Official Luthiers Forum!

What type of paper do you like your full-size guitar plans on? Something semi-transparent like a tracing paper? Or does it matter?

I have a large format Epson printer with a software RIP package that does a nice job printing out full plans - but my paper choices are limited. My roll stock is pretty heavy (thick).

I'd love to help the OLF with the guitar plan library - but need info on the paper desired. Then I need to start searching for the paper (if it exists)

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P A U L B U R N E R
Burner Guitars

Use Vellum. It won't shrink,& it's semi-transparent.
I get mine in 24" wide rolls, but you can get cut sheets too. The traditional brand is ClearPrint, but there are less expenesive alternatives. Check at drafting / CAD suppliers. It also may be called plotter vellum.
-C

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Freeborn Guitars
and home of BeauGuard©

Vellum but you need to store vellum flat and out of the heat it will yellow with heat aging and will crack at the edges with handling over time. I recommend Mylar but it is 3 times the price a 36 x 42 sheet will cost around $6.00 last for ever does not yellow, shrink or crack. It also gives better preproduction clarity.

One more sugestion. If drawing with soft F or H drafting lead you will want to use a fixative after the drawings are finished to seal the lead to the vellum or mylar. The will dramicly increase the life of the drawing and elimonate smudging during handleing.

Michael,
I believe that Paul was looking for paper that will run through his large format printer for full
size plan printing not drawing.

I have a plan that he printed out on his stock and the printer does a great job and the plans
could prove to be a great asset to any luthier's collection of promotional materials since they
can afford a potential customer a full size view of different guitar models and shapes.

Seeing Paul's recently conceived and deigned shape for his first Burner Guitar model really
gave me a good feel for what the instruments will look like as well as their actual physical
size. Good stuff.

Regards,
Kevin Gallagher/Omega Guitars

Ok.... I have found a couple options for paper that will work with my Epson Stylus Pro 4000 printer and I need to know if there is a consensus on which would be better:

Option #1:
Weight: 16 lb. (63.9gsm)
Caliper: 2.9 mil
Opacity: 52%
Brightness: 95

Option #2
Weight: 20 lb. (75.2gsm)
Caliper: 3.3 mil
Opacity: 59%
Brightness: 95

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P A U L B U R N E R
Burner Guitars

As far as the library of plans is concerned It is pretty much a dead feature. there is plans in the works for e-commerce of plans and something else that Lance and Brock will announce in the future. but in any case the would really need electronic files. To send to the printer handling distribution.

As far as paper to reproduce on 20# is ideal if wanting paper if wanting a transparency to reproduce from then either 3mil Mylar or 12-16# vellum