Fuzzy text on CD labels with Canon i560

[Bob Jones]

I've got a new Canon i560 that I bought to print color CD labels. The
problem is, black text, which should print sharply against a solid
green background, is coming out fat and blotchy.

I'm using matte inkjet Meritline label sheets, and the image combines
a photo on a solid, dark green background with text in a sans serif
typeface.

When I print in grayscale, the text is fine. When I print in color, I
have problems. I've tried several different settings.

Can anyone suggest settings that will give me sharp text?

 

[Don]

I've got a new Canon i560 that I bought to print color CD labels. The
problem is, black text, which should print sharply against a solid
green background, is coming out fat and blotchy.

I'm using matte inkjet Meritline label sheets, and the image combines
a photo on a solid, dark green background with text in a sans serif
typeface.

When I print in grayscale, the text is fine. When I print in color, I
have problems. I've tried several different settings.

Can anyone suggest settings that will give me sharp text?

Not in answer to your question, but you might want to read this article

http://www.informationweek.com/story/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=15800263

about labeling CDR's. It may make you rethink putting labels on your CD's.

 

[Wolf Kirchmeir]

On 11 Jan 2004 00:03:03 -0800, Bob Jones wrote:

=>I've got a new Canon i560 that I bought to print color CD labels. The
=>problem is, black text, which should print sharply against a solid
=>green background, is coming out fat and blotchy.
=>
=>I'm using matte inkjet Meritline label sheets, and the image combines
=>a photo on a solid, dark green background with text in a sans serif
=>typeface.
=>
=>When I print in grayscale, the text is fine. When I print in color, I
=>have problems. I've tried several different settings.
=>
=>Can anyone suggest settings that will give me sharp text?

The colour ink is wetting the paper, so the black ink is
dissolved in the coloured ink and spreads. Problem: how to
get the colour dry before you print the black. Solution:
print it twice, first for the colour backgorund, and then
for the black text. You'll have to have two separate
files, of course, but that shouldn't be any trouble.

BTW, it's also possible that your labels are for laser
printers, not for ink-jet. Paper that's made for lasers is
not suitable for ink jets, as it has a much more porous
surface on which the ink will spread.

HTH&GL

 

[Bob Jones]

Wolf:

Thanks for the suggestion. I'll certainly try printing my labels as
separate jobs for color/text. I also found that a setting for
high-resolution paper, as opposed to matte photo paper, yields better
results.

The Meritline matte labels are listed as "Great for both LASER and
INKJET printers".

As a point of explanation, I initially tried printing my labels on the
laser at Kinko's. The inkjet will never match that glossy laser
output.

However, with the color laser, the text always came out sharp, but the
solid color results were very inconsistent -- sometimes blotchy around
the borders of the label, or even across the surface. Hardly worth
paying a buck a sheet.

 

[Wolf Kirchmeir]

On 12 Jan 2004 07:57:16 -0800, Bob Jones wrote:

=>Wolf:
=>
=>Thanks for the suggestion. I'll certainly try printing my labels as
=>separate jobs for color/text. I also found that a setting for
=>high-resolution paper, as opposed to matte photo paper, yields better
=>results. ...snip...

That's interesting. The HR setting means smaller ink
droplets, wh/ would mean less ink to spread around and
fuzzify the image, and faster drying time. Have to keep
that in mind.

As for paper "great for laser and inkjet" -- I've learned
to take claims of multi-purpose or all-purpose papers with
a rather large bag of salt.

 

[Bob Jones]

Wolf:

The two-pass method worked well for me, once I got my paper settings
worked out. After much experimentation, I found that the plain
paper/high-quality settings, running first color and then text, did
the job with my matte labels.

Thanks for the advice. I'm surprised the inkjet label issue hasn't
been more widely discussed in the newsgroups, but I'm relieved to know
my new Canon is going to work out.