In a pinch? No inkjet film? Solution

[Hegemone]

I was in a pinch waiting for my roll of wp inkjet film to get here. I had a job that needed to get done this week (film won't arrive till next tuesday). I went to the art store and got 25lb tracing paper trimmed it to 13" for my epson wf1100. Crap it starts to load the paper but triggers the no paper sensor. Crap. Tried taping it to a piece of stock as a backing. It actually jams.  Then I have a brilliant idea. I lay some vinyl transfer tape (aka pallet mask) sticky side up. I put the tracing paper on it and squeegee it flat. Trim it so theirs no sticky showing. I now have tracing paper face and backed with masking. Using premium photo paper matte and best photo settings I print it (fills and strokes set to (cmyk 95,95,95,100)) i did a test and over exposed it on my cheapo 500w halogen setup thinking the frosted paper would change things.  Nope.  It used the same amount of time to expose and the 1 point strokes still cleaned out like a dream. 

It took a little extra time to back the paper but not more then 10 minutes and in the end cost about the same as a sheet of film if you add in the cost of the mask. So if you ever find yourself in a pinch for a large piece of film and can't wait days for it to get shipped, here ya go.

[Shawn (EIP)]

I was in a pinch waiting for my roll of wp inkjet film to get here. I had a job that needed to get done this week (film won't arrive till next tuesday). I went to the art store and got 25lb tracing paper trimmed it to 13" for my epson wf1100. Crap it starts to load the paper but triggers the no paper sensor. Crap. Tried taping it to a piece of stock as a backing. It actually jams.  Then I have a brilliant idea. I lay some vinyl transfer tape (aka pallet mask) sticky side up. I put the tracing paper on it and squeegee it flat. Trim it so theirs no sticky showing. I now have tracing paper face and backed with masking. Using premium photo paper matte and best photo settings I print it (fills and strokes set to (cmyk 95,95,95,100)) i did a test and over exposed it on my cheapo 500w halogen setup thinking the frosted paper would change things.  Nope.  It used the same amount of time to expose and the 1 point strokes still cleaned out like a dream. 

It took a little extra time to back the paper but not more then 10 minutes and in the end cost about the same as a sheet of film if you add in the cost of the mask. So if you ever find yourself in a pinch for a large piece of film and can't wait days for it to get shipped, here ya go.

Next time ask the person at the art store for vellum.    How do those WF's print?

[Gilligan]

I like mine... but I don't have much experience or much to compare it to.

[Hegemone]

They didn't have vellum in 13x19. The art store here is dying a slow death it's really kind of sad. They have turned into a production copy/print shop to make due.  Not a single local screen supply store. :-) sucks having to deal with ac Moore and Jo Ann's. The wf prints a super nice black for me. I love it for the price. Color detail is good as well if your thinking about it for vinyl xfers. But being in Rochester you've seen that with the kodak factory. :-p

[mk162]

or you can print it on a piece of paper, and wet that paper in vegetable oil to make it translucent.  It works I guess, my printer here says that's how they did it in college....in class!

[Prosperi-Tees]

That's funny MK I have a customer that told me the same thing.

[mk162]

i had never heard this until today.

[ravenmark]

i had never heard this until today.

That's 2 of us.

[Frog]

I remember the oil on paper technique from TSPMB along with the alternative to a vacuum frame, or even a piece of glass; sticking the film positive to the screen with (what he, an Ausie, called) "terps". I assume that mineral spirits would be more common here.

Where there's a will, there's a way.

[Hegemone]

Freakin mess lol. Do you have to use a surfactant when doing the washout?

[Im-Magic]

From another Aussie - That's TURPS short for Turpentine

[Tagless Threads]

I hate when the film isn't in stock. Very innovative though