Q. Where can I order the
Papilio decal paper
A. Our
shopping car has been moved to
www.texascraft.com
Q. I want to make bumper stickers using my inkjet printer.
Can this be done ?
A. Yes, by using our waterproof inkjet vinyl AND over-laminate.
The biggest concern is the UV resistance of the ink (not the water
fastness). Use photo inks or "achievable" inks for longer outdoor
life. Don't expect unrealistic long life from bumper stickers
that can be made one at a time for pennies using your desktop
equipment. Professional bumper stickers are made using screen
printing and industrial UV proof inks.
Q. I want make bumper stickers using a desktop inkjet printer.
The stickers don't have to last for years but several months and/or
up to a year would be good.
A. This approach is more realistic, and please keep in mind
that screen printed bumpers stickers sometimes fade in the sunlight
after even just a few months if special UV resistant inks were not
used. You can make Bumper stickers using your inkjet printer and
we recommend our WVF (water proof vinyl film together with our
WOL Laminate (waterproof over laminate) Best results will be
achieved when using an inkjet printer such as the Epson
Stylus series that prints using the new DuraBrite TM inks.
Q. What is your best product for a transparent sign on our
interior, glass office door. We want only the logo to show and
the rest should appear to be clear glass. We will be using an
inkjet printer to produce it. Clear Ultra Cling?
A. When you print onto something (clear water slide film, vinyl,
polyester) there will always be the substrate left that "holds"
the ink and this will always show up on the glass. The only way
to show ONLY the logo would be to paint it onto the glass.
Q. What it the difference between the static cling and the
ultra cling.
A. The static cling is just that, a film that will cling to
flat or smooth substrate without the use of an adhesive. This
is useful for some special application where the label may be
left on the item for a long time often to protect it from surface
scratches. Static cling is also used for promotional stickers
that are used for short time and must be removed quickly and without
any possible adhesive residue. The Ultra Cling however has a a
special tacky film (similar to regular adhesive) and will therefore
cling to substrates where static cling can not be used. This feature
is specially useful for car windows, glass doors on coolers,
and surfaces
where moisture may collect and so on.
Q. I want to make temporary tattoos in a relatively large quantity
or a few hundred or more at a time. Can I use your paper ?
A. Yes. With the transfer
adhesive sheets used with our tattoo media you can create a
good quantity of temporary tattoos without too much trouble.
The special double liner sheets leave one liner in place so
that the end user removes it just before applying. This
protects the adhesive and tattoo from dust, fibers, or dirt.
Q. I want to use your Aqua Slide Paper to make a ceramic decal
and fire it in a ceramic kiln. Can this be done?
A. No. See next question. Computer printers do not print with
ceramic over-glaze colors.
Q. I want to make Ceramic Decals. Can I use your paper?
A. No. Our papers are designed
for Inkjet, Laser, and Dry Resin (ALPS) printers. The
ink/toner/resin used by these printers are not capable of
withstanding the intense heat of a kiln.
Q. How can an inkjet media be waterproof if the ink itself
is water-soluble?
A. The concept is similar to what happens if you spill fruit
juice on white cotton fabrics such as a T-shirt. The dye molecules
get trapped in the cotton fibers and cannot be removed easily
using only a gentle stream of cold water. Sometimes warm
water and soap will not even remove the stain.
Q. In most of the instructions you talk about using the Regular
Ribbons.
What do you mean by "the Regular Ribbons" ?
A. If you are using Alps MD1000, MD4000 or other Alps printers
that do not offer a "dye sub mode" you don’t have to worry about
this as the regular ribbons are the only ribbons your printer
will accept. Other Alps printers offer a printing mode called
Dye Sub Mode using a special dye sub ribbon.
Q. What will happen if I use the Photo Quality Ribbons (sometimes
referred to to as "Dye Sub" ribbons) instead of the regular ribbons
?
A. Depending on the media you intend to print on, the
ribbons may tear.
Q. I want to make outdoor labels that must last up to 5 years.
A. The ONLY WAY to do this is to screen print onto vinyl media
or film using industrial ink that is certified for this purpose.
Q. How can I tell the difference between the Photo Quality
(dye sub ribbons) and the regular ribbons?
A. If you want to physically distinguish between the cartridges,
the Dye Sub Cartridges are blue. The regular ribbons (the plastic
cartridge enclosure) are black.
Q. I want to use your Aqua Slide Paper to make a ceramic decal
and fire it in a ceramic kiln. Can this be done?
A. No. The Alps printer does not print with ceramic over-glaze
colors. But you can BAKE the decal onto a mug or other item that
can be heated to produce a semi permanent or dishwasher resistant
decal using your kitchen oven.
Q. I want to use a color laser and your PAS paper to make dye
sub images on ceramic tiles. Can I do this using a Color Laser
Printer?
A. NO. Sublimation and ceramic decals are two totally different
things.
Ceramic decals are printed using lead fritted metal oxide (china
paint) that fuses onto the glaze of porcelain and ceramic at 800
degrees Celsius.
Dye sublimation is the transfer of dye sublimation ink using
low heat onto ceramic ware that has been coated with a special
coating to receive the ink. This process takes place at around
148 degrees Celsius.
Printing on the PAS film is a COLD transfer where you use water
to slide the carrier film onto the item. Baking will make this
film stick better and using the urethane over-laminate makes this
film invisible.
Q. What is the difference between PAS/N and PAS/4 decal media?
A. The PAS/N is softer, has less gloss and will form to relief
and curves. PAS/4 is stronger, glossier and stiffer.
Q. How well will the Alps ink resist fading if placed where
it is exposed to direct sunlight ?
A. The Alps ink is extremely resistant to the UV effect of
the sunlight when compared with traditional photographs.
Q. Can I use your self adhesive vinyl in a Laser printer and,
if so, also in Color Laser Printers?
A. In most cases our Vinyl can be used with excellent results
in B/W laser printers like HP and Brother and B/W photocopiers,
except Xerox. BUT do NOT use our vinyl in color laser printers.
Q. Can any of your
inkjet media be used in a laser printer, or vise versa?
A. NO.
Q. Do you have decal paper that can be used with the ALPS Photo
Quality Ribbons?
A. No.
Q. Do you make or offer white decal film/paper
A. Yes we also make white decal paper for
Inkjet printers.
Copyright © 1998 [HPS Mfg.] All rights reserved.
texascraft.com
Revised:
May 17, 2013.
