How do you print on tissue paper?
Inevitably when I start talking about my process and get to this point where I mention that I print my images on tissue paper, I can see that I’ve completely baffled my listener. It’s like they get stuck in time and get this off look on their face. It’s at this point that I know I have to back up and explain how I go about ‘printing my image on tissue paper’.
If you are imagining running an incredibly flimsy and lightweight piece of paper through your printer, then yes, it is baffling. But when I explain that I tape the tissue to a carrier sheet it all becomes much clearer.
Not every printer will accept this process and may be a bit of a trial and error for you.
I have a 13 x 19 Epson R2880 printer so I start with a 13 x 19 sheet and a piece of tissue paper that is cut slightly smaller than 13 x 19. The trick is to start taping at least 1/4 from the leading edge and tape it along three sides. Make sure the edge that feeds into the printer is ONLY the carrier sheet. In other words, the tissue should be completely clear of the mechanism that grabs the paper and feeds it into the printer.
There are so tips that you’ll want to consider.
- If you’ve taped around the edges you’ll want to make sure the tape is as close to the carrier sheet as possible so that the print head doesn’t hit into it each time it passes. I always stand near the printer when printing so that I can gently pull the paper if the print heads seem to be ‘hitting’ the edges. Otherwise a jam can easily happen.
- This is so important that I’ll say it again. DO NOT tape the tissue paper right up to the leading edge. Drop down 1/4 inch or so. Otherwise the printer will grab the tissue, rip it into shreds and you’ll be scrounging around looking for a needle nosed apparatus to try to fish out the tissue.
- Leave the bottom loose. Only tape 3 edges.
- This is not a perfect process. Sometimes the paper will simply not feed and you’ll have to prepare another sheet.
- There are no ICC profiles for tissue paper.
- For highly saturated images often the print head will leave markings as tissue doesn’t have the same coatings as photo paper and expands slightly with all the ink thus sometimes the print head drags across and leaves marks. Embrace these marks and incorporate them into your work.
Once you’ve finished the printing process you are now ready to embed it into your piece.
If you want to dive deeper into this topic, I’ve created an online course sharing everything I know about working with tissue paper and encaustics.For more details click here Embracing Tissue Paper>>.
I’d love to hear from you. Have you tried printing on tissue (or other non-traditional papers)? How did it work for you? Tell me what you think in the comments below.
Be well….be creative,
Thanks Clare for the tips. Question: Do you use any particular type of tissue?
Hi Linda, the tissue should be archival:)
Are you talking about tissue paper that you can stuff into presents? If you are, then you have made my life. Ha!
Yes Lillian, it should be archival tissue paper though.
When you say “archival” do you mean “Acid Free”?
Archival tissue paper is that which contains no free acid and has a pH value 7.0 or greater.
Thanks for repeating this info Clare. My printer was grabbing the tissue and totally mangling it until I tried your system of leaving the 1/4″space on the leading edge. Works very well now!
I learned this lesson the VERY hard way. I had to get surgical tools to pick all the bits and pieces of the tissue out of my printer after it all got mangled in there!
Thanks for this explanation. It is the clearest I have seen so far. The thinner types of rice paper also may work this technique. I will be trying it out in the coming weeks.
Yes, this technique can be used with any type of non-traditional paper that won’t easily feed into your printer. Good luck with your experimentation.
Great tip, Clare. Thanks for sharing.
In your feed system is the “bottom” edge the last part to go into the printer or the first?
Thanx!
I’m not sure I completely understand your question. You don’t want the printer to ‘know’ that it’s grabbing/feeding anything but a piece of regular paper.
ok, lets see if I have this correct. Wish I could draw you a picture. Right hand side of paper, tape goes around both sheets. Left hand side the same. No tape on one of the other sides where about 1/4 inch of photo paper shows and the last side the tape also goes around both sheets. I guess I thought the last taped side was the feeder side. Is there any tape on the feeder side? Is this a bit different than how you did it a few years back? Hope this makes sense. Where my confusion is –how does the tape look on the feeder side?
Hi Kay, it’s the same as I’ve always done.
1. Top (feeder side) tape tissue paper down 1/4 inch from top of carrier sheet.
2. Tape tissue to both sides
3. Bottom – no tape
Thanks for sharing your tips. I dabbled with photo encaustics a few years ago and this makes me want to experiment with it again. Could you recommend a brand of tissue paper that you find works best for you and where it could be purchased?
I’m glad you’re thinking of getting back into it. I purchase bulk tissue from Uline.com.
Thanks, Clare!
Inkjet or laser printer or does it matter?
Denny, I’ve never tried printing on tissue paper using a laser printer, I guess it would all depend on how easily it threads through the printer.
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hi Clare, am interested in what type of tape is safe for an Epson r2000. do you use double sided tape? thanks for this article!
Hi Diane, I use regular masking tape. Running tissue paper through your printer is always a risk that it will get caught…..and not sure I can tell you what type of tape is safe. All I can say is that what I use. Hope that helps.
Thank you Clare. I just tried your technique a few days ago.. I learned how to do it in your online workshop. I hadn’t tried it for a while since I had several botched attempts. This time I got a great print. I’m hooked.
Great Joy. I’m glad to hear that it worked and that you are hooked! It’s music to my ears.
Where do you purchase your archival tissue paper.
Here is a resource for you Gloria. http://www.archivalmethods.com/product/archival-tissue
Hi Clare~ I was cruising around and found your page. I saw that someone asked about using a laser printer for this process… It definitely depends on your printer so this won’t work for everyone. As you know, tape melts, so that is out of the question for a laser printer. What I do is use a glue stick around the edge of tissue (slightly smaller than my 8.5×11′ paper) and strick it to my firmer “feeder” paper. Works great for me but my mom can’t use this method with her laser printer. And of course, the tissue may tear a little when peeling it off the other. One more thing, I glue all the edges down. Never tried it with only a couple sides, so do with that info as you will and good luck!
Thanks, Clare. But I’m wondering why archival tissue paper when you’re covering it with wax. No chance of air getting to it…
Ah yes, but wax doesn’t protect against UV light which will yellow material if it’s not archival. And I also believe that artists should use the best material they can afford if they are selling their work.
What thickness carrier paper do you use?
I use the Epson 3* paper, Epson Presentation Paper Matte. But you can use any paper that your printer will accept that is cheap. There is nothing special about the carrier sheet.