Canon IP4000 and Non Standard CDRs

  • Thread starter Thread starter Kevin Harper
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Kevin Harper

Can anyone help please? I have an IP4000 and can print onto full size cdrs
without problems. When I try to print onto business card size cdrs, however
I do it, the printer ends up printing onto the very bottom of the cdr holder
and not on the cdr itself.

All thoughts are welcome.

Kevin the Lurker
 
Kevin Harper said:
Can anyone help please? I have an IP4000 and can print onto full size
cdrs without problems. When I try to print onto business card size cdrs,
however I do it, the printer ends up printing onto the very bottom of the
cdr holder and not on the cdr itself.

All thoughts are welcome.

Kevin the Lurker
Click to expand...

Did you setup/change to the correct printing template in your printing
application.
If so, what inner and outer measurements is it set at?
 
Can anyone help please? I have an IP4000 and can print onto full size cdrs
without problems. When I try to print onto business card size cdrs, however
I do it, the printer ends up printing onto the very bottom of the cdr holder
and not on the cdr itself.
Click to expand...

I thought I remembered there being a paper type called credit cards,
but i'm not sure that applies to card-cdrs (or whatever they're
called). How does it work when you try to print to a 120mm disc with
just your material within the the 80mm area?

In theory, at the front lip of the tray-b there are three reflectors,
the inner one (the pair but the one on the inside
([ ] [*] []) is the one that the printhead looks for when
it's doing the in and out motion. The sensor will also respond to
anything white, silver, or generally reflective. Mine for example are
self made with white oil based paint but worked equaly well for tin
foil. I imagine it's possible that along the line from that 2nd
reflector if there is another reflector, whether it be the disc it self
or if the adapter is upside down and has white writing on it or not the
offical black QL2-0605-000 adapter the printer might be thinking tray
start is in the wrong spot.
 
Andrew said:
Did you setup/change to the correct printing template in your printing
application.
If so, what inner and outer measurements is it set at?
Click to expand...

The printer gives a choice between standard size and 8cm size (I think) cd
roms, but there isn't actually a template for business card size. Because a
business card one is similar in size to the 8cm one, I have actually used
that template and arranged my layout to suit, using the standard (preset)
inner and outer measurements for the 8cm template.

To clarify what I said originally about the printer printing at the very
bottom of the cd holder, the holder has a standard cd size circular indent
with about 2cm raised plastic below that and it's that raised plastic part
that is being printed on. I could understand if the thing was printing on
to the standard cd indent (I'd know that I'd mucked up with the templated
size then), but I just can't see why it is printing on that last little bit.

Thanks

Kevin the Lurker
 
zakezuke said:
Can anyone help please? I have an IP4000 and can print onto full size
cdrs
without problems. When I try to print onto business card size cdrs,
however
I do it, the printer ends up printing onto the very bottom of the cdr
holder
and not on the cdr itself.
Click to expand...

I thought I remembered there being a paper type called credit cards,
but i'm not sure that applies to card-cdrs (or whatever they're
called). How does it work when you try to print to a 120mm disc with
just your material within the the 80mm area?

In theory, at the front lip of the tray-b there are three reflectors,
the inner one (the pair but the one on the inside
([ ] [*] []) is the one that the printhead looks for when
it's doing the in and out motion. The sensor will also respond to
anything white, silver, or generally reflective. Mine for example are
self made with white oil based paint but worked equaly well for tin
foil. I imagine it's possible that along the line from that 2nd
reflector if there is another reflector, whether it be the disc it self
or if the adapter is upside down and has white writing on it or not the
offical black QL2-0605-000 adapter the printer might be thinking tray
start is in the wrong spot.
Click to expand...

Still the same unfortunately. You raise an interesting point about the tray
and reflectors. I am in the UK so it is the tray that came with the printer
and not something that I rigged up myself. There is actually a 4th
reflector, about 1cm square, on the cd holder tray, which would appear to be
covered when using either a normal sized or 8cm cd rom but is actually part
exposed with a business card size cd-rom. Perhaps this is causing the
problem. Any clues as to what I could cover it with on a temporary basis?

