Digital BW, The Print

has anyone ever tried printing with hand made paper? i'm 
planning a fiber design project and i'd like to try to integrate inkjet 
photos into it.  is there any way i can coat the paper? and what 
results would i get if i ran the paper through uncoated?  i'll be 
using a 1280 with epson inks if that helps at all.  any danger of 
clogging the printer? it's the art department's only one and i'd 
hate to ruin it or temporarilly knock it out of commission.

thanks,
john

Paper is often coated with sizing to support a number of alt photo 
processes, as well as ink-jet printing.  The sizing affects the ink-
spread characteristics of the paper; without it, the ink will absorb 
into the grain of your paper, producing irregularly-shaped blobs.  

While I have never sized paper for use with ink-jet printing, I have 
been meaning to try it for some time now.  Gelatin and arrowroot 
starch are common sizing agents.  I use arrowroot starch (I keep 
some around in the kitchen for use in gravies).

In a nutshell, you boil the starch with distilled water until it 
forms a paste.  This is painted onto the paper using a brush.  After 
drying, it is ready for use.  Troll the alt photo process newsgroups 
for more info.

Good luck!  Please post your results.


--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@y..., "he knows that sometimes a 
dog is as good as any man" <uncljohnson@y...> wrote:
> has anyone ever tried printing with hand made paper? i'm 
> planning a fiber design project and i'd like to try to integrate 
inkjet 

> photos into it.  is there any way i can coat the paper? and what 
> results would i get if i ran the paper through uncoated?  i'll be 
> using a 1280 with epson inks if that helps at all.  any danger of 
> clogging the printer? it's the art department's only one and i'd 
> hate to ruin it or temporarilly knock it out of commission.
> 
> thanks,
> john

We size our papers with Twin Rocker's internal sizing.  the 
catalogue says its an "alkylketene dimer" whatever the hell that 
is.  i guess i'll dig around the net and the library a little more, and 
then suck it up and try it.  

thanks, 
john




--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@y..., "stuckinnh2000" 
<gspence2000@h...> wrote:
> Paper is often coated with sizing to support a number of alt 
photo 
> processes, as well as ink-jet printing.  The sizing affects the 
ink-
> spread characteristics of the paper; without it, the ink will 
absorb 
> into the grain of your paper, producing irregularly-shaped 
blobs.  
> 
> While I have never sized paper for use with ink-jet printing, I 
have 
> been meaning to try it for some time now.  Gelatin and 
arrowroot 
> starch are common sizing agents.  I use arrowroot starch (I 
keep 
> some around in the kitchen for use in gravies).
> 
> In a nutshell, you boil the starch with distilled water until it 
> forms a paste.  This is painted onto the paper using a brush.  
After 
> drying, it is ready for use.  Troll the alt photo process 
newsgroups 
> for more info.
> 
> Good luck!  Please post your results.
> 
> 
> --- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@y..., "he knows that 
sometimes a 
> dog is as good as any man" <uncljohnson@y...> wrote:
> > has anyone ever tried printing with hand made paper? i'm 
> > planning a fiber design project and i'd like to try to integrate 
> inkjet 
> > photos into it.  is there any way i can coat the paper? and 
what 
> > results would i get if i ran the paper through uncoated?  i'll be 
> > using a 1280 with epson inks if that helps at all.  any danger 
of 

> > clogging the printer? it's the art department's only one and i'd 
> > hate to ruin it or temporarilly knock it out of commission.
> > 
> > thanks,
> > john