Tree Free and Digital Printing

[david m. baker]

Howdy:

Curious if anyone out there runs "tree free" substrate on their digital presses and, if so, how does it behave for you? We've just tested a boodle of paper made from sugarcane and bamboo (20# was what I had to work with) and, while I like the feel of the paper and think it would be fabulous for letterpress or offset, I think it just stinks on my iGens

So, if you're running any non-wood-pulp paper (but NOT synthetics) through your digital press and are having GOOD results, I'm hoping you'll share with me how you got there. The color tests I ran looked blotchy and weird...it was like someone spilled spot varnish across the page. And then tried to clean it up with a porous sponge. Yes, that bad.

Thanks!
-d-

 

[[email protected]]

Curious, was there any damage to the iGen and did you try any other devices?

 

[david m. baker]

Curious, was there any damage to the iGen and did you try any other devices?

No, nothing bad happened to the iGen. The paper jammed a lot, but I have a feeling that was due to it being light (20#) and non-woodpulp based paper. The feel of this stuff is akin to rice paper.

We also ran it on our Nuvera, and essentially got the same results with full coverage; light coverage does okay, and text looks pretty good. But I think the biggest issue is the fibre used in the paper makes a mottled pattern, which translates all too well into the toner when it lays down on the paper.