Laserprinter- getting rid of spotty traces

[mcasey1]

Well I just used the glossy photo paper method of ink transfer for the first time with relative success.  I used My Brother laser printer with Office Depot multi-project gloss photo paper.  The only problem I have run across is that even with highest DPI settings (HQ 1200) there are parts in the trace that appear spotty and when the etch is performed the traces are pitted down to the fiberglass.  Are there any other settings I should adjust on my printer, or do I need to try different toner or paper?

[John Lyons]

Not what you want to hear but I have been using a copier at work and it's made all the difference in the world.
A thick toner copy will cure all the pitting.
Only took two different copiers and new toner cartridges for me to break down and go the copier route!

John

[remmelt]

We have an old laser printer at home, I don't think it'll do much more than 600dpi. Traces are fine using either pnp or photo paper. Are you using inkjet photo paper? That's the one you should have, NOT laser printer photo paper! There's no setting for extra toner on paper or something like that on this printer, just the economy setting (which I don't use for this, obviously) and everything is fine.

It sounds like the transfer to the pcb isn't as clean as it could be? My mistake is that I always try to take off the paper too soon, leave it to cool off in the water with soap until it's really cool and will slide off without much trouble.

[spudulike]

In the paper type option select "thick stock". This changes the heat setting on the fuser and also improves the way the toner is transferred to the paper.

[Pushtone]

In the paper type option select "thick stock". This changes the heat setting on the fuser and also improves the way the toner is transferred to the paper.

This works for me too.

I also find improvement if I warm-up the laser printer first by printing a couple pages of text or a large image, them immediately print the PCB layout while the drum is still hot.
If I don't warm-up the printer I get holes in the traces and even flaking of the toner off the paper.