[accessibleimage] Re: Questions about Swell paper and tactile graphics

Although some laser printers can be used (if they don't get too hot, which
they almost always do), the only way to know for sure is to try it...and as
has been pointed out, the results if the printer is too hot are *not*
pretty. Better to stick to an ink jet or the copy machine.

We print our computer graphics onto regular paper using a laser printer then
use the copy machine in by-pass mode to copy the graphic onto the PIAF
paper. The results are very good; however, even when using the copy machine,
it is best not to make too many copies onto PIAF paper in a row. 

Once when I needed to make 24 copies of the same tactile, I was in too much
of a hurry, and I had a piece of the paper get caught in the copy machine--a
brand new copy machine, first day it was installed. The paper puffed deep in
the inner workings of the machine and was quite "crispy" by the time I had
read the manual and was able to figure out how to open all the doors and
retrieve it.

I can still get a bit queasy thinking about how hot that piece of paper was
when I finally retrieved it... <sheepish grin>

Also do remember that you can draw directly on the paper with China markers
(aka grease pencils), soft-lead pencils, and gel pens--which is a great
option for a classroom teaching who might want to create something quickly.

******************************************************
Gaeir (rhymes with "fire") Dietrich
High Tech Center Training Unit of the
California Community Colleges
De Anza College, Cupertino, CA
www.htctu.net
408-996-6043

-----Original Message-----
From: accessibleimage-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:accessibleimage-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of George Bell
Sent: Wednesday, November 29, 2006 2:24 PM
To: accessibleimage@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [accessibleimage] Re: Questions about Swell paper and tactile
graphics

Please bear in mind that devices such as the PIAF, TIE,
etc., use heat to raise the image on swell paper.

Most laser printers use heat to fuse the toner to the paper,
and so you are heading for potential disaster if you try to
photocopy on to swell paper.

The ONLY completely safe way to get an image on to swell
paper is with a "cold" ink jet printer.

Moreover, the ink jet's black ink needs to have a high
carbon content.  This carbon (black) content is usually only
produced from a black ink cartridge.  That is to say not
with a printer which uses three colours to produce black.

Additionally swell paper is in many ways like blotting paper
and so "bleeds".  Hence you usually need to reduce the
amount of ink put on the paper by at least reducing the
output to "Draft" quality.

This is akin to trying to use glossy photographic paper with
the printer's normal paper setting.  What you get is a very
wet surface that takes ages to dry (if at all) and smudges
at the slightest touch.

In short, it takes a degree of experimentation with various
ink jet printers to find the best results.

Does anyone have any solutions that work for them?

George W F Bell, Managing Director
Techno-Vision Systems Ltd
76 Bunting Road Ind. Est.
NORTHAMPTON, NN2 6EE
Tel: +44 (0)160 479 2777
Fax: +44 (0)160 479 2726
e-mail:  george@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Web: http://www.techno-vision.co.uk 





-----Original Message-----
From: accessibleimage-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:accessibleimage-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of
pminyard@xxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: 29 November 2006 21:46
To: accessibleimage@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [accessibleimage] Re: Questions about Swell paper
and tactile graphics

RE: Swell paper and Laser Printers
I tried the swell paper (actually a plastic type sheet from
Reprographics), but spent quite some time dismantling my
laser printer
and cleaning out the melted plastic. Are you guys using a
non-plastic
composition paper and if so from whom do you but it? 

Phillip Minyard
Disability Services Coordinator
Student Disability Services
http://www.people.memphis.edu/~sds/
University of Memphis
110 Wilder Tower
Memphis, TN  38152-3520
Voice 678-2880 - fax 678-3070

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