Kudo's MR Mag August 2010 Issue

[DKS]

Is it possible using a desktop printer to print directly on a sheet of very thin, say .005" styrene?  The stock is thin enough to be used in at least some printers but I'm concerned about possible heat and whether the image will be permanent or if it would be susceptible to smudging.  

What kind of printing? For inkjets, it's possible, but the styrene must be coated with a chemical to prevent the ink from beading up and to promote adhesion. That's why overhead sheets made for inkjets are often only printable on one side.

The fuser in laserjets is indeed too hot for styrene, and would melt it instantly and ruin the printer. There are high-temperature plastics made to survive in laserjets, but I don't know how useful they'd be in modeling.

[Zox]

Is it possible using a desktop printer to print directly on a sheet of very thin, say .005" styrene?  The stock is thin enough to be used in at least some printers but I'm concerned about possible heat and whether the image will be permanent or if it would be susceptible to smudging. 

They make overhead transparency sheets (i.e. thin sheets of clear plastic) with special coatings especially for this purpose. (In laser and inkjet versions.)

I'd suggest experimenting with these--you could always paint the backside for the "solid" color. Or mirror-print the image, paint over it, and flip over to view the image through a protective clear plastic surface. It all depends on the application.