Tandys Printable Tracing Sheets. Whats The Best Type Of Printer?

[Jarednem]

I use these with the printer I have now but I have to tape them to was regular white sheet of paper for my printer to even print on them. When the printing is done I have to let the ink dry for about 2 hr before use so the ink does not smudge, even after they are dry enough it still smudges. What printer is best for this film and if there is an alternative to this, what is it?

[electrathon]

While I have never used them (I do not understand why you do not just use paper), in general ink jet printers do not print well on plastic. A laser prints well on plastic.

[Jarednem]

While I have never used them (I do not understand why you do not just use paper), in general ink jet printers do not print well on plastic. A laser prints well on plasti

I use adobe illustrator for some of my patterns and printing on transparency paper deletes the step of tracing your drawing on regular transparency paper, so your not tracing it twice, 1. onto t-paper 2. onto the leather.

[ChriJ]

I've never used the ones from Tandy but have used Tracing Vellum and haven't had a problem using my inkjet printer. The package it came I'm even states that it can be used with an inkjet printer. I think I got it at Michael's.

Chris

Edited March 17, 2016 by ChriJ

[electrathon]

I use adobe illustrator for some of my patterns and printing on transparency paper deletes the step of tracing your drawing on regular transparency paper, so your not tracing it twice, 1. onto t-paper 2. onto the leather.

I never trace twice. The books say to use tracing paper because they were wrote 60 years ago before there were copy machines. Start exactly how you now do. Print on paper. Put your cased leather on your table, wrap it with seran wrap. Place the paper on it that has a pattern printed on it. Tape it all so it doesn't move. Trace the image (red pens are awesome, you will never miss a line). Toss the used pattern. If you need another pattern simply hit print. Way cheaper, faster and works better.

[OLDNSLOW]

Well part of the problem is in using an ink jet printer it does not dry the ink as it prints and the ink will run, the laser printer uses a different process the renders the ink dry once the printing is done. So one solution is to find a cheap laser printer to print the plastic paper, or tracing paper, it will come out dry and ready for use right away. Look around at Wal-Mart and some of the office supply stores for a cheap laser printer, don't get one that use color ink just black and white.

[TheModifier]

Save some money and check THESE or even THESE out depending on the printer type you have.

[Jarednem]

thank you everyone for responding, for the printer advise, & red pen and paper advice. learn new ways of doing things everyday

[Dwight]

Most of the time when I have to trace something, . . . I print it out on paper on the computer, . . . dampen the leather, . . . tape the paper to the dampened leather, . . . and using a dull pointed stylus, . . . go over my paper with it. It leaves me with a really good image on my leather.

I then pitch the paper after I've done all the tracings I need on that day, . . . print out others later if need be.

May God bless,

Dwight

[Colt W Knight]

I do not use tracing paper either.

I just print whatever I want to transfer on regular printer paper and trace over it with a stylus or modeling spoon. The paper is ruined after, but you can always print another.

[JuanMotime]

I have used them with a Canon inkjet and now a Brother inkjet. Yes, you must let the ink dry, but didn't take very long. Also it is hard to tell, but there is a correct side to print on and its not easy to tell the difference. The glossier side goes toward the leather. I use them sparingly because the price is rather steep IMHO. Has anyone used overhead projector transparencies? They would have to be cheaper. The nice thing about using a computer and printer is that you can enlarge or shrink to get your design just the right size.

[JMWendt]

I trace my art onto 3 mil plastic and then trace again onto the leather.  Use it once and then tack it to the wall (or discard).  Everything I do is freehand anymore.  I like it better.

http://www.amazon.com/Clear-Lay-Roll-inches-wide-feet/dp/B0027A3HKG?ie=UTF8&psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_search_detailpage

This stuff could potentially be used in a plotter printer, I assume.  Might be able to cut it into small sheets for a laser printer or equivalent also.

[billybopp]

Overhead projector film will work fine.  Just be sure to get the right type for your printer.  Inkjet film has a slight roughness on one side for ink to adhere to, and LaserJet and plain film are too smooth.   LaserJet film tolerates the heat from a laser printer, while other types will melt into a very expensive mistake in a laser printer or copier.  Inkjet and laser ohp films are cheaper than Tandy's film, but paper is far cheaper and works well for many situations.  

 

Bill

 

[Toddo]

I have tried a couple 2 or 3 different printable substrates. Originally, I simply traced from plain paper printed in an inkjet printer using a pencil as a stylus which worked pretty well. I got pretty accurate and decent defined lines onto the leather. Then by suggestion I tried the Overhead Projector Transparencies For Inkjet Printers. Those things are a big no-go. The projector transparencies are so hard/dense that even a sharp stylus cannot make a well defined line in the leather. Last I got some "Tracing Film" from Tandy but ran into the problem of how to make inkjet printer ink stick to the plastic film. I came upon this product that you paint onto the tracing film that makes inkjet ink stick to the plastic called Golden Digital Ground For Non-Porous Surfaces. It's an ink aid that makes ink stick to slick surfaces. That was a big pain in the neck but it did make the ink stick to the plastic without smearing the ink. Then only to find that the image and digital ground compound will actually peel up in sheets from the tracing film when pushing a stylus onto it. 

Today I think I finally found the optimum setup for tracing onto leather. Tandy Tracing Film combined with a LaserJet Printer. The Tandy Tracing Film and a sharp stylus will actually make the most well defined impressions when compared to plain 20lb printer paper or the overhead transparencies. Here's a comparison photo:

 

Here's an image printed onto the Tandy Tracing Film using a cheap HP LaserJet Pro 15w printer that I got today for $80:

 

I was worried that the LaserJet Printer might melt the tracing film but it did not. It turns out great and it's dry to the touch as soon as it exits the printer! No smearing. Just what I was looking for. When you push the stylus onto the film with the toner ink on it (which is not really ink at all but melted poloypropylene) it actually etches the ink up when you run your stylus over it which lets you know that you've traced that line:

 

Here's the stylus I use which is pretty sharp: