How to Print Transparencies

Co-authored by Luigi Oppido

Last Updated: November 20, 2022 References

Transparencies are used to give groups a better understanding of what a speaker is trying to convey. Teachers, students, businessmen, and other professionals use transparencies on overhead projectors to make words and images appear on screens and walls. Transparencies can also be used in screen printing to help create the screens for printing shirts. You can print your own transparencies at home, as long as you find the correct transparency film for your printer.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Getting the Printer Ready

1
Find transparencies.^{[1]
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Research source} Transparencies are a plastic film that you'll need to find or purchase. If you're printing for your school or office, they may have transparencies you can use for business or school purposes. However, if not, you'll need to purchase some from an office supply store, teacher supply store, or big box store.
- Make sure you find the right kind for your printer. Do not use inkjet transparencies in a laser printer. The transparency will melt inside the printer and damage the printer.^{[2]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Luigi Oppido
  Computer & Tech Specialist
  Expert Interview. 30 September 2021.}
2
Clean the printer. Transparency packages come with a cleaning sheet to help remove stray ink from your printer before you print on the transparency. Because ink tends to smear on transparencies, it's important that you don't try to print on the transparency without cleaning the printer first.
- All you need to do is take the cleaning sheet out of its protective sleeve. Run it through the printer using your printer's feed button or the software. You shouldn't try to print anything on it.
- You can save the sheet for later.
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3
Load one transparency sheet in the printer. With specialty paper, you need to be more careful with loading. In other words, you should only load it one sheet at a time. Otherwise, you risk jamming your printer or wasting expensive paper because it doesn't print correctly.
- In addition, be sure to print on the rough side of the transparency.
- If you're not sure how to load your paper so it prints on the rough side, make a mark on a regular sheet of paper and note how you put it in your printer. Print on the page to see how you need to load the transparency so it prints on the correct side.^{[3]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Printing on the Transparency

1
Examine the image. Before your print, think about the purpose of your image. For example, if you're using a transparency in an overhead projector, you pretty much have free reign in what you print. On the other hand, if you're using the transparency for something like screen printing, you need to make sure the image has a clear outline and it's in black and white, to make it easier to print to the screen.^{[4]
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2
Change the paper type. When you go to print, you need to change the type of paper you are printing on.^{[5]
X
Expert Source

Luigi Oppido
Computer & Tech Specialist
Expert Interview. 30 September 2021.} Usually, you'll find it under the printing preferences. Look for something like "paper quality" or "paper type." Select "transparencies" under the type of paper.^{[6]
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Research source}
- If your printer doesn't have a transparency setting, use the glossy paper setting.
3
Print the page. Once you have everything set up, you print the page as normal. If you're printing in black and white, you may want to set the printing to its darkest setting. That way, it will show the contrast better, whether you're using the transparency for an overhead projector or for screen printing.
- All you need to do to print is click "File" and "Print." Once under "Print," you can change some settings. However, you may need to go into "Printing Preferences" to change some settings.
4
Use your transparencies cautiously. While you can use these transparencies as you would any other transparency, you should realize that one you print at home won't be quite as durable as a professionally printed one. Be careful of your hand oils, and try not to get the transparency wet, as the ink may run.
- After printing, do not immediately touch the transparency, this is done in order to prevent smudges from the ink.^{[7]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Luigi Oppido
  Computer & Tech Specialist
  Expert Interview. 30 September 2021.}

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Printing at a Copy Shop

1
Save your file. Usually, you can print from a file at a copy shop. However, you do need to bring that file with you in some form. You can save the file to a jump drive, for example. Alternatively, some stores will let you print from cloud services.^{[8]
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Research source}
- To save to a jump drive, insert the jump drive into a USB port on your computer. Find the drive under "This PC." Go the "File" menu in the document. When you save the file, save it to the jump drive folder.
- To save to the cloud, just save it to the folder on your computer for the cloud service you use. Make sure you're connected to the internet so it uploads to the cloud.
2
Take it to a copy shop. Most copy shops will print a transparency for you for a small fee. Having a copy shop do it can make the process easier. Plus, it saves you from buying a whole box of transparencies if you only need to print a couple.^{[9]
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3
Print the file. Many places have self-service areas where you can print.^{[10]
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Research source} However, you may need to talk to someone to print to a transparency, as that is a specialized service, not standard printing. Generally, you pay per page you print.

Expert Q&A

Question

Can you print transparencies with an inkjet printer?

Luigi Oppido
Computer & Tech Specialist
Luigi Oppido is the Owner and Operator of Pleasure Point Computers in Santa Cruz, California. Luigi has over 25 years of experience in general computer repair, data recovery, virus removal, and upgrades. He is also the host of the Computer Man Show! broadcasted on KSQD covering central California for over two years.

Luigi Oppido

Computer & Tech Specialist

Expert Answer

Technically, you can. A laser printer will give you better results, though.
Question

How can I improve the quality of my prints?

Luigi Oppido
Computer & Tech Specialist
Luigi Oppido is the Owner and Operator of Pleasure Point Computers in Santa Cruz, California. Luigi has over 25 years of experience in general computer repair, data recovery, virus removal, and upgrades. He is also the host of the Computer Man Show! broadcasted on KSQD covering central California for over two years.

Luigi Oppido

Computer & Tech Specialist

Expert Answer

Usually, the quality of the transparency paper matters more than the quality of the printer, unless your printer is really bad. Also, remember to let the transparencies rest for a couple of minutes to avoid smudges.
Question

Can I print using a normal printer?

Community Answer

Most printers yes, but some jobs will require an inkjet printer. If you are printing for screen printing for example, you need an inkjet printer and inkjet transparencies, and you'll need to set your settings to make the print as dark as possible. Most copiers and laser printers (which are what you'd get at most print shops) will not make an opaque enough print.