Using Transparencies for Design

[jettrash]

Hi Folks.

Usually when I'm creating the design for a leather project I do it on the computer, print it out on paper and then hand trace it to the transfer film that Tandy Leather Factory sells.

Has anyone used the transparency sheets made specifically for InkJet printers that they sell at Office Depot, Staples, etc.?

I bought a couple of blank transparency at Kinko's that were made for copiers and they didn't work. The image printed on it, but didn't set so everything got smeared.

The ones made for InkJet printers cost about $50 for a box of 50 sheets. If they work then that's okay, but its a lot to gamble on something that may not work, Unfortunately they don't sell the sheets individually.

If you know if they work, please let me know.

Thanks.

[Luke Hatley]

THIS I DO KNOW....laser will work on transparency very well..........

ink jet did not work for me.. water caused the ink to come off on the leather..

[tashabear]

Hi Folks.

Usually when I'm creating the design for a leather project I do it on the computer, print it out on paper and then hand trace it to the transfer film that Tandy Leather Factory sells.

Has anyone used the transparency sheets made specifically for InkJet printers that they sell at Office Depot, Staples, etc.?

I bought a couple of blank transparency at Kinko's that were made for copiers and they didn't work. The image printed on it, but didn't set so everything got smeared.

The ones made for InkJet printers cost about $50 for a box of 50 sheets. If they work then that's okay, but its a lot to gamble on something that may not work, Unfortunately they don't sell the sheets individually.

If you know if they work, please let me know.

Thanks.

Don't bother. Use inkjet vellum -- little trick I learned from Jim Linnell. It's a lot cheaper, and the vellum is translucent, like the tracing film. Or just print it out on plain paper and cover it with clear packing tape.

[rharris]

I have tried the transparencies with a ink jet and it will rub off unless you let it dry for several weeks. I finally bought an inexpensive laser printer and the transparencies work great. I did not know they made them for ink jet printers.

RussH

[cybertracy]

the ink jet (overhead projector transparencies) work ok, you just have to make sure you put the side that doesn't have the emulsion that makes it possible for ink jets to print (the side with the tape) on the wet leather This means you have to be creative if you have text or 2-sided patterns, and print in reverse, but I used them for quite a while until I discovered transparencies for COPIERS. They are cheaper, print out immediately waterproof (even on the printed side) and the ink didn't scratch off when I used an ink pen to transfer the pattern.

I just planed ahead and take my stuff to Kink's until I was given an old laser copier I was able to repair, which takes the copier transparencies just fine. I like them because they are very durable and can be used over & over, even when punching sewing holes, and as the name suggests, very transparent so if you pattern moves on you and you need to reposition it's foolproof.

The cost is about $30 for 120 sheets.

Edited April 9, 2009 by cybertracy

[Go2Tex]

Been there done that. Transparencies, or what we used to call view foils, work great but are a bit thick, so you have to press hard to get it to transfer and in the process, the ink does wear off eventually. I much prefer drafting film, or mylar. It's damn expensive but the thin stuff works great. It comes in larger sizes too, so you can do a big project on it. Get the one sided film. I don't know if your inkjet will feed mylar, though and it might smear. Never tried it in the printer. I don't design on the computer anymore... now that I'm retired. heheh

[badjustice]

I do all my design in Adobe Illustrator and then plot it out on my vinyl cutter with a sharpie placed in it instead of the cutter blade. I use that plastic roll stuff you buy from Tandy. I know most people don't have a plotter but you could use a Cricut cutter used for scrapbook die cutting. I hacked my wife's using a software called Sure Cuts a lot and it made the Cricut able to use your own fonts and shapes. There is also a program called Inkscape (free) that allows you to make the vector graphics without shelling out the money for the Adobe Illustrator. If you do this I wouldn't use the markers that you can buy from Cricut, they don't stick to plastic very well sharpie works the best and they sell a small sharpie that I think will fit. I scan out a hand drawn pic or a photo then trace it out in Illustrator. I like doing it this way so that I can put my drawings with computer fonts. Hope this helps.

Matt

I did this one on paper first to test it out on my plotter.

[CowboyDon]

I am glad you asked this - I was about to buy the overhead transparencies for ink jet printer. Saved a little money.

[Billy P]

At the moment I can't remember who it was, but someone told me a little while back that you actually put some of the thinner leathers like 2/3 or 3/4 oz leather thru a laser printer and it would print on it. i guess it has to be thin enough to go through the machine. I don't know if it works, and I haven't even seen it done Just told about it. Billy P

[CitizenKate]

I use 3M copier transparencies, but they don't work that great if you try to use them the same way you use tracing paper, i.e., pressing the lines into the leather with a tracing stylus.

But here's a way to use them to print the design on the leather. It's very quick and simple, and reproduces your pattern very accurately.

Once you print the design on the transparency, turn it face down on your dry leather, and use a modeling spoon to lightly rub the ink into the leather. The sooner you do it after it's printed, the more solid the lines will be. You need to be careful not to let the transparency shift around while you're rubbing the ink into the leather, but I've been using this method for 3 years, and still haven't messed one up.

Give the ink about a half-hour to dry good, then case and carve.

Kate

[jettrash]

That is cool!