Thanks for the help.

Kevin the Lurker
 
Still the same unfortunately. You raise an interesting point about the tray
and reflectors. I am in the UK so it is the tray that came with the printer
and not something that I rigged up myself. There is actually a 4th
reflector, about 1cm square, on the cd holder tray, which would appear to be
covered when using either a normal sized or 8cm cd rom but is actually part
exposed with a business card size cd-rom. Perhaps this is causing the
problem. Any clues as to what I could cover it with on a temporary basis?
Click to expand...

Black electrical tape? Masking tape blotched out with a black marker?
Or try printing without the adapter if that is indeed the problem.You
might waste a CD but would help isolating the problem. If you can
prove it's buggered you might be able to get a free one and sell the
lame one to a yank for 20 quid.

I measured the reflectors as being 5.5mm square, but I guess on the
offical tray there is a larger area around them that could be as high
as 10mm.

Here is a diagram without measurements but to scale. Should give you
some clue what the printer is looking for. You could print with the
lid up so long as you depress the sensor located at the rear right of
the printer. It's the black bit directly under a plastic + formed by
two triangles (or 4 right angle triangles). If it's not crossing those
three reflectors after the in and out motion doing a side to side sweep
this would support the idea of it seeing something else reflective and
aligning based on that. Unfortunatly I don't own the 80mm adapter, or
the true canon tray and the service manual is vague on the subject at
best.


http://s120101154.onlinehome.us/pixma/canon_tray_template.jpg
 
zakezuke said:
Black electrical tape? Masking tape blotched out with a black marker?
Or try printing without the adapter if that is indeed the problem.You
might waste a CD but would help isolating the problem. If you can
prove it's buggered you might be able to get a free one and sell the
lame one to a yank for 20 quid.

I measured the reflectors as being 5.5mm square, but I guess on the
offical tray there is a larger area around them that could be as high
as 10mm.

Here is a diagram without measurements but to scale. Should give you
some clue what the printer is looking for. You could print with the
lid up so long as you depress the sensor located at the rear right of
the printer. It's the black bit directly under a plastic + formed by
two triangles (or 4 right angle triangles). If it's not crossing those
three reflectors after the in and out motion doing a side to side sweep
this would support the idea of it seeing something else reflective and
aligning based on that. Unfortunatly I don't own the 80mm adapter, or
the true canon tray and the service manual is vague on the subject at
best.


http://s120101154.onlinehome.us/pixma/canon_tray_template.jpg
Click to expand...

I have printed with the lid open and watched what's happening - it does seem
to be the 4th reflector that's causing the problem with alignment - the tray
goes in "too far". I will try and blank it off with some tape.

The diagram doesn't actually show this 4th reflector. On the "real thing"
there is a lug in the centre of the cdr well to hold the cdr in place when
it is being printed. Using the diagram as a reference, the 4th reflector is
2.4cm up from the centre lug and is 1.6cm wide x 1.3 cm high, radiused top
and bottom.

Thanks

Kevin the Lurker
 
On Thu, 23 Jun 2005 12:55:52 GMT, "Kevin Harper"

Kevin - As a matter of interest, I dont see you mention the small CD
disk insert that comes with the tray - are you using this in addition
to the tray, or not, in your efforts?
My method is to print to A4 paper but to the tray, this allows you to
use a graphics programme like CorelDRAW to make up the disk graphics,
trial on plain paper etc. exactly how you want without worrying what
the printer is going to alter on its own! I had to trial and error
the A4 positioning but could post my .cdr template for A4 if anyone
wants. I think the fourth reflector you mention is just to detect if
there is no CD at all in the tray to give you a warning...just a
guess.
Charlie+
 
The diagram doesn't actually show this 4th reflector. On the "real thing"
there is a lug in the centre of the cdr well to hold the cdr in place when
it is being printed. Using the diagram as a reference, the 4th reflector is
2.4cm up from the centre lug and is 1.6cm wide x 1.3 cm high, radiused top
and bottom.
Click to expand...

