New here, but have spent many hours reading the forum. Glad to finally be a registered member.
I am making very large prints and am running into some handling problems.
(Epson 9900, Epson Hot Press bright white, Imageprint
Unfortunately, these prints are 40x60", and 30x80", and are mostly portraits on a solid black background. LOTS of black.
These prints will get mounted to dibond and framed behind UV plex.
1. Flaking/Post spraying - I vacuum and mop the print room, I clean the printer with air, then wipe down with baby wipes, then vacuum. I am wiping down and blowing air on the paper roll before printing, but it is impossible to do this on the entire surface of a 80" long print beforehand. Can I wipe and use the can of air during the printing process? I have heard that having these prints professionally sprayed with sealant before mounting & framing can help prevent flaking years later. Is this true?
Should I turn off the printer cutter and cut by hand?
2. Scratches - The 9900 does not have a roll attachment!! thus the prints glide face down onto that silk/plastic catcher. The plastic pieces that are like ribbon leave scratches! This happens to both our Matte & Luster surface prints. I have tried having the large prints flow forward, so the print comes out face up. Then the print goes directly on the floor, but has to be hand moved, and watched so it does not get stuck or bend. I tried having them slide out face up on foam core, but it immediately picks up dust down there. Does anyone have a better solution?
3. Handling - After the print can sit and de-gass overnight, I flip onto vellum and roll into a tube. Is vellum the best for this with the surface Hot Press paper? I am trying to avoid as much paper dust as possible.
Thanks so much,
Heather