topic Re: PIXMA iX6820 Ink dissolves from Waterslide Decals when underwater in Desktop Inkjet Printers

PIXMA iX6820 Ink dissolves from Waterslide Decals when underwater

MattCauley — Fri, 04 Sep 2026 14:01:34 GMT

Hello everyone -
I'm using a Canon Pixma iX6820 to print Waterslide Decals. The prints turn out great, nice and vibrant, but no matter what I try, the toner seems to immediately dissolve under water.

Can anyone who has successfully printed the waterslide decals let me know what settings you're using?

I'm currently using Waterslide decals (both Clear and White formats) specific for Laser Printers

When I go to print, I have the settings as follows:
Printer: Canon iX6800 series
Press Quality (Highest)
Media Type: Photo Paper Pro Platinum

Once printed, I use Krylon's Acrylic Sealer spray and add 3 coats of sealant on top of the decals, letting each coat dry for about 45 minutes inbetween

The files print perfectly fine on vinyl sticker paper, but when I use the waterslide decal paper they dissolve upon contact with water.

I'd prefer to not keep burning through sheets of decal paper, so any suggestions you might have would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Matt

Re: Need help: Waterslide Decals, printing from PIXMA iX6820

DerrickL — Fri, 04 Sep 2026 04:28:33 GMT

The reason your prints are dissolving in water comes down to a fundamental issue with how inkjet printers work:

The Canon Pixma iX6820 is an inkjet printer that uses water-soluble dye-based inks (not dry toner from a laser printer). Because inkjet ink is liquid- and water-based, it will immediately bleed or wash away as soon as the paper touches water unless it is manually sealed first.

To fix this, you need to adjust your process depending on the paper type and sealing steps:

1. Ensure You Are Using "Inkjet" Decal Paper

Double-check that your paper is specifically labeled Inkjet Waterslide Decal Paper.

Laser paper has a non-porous coating that prevents liquid inkjet ink from drying, causing it to sit on top of the sheet and immediately wash off.

2. Seal the Print with Clear Acrylic Spray (Mandatory)

Inkjet waterslide decals must be sealed with a clear acrylic sealant after printing.

Step-by-Step Sealing Process

Let the Print Dry Completely Wait 15 to 30 minutes after printing to allow the ink to settle before applying any spray.
Apply Clear Acrylic Spray Use a clear acrylic sealer such as Krylon Crystal Clear or Rust-Oleum Painter's Touch 2X Clear.
Spray in Thin, Even Layers
- Hold the spray can 8–10 inches away from the sheet.
- Apply 2 to 3 light coats, allowing 10–15 minutes of dry time between coats.
- Avoid heavy coats, which can cause the ink to run or make the decal too stiff to bend around surfaces.
Allow Full Cure Time Let the sealed sheet cure for at least 1–2 hours (or overnight for best results) before trimming and placing it in water.
Cut Close to the Design When cutting out your decal, leave a very small margin around the edge of the ink so the clear sealant stays intact over the design boundary.

Re: Need help: Waterslide Decals, printing from PIXMA iX6820

DerrickL — Fri, 04 Sep 2026 12:58:03 GMT

Waterslide decal inkjet paper is available on Amazon and they have one kind that claims it does not need to be sprayed.

Re: Need help: Waterslide Decals, printing from PIXMA iX6820

MattCauley — Sun, 06 Sep 2026 18:06:39 GMT

Thanks, Derrick! That's actually spot on what I've been doing.

(Inkjet) Waterslide decals
Letting the prints dry for at least 30+ minutes
Several coats of Acrylic Spray (I tried Krylon's Acrylic Spray, but I'll see if Crystal Clear works better)
Cutting the decals and dipping maybe a day later

The only thing I'm not sure of is the "type of paper" setting when I hit print.
Google suggested "Media Type: Photo Paper Pro Platinum" but I wonder if one of the other settings might work better

Alternatively, maybe I got a bad brand of decal paper, but the user reviews seemed extremely positive

Re: PIXMA iX6820 Ink dissolves from Waterslide Decals when underwater

DerrickL — Sun, 06 Sep 2026 18:24:43 GMT

I believe the best paper setting is Glossy Paper or Glossy II.

topic Re: PIXMA iX6820 Ink dissolves from Waterslide Decals when underwater in Desktop Inkjet Printers

PIXMA iX6820 Ink dissolves from Waterslide Decals when underwater

Re: Need help: Waterslide Decals, printing from PIXMA iX6820

​1. Ensure You Are Using "Inkjet" Decal Paper

​2. Seal the Print with Clear Acrylic Spray (Mandatory)

Step-by-Step Sealing Process

Re: Need help: Waterslide Decals, printing from PIXMA iX6820

Re: Need help: Waterslide Decals, printing from PIXMA iX6820

Re: PIXMA iX6820 Ink dissolves from Waterslide Decals when underwater

1. Ensure You Are Using "Inkjet" Decal Paper

2. Seal the Print with Clear Acrylic Spray (Mandatory)