Thursday, November 18, 2004
The Wide World of Large Format Printing
Browsing through a printing magazine, I was struck by an article giving tips on choosing the perfect printer and eventually embarking on the wide (large)-format printing industry. The way this guy explained the things to be done is so simple that even a greenhorn like me can easily do it. Let me just share it with you. It was an article by Kenneth Sandlin, an author of “Wide Format Printing: An Introduction and Buyer’s Guide.”
According to Sandlin, if you’re thinking of adding or embarking on wide format printing, you need to upgrade and invest on equipment. That’s the number one rule. Wide format printing is the fastest growing field in the printing industry that it has become virtually a very good investment because of the advancement in technology and the materials and consumables becoming more affordable.
However, because of the wide range of choices for equipment, manufacturers, models and technology changing every few months, the task of getting the ideal equipment is overwhelming. But it’s easier if you break down your most essential consideration: WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO PRODUCE?
It all boils down to your specification of production. Whether it’s POP displays, Posters, Presentation, Floor Graphics or any other options, it is better to choose your point of focus first. Then answer the following questions: Will you focus on indoor or outdoor graphics? Long term or short term outdoor in combination with indoor? How near or how far will the graphics be viewed? What will be your clients’ requirement for resolution and color accuracy? How large a volume will you need to be able to produce?
After answering these basic questions, you’re ready to decide on which printing technology will best suit your planned output. Choose the ink types that you’re going to utilize. Whether its aqueous inks, solvent inks, or eco-solvent inks, it all boils down to what you can afford. Aqueous inks are more expensive in the long run because you use media with a receptor coating to receive the inks. This receptor coating speeds the drying process and bond capacity of the ink.
Solvent inks are less expensive and more durable outdoors. They are often used for applications such as vehicle graphics, billboards, and many more. On the other hand, eco-solvent inks are less aggressive so they require a specially engineered media to receive the inks. Still they are not top-coated and are nearly as durable as the solvent media.
Anyway, that’s all for now. You might want to watch out for the second installment of this blog. I’ll tell you the rest of the article next.
According to Sandlin, if you’re thinking of adding or embarking on wide format printing, you need to upgrade and invest on equipment. That’s the number one rule. Wide format printing is the fastest growing field in the printing industry that it has become virtually a very good investment because of the advancement in technology and the materials and consumables becoming more affordable.
However, because of the wide range of choices for equipment, manufacturers, models and technology changing every few months, the task of getting the ideal equipment is overwhelming. But it’s easier if you break down your most essential consideration: WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO PRODUCE?
It all boils down to your specification of production. Whether it’s POP displays, Posters, Presentation, Floor Graphics or any other options, it is better to choose your point of focus first. Then answer the following questions: Will you focus on indoor or outdoor graphics? Long term or short term outdoor in combination with indoor? How near or how far will the graphics be viewed? What will be your clients’ requirement for resolution and color accuracy? How large a volume will you need to be able to produce?
After answering these basic questions, you’re ready to decide on which printing technology will best suit your planned output. Choose the ink types that you’re going to utilize. Whether its aqueous inks, solvent inks, or eco-solvent inks, it all boils down to what you can afford. Aqueous inks are more expensive in the long run because you use media with a receptor coating to receive the inks. This receptor coating speeds the drying process and bond capacity of the ink.
Solvent inks are less expensive and more durable outdoors. They are often used for applications such as vehicle graphics, billboards, and many more. On the other hand, eco-solvent inks are less aggressive so they require a specially engineered media to receive the inks. Still they are not top-coated and are nearly as durable as the solvent media.
Anyway, that’s all for now. You might want to watch out for the second installment of this blog. I’ll tell you the rest of the article next.
# posted by digitalroom @ 8:21 AM 
