River City Supply · Screen Printing Prepress
Inkjet Film Positive System
for Screen Printing
Everything you need to produce professional-grade film positives in-house — choose the Epson T3170X for 24″ wide-format roll-fed production or the Canon Pixma IX6820 for 13x19 desktop output. Both run on Chromaline AccuInk, AccuJet waterproof film, and CADlink FilmMaker RIP.
What Is a Film Positive for Screen Printing?
A film positive — also called a screen printing transparency, film separation, or inkjet film positive — is a printed transparency that blocks UV light in the design areas and transmits UV light everywhere else. It sits on top of a photo emulsion-coated screen during exposure. UV light passes through the clear areas and hardens the emulsion. The blocked areas stay soluble and wash out, leaving open mesh in your design — your stencil.
The quality of your stencil is only as good as the film it was exposed from. Insufficient UV-blocking produces soft stencil edges, filled-in halftone dots, and stencils that break down under squeegee pressure. High-density film positives from a professional inkjet film output system produce sharp, fully hardened stencils with clean washout — job after job.
Choose Your Film Positive Printer
| Spec | Epson T3170X ↗ | Canon Pixma IX6820 ↗ |
|---|---|---|
| Max Print Width | 24″ (roll-fed) | 13x19″ (sheet-fed) |
| Printhead | PrecisionCore MicroTFP · 4 picoliter | FINE cartridge · standard inkjet |
| Max Halftone LPI | 150+ LPI (FilmMaker native) | Up to 65+ LPI |
| Ink System | Chip-free eco-tank · 140mL bottles | Cartridge-based AccuInk |
| Film Format | 24″ rolls — continuous feed | 13x19 sheets |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi · Ethernet · USB | Wi-Fi · USB |
| Package Price | $3,831.28 | $1,179.00 |
| Best For | High-volume production shops | Entry-level · smaller shops |
The System — Ink, Film & Software
Chromaline AccuJet Film — All Sizes & Formats
AccuJet waterproof inkjet film is available in sheet packs and roll formats across a full range of sizes. Choose the size that matches your printer and screen dimensions. All formats use the same Chromaline AccuJet waterproof coating — optimized for AccuInk UV-blocking output. Browse the complete film category →
| Format | Size | Best For | Shop |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sheet Packs — For Desktop Inkjet (Pixma IX6820 and similar) | |||
| Sheet Pack | 8.5″ x 11″ | Small spot color jobs · standard desktop inkjet | Shop → |
| Sheet Pack | 8.5″ x 14″ | Legal-size film positives · taller designs | Shop → |
| Sheet Pack | 11″ x 17″ | Tabloid-size output · larger desktop designs | Shop → |
| Sheet Pack | 13″ x 19″ | Canon Pixma IX6820 — max sheet size for this printer | Shop → |
| Sheet Pack | 17″ x 22″ | Large sheet output · oversized designs | Shop → |
| Roll Film — For Wide-Format Inkjet (Epson T3170X, T3270, and larger) | |||
| Roll · 2″ Core | 13″ x 75’ | Small roll · 13″ wide-format output | Shop → |
| Roll · 2″ Core | 13″ x 100’ | Full roll · 13″ wide-format output | Shop → |
| Roll · 2″ Core | 17″ x 100’ | 17″ wide-format roll output | Shop → |
| Roll · 3″ Core | 17″ x 100’ | 17″ wide-format · 3″ core spindle | Shop → |
| Roll · 2″ Core | 24″ x 100’ | Epson T3170X — standard roll for the complete package | Shop → |
| Roll · 3″ Core | 24″ x 100’ | Epson T3270 (discontinued) · 3″ core spindle | Shop → |
| Roll · 2″ Core | 36″ x 100’ | 36″ wide-format printers · larger screen output | Shop → |
| Roll · 3″ Core | 36″ x 100’ | 36″ wide-format · 3″ core spindle | Shop → |
| Roll · 2″ Core | 44″ x 100’ | 44″ wide-format · Epson 7170X and similar | Shop → |
| Roll · 3″ Core | 44″ x 100’ | 44″ wide-format · 3″ core spindle | Shop → |
| Laser Film — For Laser Printers | |||
| Laser Film | Kimodesk Laser Film | Laser printer transparencies · multiple sizes available | Shop → |
Not sure which size or core to order? Call us at (512) 454-0505 — we can confirm the right film format for your specific printer and spindle setup.
