That would be great....I managed to contact local printer box store and they really had no idea....they just sell them. Although they said that maybe local Epson representative could help. Maybe they could print an example, send it to me and I could my own tests with a print. I made query in the Finnish for in Finnish and from the answer I realized that whoever is in customer service used google translate or something....I wrote back in English and he said that he understand what I mean....but can't help. They just sell printers and transfer paper
I trawled some interweb and found out that the ink for picture transfer is somewhat special and works well with transfer paper....but wait: you need a prepped "polymer" surface for that ink to transfer when used in hot press. Polyester T-shirt or max 50% cotton blend works fine.
Aluminium etc. hard surfaces need a primer or such....basically a bummer, because I want uncoated for etch to etch. Pretty picture just isn't enough. I need resist for etchant and rest of the area free. Then I got a brainwave (or brain freeze): even with a primer all is not lost, if I can remove (with solvent) after hot press the exposed primer, if the transfered dye (and primer under it) will not dissolve as well. This could be possible, because sublimation ink is pretty tough stuff. But then again, what do I now about the prepped surfaces and primers. This information is not simply available.
Very preliminary hunch says that is something like polyvinyl alcohol would work as a primer, then maybe....but can't really know without trying.
Probably, if this were easy (or even feasible) someone would have tried long time ago.
I have checked the ink jet transfers....local store has some transfer paper, but apparently you get some sort of protective layer for the "picture" when you use ink jet transfers. And apparently the print process is geared for pretty picture and ink saving over the "full black echant resistant 100% porous free layer" = resist.
The process was a bit hit and miss even with old laser printer. Some ink brands worked better but it was doable to certain extent. I expected more with my brand new BW laser printer, but can't get good transfer I got with the old printer. I do get very good quality prints. Printer is fine, but this undocumented feature does not work anymore.
I was thinking of using 3D printer to print resist onto copper clad PCB, but found out that 3D printer does not make very solid layer of plastic. That would solve it easy though. Sounds simple. Maybe there is way to load the 3D printed plastic pores with a "paint" or something with a careful use of spraygun and solvents, and wipe or rinse excess out, but then it would not be very elegant anymore.
The printer and paper would be around 600€investment and firs I though that if I could use it for general purpose color prints and picture transfers, it would not be too bad. But can't really use it for general purpose. Just random T-shirt print and light hobby use does with a small possibility to use it for PCB making just doesn't sound that apealing anymore.
