Non-Solvent Printers for Signs

MOST OF US PROBABLY cut our teeth on solvent or eco-solvent printers. For applications such as vinyl graphics and vehicle wraps, they are still a great technology. While still a popular choice for digital printing, new technologies are offering signmakers choices depending on their needs. So let’s take a look at these non-solvent solutions and why you may choose one technology over the other.

A technology that is becoming more and more popular is latex printing. These printers are environmentally friendly as the latex pigments are suspended in water. There are virtually no odors and no noxious fumes emitted while printing. The inks can adhere to a wide variety of media including fabrics, while the prints are weather-resistant and very durable. A major advantage over eco-solvent printers is the print-drying time. Latex prints can go directly from the printer to the laminator. Eco-solvent prints need to be completely dry prior to lamination. This process can take hours, which can slow production. However, one disadvantage to latex printing relates to the amount of heat needed to dry the images. Some heat-sensitive media may not work properly in a latex printer.

UV printers are basically the Swiss Army Knife of large-format printers. UV ink is cured with UV light and will adhere to virtually anything. The technology can be found in roll-to-roll printers as well as flatbeds and hybrids of the two. You can print directly onto boards, be they wood, plastic, foam, metal and, with some machines, even glass. Some UV printers also offer varnish finishes that allow you to print portions of an image with a gloss or matte finish. You can use these varnishes to achieve a textured finish as well.

The downsides of UV printing are generally the printers’ costs, which can easily reach six figures. Due to heat generated by the UV curing system, some thin metals and other heat-sensitive media may warp. Some UV inks may be brittle when cured and can crack if bent. Flexible UV inks are available to address this issue.

A variation of the UV printer is the UV-gel printer. The major difference is the ink begins as a gel and is liquified in the printhead. These printers enjoy all of the advantages of the standard UV printers, though they are offered primarily in roll configurations.

A new competitor to latex printers is resin ink printers. Environmentally friendly like latex and UV inks, they differ by using a resin pigment as opposed to a latex pigment. The inks will adhere to virtually any media including plain paper. The resin inks offer very smooth graphics and vibrant colors.

For the finale of our non-solvent printers, we have a fairly specialized application that most likely won’t replace the traditional large-format printer. What if you have a market for heavily textured prints such as high-end wall coverings? A unique machine, media and ink combination allows you to print graphics with textures up to 1.5mm thick. The media has a coating that expands with heat. A special structural ink inhibits the expansion. By properly printing the structural inks and printing the graphics in standard CMYK colors, you can get a very unique print.

While eco-solvent printers may still be right for your shop, now you also have more choices. Technologies such as latex, UV or resin may make more sense for what you offer. Check everything out before making a purchase, but finding the right printer for your shop is easier than ever.

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