Retro Repro and then some

[gerisullivan]

Oh. Mi. Ghod.

I have just made my first test print: CMYK onto Fibertone. I am utterly, completely gobsmacked.If I'd picked up the color laser printer I've been thinking about, I'd be headed completely out of control on the Science-Fiction Five-Yearly front right now.

Yes, I am the fan who used to use a Diablo 630 to cut stencils for my Minneapazine. Desktop publishing to e-stencil to mimeograph has been my preferred path of fanzine production for most of 20 years now, even if the last step has upgraded to the mimeo-in-a-box copyprinters. Yes, I'm missing the hours upon hours in the Toad Hall Champion Mimeo Center and Frog Preserve right now, hand-cranking pages just so, eeking out the best ink coverage I could get from recalcitrant, ancient equipment prone to temperamental fits that only Jeff's expert hand could sooth.

But color ink jet...onto Fibertone. It is a thing of beauty indeed.

Comments

[kip-w.livejournal.com]

Our Epson dot-matrix printer used to be able to cut mimeo stencils, and it made ditto masters as well. Jolly days. The printer's gone, but we still have the Gestetner.

[malibrarian.livejournal.com]

You know, Sarah's in bed, one of us could just run over now and....

[bovil.livejournal.com]

Color laser is passé. Solid wax is where it's at.

The process is even very mimeo-like... (http://www.office.xerox.com/perl-bin/opb_product_popup.pl?product=8500_8550&object=8500_8550_solidink_popup_01)

[bibliofile.livejournal.com]

Gosh. It costs under $1000, one ink stick lasts like a toner cartridge not an ink thing.

Though I like the accessibility of inkjet on Twilltone, too. I can't help but think that putting Twilltone through a laserjet would be, well, less than ideal.

[bovil.livejournal.com]

Twilltone might work in the solid ink printer...

[bovil.livejournal.com]

BTW, I just got the 8550DP. It's really nice and came in at $1300 before the $500 rebate.

[cogitationitis.livejournal.com]

I am planning on coming in Wednesday night to help collate.

[ruths.livejournal.com]

I'm looking forward to seeing a copy at some point. I'd love to help collate but NESFA hasn't configured a portal in the clubhouse yet.

Diablo 630 brings back memories of churning out thousands of mail merge letters - it was a great printer.