using roll paper?

[lucid image]

I have just become the proud owner of an Epson 2400 (it's in the

mail) as per discussions from a previous post..thanks for all the

advice. I have decided to use the premium luster paper and ordered 2

13" x 39' rolls, since Epson does not manufacture it in 4x6 and 5x7

size. My question now is what cutter should I be buying? Is it a

pro rotary cutter that I want or something else? Also, how does one

go about getting the print off the printer to trim? Hope these

questions are not too elementary, I am just a newby to rolls and a

little confused. Thamnks in advance.

 

Sean

[mendel_leisk]

Or cut off the roll before printing?

[Ed_Ingold]

A rotary (shearing) cutter works the best in my experience. I have several cutters, guillotine style, a Rotatrim and a Martin-Yale (which cuts a 1 inch stack like butter).

 

Rotatrim cutters are expensive, but give the cleanest, straightest edge for 1-5 sheets at once. The cutting angle is constant and the paper is automatically clamped by the head. It also cuts matting board almost as cleanly as a razor cutter. Larger cutters are not much more expensive, so a 24 inch cutter is not unreasonable, and would allow you to square 16x20 sheets. I have a 17 (too late wise), which is also handy for 11x14 mattes. It is light, easily stored, and my first choice for small jobs.

 

Guillotine cutters (swinging blade type) are inexpensive in small sizes. The cutting angle (and smoothness) varies with the angle of the arm, and they exert a significant sideways force on the paper, causing the paper to move, especially in stacks. Large ones (e.g., 24") are expensive and very heavy. They are somewhat dangerous, too. Guillotine cutters are best left in the mail room.

 

Some paper cutters use razor blades, straight or rotary, against a plastic board. Rotary blades are available for perforating paper (for folding). Other than professional matte cutters, razor cutters are simply not accurate enough. The cutter tracks are often cheaply made, and the thin blades tend to wander.

 

You don't want to pre-cut roll paper. As you will see, it is strongly curled, and remains curled for a long, long time. Feeding in sheets would be difficult or impossible. Even with a roll feeder, you have to straighten the leading edge just to start the roll. This may also have an impact on the presentability of your work. For my part, I use roll paper (for a 2200) for panoramas and odd sizes, not routine prints.

[cliff_tascarella]

<p>Edward is correct. The rotary style paper cutter is the way to go. The Rotatrim brand, as previously mentioned, is a great paper cutter. The cutting head uses a pizza-cutter looking blade that makes clean precise cuts. The cutting head itself sits on two bars, providing extra stability. I have used these and they are flawless.<br>

<img src="http://www.officezone.com/images/rotatrim.jpg" alt="" width="200" height="200" /></p>