Printing on plain paper?

[Colin]

I have a job to do which requires a low-cost temporary window block-out, and the 4' x 16' band of paper would also need a logo printed on it, but not a big flood type of print, just a simple logo printed twice and the rest of the paper all blank.

I have a 48" roll of regular old white paper (not coated for printing) that I've used over the years for various things, but I'm wondering what I should expect if I attempt to print the logos on this with my Roland SP540i.

The print doesn't need to be high-quality, punchy colors, but I'm worried that the ink might bleed right through to the printer.

Any ideas?

 

[Gino]

You'll ink will wick out a little and your print will looked a little washed out.

We do it all the time for shocards, paper and other porous substrates.

 

[Colin]

Thanks. So, in other words.......no real problems?

 

[sfr table hockey]

Would it be out of the question to just print the logo on regular cheap vinyl and cut it out and stick it onto the paper.

 

[Colin]

Would it be out of the question to just print the logo on regular cheap vinyl and cut it out and stick it onto the paper.

Nope, that was my back-up plan, but I think it would look nice directly printed onto the paper if possible. Thanks.

 

[Gino]

One other thing... what weight is your paper ??

If you're using like 20lb. pounce paper, nothing other than tempera will look good on that. We have butt-end rolls of off-set 80lb. to 110lb. in various colors. You can also get cheap stuff from your supplier for this kind of printing, but if the paper you already have... you can't literally see through it... you should be fine.

Try a little corner.

 

[Colin]

One other thing... what weight is your paper?

I dunno, but I suspect that it's about 20 lb. Once I get their logo I'll try a small test print.

 

[randya]

Try running you temps high.
The solvent will naturally want to wick along the paper fibers.
Getting dry as quickly as possible will reduce that wicking.

 

[Colin]

Temp recommendations?

 

[randya]

I would say as high as the media allows.
Paper can probably run at max temps.

 

[Colin]

Just did a small test print and it worked pretty good. No bleeding into the paper fibres, but one graphic part was quite saturated through on to the back side. Temp was 45 & 45 (it took a long time for the print-heater to get to 45, probably because the shop was only 18).

Thanks.