B. FAQ – Compatibility
Q. What printers are compatible with inkAID coated media?
A. inkAID™ products are designed to be used with inkjet printers only; no laser printers. That being said, any inkjet printer using dye or pigment-based inks can be used. There are a couple of technical details regarding printers that artists using inkAID™ need to be aware of: cartridge head clearance is of utmost importance – you risk damaging your printer if you try to feed media thicker than the cartridge head clearance. Pizza wheels are another concern – some printer models have wheels that run across the top of the substrate after printing; these are called “pizza wheels”. Media coated with inkAID White Matte precoat won’t have a problem with pizza wheels, as the ink dries on contact. If you’ve coated your substrate with a clear inkAID™ product (inkAID™ Clear Semi-Gloss, Clear Gloss, or Clear Gloss Type II), however, the ink will not dry quickly enough and the pizza wheels will drag through it, creating unwanted lines on your image. It is possible to remove the pizza wheels from your printer, but be aware that doing so usually voids the warranty.
Q. Do you offer printer profiles for inkAID products?
A. We do not provide profiles, as applications using inkAID are so varied. To ensure proper color management, each substrate created with inkAID should have its own profile run, and to assist our customers with this, we have partnered with Booksmart Studio in Rochester, NY. Booksmart Studios offers a custom profiling service for ink-jet coated substrates. Please visit their website, www.booksmartstudio.com, for more information about this service.
Q. Do inkAID coatings provide the equivalent of commercially available pre-coated paper or canvas?
A. Yes, they do. inkAID™ White Matte precoat produces a surface extremely similar to commercially pre-coated matte or flat white canvases and paper. The inkAID clear precoats (inkAID Clear Semi-Gloss, Clear Gloss, and Clear Gloss Type II) will produce a shiny surface, much like commercially available semi-gloss or gloss finish papers and stretch canvases. If you’re interested in products pre-coated with the inkAID coatings, we offer pre-coated canvases and Japanese rice papers.
Q. Which Epson Ultrachrome inks are most compatible with inkAID products?
A. Both matte and photo black Epson Ultrachrome inks work well. With the clear inkAID™ products (Clear Semi-Gloss, Clear Gloss, and Clear Gloss Type II), artists sometimes prefer to use the photo black ink.
Q. Are inkAID products known to react adversely to paper sizing agents such as Hercules ‘Aquapel’ polyvinyl acetate (PVA), sodium carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), rice starch, wheat starch, or to additives such as titanium dioxide (like Liquitex acrylic gesso) and calcium carbonate?
A. No. The materials mentioned are common “papermaking” materials, and as inkAID™ is regularly used with paper, the ingredients in the coatings will not react with them.
Q. Will encaustic wax adhere to inkAID coated surfaces?
A. Yes, encaustic wax adheres well to substrates coated with any of the inkAID™ products.
Q. Do the inkAID coatings react favorably when used over acrylic grounds?
A. Yes. There is no problem using any of the inkAID™ coatings over an acrylic ground.
