The world of UV printing know-how right now presents media and software versatility for a spread of wants
By Ginny Mumm
With right now’s wider color gamut and complicated print software program, UV printers can create vibrant and complex designs. Pictures courtesy Roland DGA
As the worldwide marketplace for ultra-violet (UV) printing continues to develop, printer producers are responding with progressive and versatile options for print service suppliers (PSPs). Advances in printer know-how together with expanded and improved inksets, equipment, and up to date raster imaging processor (RIP) software program have made the most recent UV printers extra correct, productive, and versatile than ever earlier than. Along with permitting customers to print on absolutely anything, these printers can now produce vibrant, high-quality output rivaling output from different manufacturing units.
To raised perceive the developments and improvements in UV print manufacturing, we talked with Jay Roberts, Roland DGA product supervisor for UV printers, who spoke concerning the methods the most recent UV printing know-how addresses right now’s market.
Why are PSPs fascinated about UV print manufacturing? What makes this know-how impactful?
Jay Roberts (JR): With its capacity to print on all kinds of substrates and 3D objects, UV printing presents distinctive media and software versatility. Customers can personalize and customise supplies and objects in a spread of sizes, permitting PSPs to upsell present prospects and enchantment to new ones. UV printing functionality additionally opens alternatives to enter new markets, together with packaging, promotional merchandise, point-of-purchase shows, artwork, and inside design.
As well as, UV printing presents customers a easy and easy manufacturing cycle. Since UV inks print on to the top substrate, customers keep away from the necessity to print, laminate, after which mount their graphics, saving time and streamlining workflows.
How have inks developed?
JR: The evolution in UV inks has been a key component within the growing reputation of UV printers. Immediately’s UV inksets supply customers a widened color gamut, which creates a bigger color area for printers to match model colors or hit the proper hue for his or her purchasers. These superior inksets yield high-quality output corresponding to the output from eco-solvent printers and permit straightforward cross-platform manufacturing.
Specialised inksets are additionally being created to reply to customers’ differing manufacturing wants. As well as, customers can transition from one inkset to the opposite as their manufacturing wants change over time. One other innovation in UV inksets is the widened variety of configuration choices now obtainable. Some inksets supply customers as many as seven totally different ink configurations to satisfy their particular wants.
Newer UV printers have options optimizing printing on curved surfaces, together with attachments that make it straightforward to print instantly on cylindrical objects.
How does having UV print functionality assist print suppliers capitalize on developments?
JR: Customization and personalization are solely growing as companies seize the potential these providers present for extra revenue and connection to their purchasers. Print retailers can supply these providers on merchandise they already present, akin to signage, or develop their choices to incorporate printing on merchandise like promotional gadgets, golf balls, and cellphone instances. UV printing helps PSPs meet all these wants with quick-drying, sturdy, and scratch-resistant prints.
One other benefit of UV printing is its white and gloss ink capabilities. Including distinction with a base layer of white ink or results with gloss ink enhances the look of the product. Moreover, customers can add spot color and a matte or gloss end to set their designs other than the competitors. UV prints may also be layered to create a texture simulating in style embossing or three-dimensional results.
What about hybrid printers? What advantages do they supply?
JR: Hybrid UV printers supply the power to print on inflexible supplies akin to board inventory and metals, in addition to printing roll-to-roll media for graphics and backlit shows. Hybrid UV printers are additionally getting used for printing on heavier textile roll-to-roll media used to create merchandise akin to umbrellas and awnings.
Along with providing extra versatility for patrons, hybrid printers have a decreased footprint in contrast with conventional flatbed printers. Over the previous few years, printer producers have begun providing a spread of mattress sizes to accommodate the wants of customers, from deeper and bigger beds to extra compact choices.
Customizing objects continues to be in style. What are producers providing to make this course of simpler?
JR: Together with different manufacturing enhancements, the latest UV printers can accommodate objects of higher thickness, thus growing the vary of merchandise that may be printed on. Many flatbed or hybrid UV printers can print on objects as much as 177.8 mm (7 in.) thick or extra.
Extensive-format UV printers can print on glass surfaces to provide customized inside decor.
Printing on curved or uneven supplies will be difficult as a result of supplies’ various distance from the printheads. Nevertheless, newer printers supply a “distance mode” permitting detailed prints on these supplies with none loss in high quality.
Are there equipment facilitating printing on 3D objects?
JR: Fashionable UV printer equipment supply customers elevated capabilities and the chance to broaden their product vary to incorporate in style merchandise akin to water bottles and tumblers.
Customers also can print on the complete circumference of cylindrical objects akin to insulated water bottles, glass vases, candles, and different objects of assorted sizes and diameters This extra printing functionality with no loss in high quality is a win-win for PSPs and their purchasers.
What have the most recent software program enhancements delivered to UV printing?
JR: The evolution of RIP software program has saved tempo with ink and printer know-how developments. The most recent RIP applications include a variety of options and modes to assist customers produce extra correct output, extra quickly.
Whereas color administration was once a key concern in digital printing, current RIP software program offers profiles and modes that handle color extraordinarily nicely. Customers can nonetheless create their very own color profiles, however usually discover they not must. Immediately’s printer software program also can measure the color in a swatch or paint chip, and reproduce it with outstanding accuracy.
Roland DG printers, for instance, include the VersaWorks RIP software program included. VersaWorks presents superior options third-party RIPs can’t present. One function serving to customers create particular results is the power to regulate UV lamp intensities. This management can be utilized for particular results together with a foil approach, the place a consumer lays down a spot of uncured gloss ink, provides foil, rubs it in, and cures it, leaving the foil within the print. Though these particular methods will be extra labour-intensive, they add impression and worth to artwork or decor tasks.
What do you see for the way forward for UV printing?
JR: Within the subsequent few years, I anticipate there will probably be many bulletins about new UV printer platforms providing elevated velocity and manufacturing capabilities. Producers are listening and responding to the market’s demand for extra velocity and for continued advances in vibrant, correct manufacturing.
Ginny Mumm is a contract guide for digital inkjet printer/cutter supplier Roland DGA. For extra data, go to www.rolanddga.com.
