Due to a recent boom of screen printing, the interest and demand for the transparency film has increased. The opportunity of making a stencil with an image you want and placing it to a garment sounds very tempting.
Let’s talk about brands that produce this type of film. It took more than 20 hours to compile this review that describes the best transparency film for inkjet printers. These top 11 brands have been chosen as the most prominent film manufacturers approved by customers for their quality products.
Top 11 Inkjet Transparency Film Sheets for Printing
| Rank | Review | Name | Sheet Size | Sheets in Pack | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | | Gold-Up USA View Details | 13'' x 19'' | 50 | 10.0 |
| 2 | | Apollo View Details | 8.5’’ x 11’’ | 50 | 9.9 |
| 3 | | A-SUB View Details | 13'' x 19'' | 100 | 9.8 |
| 4 | | Octago View Details | 8.5’’ x 11’’ | 30 | 9.7 |
| 5 | | Uinkit View Details | 8.5’’ x 11’’ | 20 | 9.5 |
| 6 | | Neato Maxclear View Details | 8.5’’ x 11’’ | 10 | 9.3 |
| 7 | | CIS Inks View Details | 13'' x 19'' | 50 | 9.2 |
| 8 | | Grafix View Details | 8.5’’ x 11’’ | 6 | 9.1 |
| 9 | | FXN View Details | 11'' x 17'' | 50 | 9.0 |
| 10 | | 3M (CG 3460) View Details | 8.5’’ x 11’’ | 50 | 8.7 |
| 11 | | HP (C3834A) View Details | 8.5’’ x 11’’ | 50 | 8.6 |
Gold-Up USA Waterproof Inkjet Transparency Film
This inkjet film from Gold-Up USA is the product with the highest rating and numerous positive reviews. The paper is made of quality PET material with antistatic characteristics. It has a microporous coating that is waterproof and not prone to curling.
The 4 mil film has a high ink load capacity and works well with both dye and pigment ink. The product is compatible with all branded inkjet printers.
- Causes no jams and smears
- Nicely packaged in a box
- An affordable price
- Holds ink well
- Dries quickly
- The sheets are not transparent but have a light milky color (which is not a downside for all users)
Apollo Universal Quick Dry Transparency Film
The Apollo inkjet printer film is 100% clear. It can be used in a copier and a printer and includes a removable sensing strip for smooth feeding. The film comes in a pack of 50 sheets, and each sheet has a special cover for more brilliant printing results. The ink dries very fast, which is very helpful for last-minute projects. The product doesn’t contain the instruction insert, so note that the print should be done on a textured surface.
- Exceptionally transparent
- Recommended for standard printers
- A coated surface for bright visual effects
- Instant drying
- The ink doesn’t smear
- The sheets may come curly, and they are difficult to feed in a printer
- The printed images may look faded
A-SUB Inkjet Transparency Film for Screen Printing
A-SUB is a trustworthy brand that manufactures inkjet printer films for commercial and personal purposes. Its products have a good reputation among clients.
It offers a waterproof film made of PET with a microporous resin coating. The film is rather thick (5 mil) and doesn’t bend when laying it on the screen. The paper has a milky transparency. It absorbs ink quickly and dries fast.
- Strong ink absorption
- A fast-drying formula
- Compatible with pigment/dye ink and water-based ink
- Works with multiple printer brands
- The quality reproduction of images
- The sheets stick together and should be fed one at a time
Octago Inkjet Transparency Paper
The transparency paper from Octago is multipurpose. It can be used for silk screening and crafts. As a good stencil for screen prints, it requires less exposure time and transfers all details.
The film is 4.7 mil thick and absolutely clear. The sheets have a special cover that helps produce bright colors. Each sheet is protected by paper inserts.
It is great for craft projects like scrapbooking and making window cards and floating ornaments. The film is compatible with inkjet printers and overhead projectors to reproduce charts and graphs.
- Available in various packs
- The film has no shading that may block UV lights
- Completely smooth without any sandy structure
- Dries instantly
- Comes in a durable cardboard case
- Has a tendency to curl up
- Some users lack a grainy film texture because this may lead to color smearing
Uinkit Inkjet OHP Transparency Film
The OHP film form Uinkit is crystal clear. Each sheet features 2 different sides (smooth and textured), and a rough one should be used for printing.
The film is easy to use, and it is suitable for educational and presentation purposes, crafting projects, and printing. The sheets are rather sturdy and cause no issues in feeding them in a printer slot. They come with a white stripe paper.
- Causes no printer jams
- Fast-drying
- The images don’t smudge
- FSC Certificated
- The film has a chemical odor
Neato Maxclear Printable Transparent Sticker Paper
Printable sticker paper is a stunning product from Neato. It is made of a transparent glossy material, which can be used in laser and inkjet printers. The film comes with a permanent adhesive that is perfect for making printable stickers and labeling any object around you. The material is weatherproof and tear-resistant.
The pack includes a free design software that helps design various labels. You will have a lot of fun with this product making labels and stickers for parties, school activities, and work.
- Made of a durable material
- Has self-adhesive properties
- Can be used in cutting machines
- Multiple customization options
- Requires time to dry
CIS Inks Transparent Film with Good Dual Texture
The CIS film offers a variety of applications: offset and silk screen printing, flexographics, graphic imaging, resin versions, vinyl, and many other. It can be used for industrial and commercial products.
The film is clear with a milky consistency. Its surface is microporous and has a special cover that allows absorbing ink faster. Thanks to the waterproof coating technology, the ink dries instantly and doesn’t smear.
The high-density material (4 mil) prevents the sheets from curling. They have a dual texture and should be used for printing on a coated side.
- Ships vacuum-sealed
- Preventive from curling
- Suitable for universal inkjet printers
- A quick-dry surface
- Water-resistant
- Its waterproof capacity is not very good
Grafix Adhesive Backed Transparency Film
The film from Grafix can be run through any laser and inkjet printer and allows users to create unique designs directly from the computer.
The film is transparent and coated with a layer that accepts color ink easily with no smearing. It has a self-stick backing and is suitable for making stickers. The paper is acid-free and guarantees archival safety.
- Includes an adhesive layer
- Provides flat sharp images
- No issues with drying time
- Holds ink well
- The product lacks usage instructions
- The sheets have no apparent way to remove the backing
FXN Dense Transparent Film (11×17)
Fixons has manufactured inkjet film for the silk screen industry since 2001, and it is known for quality products. The company uses a special microporous water-resistant top coat to ensure the clearest condition of the film. The density of the material is rather thick – 5 mil.
It can be used with dye and pigment ink and produces detailed halftones and sharp edges. The ink dries very fast.
- The company offers decent discounts for bulk orders
- Waterproof
- The accurate color reproduction
- The excellent film density for better handling
- Works only with HP, Canon, and Epson printers
- Has a milky appearance
3M Transparency Sheets (CG 3460)
This CG 3460 film from 3M is specially designed to be used with Hewlett-Packard inkjet printers. It can also be employed in an overhead projector and for crafts (scrapbooking or making greeting cards).
It produces quality and bright prints. Each sheet comes with a sensing stripe for an optimal feed into a printer. It is removed after printing and leaves no residue. The film is made from 50% recycled content.
- The sheets don’t curl
- The colors don’t fade and smear
- Causes no jams in a printer
- Has a removable stripe
- Not crystal clear but a little cloudy
- A little expensive
This film is designed to use in inkjet printers by a solid company that manufactures suchlike printers. The product comes with a higher price tag, but it offers the top-notch quality. The users will have no frustration with this brand.
The HP Premium film is rather thick and shows no color smudging. Used in an overhead projector, it delivers vivid graphics and sharp text. The sheets don’t stick to each other. The side for printing has a deeper grain than other brands and guarantees bright colors.
- Small details are clearly seen
- Dry time is not an issue
- Holds ink better
- The colors don’t smear
- Expensive
- The product has been discontinued
Buying Guide
There are several considerations to make when buying a transparency film:
These are the most important parameters that determine a good inkjet film. Pay attention to these factors when heading for an art supplies store.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you don’t understand some points about the use of a transparency film, let’s bridge this information gap with some extra facts below. They are structured in a form of typical questions, answers, and recommendations.
What Is Inkjet Transparency Film?
Inkjet transparency paper is a sheet ? of a flexible, translucent material made of cellulose acetate. It is manufactured crystal clear or with a milky appearance.
How to Use Transparency Film for Inkjet Printers
First, find an image ? that you want to print and convert it to black and white. Resize the design or stretch it if necessary. Load the film in your printer observing the correct side. Print the image and let it dry.
Now, you can transfer it to fabric.
What to Do with Transparency Paper ??
The uses for transparencies vary. It can be printed on copiers and printers. The film is widely used for silk screen printing to transfer images to fabric.
Colleges and companies, which employ interactive whiteboards and video projectors for presentations and meetings, also use a transparent film. The sheet with pictures/text messages is placed on the projector and displayed to the audience.
What Side Do You Print on Transparency Film?
The inkjet film has a smooth side and a textured (or rough) one. The image should be printed on the textured side; otherwise, the color ? will smear if you use a smooth side.
Load the film correctly in your printer. If you find it difficult to determine a coated side, wet a corner of the film. The side for printing will become sticky.
Where to Buy ? Inkjet Transparency Film?
The transparency film can be purchased in art supplies stores. It is not very cheap and often sold by separate sheets.
Buying the film online is a better way to get a pack of paper at a good price. You can find a variety of brands on Amazon and eBay. Popular online stores for art materials like Staples, Office Depot, and Dick Blick have this product for sale as well.
Few Last Words
The transparency film can be used for various types of printing including clothing fabric, ceramic, glass, steel plate, and many other.
Choosing the high-grade product is important if you want to get a quality final product. The recommendations offered in this post and the reviewed products will help you buy the right thing.
Share your comments if your purchase was successful thanks to this survey.
References
- How to Print on Transparency Paper for Screen Printing – https://www.hamblyscreenprints.com/
- Printing the Transparency – https://ezscreenprint.com/