The diagram is based on the real thing, in fact it was a scanned tray
converted to a diagram in photoshop. It's why I know it's to scale.
I'm a tad confused on the 4th reflector though I have never seen a scan
of the 120mm to 80mm adapter is this what you are refering to. going
24mm up from the lug would place a reflector inside the CD radius so
this must be what you mean.

I can only say for 120mm discs the three reflector design works.
 
additional:

This 4th reflector you describe, is it on this image?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=6780207541&rd=1&sspagename=STRK:MESE:IT&rd=1

I was blissfully unaware of it's existance. I thought it was silly
red tape like they use to pack the printer to keep the lids shut. I
don't have the real tray but the first time the printehead does a side
to side scan looks to be about that level. I would suspect the purpose
of the 4th reflector is so the printer can detect NO disc.
 
zakezuke said:
additional:

This 4th reflector you describe, is it on this image?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=6780207541&rd=1&sspagename=STRK:MESE:IT&rd=1

I was blissfully unaware of it's existance. I thought it was silly
red tape like they use to pack the printer to keep the lids shut. I
don't have the real tray but the first time the printehead does a side
to side scan looks to be about that level. I would suspect the purpose
of the 4th reflector is so the printer can detect NO disc.
Click to expand...

Yes, it certainly is! Looks as though the light is catching it oddly in
this picture - it's actually silver.

Kevin the Lurker
 
Charlie+ said:
On Thu, 23 Jun 2005 12:55:52 GMT, "Kevin Harper"

Kevin - As a matter of interest, I dont see you mention the small CD
disk insert that comes with the tray - are you using this in addition
to the tray, or not, in your efforts?
My method is to print to A4 paper but to the tray, this allows you to
use a graphics programme like CorelDRAW to make up the disk graphics,
trial on plain paper etc. exactly how you want without worrying what
the printer is going to alter on its own! I had to trial and error
the A4 positioning but could post my .cdr template for A4 if anyone
wants. I think the fourth reflector you mention is just to detect if
there is no CD at all in the tray to give you a warning...just a
guess.
Charlie+
Click to expand...

Charlie, I've tried both with and without and still have the same problem.
I've yet to try covering the reflector over - work intrudes - but I will
post my results. I think that I am going to have to resort to your method,
so I would be grateful if you could either post your template or email it to
me.

Thanks for all the help

Kevin the Lurker
 
zakezuke said:
additional:

This 4th reflector you describe, is it on this image?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=6780207541&rd=1&sspagename=STRK:MESE:IT&rd=1

I was blissfully unaware of it's existance. I thought it was silly
red tape like they use to pack the printer to keep the lids shut. I
don't have the real tray but the first time the printehead does a side
to side scan looks to be about that level. I would suspect the purpose
of the 4th reflector is so the printer can detect NO disc.
Click to expand...

I think I might agree with you on the purpose of the reflector. With a
business card size cd-rom in place, the reflector is half covered and half
exposed, which may well be confusing the printer. As per one of my previous
posts, I've yet to try taping over it, but will let you all know the results
as soon as I do.

Many thanks

Kevin the Lurker
 
On Fri, 24 Jun 2005 12:49:47 GMT, "Kevin Harper"

Ok Ill email it, do you have Corel v8 or higher or would you like some
other format, (its a two layer V8.cdr document in its present form).
Charlie+
 
I think I might agree with you on the purpose of the reflector. With a
business card size cd-rom in place, the reflector is half covered and half
exposed, which may well be confusing the printer. As per one of my previous
posts, I've yet to try taping over it, but will let you all know the results
as soon as I do.
Click to expand...

