Diversification in printing materials has allowed us to overcome the limitations of conventional sheets of paper to delve into other textures and possibilities. And the different types of foam board, which we recently talked about in our blog, are a good example of this. But not the only one. And it is that at present we have many other interesting formats. One widely used in some sectors is continuous paper, a special type of paper with perforations on both sides. If you want to know how do you resume a printer then read this post.
How is Continuous Paper Measured?
The continuous paper hides another particularity beyond the lateral perforations it presents. But it is not too mysterious: it is a paper that, unlike conventional paper, which has a limited shape, is in a rolled format, which allows the user to define the exact dimension. That is, it continues until we decide that it stops continuing. That is the main reason for using this role in most cases. The uses of continuous paper are very strategic.
But how to measure continuous paper? Specifically, continuous paper is usually measured in inches because the first printers specialized in this paper format were born in the United States, where inches are used as a measurement system. As a general rule, the standard measurements for this paper are 377 millimeters by 11 inches and 240 millimeters by 4 inches. Regarding the length of the rolls, there are many variants that we can find on the market. The industry offers alternatives.
How to Print on Continuous Paper?
Different varieties of printing require different tools and materials. In the case of continuous paper, the system used to obtain the copies is known as chemical paper, which presents the perfect pressure sensitivity for the desired purposes. In professional printers like ours, which have been providing advanced printing services for more than two decades, we have everything you need to print on continuous paper.
- Continuous Paper Types
Although we must be clear that there are two large types of continuous paper today. On the one hand, the continuous white paper, that is to say, with the appearance of the folios of a lifetime but with the already mentioned particularity of not having an established purpose. On the other hand, the continuous ruled paper incorporates alternating horizontal stripes for scoring and reading the items. These stripes can be blue, green, or gray. We also find simple, double, or triple continuous paper.
- Uses of Continuous Paper
Doesn’t the above ring a bell? Don’t you remember seeing that double continuous role somewhere? Of course! It is the paper generally used to print invoices for establishments and businesses. One copy remains for the company and another copy is given to the client. Sometimes, as in public administration, triple continuous paper is used: one copy for the interested party, another for the entity that registers the request, and another for the destination entity. They are the main uses of continuous paper.
What is the Printer that Uses Continuous Paper?
To print on continuous paper we logically need a printer for special continuous paper. And that printer is known as a matrix printer. It is a device that works through a needle system capable of generating dot patterns and an ink tape that records the information.
To be able to print two on your 3D printer if you only have one extruder check how the printer works to check if it can print two colors or not. In order to print two colors on your 3D printer, you will have to make layers with different colors.
- Start printing with your 3D printer with the same color
- Wait for your printer to stop until you get to the next color
- Change the color of your extruder
- Two situations can occur when you are going to print with a single extruder:
- Each layer of the print has a different color
- In each of the layers, there are different colors
- With Two Nozzles or Extruders
With 3D printers with two nozzles or with two extruders you can make multicolor prints, whether you want to print different colors in one layer or in different layers. Printers with two extruders are more productive because they can print two parts at the same time.
- With an External Device
If what you are looking for is to mix different colors in the pieces that you want to print, this will be the option that best suits you. External devices that mix the filaments are usually compatible with any 3D printer, like yours. This device combines different filaments and is responsible for connecting them to your printer. Thus, you can make 3D prints with different colors without having to change the colors.
Tutorial on How to Print a Two Color Gradient
In order to achieve the goals you are looking for, you have to follow this tutorial to know how to print a two-color gradient on your 3D printer.
- Choose Print Colors
Before you start printing you will have to choose which colors you are going to use for the objects you want to print with your 3D printer.
Program the Percentages of Use of Each Color
Being a gradient, what you are going to print will not have the same amount of color in its parts. Rather, one part will have more than one of the two colors and vice versa, and at some point, they will mix. Therefore, it is necessary that you program the corresponding amount of each color in each of the parts.
- Activate the Printer
Turn on your 3D printer and start printing in two colors, to get everything you were looking for.
Tips for Two-Color 3D Printing
So that everything you print with your two-color 3D printer has the results you want, we recommend you follow these two-color 3D printing tips:
- Use a blend with at least a 50% difference in process color
- Use short fusions, less than 20 cm
- Choose light colors or reduce dark ones
- Use a suitable line (256 levels of gray)
- In the gradient, assign different screen angles in the color separation
- If you print transparencies, choose to rasterize the gradients and meshes
