Homebrew PCBs

I've read somewhere that people don't like using laser printers for
making their artwork, when using photoresist.
  Is the reason for this that the toner is not dark enough?
  I'm asking, becaused something came to my mind.  You can buy foil
transfer for laser printers and copiers, for as low as us$15 for 8"x100'.
  I can't see foil itself being transparant to light in any way.  Has
anyone ever tried this?  Print the artwork onto a transparancy, then
transfer the foil onto the toner, should give you 100% opaque artwork
for the photo transfer.

Tom Keys wrote:

>   I've read somewhere that people don't like using laser printers for
> making their artwork, when using photoresist.
>   Is the reason for this that the toner is not dark enough?
>   I'm asking, becaused something came to my mind.  You can buy foil
> transfer for laser printers and copiers, for as low as us$15 for 8"x100'.
>   I can't see foil itself being transparant to light in any way.  Has
> anyone ever tried this?  Print the artwork onto a transparancy, then
> transfer the foil onto the toner, should give you 100% opaque artwork
> for the photo transfer.
> 

I've never personally seen this transfer foil. Once the foil has been 
transfered, is the remaining foil just a negative of the image ? Maybe 
it is possible to use the foil paper as a negative photomask after doing 
the transfer. Just a thought.

Adam

--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, Adam Seychell <a_seychell@y...>
wrote:

> I've never personally seen this transfer foil. Once the foil has been 
> transfered, is the remaining foil just a negative of the image ? Maybe 
> it is possible to use the foil paper as a negative photomask after
doing 
> the transfer. Just a thought.
> 
> Adam


The foil sticks to the toner.  so you print how you would normally
print onto the transparancy for the transfer, then you stick this foil
on top of the toner, and heat it.  The toner melts, and sticks to both
the transparancy and the foil.  Peel the sheet of foil away, and
wherever there was toner, there will now be foil on top.

Its used to make things metalic, like a seal on a certificate would be
gold or whatnot.

The remaining foil is probably trash, i seriously doubt it could be
used as a negative.

----- Original Message ----- 

From: "Tom Keys" <apixoip@...>
To: <Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Saturday, September 18, 2004 3:42 AM
Subject: [Homebrew_PCBs] photoresist using laser printing


>  I've read somewhere that people don't like using laser printers for
> making their artwork, when using photoresist.
>  Is the reason for this that the toner is not dark enough?

My LJ 5P works very well for artwork. I print onto tracing paper and get 
excellent results.

Leon

Hi Leon,
what is *tracing paper* ?
Bengt

> 
> My LJ 5P works very well for artwork. I print onto tracing paper 
and get excellent results.
> 
> Leon

----- Original Message ----- 

From: "Bengt" <tecnoconsult@...>
To: <Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Saturday, September 18, 2004 8:31 AM
Subject: [Homebrew_PCBs] Re: photoresist using laser printing


> Hi Leon,
> what is *tracing paper* ?

It's thin semi-transparent paper that used to be used by draughtsmen for 
tracing drawings. It should be available from most stationers, one near me 
stocks it. It comes in A4 pads, these days.

Leon
--
Leon Heller, G1HSM
http://www.geocities.com/leon_heller

Thanks Leon,
Now I know what you mean, is there any specific brand that is OK with 
the the thermal *stress* of a laser printer? Dont want to get it to 
melt on the fuser :) done that :(
Bengt

> It's thin semi-transparent paper that used to be used by 
draughtsmen for tracing drawings. It should be available from most 
stationers, one near me stocks it. It comes in A4 pads, these days.

> 
> Leon
> --
> Leon Heller, G1HSM
> http://www.geocities.com/leon_heller

----- Original Message ----- 

From: "Bengt" <tecnoconsult@...>
To: <Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Sunday, September 19, 2004 8:26 AM
Subject: [Homebrew_PCBs] Re: photoresist using laser printing


> Thanks Leon,
> Now I know what you mean, is there any specific brand that is OK with
> the the thermal *stress* of a laser printer? Dont want to get it to
> melt on the fuser :) done that :(

It's paper, so won't melt. It's thin stuff, so might wrinkle. I cut it to 
size and attach it to ordinary paper with a piece of masking tape. That way 
I use less of it and it doesn't wrinkle. It is quite expensive, compared to 
ordinary paper, probably because it isn't used much nowadays.

Leon