Someone over at steve's fourms, the massive canon printing cd-r
thread... sugested:

"The insert for printing smaller CDs has a square hole which is the
same size as the other reflectors which exposes the reflector. I
believe its purpose is to to detect which size CD you are printing on."
--canonfodder

http://www.stevesforums.com/forums/view_forum.php?id=40

As I don't own a real one I must yield any knowelege to those who have
seen it :P
 
Charlie+ said:
On Fri, 24 Jun 2005 12:49:47 GMT, "Kevin Harper"

Ok Ill email it, do you have Corel v8 or higher or would you like some
other format, (its a two layer V8.cdr document in its present form).
Charlie+
Click to expand...

Charlie - no problem - bang it through as it is.

Thanks again

Kevin
 
zakezuke said:
Someone over at steve's fourms, the massive canon printing cd-r
thread... sugested:

"The insert for printing smaller CDs has a square hole which is the
same size as the other reflectors which exposes the reflector. I
believe its purpose is to to detect which size CD you are printing on."
--canonfodder

http://www.stevesforums.com/forums/view_forum.php?id=40

As I don't own a real one I must yield any knowelege to those who have
seen it :P
Click to expand...

As I've said previously, the adapter seems to be geared up for an 8cm
circular cdr. With a business card cdr in place, the reflector is only part
covered, which seems to be causing the confusion. I am going to try
blanking off the reflector and see if this works.

Kevin the Lurker
 
zakezuke said:
Someone over at steve's fourms, the massive canon printing cd-r
thread... sugested:

"The insert for printing smaller CDs has a square hole which is the
same size as the other reflectors which exposes the reflector. I
believe its purpose is to to detect which size CD you are printing on."
--canonfodder

http://www.stevesforums.com/forums/view_forum.php?id=40

As I don't own a real one I must yield any knowelege to those who have
seen it :P
Click to expand...

Please ignore my earlier reply. You were exactly right with the information
you've given. I've done some further experimenting.

1) I blanked off the "4th" reflector with black insulation tape, kept the
insert off and printed. This made no difference, the printing was still way
off.

2) I removed the tape, used the insert and printed. Same result as 1).

3) I blanked off the "4th" reflector, used the insert and printed. Result!


This leaves me with two problems a) designing a template to print on to the
business card cdrs without wasting too many with a trial and error process
and b) the printable business card cdrs that I have are slightly too large
for the inset (width is ok, but they are 1mm too long) which is why I tried
without in the first place! Looks like it's time for a sharp knife - and
the plastic that the insert is made from seems to be both thick (circa
1.5mm) and possibly brittle - or any other suggestions please?

Thanks once more.

Kevin the Lurker
 
Looks like it's time for a sharp knife - and the plastic that the insert is made from
seems to be both thick (circa 1.5mm) and possibly brittle - or any other suggestions
please?
Click to expand...

1. Besides calling canon to see if you and get a replacement tray for
free and sell the old one to a yank on e-bay for £25.00? Seriously...
they might have a rom update or some such that isn't published on the
website. they do have updates for the CD software online... and you
can downloadthe whole thing from the taiwan site
http://cmtw.canon.com.tw/service/driver2.asp?ProductID1=00000014&ProductID3=00000227
http://www.canon.com.hk/myContent/P...eJetPrinter/desktopprinter/iP3000/CDR_ENG.pdf

I just looked at the manual and it clearly shows that the square hole
on the adapter should show the reflecter under it.

2. Besides scanning the disc and plopping a template into a graphics
program?

I would say that surething might be an option, but the last time I
checked they didn't support canon priting directly.

I'm not sure if you have photoshop.. but you can find templates online
I'm thinking that you might be able to blank out the CD sensor
http://www.cds.com/specs/Digitalprint/

take the 80mm template or business card one, plop on top of the 120mm
template, delete, leaving you with a disc with a white spot. In turn
you can take all that and plop into a 120mm which should be very easy
to center, and save in a format that CD-label print can read.

Do they make hockey rink / business card to 120mm disc adapters?
Beyond the one canon provides
The last known site now dead was http://microdiscs.de/. Not sure who
would be dealing in such things in your neck of the woods presently.
 
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