Print settings on MicroMark decal paper

I've used an HP F4200 inkjet for decals for years. Having tried virtually all the settings combinations at one time or another, I actually found that the 'regular paper' setting usually gives better results for decals than any of the photo or more specialized settings...no doubt due to the relative amounts of ink deposited for the various intended uses.

As to the 'pebbly' texture on certain colors, try turning a small fan on your printed decal once it's out of the printer. It may help the ink dry more uniformly.

Cheers

My advice is to try a bunch of settings and when it works, write it all down.

There are a lot of parameters so it's a bit of hit/ miss.

Even the temperature of the printer makes a difference- mine prints better decals when it is cold.

In order to not burn through decal paper doing this, here's a trick.

If you are printing from your ai file, try both cmyk and rgb. Mine prints much better decals with cmyk. If you are printing from a pdf file, I suppose the same would apply- try both color settings to save to pdf.

Run a print, with a small image, on paper in the tray. 

Tape a piece of decal paper over the printed image just big enough to cover it, tape on the leading edge. Then put it back in the tray and print again.

Write down your settings!

Bill

MJY65

I'm trying my hand at a few decals and wondering what paper setting you've found to be best for the MicroMark white paper.  

 

I've created the design in Adobe Illustrator and printing on an HP 8600 inkjet.  Looks great on the screen, pretty good on plain paper, but the dark blue is pebbly on the decal paper.  There don't appear to be a lot of settings within Illustrator and the usual pop up doesn't appear when printing.  If I go to the printer settings, I can select "fine" and photo paper or brochure.  Which is closer to decal?

 

My Epson printer has a glossy photo paper setting and that is what I use.  For Epson inks it is necessary to wait 2 to 3 days before clear coating.  If I remember my old HP the ink dried much faster.  By the way, if a decal image has a complicated outline around the white area I have used the seperate white decal- works fine- just more work.