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

[Ike Presley]

Hi All,

There has been a discussion thread recently on the accessible images list about swell paper and fusers (TIE & PIAF). I know that many of you have used these products with varying degrees of success. The message below is from the manufacturer of the swell paper. I found it very informative and it answered questions that I still had after using the products for several years. I think that you will find this information informative and very helpful.
Ike
Ike Presley, Immediate Past Chair
AER Division  5 - Information and Technology 



-----Original Message-----
From: accessibleimage-bounce at freelists.org [mailto:accessibleimage-bounce at freelists.org] On Behalf Of philip
Sent: Monday, December 04, 2006 2:20 AM
To: accessibleimage at freelists.org
Subject: [accessibleimage] Re: Questions about Swell paper and tactile graphics

We are manufacturers of swell paper. It is sold throughout the world under
various names.

 

The following information can be considered for all swell papers apart from
Flexi Paper which does not behave in the same way.

 

As has previously been pointed out swell paper reacts by heat. It works
solely on the principal that black absorbs more heat than white (or colour).
Hence if there is a black image on the paper, if heated to the correct
temperature, it will swell BEFORE any other colour. Unfortunately in many
instances this temperature difference between the black and "coloured" areas
is very, very small - too small to be recognised by any fuser (heating
machine). However, when an ink which contains a high level of carbon black
is used, this absorbs so much energy, that the black swells at a much lower
temperature than the coloured. In fact this temperature gap is over 25 °C,
making it big enough for the fusers to operate successfully.

 

Carbon black toner is traditionally found in the black toner of a
photocopier and the black toner of a laser printer. A number of
manufacturers of ink jet printers also use a carbon based black ink (e.g. HP
and Lexmark) whilst others do not (e.g. Epsom).

 

Traditionally swell paper has always been processed through a photocopier.
This is because you are guaranteed a good black image on the swell paper
(and if you make a mistake with your diagram it's not on the expensive swell
paper). Increasingly people have tried processing through an ink jet printer
and these do work. However, we would always recommend printing one day and
fusing the next day. Swell paper is, in effect, a plastic sheet. If you try
to print (ink jet) onto plastic it will not dry quickly and it will bleed.
Even when it feels dry to the touch the chances are it has dried on the
surface but still damp underneath. Even in this instance swell paper will
blister up when fused.

 

Also, when processing through an ink-jet printer run the printer on DRAFT or
ECONOMY mode and preferably in greyscale. (If processed in colour mode the
printer may decide to create the black image by a combination of colours,
hence looking black but the image will not swell).

 

 

 

The vast majority of photocopiers do work with swell paper but, as suggested
before, the only true way to find out is to try it. Some useful tips for
achieving the desired result include: -

 

a.                   Feed the paper through the by-pass (hand feed) tray.
This reduces the number of bends the paper must pass through;

b.                   Always feed the paper in landscape mode (Short edge in
first). Modern copiers (for maximum throughput) want to feed paper in
portrait but swell paper, if it curls, will curl the long edge first.
Feeding in short edge first avoids curling and possible jamming;

c.                   Do not set the copier to thick paper. Although the
paper is "thick", setting the copier to thick paper will increase the
temperature in the fusing section, increasing the chance of swelling inside
the machine;

d.                   Set the copier (if possible) to transparency or acetate
setting. These actually reduce the temperature of the fusing drum;

e.                   Remove each sheet when it has exited the copier. The
paper has an anti-slip effect when copied and subsequent sheets, when
exiting the copier, may not slide out freely causing a jam.

f.                     If progressing to putting paper in the paper feed bin
(processing multiple sheets) make sure the ream is fanned on all four sides
before loading. This is to ensure each sheet is separated.

 

(We run a number of Minolta copiers without any jamming problems. For our
volume work we process through a Minolta CF1501. It is possible to just fill
the paper tray with as much swell paper as possible (any size up to A3) and
press print for 100 - 200 copies and just collect them from the exit tray at
the end.) 

 

We are collating a list from customers of copiers that do (and don't work).
We cannot publish this list and often the machines are not the latest model,
but anyone can contact us to see if their machine has been tested or if they
wish to add to our list.

 

 

With regards to laser printers we performed a comprehensive test 18 months
ago on every single Konica Minolta laser printer available. In all instances
they processed swell paper successfully. Unfortunately the models have
changed but we have not found an instance with any make of any laser printer
where the paper does not process through successfully (apart from one very
low cost laser printer where the paper could not actually be picked up by
the feeder in the first instance).

 

 

There are a number of marker pens available which work well on swell paper.
The best pens are water based permanent markers, but even then not all do
work. We purchased as many different pens as we could to evaluate. The
manufacturer Edding produced the best pens for swell paper, with their
T-Shirt marker by far the best. We now resell this pen at cost to anyone who
wants one (actually badged as a ZY-MARKER, but is an Edding T-Shirt marker).
Charcoal pencils also work well, as do Dry Wipe board markers.

 

 

I hope this helps people in their processing swell paper. If anyone has any
further questions or would like to know if their copier has been tried
successfully we can be contact at info at zychem-ltd.co.uk

 

 

Philip Eccles

 


Zychem Limited
Unit 1, Valley Court,
Sanderson Way,
Middlewich,
Cheshire. CW10 0GF
Tel: 01606 738739; Fax: 01606 738752
Web: www.zychem-ltd.co.uk
-----Original Message-----
From: accessibleimage-bounce at freelists.org
[mailto:accessibleimage-bounce at freelists.org] On Behalf Of susie
Sent: 03 December 2006 16:02
To: accessibleimage at freelists.org
Subject: [accessibleimage] Re: Questions about Swell paper and tactile
graphics

Thanks, George,
Your information is very helpful! I'll be printing out your email and 
storing it with every pack of swell paper.
Susie in Maryland


George Bell wrote:
> 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 at techno-vision.co.uk
> Web: http://www.techno-vision.co.uk 
>
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: accessibleimage-bounce at freelists.org
> [mailto:accessibleimage-bounce at freelists.org] On Behalf Of
> pminyard at memphis.edu
> Sent: 29 November 2006 21:46
> To: accessibleimage at freelists.org
> 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
>
>
>
>