Page 42 - Print21 March-April 2020

Wide Format
Top
Tips
20
(part 2)
John Buitenkamp from Starleaton provides the second set of
Top 20 Tips; by implementing them wide format printers will provide themselves with the best platform for a successful operation.
11Label your product
12Choose the right printer(s)
Some printer systems are application- specific, for instance flatbed or roll to
roll, and there are hybrids. Typically, the flatbed and hybrid systems are six-figure investments, whereas roll-to-roll are five- figure investments, with many at the lower end of that scale. Flatbeds tend to be UV printers, whereas roll-to-roll can be eco- solvent, latex (water based), or UV. Eco- solvent suppliers say they provide more durable inks, latex suppliers say theirs are environmentally friendly, UV proponents say theirs will print on anything.
once it is out of the box
So many printers have rolls of unmarked media lying around, left over from a previous job, but with no way of telling whether it is 150gsm or 180gsm, or what kind of adhesive it has. Labelling the media once it is out of the box means whatever
is not used is still available to you for new jobs, without the guesswork, and without the cost of ordering new media.
Use certified inks
Using inks from the grey market might look cheaper but will usually void any warranty on your printers. Look for inks that have the Greenguard or similar environmental accreditation, which most OEM inks have. Certified inks should also enable consistency of result, not just during the print run, but from run to run for the same job.
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Invest in colour management software
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Invest in colour management hardware
Every printer will seriously benefit from
a third-party rip software and a colour measurement tool like those produced by X-Rite. A rip from the likes ErgoSoft, Onyx, Caldera or other will enable colour profiling and consistent, accurate output. Each media can be profiled, which essentially means the printer is optimised for that particular substrate; gloss, satin or matte, canvas, paper, or vinyl. A good profile will also save you ink.
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Separate print and cut
Used in conjunction with X-Rite colour management rips come into their own.
For instance, we had a customer recently which had to produce a new print for a bashed car panel, on which the wrap had been first placed 18 months ago. The X-Rite was able to measure the faded colour that was needed versus what the original colour was in the file making for a perfect match on the first print. Investments in colour management will be repaid many times over by time and material saved.
Invest in decent
finishing equipment
My advice would be to keep
the cutting and printing separate, unless you have a specific type of work that
goes through a print and cut machine. Separating print and cut gives you flexibility, and means your printer is not tied up with cutting. And separate units cost around the same as a combined unit.
You can buy hand cutting units from $1000 but much better to spend
$7000 or $8000 for an electric system. Your throughput will be ten times higher, freeing up your labour. A Roland plotter, for instance, will cut 1000 stickers in around 20 minutes, you would not get anywhere near that by hand, even if you could do it.
42 Print21 MARCH/APRIL 2020