Which is the best Inkjet film available in the UK/Europe?

[Tobias F]

Hi there,
I am sorry if this has been asked over and over, but I have been scouring for a few days, and only now discovered dpug, and I do hope to write a decent blog up when I finalise my plans of action.

Last year I purchased a large selection of different inkjet OHP films when I was doing some screen printing, and I found that the only one I had which would take enough ink to not reticulate was the Canon film, used with a Canon BJ printer. All the others seem useless even for text to use actually on an OHP, which is curious.

So now I am trying my hand with Cyanotypes, and finding that the dithering of the Canon BJ is useless as a negative on film. I tried their "High Resolution Paper", which is thin, but I was displeased with the texture the paper grain left in the shadows. However the ink did lay down well, even for a fine gradient.

Thus, I am hunting for the best film to use. I have a Canon IP5200r, and an Epson 2100, which is probably the better candidate for the task. I have found that Pictorico is sold in Germany, but by the nature of the fact that the site is only in German, I don't know if they will post to the UK (Dead Link Removed). Here I have found Permajet (PermaJet - Digital Negative Transfer Film) which is apparently endorsed by Tim Rudman. But my question remains: is Permajet the only film available, and the best?

Thanks for all input,
Tobias

 

[Jostie]

I've just been sent some digital contact film from Fotospeed but have yet to try it

 

[Tobias F]

Do let us know.

I have noticed that the Gimp driver for the 2100 has "Back Light Film" as an option. The Epson site has a press-release on this film, however no indication that it is, nor ever has been on sale. The driver also has "transparencies". And no, I am unable to get the Epson driver to work at all.

I can also further conclude that the Canon film is very streaky on the Epson 2100, so my best option, for now, may still be to try and get the balance right with the Canon printer and film. We shall see.

t

 

[Tobias F]

on another note, this thread suggests that the Permajet film is the same product as the Pictorico, so I shall order some.

 

[stusk]

I have tried both Pictorico and Permajet and they are not the same. You can order Pictorico if you email them. The delivery charges are quite expensive unless you order a significant amount. Seems to handle better than the Permajet.

 

[remko]

I have tried both Pictorico and Permajet and they are not the same. You can order Pictorico if you email them. The delivery charges are quite expensive unless you order a significant amount. Seems to handle better than the Permajet.

I second that. Although the Permajet box is telling it can handle 2880 dpi the Technical Datasheet tells:
for dey based printers 720/1440 and for pigment based printers 720 dpi as settings. they advise for 1440 dpi to experiment with the Photo Glossy or Film paper settings.

I very good alternative is the Agfa Selectject inkjet film!

remko

 

[Cascam]

Agfa Selectjet

The Agfa Selectjet or Copyjet films work well for digital negatives. Sihl too.

 

[David Hatton]

Hi,
The best I've come across and I use all the time is Revolution foil. It holds plenty of ink at 2880 and dries quite quickly (minutes ). Just google Revolution Transfer

Hope this helps