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Printing on Transparency Paper with a Mac.

Printing on Transparency Paper with a Mac.


Hi there

I am having issues printing to transparency paper with my Mac.

I am using a Epson DX5000 ink jet printer, with ink jet transparency paper.

I've created my design at 600dpi (a little bit overkill I guess you could say).


What I am doing is creating/printing (none coloured) black images that are then displayed using a projector.

My problem is that I don't think enough ink is being printed onto the transparency paper and so when its displayed on to a wall you can see through the black ink too much and also the ink all looks cracked.

This maybe also possibly caused by the fact that with ink jet transparency paper you print on the one side that has a rough type feel to it, that must have some kind of coating so that the ink dries on it correctly and doesnt just smear.


here's a little image of what I mean.

User uploaded file


As you will see the image just isnt clear enough and light leaks through the black.

You are only actually supposed to be able to see anything thats white. So thats only the white text around the outside and the white images in the middle. (this is a little hard to explain as of course a printer doesnt print white, what its actually doing it NOT printing the white sections at all, so this is where the light shines through)


Ive tried numerous print settings when printing from Adobe Acrobat


Print>Printer>Print Settings


Media Type setting are:-

Plain papers

Epson Matt

Epson Ultra Glossy

Epson Premium Glossy

Epson Premium Semi Gloss

Epson Glossy

Envelope


Color settting are:-

Color

Black


Print Quality setting (More and less appear depending on what type of paper you say you are using) are:-

Fast Economy

Economy

Draft

Normal

Fine

Super Fine

Photo

Best Photo

Photo RPM


I assume that Photo RPM is the best setting and to be honest I'm not really sure which type of paper to choose?


Ive tried many different settings, Ive tried printing in just Black, but that doesnt put out enough ink, I then tried printing in colour (even though my designs are just in black), it definitely produced on a page more ink, but still not enough.


Does anyone have any suggestions here at all, I'm all out of ideas?


thanks

iMac, Mac OS X (10.6.7)

Posted on Aug 17, 2013 3:39 AM

Reply
18 replies

Aug 17, 2013 6:40 AM in response to Gary Scotland

Gary Scotland wrote:


Use an image editing application to create a pure black and white image with maximum contrast, painting in where needed in the black area to produce maximum black.


This is how I have already created them.


In the printer driver settings set:

colour settings option: print in Greyscale not in colour mode


Greyscale option is not available, but I can just print in black, which does not cover enough.


paper or media settings option choose: Transparency


There is no option for Transparency paper

Aug 17, 2013 8:47 AM in response to shippo_uk

There is no option for Transparency paper

That's your problem. Your printer doesn't know how to print on Transparency, so you'll get poor results. The only thing you can do is try various combinations of paper and quality to get the results you want.


Since they are black and white, you might have better luck printing the sheets on plain paper, then use a photo copier with Laser transparency sheets.

Aug 19, 2013 8:50 AM in response to greg sahli

greg sahli wrote:


Sorry, here's the Mac version of the Epson ICC:

http://esupport.epson-europe.com/FileDetails.aspx?lng=en-GB&data=lkuCfcvA9cwy54C sH8CG1+ewKVcQWXAO4PgmLXwY5QMU003D&id=30025

Hi Greg

I appreciate your help, but when I download and attempt to install it states


You can't open the application "Setup" because PowerPC applications are no longer supported.


Any further help?

Cheers

Aug 21, 2013 11:40 PM in response to greg sahli

greg sahli wrote:


New idea - install Gutenprint (DX5000 is supported, transparencies listed):

http://gimp-print.sourceforge.net/MacOSX.php

OK, So Ive downloaded Gutenprint, installed the mpkg but I cat find it anywhere on my system to try and use it.

When I choose Print from a menu there is no new otpion.

Its not in Applications, when I use Spotlight and search for Gutenprint, all it brings up is the installer info.

I'm not sure if I'm being thick here, but any further help?

I'm running OSX ML 10.8.3 by the way.

Thanks

Printing on Transparency Paper with a Mac.

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