Why AccuInk Outperforms OEM Ink
| Output Quality Factor | OEM Ink (Epson / Canon) | Chromaline AccuInk ↗ |
|---|---|---|
| UV Blocking | Not formulated for UV blocking | Engineered to absorb UV exposure wavelengths |
| Stencil Edge Quality | Soft — UV bleeds around low-density areas | Sharp — UV completely blocked in ink areas |
| Halftone Dot Integrity | Dots fill in or drop out on fine screens | Dots hold geometry through exposure and washout |
| Emulsion Washout | Slower — incomplete UV blocking | Faster — clean washout with shorter exposure |
| Long-Term Cost | Higher — cartridge pricing, chip waste | Lower — refill bottles or matched cartridges |
See the T3170X System in Action
Film to Screen in Four Steps
01
Design
Create Your Artwork
Build your design in Photoshop, Illustrator, or CorelDRAW. Send to FilmMaker RIP via the Windows print spooler — no file conversion needed.
02
RIP
Process in FilmMaker
FilmMaker applies halftone angles, LPI, InRIP separations, and density calibration. One click outputs production-ready film data for either printer.
03
Print
Output to AccuJet Film
AccuInk prints onto AccuJet film. Dense UV-blocking output locks in place without spread. Cut your film and handle through the screen room without smear.
04
Expose
Burn Your Screen
Place film on your emulsion-coated screen and expose. AccuInk completely blocks UV in design areas. Sharp washout. Clean stencil. Ready to print.
⚠️ FilmMaker RIP Requires Windows
CADlink FilmMaker RIP must be installed on a Windows PC (Win 7 SP1, 8, 10, or 11). Both the T3170X and Pixma are compatible. Mac design stations can submit files to the Windows RIP machine over the network.
⚠️ T3170X Drop Ships from Epson
The Epson T3170X drop ships directly from Epson — lead time is outside River City Supply’s control. Call (512) 454-0505 for a current estimate. The Pixma and all consumables ship same-day from our warehouse.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the difference between the T3170X and the Pixma IX6820?
The T3170X is the professional wide-format choice — 24″ roll-fed output, 150+ LPI halftones, chip-free eco-tank ink system, and production-grade throughput. The Pixma IX6820 is the budget entry point — 13x19 sheet-fed output, lower upfront cost at $1,179, and a complete out-of-the-box system. Both run the same AccuInk, AccuJet film, and FilmMaker RIP. Choose based on your screen sizes, print volume, and budget.
What size AccuJet film do I need?
Match the film to your printer’s max output width. For the Canon Pixma IX6820, use 13x19 sheets. For the Epson T3170X, use 24″ x 100’ rolls (2″ core). For the discontinued T3270, use 24″ x 100’ rolls with 3″ core. Larger format printers use 36″ or 44″ rolls. See the full size chart above or browse all film sizes →
Do I need RIP software to print film positives?
Yes. CADlink FilmMaker RIP is required for professional film positive output from both printers. Standard Windows GDI print drivers limit halftone output to approximately 65 LPI and cannot achieve the ink density levels needed for quality screen printing. FilmMaker accepts files from Photoshop, Illustrator, and CorelDRAW and requires Windows.
Why do I need UV-blocking ink for screen printing film positives?
Standard OEM inkjet inks are formulated for color accuracy on photographic media — not for blocking UV light during screen exposure. Without UV-blocking ink, UV from your exposure unit leaks through the ink layer and partially hardens emulsion that should wash out. This causes soft stencil edges, filled-in halftone dots, and stencils that fail under printing pressure. Chromaline AccuInk absorbs and blocks the UV wavelengths used in all exposure systems.
Can I use this system on a Mac?
Both the T3170X and Pixma are macOS-compatible as printers. However, CADlink FilmMaker RIP must be installed on a dedicated Windows PC. A common setup is a Windows workstation running FilmMaker, with Mac design stations sending files to it over the network.
I was using an Epson T3270. What should I order?
The T3170X is the direct replacement. The same AccuJet film, FilmMaker RIP workflow, and 24″ roll-fed format carry over. Use the 24″ x 100’ 2″ core roll for the T3170X — not the 3″ core roll you used on the T3270. Ink tanks fill from 140mL bottles instead of cartridges — no chips, no authentication errors.
Ready to Build Your Film Positive System?
River City Supply has been serving screen printers since 2008. We stock the full Chromaline system — both printer packages, all AccuJet film sizes, AccuInk, and FilmMaker RIP.