FWIW
I use an Epson Acculaser C8600 and the black is very very black
far better than any other printer I have used..
results are perfect for optical or toner transfer..
expensive to buy, even used though...
Chris
--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, garydeal <garydeal@...> wrote:
>
>
> I've used a cheap Epson printer with the drivers that came with the
> printer. The black from the inkjet was much denser (opaque) than anything
> I've been able to get out of several laser printers, including a $12k
> Sharp.
>
> I used plain cheap copier paper, although the slightly heavier
> "laser printer" paper worked about as well and could hold finer detail. I
> used whatever settings were available for maximum black - and black only,
> no multicolor imitations of black, get the print as dense as possible.
> The parent image should be black/white only, no color, no grayscale, etc.
>
> The thing that seemed to make a big difference for me was rubbing a
> little vegetable oil on both sides of the paper, giving it a few minutes
> to soak in, then blotting it dry-ish. The paper would then transmit more
> light, while the black areas seemed to transmit less light. I've then
> used the oiled paper mask as the photo master for the resist (print side
> to the resist), as well as using it to make a litho film master - it was
> a handy way to whip up a one-off master before the inkjet died.
>
> Something to try, anyway. Now I have to do a bunch of darkroom work
> to get a decent master from a laser print.
>
> I'm not sure how much UV various vegetable oils might absorb, but
> never use gelatin.
>
> Good luck with the project,
> -Gary
>
>
>
>
>
> >My goal is to make accurate artwork for working with photoresist PCBs.
> >What suggestions do you have to make as high contrast (solid black) art work
> >as possible? It could be inkjet (preferably) or Laser Jet.
> >
> >What software driver to use to get better ink control and resolution than
> >the standard printer drivers?
> >
> >I tried a Canon i9100 with both JetStar and Pictorico Premium OHP
> >transparency film.
> >The paper selection setting was the recommended Photo Paper Pro, highest
> >quality printing and max ink density.
> >The Pictorico worked best but I like to be able to get a more solid black.
> >
> >Epson vs. Canon: any significant advantage of either one?
> >TIA for any suggestions.
> >Bertho
>