sutherla@qtp.ufl.edu (scott sutherland) (01/11/90)
I just purchased a used Okimate 20 printer and, after reading through the manual, I have a few questions that I hope someone out there can answer. 1) The manual suggests Schoeller Compucolor "Color Ribbon Transfer" paper for color graphic images. I cannot find anyone in Gainesville who even knows what this type of paper is, let alone who Schoeller is. I do NOT care about the manufacutrer, but I would like to find out what is special about this type of paper and an inexpensive source. 2) The manual states that this printer can be used to make color transparencies. It says that the thickness cannot exceed 0.005". They suggest Scotch/3M 544 Transparency Note Pad (or any very thin transparency). Well, the manual was published in 1985, and the 544 film is no longer made. I called Okidata and they were of little help. I called 3M and they suggested PPC Film PP2500 (also called 3M 688 and Scotch 503). Well, this stuff turns out to be transparency film which can be used to make Xerox copies, but without a white strip along one edge. It is also ~$50/box of 100. Well, what I wanted to know is if I HAVE to use Xerox-'able' transparency film at all. I can get a transparency film which is specifically designed for writing on with a pen (e.g., Sharpie) but cannot be used to get a Xerox image. WILL THIS WORK???? This stuff is SUBSTANTIALLY less expensive than the former, but I still do not want to fork out $20 for a box of 100 only to find out it doesn't work. 3) The manual also says that I can use Thermal Paper (NOT Thermal TRANSFER paper) to print text in B&W without a ribbon. I have to use paper with a heat sensitivity of 185 Degrees F +or- 18 Degrees (80C +or- 10C). Well, I would prefer sheets over rolls, but I am having difficulty finding either. Radio Shack will sell me 8 rolls for $30 but will NOT sell me a single roll, and I don't even know if it will work since there are no Temp sensitivity data given. I then had the idea that ThermoFax paper might work since FAX works on thermal paper. However, no temperature sensitivity seems to be available for FAX paper at any of the stores in town, and Okidata told me flat out that they do not think it will work. They DID NOT give me a satisfactory explanation as to why not, so I am still pursuing this possibility. SO, WILL FAX PAPER WORK AS A THERMAL PAPER FOR THE OKIMATE 20?? Inquiring minds want to know. 4) Finally, while looking for transparency film, I ran across a type of this stuff which I had NOT seen before. It is called Thermal Transparency Film. I was wondering if this would be to transparency film what Thermal Paper is to computer paper. In other words, I'd be able to print B&W text and images onto this film WITHOUT the aid of a printer ribbon. CAN THIS BE DONE? I also ran across what was called an Infrared Transparency film. What is this? And will it work in the Okimate 20 without a ribbon?? I realize that I could just try this and see for myself, but I can only get these things in boxes of 50 to 500, depending on which of the 4 above it is, and the cost JUST TO TEST IT OUT is outrageous. So I am hoping that someone on the net has tried most or all of these options out and can make some suggestions. BTW, for Okimate transparencies, how do they project onto a screen??? Are they suitable for a semi-formal or informal seminar?? Finally, I have heard that there was some kind of fix for the Okimate 20 which mostly eliminated the dark lines that occur between each strip of a picture in graphic images. I assume that such a fix would simply make sure that NO overlap occurred during the printing. Is this true? If so, where do I get the fix? Also, this is my first printer. Does anyone out there have any WORDS OF WISDOM for a first time Amiga printer user? Pitfalls? Common mistakes? Thanks, Scott Sutherland