My printout seem to be getting spoiled by what looks like a mist layer of toner on the decal paper. Not sure what's going wrong, 4 different attempts using two different brands of paper, tried different paper settings and resolutions. Not sure how to get round this,my next attempt will be with a whole sheet - rather than cutting a small section and sticking it down to a plain bit of a4, as pictured - but I only have one (full) sheet left so I don't want to mess this one up too.
Figure it's to do with paper thickness but it can't be much thicker than the photo paper I use with the same method.
Could it be something to do with static?
Any chance in some help solving this before I run out of decal paper?
Cheers
Iain
(https://s14.postimg.org/dccg872ul/IMAG0815.jpg) (https://postimg.org/image/dccg872ul/)
- it's hard to see in my photo, but the bits that should be clear are basically grey, like a fine mist of toner has decided to cling to it.
Try reducing your print density. Looks like your printer is laying down too much toner.
Thanks Eric. I'll have a look, all I can see for now is "Toner Saver Mode" which didn't help. (It's a cheap Samsung model, 2020 I think)
I think it's the printer, I just tried photo paper with the same result, weirdly never had an issue until now. It still prints fine on plain office paper, thankfully.
Frustrating, I thought printing the decal would be the easy part!
Does the decal you are printing truely have a transparent or white background? It's possible that the printer is working fine and just printing in grayscale whatever the background color is.
i'm with eric,
sounds like the white isnt actually white..
Cheers Rob and Eric. I know what you mean and I'll have another look but these are printing fine on plain office paper, just when I use decal paper the printout comes out grey(ish).
If I tape a bit of decal paper to regular office paper, the office paper comes out white, but the background around the decal just looks dirty, for lack of a better way of describing it. If print the same design on plain paper it prints with no issue.
The black marks (or mist) only appears if I use decal paper or photo paper. Hence why I suggested static (a small squad of decal paper on plain a4, the "mist" only appears on the square of decal paper, as if the paper type is attracting toner where ordinary paper is not)
One thing I haven't tried is printing from within different programs (currently using inkscape) but I'm clutching at straws here and cat imagine that helping.
Cheers though. I'll keep fighting with it for now.
Oh btw Rob, this was for my spare Spitfire pedal in case you hadn't noticed. I just lazily pinched the Triumph Spitfire logo. Creativity isn't exactly flowing lately but at least it's not as half-arsed as my Red Box. (An MXR Blue Box, except I only had a red box at the time).
Try outputting the image from inkscape to either a bitmap or pdf and print that way. I personally make a sheet of around 6 decals for a 1590b or 125B project and save/print it through Word.
Are you printing the graphics as a bitmap?
If you just print it on plain paper, do you still have this 'mist' around the graphics?
Quote from: Kingmafw on May 10, 2017, 04:50:44 PM
Are you printing the graphics as a bitmap?
Same results regardless. Tried from bmp, png, pdf. Also tried natively from within Inkscape, Paint, Word.
Also tried from different pcs, and even with a laptop connected to printer via usb, to rule out some a Wi-Fi issue.
Quote from: Kingmafw on May 10, 2017, 04:50:44 PM
If you just print it on plain paper, do you still have this 'mist' around the graphics?
No. No mist at all. Printing on plain paper gives me immaculate results.
Oddly, this issue doesn't just affect the decal paper though. This mist seems to now also affect photo paper, so I can't even print PCBs for transfer using a method that's been working fine for months.
Beginning to suspect either the 3rd party toner cartridge (which has worked fine until now and is still reporting 70% toner level remaining) or excess toner on the rollers/drum/paper feed device that's maybe only managing to contaminate these coated, thicker paper types. I could be miles off though.
Sorry to bother you all with general office equipment issues. Having a 'mare here! About to go full on Jamie McDonald on the blasted thing.
I think it is a smoothness issue. As I suggested before, I believe your printer is laying down too much toner, and smoother paper has less texture to hold it in place. It is brushing off before it has a chance to get fused.
Maybe I'm a dimwit who missed step 1 of the instructions.
