What are the options for printing onto vinyl? I know a small bit about thermal resin machines(Color Camm,Edge and edge 2).Are these the only options for printing on vinyl or can you use a large format printer and a plotter seperately to achieve the same result..I really am clueless on this issue.Any help would be appreciated.
Posted by Monte Jumper (Member # 1106) on :
I know this is a voice from the past but here goes anyway.
You can also print on vinyl by silkscreening...10 times as fast and 10 times cheaper.
Mind you "one offs" are not credible but if your doing 6 or more it's the only way to fly.
"werks fer us it'll werk fer you"
Posted by Fred Weiss (Member # 3662) on :
Matan Printers Posted by Scott Pagan (Member # 2507) on :
quote:can you use a large format printer and a plotter seperately to achieve the same result
yes, we do it all day, everyday. it's an extra step to setup the print file and then your cut file, but it's not too difficult and you get nice diecut graphics when you're done.
Posted by TransLab (Member # 470) on :
Don't forget inkjet.. depending on the application , might be the right solution. I don't use it for vehicle graphics, but for indoor use or short term 3-6 mo outdoor use(uv inks) it works very well.
Posted by Kenneth Sandlin (Member # 3014) on :
Thermal printers such as Roland, Gerber, Summa, and Matan are good ways to print directly to uncoated sign vinyl. Otherwise a full fledged solvent printer (starting at $30K going up to $500K) will produce prints that can be contour cut with the appropriate plotter and software.
Eco-Solvent printers such as the Roland SolJet or Mutoh Falcon Outdoor (also branded PrismJet and Jetster) print to specially engineered media similar to sign vinyl, but more expensive.
Aqueous printers must use specially coated media which are more expensive and less durable and conformable than sign vinyl.
The new Encad VinylJet prints to uncoated vinyl, but slowly and image quality is poor. But it is much less expensive (around $12,000). It uses a special Infrared Cured water based ink.
My book covers all of these technologies as well as over 50 printers from all these categories.
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