I used to use inkjet for my transparencies and just got tied of having to replace dried out cartridges. My printer is an HP LaserJet 4101mfp. It also cannot be made to make dense transparencies.
So, I developed a method using a black dry erase marker, like are used on white boards. I use Expo brand and posted some pictures here awhile ago, as I recall. I have not tried other brands. Expo was the cheapest at my office supply store.
The procedure is simple. Just paint over the entire laser transparency on the toner side, let it dry, and wipe of with a soft tissue like Kleenex.
Procedural Details:
1) Black marker seems to work best and comes off the easiest. It is harder to get all of the color removed from color markers.
2) Do not scrub with the marker. Just lay on a nice wet layer like when painting with water colors. The transparency image is slightly softened by the solvent in the ink and can be scratched by the felt tip if scrubbed. If completely dry, you can put on a second layer, which I have not found to be necessary, unless I missed a few spots.
3) Let the marker dry thoroughly (at least 5 min.)
4) The dried marker comes off in little flakes. These can also scratch the surface, if they get caught beneath the tissue and you scrub back and forth. Just wipe in one direction, then another, etc.
5) Fold the tissue as needed to get a clean surface. If you need to go back over an area, you can do that, but be careful. Once the majority of the marker is off of the clear areas, you can be much more aggressive to get traces out of crevices, such as around thermals, if necessary. I rarely have to do that.
6) I don't think other colors will work.
John
----- Original Message -----
From: Philip Pemberton
To: Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Sunday, March 18, 2012 3:32 PM
Subject: [Homebrew_PCBs] Darkening laser printer toner?
Hi all,
A few of you may be aware of the... "issues" I've had with LaserStar
film and my Kyocera printer. Basically, the toner ends up forming
blotches as it goes through the fuser. This coupled with the roughly
1.414x (1-stop) light loss through the film makes it damn close to
impossible to get a good transfer.
Unfortunately my laser printer doesn't have a "toner density" option.
It's set automatically when it does the colour calibration :(
Does anyone know of any tricks to darken laser printer toner?
Failing that, does anyone want to make me an offer for the two unopened
packs of LaserStar I have sitting on my bookshelf (and which worked
really nicely with my previous B&W laser printer)?
Thanks,
--
Phil.
ygroups@...
http://www.philpem.me.uk/
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