Staples Photo Basic paper (UK ver.)
2006-04-07 by Philip Pemberton
Hi, I've just tried the Staples "Photo Basic" paper, A4 size, 190gsm barcode 4 250189 800113 out. The result: failure. I started off by printing the PCB track pattern onto the paper as I normally do - first print onto plain paper, then a piece of photo paper over the pattern held down with a laser printer label, then reprint with toner density set to maximum. This left me with a rather nice pattern on the paper. Next I ironed it onto the board. Or at least, I tried to. It actually stuck to the iron and refused to come off no matter what I did. And this is one of those non-stick irons (coated in Teflon or something like that...) - I've never had anything else stick to it. After I finished removing the transfer from the iron, I dunked it into some warm water (with a bit of Fairy washing-up liquid added). This did nothing at all. It seems the paper has some form of plastic coating front and back which means it won't absorb water, hence won't split apart. I couldn't even take off a layer of paper - it's just too smooth to get a grip on. So back to the 130gsm "Inkjet GLOSS paper" for now, but I've only got a few sheets of that left :( Has anyone managed to get a decent transfer with the new-style Staples paper? I'm having no luck at all... -- Phil. | Kitsune: Acorn RiscPC SA202 64M+6G ViewFinder philpem@... | Cheetah: Athlon64 3200+ A8VDeluxeV2 512M+100G http://www.philpem.me.uk/ | Tiger: Toshiba SatPro4600 Celeron700 256M+40G