Water-resistant printouts

[suklee]

I've been tasked with building a new system for a friend. That I have no trouble with... it's his printer selection that I need help with.

Basically, he's a swimming instructor and he'd like his prints to be as water-proof as possible. He doesn't want the ink to smear if it gets wet. Now obviously he's not going to throw the prints into the water and expect the print to survive, but being around the pool he's bound to get some splash damage here and there.

My question is: are water-resistant prints possible? Which would be better for this purpose - inkjet or laser? I've seen some inkjet inks that claim to be water-proof; I've also seen paper that claim to be water-proof. Is it a combination of these two that will allow me to get printouts as close as possible to being water-resistant?

PS. Black/White output is top priority but he'd like color as an option, if possible.

 

[GoSharks]

they way i printed out my [water-resistant] topographical maps for my hiking trip this past summer was to take them to costco and have them print them like a developed photo. worked like a charm.

 

[bsmithy]

what about a laminator?

 

[Mark R]

You can get 'tear-proof' 'paper' which is designed to be considerably more resistant to water than conventional paper. Usually these are plastic films rather than true paper, though composition varies.

Some are suitable for laser and others are suitable for inkjet. Prices vary but can be as much as $1 a sheet for premium stuff. A specialty stationary store should have some in stock.

Laser printing is genuinely water resistant, as plastic toner is fused to the paper during printing. Most ink-jet inks I've come across will smudge or run to some extent when wet.

 

[Czar]

if you want the cheap and simple way, get him a laser printer

 

[beaconengr]

The closest you will come to a waterproof print is to use pigment archival inks on matt paper. Epson has several printers that use the pigmented inks, and they have a superb matt paper. I have actually tried running water over one of the prints, and it still would not smudge. Also, this type of print has about a 75 year live span before fading occurs if kept under glass or some other cover.

 

[suklee]

Thanks gents for the quick replies!

I dont think a laminator would be in order, though I hadnt thought about that as an option. I could see him using one for a class list or other prints that he'll always have around. I'll run that idea by him.

So it looks like a laser printer would be ideal in this situation. He'd lose the option of color (color laser printers arent a viable alternative!)... I'll keep in mind all options mentioned here. If anyone has anything else to add, do let me know.

Thanks again

BTW - Mark, I really :heart: your photos.

 

[ChrisL]

I used to cut vellum scraps to 81/2x11 and print them in my Epson Stylus 800. The Vellum we used was 100% waterproof and a couple of the photos I printed on it I tried to wipe off under running water and nothing happened. As a note photos printed in hi-res on Vellum look nice hanging in a window. Since Vellum is translucent if there is light coming thorugh the window the colors look bright.

 

[randumb]

Glossy/Photo paper?

 

[zephyrprime]

There is plastic paper that can be bought that isn't paper at all. But it's very $$$. It's called pictorico film.

Wait a sec, I just searched google and it seems that there are quite a few brands of waterproof paper made.

 

[WalkingDead]

inkjet print is not very good at water proofing. You best bet is use Laser printer for B&W and for color use dye-sub or color laser. With those the printed "ink" parts are completely water proof (and light resistant too) but the paper that printed on is not. A cheap and easy way to somewhat water proof the paper is use a art spray, which available at most art stores for few bucks, to spray a layer or two on the paper.

 

[redbeard1]

A tektronixs by xerox 8200 COLOR printer gives higher than laser quality prints, but uses a wax based "ink". This does not run in water at all. There are models below this one that are somewhat cheaper, but they are still spendier than getting a low end laser printer.

On the subject of laminating, there are heatless laminating covers. They are basically two sticky backed clear plastic sheets, just slightly larger than the paper size, that you stick your paper in and seal them up. Most office supply stores should carry this.