Homebrew PCBs

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
>