Best Transperancy Film??? for artwork

Share your information, hints and discuss Laser cutters/engravers

Moderators: adafruit_support_bill, adafruit

Please be positive and constructive with your questions and comments.
Locked
Hamradio2008
 
Posts: 110
Joined: Sun Oct 10, 2010 4:37 pm

Best Transperancy Film??? for artwork

Post by Hamradio2008 »

What is the best transperacy film for printing pcb artwork???
I got some from the art store and it isnt coming out full black, just seems like poor quality,
I have a new toner cartridge and a high quality HP laser printer.
Any recomendations please let me know. TNXs

User avatar
westfw
 
Posts: 2008
Joined: Fri Apr 27, 2007 1:01 pm

Re: Best Transperancy Film??? for artwork

Post by westfw »

I have heard that there are advantages to using semi-transparent paper (eg vellum) rather than transparency film. The claims were that it is more dimensionally stable when subjected to the fuser temperatures, and "transparent enough", better able to accept toner, and "transparent enough" for most photo-based PCB processes. (no direct experience, though.)

mikeselectricstuff
 
Posts: 164
Joined: Fri Jun 11, 2010 9:21 pm

Re: Best Transperancy Film??? for artwork

Post by mikeselectricstuff »

Tracing paper. Cheap and good toner adhesion.
Use fairly heavy stuff (>=90gsm) to avoid crinkling in the fuser.

Hamradio2008
 
Posts: 110
Joined: Sun Oct 10, 2010 4:37 pm

Re: Best Transperancy Film??? for artwork

Post by Hamradio2008 »

TNX, toner adhesion seems to be the problem, I will try some vellum or tracing paper. 73

Agent_24
 
Posts: 87
Joined: Thu Feb 23, 2012 6:08 pm

Re: Best Transperancy Film??? for artwork

Post by Agent_24 »

Try wiping over it with a black whiteboard marker, leaving to dry and then carefully wiping off the marker residue.

Found that idea on the Homebrew PCBs Yahoo Group. Seems to work quite well, I tried it yesterday.

Apparently you can also buy "Toner Darkener" in spray bottles which is probably easier to use.

Locked
Please be positive and constructive with your questions and comments.

Return to “Laser”