Does any one how to fix this problem?
I am trying to plot a mylar on my HP100.
I am using double mat film and my driver is set up to plot "vellum"
The plot will come out just fine but will not dry.
I have tried to change the paper type but can't seem to change any setting on the Plotter itself.
Any help would be great. I do not have to get this plot out in a rush but I am getting sick of ruining the mylar. Also I'm getting sick of spending $50 to have a mylar done somewhere else.
Thanks
Jim in NH
There are several possible items that could be at play here.
1) You should check if the brand and type of film you are using is rated for an ink-jet printer. not all mylar films are the same as they can have different coatings.
2) You a said you are using double matte film. Check to see if both sides are suitable for ink. Check the package to see if there is a preferred side.
3) does your plotter have a setting for Film. a film setting can change the ink droplet
dispersion, the speed of the film through the plotter and the drying time.
4) HUMIDITY can be a serious impediment to the speed of ink drying time.
3) Are you using HP Ink or have your cartridges been refilled?
Brian,
There are several possible items that could be at play here.
1) You should check if the brand and type of film you are using is rated for an ink-jet printer. not all mylar films are the same as they can have different coatings.
The mylar is rated per the distributor for in-jet.
2) You a said you are using double matte film. Check to see if both sides are suitable for ink. Check the package to see if there is a preferred side.
Both sides are suitable per the distributor.
3) does your plotter have a setting for Film. a film setting can change the ink droplet
dispersion, the speed of the film through the plotter and the drying time.
Unfortunately the manual doesn't give any info on changing the settings. the panel has three buttons, the on/off, ok and a cancel button
4) HUMIDITY can be a serious impediment to the speed of ink drying time.
no issue with humidity (i have been tying for about a year to get this to work)
5) Are you using HP Ink or have your cartridges been refilled?
Cartridges are original Hp products. I feel like it is an issue with some kind of setting on the Plotter but not sure how to access settings.
Thanks
Go to Control Panel, printers and faxes, right click on the designjet printer icon, click properties, there should be some configurable settings in the driver for more drying time and using less ink. If not, download the printer driver from HP's website and install it.
The distributor may say that both sides are suitable for ink, but you need to check it yourself. Our distributor told us the same thing and both sides would take the ink, but only one side would come out dry. If you printed on the other side, you could leave it out for a week and it never would totally dry and would smear when trying to make copies.
Run this test on your film - Take a sheet of film and wet the tip of your finger with water. Wipe a small spot on underside of the sheet with the water and see if it gets quite a bit more clear and easy to see through. Now flip the sheet and do the same thing on that side. Are both sides equally as clear and easy to see through? If not, then pick the side that is easier to see through - that is the correct side to draw upon. we went through the same thing several years ago and finally discovered how to test each sheet. PS - if you wet the top side of the sheet to test it, the light in the room will make the test spot shine and makes it more difficult to see. If that doesn't work, I would suggest changing film types. I would be happy to send you a few test sheets of our type (HP 500) for you to try out if you would like to try it.
If the mylar film can be identified, Manufacturer, Mfg. Number etc go to the manufacturers website if they have one and do an independent check. I suspect that you have a film problem. Sadly, from experience, many good distributors do not know the fine details of which media works with which plotters. Also keep in mind that ink-jet ink does not air dry very well. It was designed to be absorbed by the vellum and/or paper. That is why the coating on the mylar is so important.
Also keep in mind that ink on mylar film is not archival quality, even when dry it can be impacted by water.
I just checked my drawer I have been using Comstock film by Azon which is a 4 mil double matte film catalog no 130444 (this is a 24 X 36 sheet)with an HP 250C plotter.
Yeah I know that it's an antique.
Most matte film I have ever used only prints and dries on only one side. Almost all of these can be detected by a slight curl in the sheet. If the sheet curls upwards at the ends, the printable (drying)side is face down. This is how it should be inserted into most plotters.