"Ensure decal paper is thoroughly dry before printing".
Alongside a picture of someone pointing a hairdryer at the paper.
Last attempt before I give up on it and go back to etching.
Hmm... If that works, maybe you should bag up the rest with some DO-NOT-EAT packets for the future. :icon_wink:
Well I'll be damned! Nope, it wasn't the supposedly important first step. Same problem there.
However, I put my frustration to one side and decided to just actually use one of the crap, misty looking prints, and it...Eh. Well. You won't believe this, but, well. It came out fine.
(https://s9.postimg.org/pz86iee4r/IMAG0816.jpg) (https://postimg.org/image/pz86iee4r/)
Either I need my eyes tested, or the heat from the printer is discolouring the decal or it's backing paper. Or something like that. I can't see any toner on the clear bits I thought weren't printing clear.
Mystifying. No pun intended.
What kind of enclosure is that?
cool, glad you got it sorted.. 8)
Quote from: Passaloutre on May 11, 2017, 01:17:38 PM
What kind of enclosure is that?
Takachi "YM Series", Id bought a few different sizes to check them out. They're not very robust and bend quite easily, I don't think it'll be all that suited for stomping on, even in the short term. Nice finish though. No sanding! (edit: scored them from here. https://uk.rs-online.com/mobile/p/instrument-cases/3732227// (https://uk.rs-online.com/mobile/p/instrument-cases/3732227//) Very thin aluminium sheet, anodised silver finish. Figured this stuff wouldn't etch, hence the experimenting with decal paper.
And cheers Rob! Hopefully boxed up soon. Currently watching clear coat dry and trying not to think of how much time I've wasted!
Just to satisfy my curiosity, could you run your finger over one of the decal prints? Is there a chance the mist was unfused toner dust, which washed off during your soak?
I wondered, Eric! I wish I could give you an answer. It wouldn't rub off, the decal just looked "dirty". The clear parts looked instantly discoloured as they came through the printer. Every. Single. Time.
I've found another cast off I didn't happen to bin. I can't see a damned thing wrong with it, though it's night and looks different under artificial light. I swear though, they all looked contaminated.
Still baffled it came out so well. Guess I should worry less about imperfections. Weird though. Suppose you live and learn.
Speckle/splatter paint the enclosure and you can get away major issues and you'll be the only one to know, camouflage, sleight of hand, misdirection... it's suppose to be that way!
dave
Quote from: slashandburn on May 11, 2017, 01:01:17 PM
Either I need my eyes tested, or the heat from the printer is discolouring the decal or it's backing paper. Or something like that. I can't see any toner on the clear bits I thought weren't printing clear.
Mystifying. No pun intended.
This thread passed me by somewhat. Dunno why... ???
I see something similar with my decals, but they always seems to come out OK when they're applied to the pedal. I think you're right: the substrate is being discoloured by its passage through the laser printer. Hadn't really given it any thought, since the results ended up fine, although the printed decal does look dirty before it gets used. (FYI Iain, my paper is from Crafty Computer Paper / Gecko.)
Good pun, btw. :)
Cheers Mark, no worries! I got there in the end. Dunno how I ended up finding problems where there are none. Yes, it's from crafty computer paper, glad its not just mines that looks discoloured, at least I know it's not all in my head!
Today's non existent problem: Why does my coffee taste different? Could it be down to switching toothpaste brands or do you think there's something in the water?
Have you been soaking your decals in your coffee?? :o
Quote from: slashandburn on May 12, 2017, 04:22:57 AM
Today's non existent problem: Why does my coffee taste different? Could it be down to switching toothpaste brands or do you think there's something in the water?
(https://i.imgflip.com/zdeh6.jpg)
Quote from: slashandburn on May 12, 2017, 04:22:57 AM
Today's non existent problem: Why does my coffee taste different? Could it be down to switching toothpaste brands or do you think there's something in the water?
maybe there's
nothing in the water.
I use the decal paper below. I have never had a problem with it, strong, a bit thicker than normal decal paper which I like... prints fantastic.! I did have a similar problem with some transparency film , if I printed on the side it was designed for I got a frosting effect. simply reversed the sheet, printed it and no problem.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/181602049227?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT (http://www.ebay.com/itm/181602049227?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT)
i have a Samsung C430W laser printer and my experience is different: it looks black out of the printer and goes on black. this is also with different brands. i wonder what causes the difference? not that it really matters if it all ends up the same, i suppose.
...just wish the decal paper wouldn't get stuck in my printer half the time, sometimes melting around the drum and burning my fingers as i try to pull it out *sigh*. some brands fare better than others.
Quote from: MrStab on June 01, 2017, 11:33:07 PM
...just wish the decal paper wouldn't get stuck in my printer half the time, sometimes melting around the drum and burning my fingers as i try to pull it out *sigh*. some brands fare better than others.
I just recently acquired a laser printer. I have reservations about trying decals for this reason. I don't know how big a pain it would be to get melted stuff cleaned off the innards. What brands did you have the best luck with?
Quote from: MrStab on June 01, 2017, 11:33:07 PM
i have a Samsung C430W laser printer and my experience is different: it looks black out of the printer and goes on black. this is also with different brands. i wonder what causes the difference? not that it really matters if it all ends up the same, i suppose.
...just wish the decal paper wouldn't get stuck in my printer half the time, sometimes melting around the drum and burning my fingers as i try to pull it out *sigh*. some brands fare better than others.
This is also a samsung, though the M2027W (iirc). I've printed a few more since and it seems I can just about get away with it on most colours but on lighter colours it's definitely noticable. On two dark red boxes it's almost invisible, same on gold and silver painted boxes. On bright yellow and white boxes its a different story though and there's a sort of light toner mist in the "clear" sections. I do wonder how much of this is down to the cheap 3rd party toner cartridge i picked up.
Currently still unsloved. But im mostly getting by despite printing imperfect decals.
I just recently experienced the same toner mist problem. My latest wacky theory is that it stems from the heating and rolling causing the decal to stretch and shift/lift slightly.... (plus some other things).... which results in the mist.
My decal's white areas that are nearby black areas remain mysteriously free of the mist though.
Still, like you, I've been lucky enough with the results:
(https://s18.postimg.org/4oaata8vp/IMG_20170603_010125.jpg) (https://postimg.org/image/4oaata8vp/)
That looks awesome Eric. Can't see anything wrong with it, though my own photo's tell a similar story!
Maybe I'm simply asking too much from entry level laser printer with 3rd party toner.
My builds could benefit from me being this partcular with my offboard wiring, thats for sure.
Quote from: thermionix on June 02, 2017, 03:02:57 AM
I don't know how big a pain it would be to get melted stuff cleaned off the innards. What brands did you have the best luck with?
it's quite difficult as it needs to be powered on for the rollers to be hot enough to unstick, but it's painfully hot. fortunately it hasn't got jammed that far since i went with my current brand.
i don't know what the actual brand is, but i've had the most luck with whatever the eBay user "mrdecalpaper" sells www.ebay.co.uk/usr/mrdecalpaper (http://www.ebay.co.uk/usr/mrdecalpaper) . The seller Craftovator's paper had a much higher rate of failure, as did another brand which i've forgotten (it was in U.S "letter" size instead of A4).
i think this is a problem specific to the C430w tbh, as it sometimes jams with thick photo paper as well (despite the 220 GSM thickness setting being on). that said, i'd imagine any jam in any laser printer with decal paper would be worse news than regular paper.
re. OP: maybe something needs cleaned that the hardware can't clean itself? i have absolutely no idea, just a thought.
Thanks for the reply, Grant. I'll check it out. This printer I got is a Brother color laser printer/scanner/copier. It was free, but I had to fix it, but that only took about an hour. I got all excited about the potential pedal applications, then I looked at Small Bear's site, and he mentions that Press-n-Peel doesn't get along with Brother toner too well, and also the risk of melting decal paper. Huh. Well at least I can print schematics.