29-03-2012, 06:17 PM
Yes folks, it's official - Epson told me today that their home/office printers don't support printing onto acetates.
I've mentioned before that I occasionally need to print PCB artwork onto acetates as masks for for making printed circuit boards using a UV light box. The lines on the artwork must of course be totally opaque. I bought 50 sheets of Q-Connect Universal Ink-Jet acetates last year, which worked a treat when using an aging HP printer until recently. The results were first class - the ink dried quickly, the reproduction was perfect and the ink didn't flake off the acetate.
Then my HP printer died on me, and having heard good reviews of the Epson SX535WD 'three-in-one' (printer scanner, copier), the blurb for which boasts 'lab quality prints' I assumed that it would print onto acetates at least as good as my old HP Photosmart. Silly me - the results on ink-jet acetates are dire and no use for my needs. I've tried printing two and even three acetates and placing them one on top of another. Hold them up to the light - they've got gaps in the printing. I've also tried to run the acetate through the printer twice - its next to impossible to get it to register accurately. When googling 'Epson+acetates' other users remarked on how poor Epson was for PCB acetates, and in one case, blamed the acetates - not the printer.
When I bought this printer, (which works well enough on paper, but soon sucks the tiny cartridges dry), I'd assumed - mistakenly it now seems - that all modern printers support ink-jet acetate film, and intially I wondered if I'd got the printer on the right setting. I tried all available settings for text, enhanced text and every photo-paper setting, all to no avail, so I called Epson's 'Helpline' today, spoke to a support person who checked with his supervisor and confirmed to me what I suspected was the case (and charged me for the call!), namely, few home/office Epson printers support the use of ink-jet acetate film.
To make matters worse, in the four months that I've had it, the price of the printer has dropped by 50% of what I paid, (which was £40 less that the RRP), to little more than the price of a set of genuine Epson cartridges, which are expensive and have low capacity. £65 for a printer and £48 for a set of genuine cartridges? What's that all about? What's the worse thing that can happen if I use cheap 'compatible' inks at £19.00 a set - my printer head might clog?So? The printer is destined for landfill anyway.
I was unhelpfully told by Epson 'Helpline' that only 'high end' Epsons -not 'home/office' ones support acetates, but no advice was forthcoming as to which 'high end' models. It's a bit of an oxymoron to refer to this as 'support' and 'helpline' and as is often the case when front-line staff are following a script, they sign off with 'is there anything else we can help you with today?' Can't blame the guys who are doing their best to be helpful in circumstances in which the outfit they work for has overpromised and under-delivered. In their blurb, they tell you what the printer can do, but don't tell you what it can't do. When I've used up my cartridges, (which at the rate they empty won't be long), this printer - just four months old months old, will have to go, and I'll research alternative printers which are up to the task, which will rule out Epson.
Maybe with Powerpoint presentation having tended to displace OHPs, just as OHPs tended to displace flipcharts, Epson don't see the point of supporting OHPs. But they don't tell you that in their hype. I'd rather hoped that it would be a printer driver issue which could be corrected - not a design shortcoming.
If anyone does know of a current non-Epson make and model of printer which will definately print good quality acetates as did my long since obsolete, HP Photosmart I'd be interested to know.
Not ranting, just rambling.
I've mentioned before that I occasionally need to print PCB artwork onto acetates as masks for for making printed circuit boards using a UV light box. The lines on the artwork must of course be totally opaque. I bought 50 sheets of Q-Connect Universal Ink-Jet acetates last year, which worked a treat when using an aging HP printer until recently. The results were first class - the ink dried quickly, the reproduction was perfect and the ink didn't flake off the acetate.
Then my HP printer died on me, and having heard good reviews of the Epson SX535WD 'three-in-one' (printer scanner, copier), the blurb for which boasts 'lab quality prints' I assumed that it would print onto acetates at least as good as my old HP Photosmart. Silly me - the results on ink-jet acetates are dire and no use for my needs. I've tried printing two and even three acetates and placing them one on top of another. Hold them up to the light - they've got gaps in the printing. I've also tried to run the acetate through the printer twice - its next to impossible to get it to register accurately. When googling 'Epson+acetates' other users remarked on how poor Epson was for PCB acetates, and in one case, blamed the acetates - not the printer.
When I bought this printer, (which works well enough on paper, but soon sucks the tiny cartridges dry), I'd assumed - mistakenly it now seems - that all modern printers support ink-jet acetate film, and intially I wondered if I'd got the printer on the right setting. I tried all available settings for text, enhanced text and every photo-paper setting, all to no avail, so I called Epson's 'Helpline' today, spoke to a support person who checked with his supervisor and confirmed to me what I suspected was the case (and charged me for the call!), namely, few home/office Epson printers support the use of ink-jet acetate film.
To make matters worse, in the four months that I've had it, the price of the printer has dropped by 50% of what I paid, (which was £40 less that the RRP), to little more than the price of a set of genuine Epson cartridges, which are expensive and have low capacity. £65 for a printer and £48 for a set of genuine cartridges? What's that all about? What's the worse thing that can happen if I use cheap 'compatible' inks at £19.00 a set - my printer head might clog?So? The printer is destined for landfill anyway.
I was unhelpfully told by Epson 'Helpline' that only 'high end' Epsons -not 'home/office' ones support acetates, but no advice was forthcoming as to which 'high end' models. It's a bit of an oxymoron to refer to this as 'support' and 'helpline' and as is often the case when front-line staff are following a script, they sign off with 'is there anything else we can help you with today?' Can't blame the guys who are doing their best to be helpful in circumstances in which the outfit they work for has overpromised and under-delivered. In their blurb, they tell you what the printer can do, but don't tell you what it can't do. When I've used up my cartridges, (which at the rate they empty won't be long), this printer - just four months old months old, will have to go, and I'll research alternative printers which are up to the task, which will rule out Epson.
Maybe with Powerpoint presentation having tended to displace OHPs, just as OHPs tended to displace flipcharts, Epson don't see the point of supporting OHPs. But they don't tell you that in their hype. I'd rather hoped that it would be a printer driver issue which could be corrected - not a design shortcoming.
If anyone does know of a current non-Epson make and model of printer which will definately print good quality acetates as did my long since obsolete, HP Photosmart I'd be interested to know.
Not ranting, just rambling.
Regards, David.
BVWS Member.
G-QRP Club Member 1339.
'I'm in my own little world, but I'm happy, and they know me here'
BVWS Member.
G-QRP Club Member 1339.
'I'm in my own little world, but I'm happy, and they know me here'