Question about getting good positives for exposures

[boatdreams]

Hi, all. I'm pretty new to the world of screen printing, and I'm wondering about xeroxs on transparencies. Between Kinko's and an HP Laserjet, I couldn't seem to make the positive opaque enough to get a good exposure. The image is washing out, but not 100%, which leads me to believe that light is burning through the positive. I'd prefer to use transparencies or some kind of acetate above anything else. I would rather not double up transparencies because I like doing details and subtractive work with an X-Acto. Any advice would be appreciated.
Also, for what it's worth, I'm using Diazo emulsion and burning screens with a 500 watt halogen work lamp. The exposure times have been between 7 and 11 minutes.
Again, any suggestions or advice would be awesome. Thanks.

[loco]

Epson printers rock

I have a 8.5" x 11" Stylus that I use. I tile my postives if I have to print
lager than that.

That black is nice and dense

-loco

[IVARTON]

Do a step wedge test. Your exposure times could simply be off. Ive used both laser and inkjet. If your laser is too light you could lightly spray it with Toner aid or krylon gloss varnish to darken it.

Id start with an exposure test first though.

[boatdreams]

Huge thanks. I really appreciate it. I'm going to try a step wedge and check out either Toner Aid or gloss varnish. In the meantime, I'll be keeping my eye out for a deal on an Epson printer, too.

[caribou]

i've got a LexMark Z53 inkjet printer that came with my computer that i've been using for about 6 years now. nice and dark ink, never had a huge problem with opacity.

[IVARTON]

Inkjet is different from laser. My inkjet gives me no problems at all, but if my laser is low sometimes it gets a little light.

[crosshair]

I used an HP laserjet for years, it worked pretty well.
You can go into the printer preferences or options or something like that, and set it for a heavier application of toner. Always worked for me.

[squeegeethree]

Laser heat can f'up your registration. I switched to an Epson years ago and have never had a problem. At Parsons we use Kinkos, laser, oiled paper methods, and imagesetter. Nothing beats the imagesetter, period.

BTW, Kinkos is no more. It's going to be called FedEx Office from now on.

[Nicholas Wilson]

Laser heat can f'up your registration. I switched to an Epson years ago and have never had a problem. At Parsons we use Kinkos, laser, oiled paper methods, and imagesetter. Nothing beats the imagesetter, period.

BTW, Kinkos is no more. It's going to be called FedEx Office from now on.

They can change thier name, but they will never escape my hatred.

it's like the GPI of copy shops.

[seireyho]

ha!