some half/full board lams. Any idea where I might be able to buy 20+ inch wide rolls of rice paper?
Holt
it’s easy to find.
There’s a web site: www.goggle.com
under the search type in rice paper rolls
Then buy small samples until you find one that will wet out clear and run through your printer.
I have a HP 42" wide format printer and it took almost a year to find the right paper.
Feedable
Wets out clear
20" wide roll (in your case)
The guy’s that print wouldn’t tell me were to get it so I had to try 5 different papers until I got a good one.
Kind regards,
Surfding
uh. would any of you all that are curently printing on rice paper share what your source for the rice paper is and what is the brand u are using? thanks. pete.
There are many types:
Korean
Japaneese
Chineese
Southeast Asian
There are many thicknessness to choose from.
Some are actual rice paper some are silk some are from Mulberry.
Then there are different tones: Yellow, Tan, Off White, matte, White
I bought a couple of large rolls last year I would have to look up the invoice?
I used a search engine called www.google.com and did my research. I wish we had internet when I when to college.
Surfding
That is an incredible deal!!! We bought one for somewhere around $3000 new. It’s a workhorse of a computer too. edit: It’s a workhorse of a PRINTER!
You don’t have to use roll paper, you can just set it on sheet feed and it will scan the paper you’re using and plot accordingly. I would be interested to find out about a roll of lamable (is that a word) rice paper. I guess “google” is my friend!
Haha yeah, I had a printer repair man service the printer for $75, and when I told him how much I paid for it, he LOST it!
I will let you know if I have any luck with rolls. I found one woman who sells them and I am going to give it a shot.
She wrote this to me in an email:
Silky heavy roll 25" x 50 feet sells for $39.95, 100 feet $74.95, 150 feet $109.95. It will be re-rolled on to a mailing tube, edges will not be even. Most all of our customers use this roll in a large format printer.
Not so sure about the “heavy roll” thing, but the site says something about surfboards on it, so I guess I’ll see.
Heres a link to the site:
http://www.mindspring.com/~dba-interwest/www/web10.htm
Thanks again for everyones help.
Right after I made my comment, I did a search and found that site also! Haven’t heard back from them yet. Prices sound good, especially if you’ve ever bought large sheets of lam paper. The rolls will likely be easier to manage than large sheets too.
Got the roll of paper this week and plotted out some lams. Worked great, no hangups on the plotter. The stuff is ideal for screen printing as well.
holy smoke micheal i have never seen a shaping bay that clean?
cheers huie
Hi Huie:
Normally my shaping bay is a mess and full of boards.
I had this 100 board order then another 50 odd orders all at the same time during September.
When I finished processing these boards I took 2 extra blokes and did all day cleaning on a Sunday.
My CNC Room and my Shaping Bay got a make over.
I threw away a whole library of rocker sticks as well.
For 2012 I will make all new Rocker Sticks (Deck Rocker), Flip Templates, Rail Jigs.
I will have all my planers sharpened and new blades put in all my spoke shaves.
As your season is just beginning ours is just finishing. (One last push before Christmas then down time)
I have a few builds to do with my vacuum press over the winter with some cool core materials.
My printer is dialed in to do full board graphics so that’s been kind of fun.
Took me two years to find the right paper. Lam paper normally jams the paper feed.
My wife found a paper that is easy to tread into the printer. (she did the graphics)
The ink I use is archival and I have a PANATONE Color matching program to pull it off.
I have 12 color cartridges so the computer mixes the colors pretty well.
The lams wet out well with no runs or bubbles.
Kind regards,
michael aka surfding
I have an Epson 4000 Pro that handles up to 17" stock that was used for years by my skateboard business.
Does a fantastic job but the ink replacement cost is pretty high.
I'll take a best offer if someone wants it and will pick it up.
