New and hoping for some advice please

Emt

Getting Fingers Dirty
Joined
May 6, 2021
Messages
11
Reaction score
10
Points
23
Printer Model
Canon TS9550
Hi, I own a canon pixma ts9550 and am desperately needing some help/advice.
I want to print images to colour in (like a colouring book) using watercolour pens. I would like to print on either smooth watercolour paper or Bristol card.
The issue I’m having is that once I start colouring the ink is smearing :rolleyes: it doesn’t if I use normal copy paper but this isnt strong enough to take the water.
One of the black cartridges is (I think) pigment and I was under the impression that pigment won’t smear? Is this correct? If so is there a way to tell the printer to use only the black pigment ink? Or can anyone suggest some card that I can use instead?
thanks very much :)
 

Artur5

Printer Master
Joined
Jan 24, 2011
Messages
1,294
Reaction score
1,618
Points
278
Location
Kmt. 0.
Printer Model
MB5150,Pro10s,i3Mk3s+,Voron2.4
In all likelihood, if you select 'plain paper' in the driver's menu I believe that your TS9550 will use only black pigment ink. provided it's a strictly black and white image, with no color at all. if the image contains non black colors (including shades of grey), then you might convert it to pure black and white before printing.
Don't select 'print in grey scale' in the driver. That would use a mix of all dye colors to make it look like grey.
Not knowing the TS9550, I'm not 100% sure that it performs this way, but all the Canon printers I owned did it.
 
Last edited:

The Hat

Printer VIP
Platinum Printer Member
Joined
Jan 18, 2010
Messages
15,618
Reaction score
8,691
Points
453
Location
Residing in Wicklow Ireland
Printer Model
Canon/3D, CR-10, CR-10S, KP-3
In all likelihood, if you select 'plain paper' in the driver's menu I believe that your TS9550 will use only black pigment ink.
The issue here is not the printer setting, but rather the media type, it’s more likely not suitable for inkjet printing..
 

PeterBJ

Printer VIP
Platinum Printer Member
Joined
Nov 27, 2010
Messages
5,055
Reaction score
4,896
Points
373
Location
Copenhagen Denmark
Printer Model
Canon MP990
I guess the images prints OK with both media types, but the ink smears on the watercolour paper when watercolours are applied? If so I would also suggest to select plain paper when printing on the watercolour paper.

I printed a sheet of millimetre paper with all inks and with pigment black only, and dripped five drops of "pharmacists cleaning solution" on both. The paper printed with pigment ink is at the left:

Ink smear.jpg


It is seen the pigment ink doesn't smear and the mixed grey from pigment and dye ink does.
 
Last edited:

Emt

Getting Fingers Dirty
Joined
May 6, 2021
Messages
11
Reaction score
10
Points
23
Printer Model
Canon TS9550
Thanks for the replies, all the images are black and white (as far as I’m aware) they look that way. Ive tried setting normal paper but it still smears. I don’t know anything about printers but got the ts9550 as I wanted to be able to print 12”x12” patterned card, this printer is known for being excellent for crafters. How would I “make“ the image black before printing? Is there a special inkjet paper that will allow me to use watercolours?
Failing all this if I got a laser printer would this solve my issues?
 

Emt

Getting Fingers Dirty
Joined
May 6, 2021
Messages
11
Reaction score
10
Points
23
Printer Model
Canon TS9550
I guess the images prints OK with both media types, but think smears on the watercolour paper when watercolours are applied? If so I would also suggest to select plain paper when printing on the watercolour paper.

I printed a sheet of millimetre paper with all inks and with pigment black only, and dripped five drops of "pharmacists cleaning solution" on both. The paper printed with pigment ink is at the left:

View attachment 12113

It is seen the pigment ink doesn't smear and the mixed grey from pigment and dye ink does.
Which printer do you have?
 

PeterBJ

Printer VIP
Platinum Printer Member
Joined
Nov 27, 2010
Messages
5,055
Reaction score
4,896
Points
373
Location
Copenhagen Denmark
Printer Model
Canon MP990
Do I understand this correctly: Black ink printed on plain paper using plain paper setting doesn't smear, but black ink printed on the watercolour paper using the same plain paper setting does smear?

If so I think @The Hat is right and the watercolour paper is not suitable for this purpose.

But you could do another test to make sure your watercolour paper is printed with pigment ink.

The image I used as the test example is named millimeterpapier grau.pdf and downloaded from papersnake.de.

As it is a .pdf file in grey colour both pigment black and dye colours are used in printing this on plain paper. I got a print using only black pigment by making a black and white copy on plain paper. I guess you could do the same and check if the print still smears.

Another test would be to print a text document on your watercolour paper, for instance the "Windows printer test page" and test if that also smears.

Could you upload an example of your pictures or just a crop for testing? I could then test it using different settings and different printers.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Emt

Emt

Getting Fingers Dirty
Joined
May 6, 2021
Messages
11
Reaction score
10
Points
23
Printer Model
Canon TS9550
Thanks for your reply again. Ive attached some photos, on the plain/copy paper and the rough watercolour paper it’s ok but not on the smooth?
That would be really kind of you to do some tests for me, I’ve also attached the image I’ve been using.
 

Attachments

  • F99FB9C6-5EAC-491E-9659-6B54471E11E7.jpeg
    F99FB9C6-5EAC-491E-9659-6B54471E11E7.jpeg
    143.7 KB · Views: 161
  • 203E22D4-5E7B-4B8E-AE08-29ED329B2B52.jpeg
    203E22D4-5E7B-4B8E-AE08-29ED329B2B52.jpeg
    106.5 KB · Views: 169

Emt

Getting Fingers Dirty
Joined
May 6, 2021
Messages
11
Reaction score
10
Points
23
Printer Model
Canon TS9550
This is what they look like after colouring
 

Attachments

  • A0DFAF82-EF2F-41BF-8715-58344E3FD294.jpeg
    A0DFAF82-EF2F-41BF-8715-58344E3FD294.jpeg
    152.3 KB · Views: 154

PeterBJ

Printer VIP
Platinum Printer Member
Joined
Nov 27, 2010
Messages
5,055
Reaction score
4,896
Points
373
Location
Copenhagen Denmark
Printer Model
Canon MP990
I just printed the jpeg image using a Canon Pixma iP4300 printer on plain paper with plain paper setting, The ink does not smear even if I tested it immediately after it was printed. The used ink was Canon OEM PGI-5 PGBK.

The millimeterpaper pigment ink test was printed using a refilled cartridge with IS 1128 pigment black ink. This ink also didn't smear on plain paper.

I think the problem is that the ink does not adhere perfectly to the smooth paper. Maybe reducing the amount of ink in the printer driver settings will help?

If you are using refilled or aftermarket ink cartridges, then maybe an OEM cartridge will behave better?
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Emt
Top