Re: Suggested Laser Printer

[dcarrell8]

I'm looking for a good laser printer that fits the needs of Model Railroading.  I will mostly use it to create signs and eventually panel displays and anything else that comes up.  In the past I have had cheap printers that use ink cartridges that dry up before you can even use all the ink.  So I'm wanting something that uses a dry toner. ( I think that is the term )

I've done a search and have come up with several choices Mostly Brothers and HP's
Any Thoughts and suggestions will be appreciated.

~ Dennis

[garethashenden]

If you're using this for signs, it may be worth considering the ability to print in white. I haven't used them personally, but I know a few different people who have had great results with Ghost White Toner. The basic concept is that the black cartridge gets replaced with a white one, you draw something in black, and it comes out white. They seem to be available for HP and Cannon printers. Putting the black cartridge back in lets you print normally. They're not cheap, but worth looking into. I know they're great for making decals and its on my to buy list at some point in the future. When I need a new printer probably.
https://www.ghost-white-toner.com

[nthusiast]

My Canon Pixma has worked really well.

[peteski]

If I was in the market for a color laser printer I would like to know the dpi resolution of the printer, and its halftone screen frequency (the higher, the better). But I think some of the specs (like the halftone screen frequency is not something that is mentioned often in the specs).

Printing white would be nice for decals, but unless the white can be printed on the bottom of the toner layers, it is useless for printing opaque color decals.  I have had some laser printed decals with white toner printed. But it was over, not under the color inks, so the decals were useless.

White is not needed for signs printed on paper. The paper provided the white background.

[dcarrell8]

My Canon Pixma has worked really well.

This is an ink jet correct?
In my experience, the ink dries in the cartridge between uses, which for me could be months depending on what I'm doing.  Then you have to go out and by more ink even though you didn't use all of the last cartridge.  So even though they claim you get 180 pages from one cartridge I never have, some times literally 10 or less!!  They work well when the ink is brand new, I'm wanting something with a dry toner that will work every time. 

Maybe I'm wrong and even the dry toner has this issue too??

~Dennis

[dcarrell8]

Thanks for the input gentlemen, I hadn't considered decals when I originally posted, thanks for bringing that to my attention! That is something I certainly want to do as well.

~Dennis

[dcarrell8]

If you're using this for signs, it may be worth considering the ability to print in white. I haven't used them personally, but I know a few different people who have had great results with Ghost White Toner. The basic concept is that the black cartridge gets replaced with a white one, you draw something in black, and it comes out white. They seem to be available for HP and Cannon printers. Putting the black cartridge back in lets you print normally. They're not cheap, but worth looking into. I know they're great for making decals and its on my to buy list at some point in the future. When I need a new printer probably.
https://www.ghost-white-toner.com

So, If you needed both black and white in the same decal how would you accomplish it?  Most of the decals I'm envisioning at the moment would be simple white lettering for cars or Locos... "OC&RG" being at the top of the list, so I can definitely see a need for white print.

[peteski]

Thanks for the input gentlemen, I hadn't considered decals when I originally posted, thanks for bringing that to my attention! That is something I certainly want to do as well.

~Dennis

That would be a job for the Alps MicroDry printer. Yes, it has not been made for few years, it is getting harder to find, more expensive, and the ink cartridges are also getting pricier with only few sources, but there is nothing else like it out there.  At least nothing with its kind of capabilities.

There are other ways to print decals dry transfers (even in white), but the process is more complicated.  However it does use a regular laser printer. If I didn't own an Alps printer, I would probably be using https://decalprofx.com/index.html

[peteski]

So, If you needed both black and white in the same decal how would you accomplish it?  Most of the decals I'm envisioning at the moment would be simple white lettering for cars or Locos... "OC&RG" being at the top of the list, so I can definitely see a need for white print.

The color laser printers which use CYMW (cyan, yellow, magenta, white) toner use the CYM inks to get black.  This is similar to how early color ink jet printers worked.  The black is actually very dark brown, but it is acceptable.

There are 5 color laser printers (those have separate white and black toners, in addition to CMY), but those are very expensive. Those are more professional than consumer-grade (and price) printers.

[davefoxx]

There are other ways to print decals dry transfers (even in white), but the process is more complicated.  However it does use a regular laser printer. If I didn't own an Alps printer, I would probably be using https://decalprofx.com/index.html

Duuuuuuude.  I was not aware of this and would be very interested in giving this a try for white lettering.

Thanks,
DFF

[peteski]

Duuuuuuude.  I was not aware of this and would be very interested in giving this a try for white lettering.

Thanks,
DFF

You're welcome Dave!  I'm pretty sure I mentioned that system here in the past, but things are easy to miss, especially when buried in unrelated threads.  I know that @bbussey (after my recommendation) uses the system, but IIRC he uses the PC-board making system that this company offers, not the dry transfers.

[pmpexpress]

There are other ways to print decals dry transfers (even in white), but the process is more complicated.  However it does use a regular laser printer. If I didn't own an Alps printer, I would probably be using https://decalprofx.com/index.html

Pete,

Thanks for sharing the link.

Like Dave, I wasn't aware of the dry transfer fabrication product called DecalPRO® fx and will be interested in trying it out on some container crane graphics and pavement markings for a Fairview Container Terminal diorama.

[bbussey]

I use the PulsarFX system for the printed circuit boards only.  If I need white decals, I use the Alps.  But yes their DecalProFX product looks like it will do the job.

[Maletrain]

I guess the PulsarFX system creates dry transfers that are made up of dots at the same number of dot/inch as the laser jet printer output.

So, does anybody have a recommendation for a relatively-inexpensive-for-its-very-high-dpi laser jet that isn't a Brother (or otherwise uses incompatible toners for the Pulsar process)?

[cgw]

If you want to print white with a laser printer.  Use a ghost white toner cartridge.     It works really well.    When my alps printer died  I replaced it with a HP color laser printer.   You simply remove one of the toner cartridges and replace it with the white and print.  Never had any serious issues with this.  They also make cartridges for several printers manufacturers.  I have been printing on Bell and TangoPapa clear decal film with no issues. Ghost is a German company so shipping is a little iffy due to covid. (takes longer).   ghost-white-toner.com