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I'm hoping maybe someone can give me some tips... I printed off my HAED pattern but the ink is smudging on the pattern. I tried using highlighters but that just smudged the ink everywhere. Tried using colored pencils but its doing the same.

Anyone have any tips? Should I take the pattern file to a professional copy company and have them print it on expensive paper? I dont know if that would help but if this is how the pattern is.. i'm going to need to find some other technique to mark where I've worked and where I'm working at.

Help?

What type of printer did you use?

Just my home printer (inkjet) with plain computer paper.

did it smear when it printed or just when you used the hilighter? I know mine is alright but it sometimes smears with the hiliter I just usually blow mine up to a half page at a time so now if it smears its alright cuz the box is bigger and i dont go into the other symbols. You may have to let it dry a bit before crosing off.

It smeared when i used the highlighter or colored pencil. I know its dry, I printed it off nearly two weeks ago

Oh wow when I read the title of this I was thinking that you had smeared some ink on your fabric. So glad that was not what happened.

If the paper is a bit on the cheap side you might think of buying a better quality paper and trying just one page to see if that helps.

Hi,
I have taken some things to Office Depot to have copied off on their regular paper and it didn't cost much at all. Try that, or maybe you could go to your local library, most libraries have copy machines you can make copies on.

Linda

That's a good idea Rose. Maybe I'll try to get some expensive paper and maybe the ink will soak in better to the paper, that's all I can think?

I use highlighters to mark of my HAED pattern too. At first I had the problem of smearing - I now use very little pressure and have not had the problem.

thats strange i have printed 2 haeds off, both at home. the first using genuine inks and 3rd party ink, both using tesco value copier paper (about £2 for a 500page ream) and use a mix of pencils and hilighters and not had a problem.

hoprfully if you get some diff paper that will work

The following works to set chalk on fabric I use when quilting for working but then washes out. As it sounds like you may have the whole pattern printed already can you try a corner and see if it works on paper. Spray lightly with hair spray. Only thing I can think of to try salvaging what's already printed.

It sounds to me like the ink and paper aren't compatible. Different types of paper have different absorbancy rates and it sounds to me like your paper just isn't absorbing the ink. Now when I use my ink pen on regular paper I also have absorbancy issues so I have to blot it from time to time. Else buy different paper. You shouldn't need really expensive paper, but I would go for slightly more expensive. Alternatively...buy a sketchpad. A4, and pull out the paper, use that. You'll generally find good quality paper in sketchpads and one pad should be more than enough for a HAED chart, but not cost a fortune like a full pack of paper.

Turn your pattern over onto an old teatowel and use a warm iron to press it. The heat will set the ink. (that is what buttlers do to newspapers so the ink does not soil their masters hands lol)

That's cool!

Well I tried some 100% cotton resume paper and seems to have worked. It will smear if i push down with the highlighter, but if I use a light touch, it is fine.

Thanks for the tips everyone, I think I'm set now
(First 4 blocks of my HAED are done by the way!)

YAY

Glad you got the issue sorted now, but the ironing trick Mauveme mentioned is a good and it really works as well.

So that's why they ironed them -- I had been wondering about that! (I'm a bit of a sad person sometimes...)

Glad you got such good advice from everyone, though like Rose I first thought you'd got ink on your stitching !

Another idea is to laminate the sheet, then the chart can be marked off and wiped clen for another time. Plastic file wallets work too.

I use the ironing for heat setting on fabric in quilting but never thought it as a trick for the paper. Not that I have had an issue so far but have filed the idea for future, just in case.