Hey Guys,
I am about to glass the last two boards I have shaped and am wanting to make up my own little surf logo i have drawn up on photoshop. I want to use the rice paper method but am abit unsure how to go about it. What size thickness do i use? When i am printing do i have the rice paper facing up or down when taped to the normal printing paper? Any other additional information or tips would be really helpful.
Cheers
Hi Tyler-
Some background info: http://www.rice-paper.com/uses/surfboard.html
I use 15 gram per square meter ‘rice’ (mulberry) paper from the local art store, also available from surfboard shaping supply houses.
I use epoxy resin, the gang will have better advice for polyester resin, especially UV cure.
I have done color inkjet and laser print on home machines. My inkjet bleeds a little but not enough for me to worry. I have also used acrylic paint on the same paper with good results.
Print right ride up, let dry well if inkjet or paint. Bit of resin on foam where logo will be, logo paper on top of resin, fiberglass cloth over logo, then laminate as planned. Test all materials together on scrap before committing to a shaped blank.
McDing made my day a few years back by sending me some old screened lams and it still gives me a kick. Mahalo Lowel!
Edit: added some stuff for clarity
Sumi Art paper from craft shops (Hobby Lobby, Michaels, et. al.).
Water-based ink. Color-fast light/UV resistant.
When you laminate ink-side down, you need to print your image inverted (mirror image).
However, there may be technology advances I am unaware of. If so, hopefully others will chime in. Mako224 is knowledgeable about modern printing technology.
Okay cheers thanks mate 
Living in Australia and its so frustrating trying to find some rice paper here! Thought it be as easy as going to my local art store but cant find any yet. I am using poly too! Lucky you with getting the left overs.
Thanks mate
Check out this post i did over 10 years ago: http://www.swaylocks.com/groups/beginners-ink-jet-rice-paper-laminates. It might help.
Try your local business/stationary supplies, that where I get mine in Oz
I work in the printing industry selling commercial equipment. I have access to all sorts of toys…from inexpensive desktop printers to the printers used for billboards and vehicle wraps. I’ve been using laser printers and color copiers for my logos the past few years. Earlier laser devices and copiers were not compatible with resin due to the use of silicone oil in the machines. That is not an issue with modern equipment. I mount the rice paper on a sheet of regular copier paper with a little spray adhesive or masking tape then run it on through. For most of my logos I’m using a B/W lexmark laser printer I have in my house. For color I’m using a color copier at the office. After printing I will give the logo a light coat of matte clear acylic spray on the printed side just just for an added measure of safety.
I used to use inkjet printers like everyone else but I get better and crisper results from laser. Think of it this way…inkjet is a liquid that absorbs into the rice paper and spreads much like if you put a drop of water onto a tissue…it starts spreading. With laser the machine precisely places the image on surface of the paper and melts and presses it into place so there is no bleed into the rice paper. With laser the image is actually on top of the paper…not in the paper.
As with any of this I would recommend making some test samples of foam with glass and resin before moving on to a finished blank.
Those look great Mako. Nice and sharp.
Why would you not print them backwards? Let the paper protect the image.
Honestly never thought to try that. The acrylic spray is an extra protection from bleeding. Even with the image reversed I’d still use the spray on the printed side for that added insurance.
Hi guys,
I’ve been using an Epson TX 121 inkjet with Durabrite (original and refill cartridges) for the last 5-6 years, gluing rice paper on paper sheet with 3M 75. All good till the printer finally died a few days back and now I can’t find any printer using Durabrite in any shop I’ve been (here in Thailand).
I’ve been reading quiet a lot of post here on sways but it doesn’t look like durabrite is the only way…
Any advice on what kind of printer I should/could use? Normal inkjet, many on the market here with original refillable tanks, would that work (normal ink, not durabrite)? I’m now looking at the Epson L220…
I’m working with epoxy, printing on rice paper.
Thanks a lot for your help
Cheers