Keys to success
With the decline in the availability of silver based film, more people are moving towards Inkjet to Film solutions. These are generally successful, as long as some care is taken to monitor and control the environment the equipment is operating in.
Water based Inkjet printers, by their very nature, require the ambient temperature and humidity to be within a reasonably controlled range. If you remember that the ink dries on the film by evaporation, it becomes obvious why consistent temperature and humidity will give you the most consistent results.
As with any parameter, if you cannot measure it, you will not be able to control it. For temperature, you will need a thermometer to guide you in adjusting your HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning) to compensate for seasonal changes in the ambient temperature, especially in autumn and winter
For Humidity control, you will also need a humidity meter in order to measure where you are. Some HVAC system include humidity control, which you can use to keep the humidity stable.
If your HVAC system does not include the option to humidify the air, you can purchase a room humidifier in order to control the humidity in the room so that your environment is better suited to your printers needs.
Fortunately these two requirements don’t cost a lot to control. There are two devices available on Amazon that will address the needs of Humidity and temperature measurement as well as humidity control.
Adding humidity back to the air has the additional benefit that it may save you money on your heating bill. A rule of thumb is for every degree you can reduce your heating by, it will save you about 3% on your heating bill.
It will also reduce the build up of static electricity which causes dust to cling to the film and may cause pinholes and voids in negatives. Static electricity is also harmful to electronic equipment such as computers and printers.
Epson Printers are designed to operate in an environment that is comfortable for human beings.
Recommended Ranges
Temperature: 65 ˚ to 75 ˚F
Humidity: 45 to 60% (no condensation)