How to Print on Film or Polypropylene
Making quality prints on film used to require a darkroom, but digital technology has made it easy to do this from home. With the use of a computer and a desktop printer, images can be printed onto specialty transparency films that have been coated to accept ink. The film can be used to print basic imagery for use with a transparency projector, or create high-quality photographs for fine art applications.
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Things You'll Need
- Computer with digital imaging software
- Inkjet printer
- Transparency film
- High quality files of the imagery for printing
Instructions
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Open up your image file in the imaging software. A graphic image should have a resolution of at least 150 ppi (pixels per inch). A photographic image should be at least 300 ppi for a detailed rendering.
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Adjust the image for the desired color and contrast. A test print may have to be made to determine how closely your monitor's representation of the image matches what the printer will produce.
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Adjust the image for the desired color and contrast. A test print may have to be made to determine how closely your monitor's representation of the image matches what the printer will produce.
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Load the transparency film coating-side up into the printer. The instruction sheet with the film will explain which side is the printable side. This is usually determined by a notch-mark in a particular corner, or a slightly-milky look to the printable side. Some printers may have a special loading tray for media that is not typical paper, so consult your printer manual if there are problems loading the film.
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In the imaging software, select "print," then select "page options." This will bring up a dialog box specific to your printer.
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Select the type of media that is being printed on under "paper options." The instruction sheet with the film may suggest a certain media type based on your printer manufacturer. If there are no instructions, select "photo film," or in the absence of that option select "glossy paper."
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Select the print quality. A graphic image may print well on a medium-quality setting, though photographs should use the highest-quality photo setting.
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Press print. If the image comes out of the printer looking like a watery blob, the film was loaded onto the non-printable side. Do not try to reuse this sheet of film; use a new sheet on the correct side. When printed correctly, the film should lay untouched to dry. This usually takes about a half hour, or as specified by the film instruction sheet.
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Tips & Warnings
Many retail stores sell transparency film that is designed for use with a laser photocopier. Film that is designed specifically for inkjet printers will create higher-quality images than laser copier film. Inkjet transparency film may be found at some photo supply stores, or may have to be ordered online through a professional photo supplier. Traditional transparencies for use with markers also will not work for this process.
Inkjet transparency film may be purchased as 8.5 inch by 11 inch sheets, or in larger sizes or rolls for large-format inkjet printers. Use caution when cutting down large pieces into smaller ones, as even slightly-ragged edges can snag a print head and cause printer damage.
To make a test print to determine color and contrast quality, simply select a small portion of the image, copy and paste it into a new file. In the dialog box to print this small image, you may adjust its position on the screen to the upper left corner, so that the piece of film may be reused for multiple test purposes.
If the image files are not the minimum recommended resolution, simply changing the resolution in the imaging software will fail to automatically upgrade the quality. The image may have to be recreated, or the image source scanned, at the appropriate resolution.
Unless a film is specifically made for a laser printer, do not put it in a laser printer, as exposure to the laser's heating element may damage the printer.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit slides and loupe image by tim elliott from Fotolia.com
