Borderless any size

As many have discovered, "borderless" does not work for "all" paper sizes and types. Certainly not on my Pro-100 (so far my only complaint about this printer).

I get my photo paper custom cut from a bulk purchase, which really reduces the per photo paper cost. However it also means I have a huge pile of non-standard sized pieces laying around (tons of them). I thought that there must be a way to achieve borderless printing for those pieces. Turns out there is, and the end result is a pleasant stack of prints. Because mine are smaller than regular sized photos, they are just perfect for handing out.

But there is a caveat, which I explain below.

First. In the software of choice, I create a border frame the size of the paper pieces I have. Well away from the page edge. I then print this frame on a regular size and type of paper, no need to turn on borderless. So this works for any printer.

Then in the software I create the photo image larger than , and over, the "border frame". I just make a larger frame and fill with photos or a collage. But do crop down to the larger frame to prevent wasting ink. How much the "larger frame" is depends on how accurate your printer feeds the paper. Some experimenting is necessary. But this larger frame will in essence print "bordeless" over the photo paper.

I then paste a photo paper piece over the (smaller) printed frame, and load the sheet in the printer. Here is the caveat. This only works if your printer can handle thicker paper fairly well, and if the paper feed is fairly staight through (flat like). If not you will likely get smears, or worst case paper jams.

For the pasting, I have used, with equal success, glue-side out loops of Scotch tape, or the blue wall gum. If you use Scotch tape, use 2 pairs of loops at 90 deg angle to fix the paper position fairly well. Any slippage would not give good results. Scotch tape is a bit more stable than gum. You will need a new sheet with the printed alignment frame for each photo print, because peeling off the photo will crinkle the sheet.

If you have no problems with the caveat, physically and mentally, you might get some good results. I have been pleasantly surprised. Good luck.

Would it not be easier and quicker to just print your photo onto the odd size paper and just trim the photo to borderless afterwards, you way seems to be like going around the park several times, instead of straight through it...
Anyway, borderless prints don’t have muck up the inside of your printer.
Just saying...

The Hat said:

Would it not be easier and quicker to just print your photo onto the odd size paper and just trim the photo to borderless afterwards, you way seems to be like going around the park several times, instead of straight through it...
Anyway, borderless prints don’t have muck up the inside of your printer.
Just saying...

Click to expand...

I should have mentioned that I really don't want to trim the photo paper any further. You might have noticed that I used the term "pieces", because they are already small. For the latest batch only about 2.5"x5", so there is not much paper left for trimming.

I understand very well the issue regarding paper jam inside the printer. I have had no problems so far. That may be because I make sure everything is VERY flat. And I cross everything I can when I do a print. But yes, it's fiddly work, a real time-waster.

There is no issue with any muck inside the printer, because with my scheme the over-the-edge printed ink is actually captured by the sheet of paper that I stick the small piece on.

Yes, the procedure is risky and should probably be labelled "not recommended". It's really only for the foolhardy, or, as in my case, for the ones that simply hate to waste the small pieces of photo paper, left over from a cut of a large batch. I sometimes have 250, or 500, of these. I posted the procedure only because I have had good success, and people do seem to like it when I give them a small photo.

Good idea, but plastic sheet (mat non slip) seems better way then paper.

What gauge would those plastic sheets be? What normal purpose would those sheet be used for? I wouldn't mind trying them. If they go through the printer more than once, that could save paper, because with my scheme it pretty well means a wasted page every time.