 |
|
 |
                                                  
P.O. BOX 855
|
Frequently Asked Questions. |
|
If your question isn't listed or you need additional information, Please call: 817-489-5249
Our Office hours are from 9AM to 5PM CST
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 the following question for more detail.
Q. I want to make Ceramic Decals. Can I use your paper?
A. No. Our decal paper can be used to make decorative decals to apply after firing, but our decals are not suitable for firing in a kiln. To make such decals you would have to use special over-glaze colors along with a screen printing machine.
- A. It is similar in concept to spilling fruit juice on a white cotton fabric. The dye molecules are trapped in the fibers and can not be removed easily by using only cold water. Sometimes even with warm water and soap the stain will not come out.
- Q. What is an Alps printer ? (MD series)
- A. A special computer printer which uses dry ink rather than water soluble ink like a standard inkjet printer. When we refer to an "Alps" printer we actually are referring to all dry resin printers. Alps is the brand name of one manufacturer. Citizen, OKI, and Mitsubishi among others also offer dry resin printers.
- 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. 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?
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. Your instructions mention only regular ribbons for the white vinyl but I have printed on it using my dye sub ribbons with good results.
A. The white vinyl may or may not accept the dye sub ribbons. Therefore ,the instructions recommend only regular ribbons even though most of our customers use dye sub mode with the white vinyl (the glossy one).
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. Why can't I use ink jet printers with the water slide decal paper?
A. The Inkjet printer prints by dropping ink droplets onto the media. As these droplets are mostly water and the media is a plastic type, the results will be ink on the surface that will not dry. Take a look at our IAS & WIAS media which are coated for inkjet printers.
Q. What do you mean by Late Model Personal Laser printer/copier?
A. The newer generation laser printers/copiers where the fusing drum/unit is a part of the toner.
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 your Static/Tack media be used in copiers or Laser Printers?
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. We do not offer white decal paper for the Alps MD series printers.
Revised: December 02, 2010 .
| ||||||||
