Large format printers ( large format printers ) are generally accepted as computer-controlled printers (printers) that support maximum print roll widths between 18 "and 100". Printers with capacities greater than 100 "wide are considered to be super wide or grand format. The wide format of printers is used to print banners, posters, trade show graphics, wallpapers, murals, backlit movies ( duratrans), wrapping vehicle images, electronic circuit schemes, architectural drawings, construction plans, backgrounds for theater and media sets, and other large-format artwork or signage The wide-format printers typically use several variants of inkjet or toner-based technology to produce images printed, and more economical than other printing methods such as screen printing for most short-term print projects (low quantity), depending on the print size, the length of the track (number of prints per original), and media type or print media wide-format printers are usually designed for print to print media rolls that feed gradually during the printing process, rather than to individual sheets.
Video Wide-format printer
Technology
Wide-format printers can be categorized by the type of ink transfer process they use:
- Watering: A thermal inkjet printer or Piezo uses ink known as water or water based. The basic term water is commonly mistaken. Pigments are stored in an occasional non-reactive carrier solution of water and other times a replacement fluid, including soy-based liquids used by Kodak. Aqueous inks generally come in two flavors, dyes and pigments. Dye ink is a high-color, low-UV resistant variant that offers the widest color gamut. Pigment ink is generally dull in color, requiring more ink to reach a wide ink but surviving to fade from UV rays. Similar in common to desktop inkjet printer principles. Finished prints should be laminated to protect them if they will be used outdoors. Various substrates (media) are available, including canvas, banners, plastics and cloths that have been metabolized. Aqueous technology requires that all materials be properly coated for receiving and retaining ink.
- Solvent: This term is used to describe any ink that is not water based. Piezo inkjet printers that use petroleum ink or petroleum byproducts such as acetone such as carrier liquids. "Eco-Solvent" inks usually contain glycol esters or glycol ether esters and slower drying. The resulting mold is waterproof. Can be used to print directly on uncoated vinyl and other media as well as jagged substrates such as Painted/Coated Metal, Foam Board and PVC. The solvent softens the base material and allows the ink pigment to mechanically stick to the chemically etched surface. Certain ink manufacturers have different bites based on what solvent carrier they use. What makes the printed solvent more durable than the thin ink. However, the solvent ink emits strong odors or vapors when it dries, because the carrier fluid disappears through the heat applied from the printer plate. There are various levels of solvent ink from "True or Full Solvent" to "Medium/Mild Solvent" to "Eco-Solvent". The level of smoke and odor decreases accordingly, so does the etch surface of the base material. Full solvent to medium/light requires smoke extraction to be considered safe in the work environment. Most Eco-Solvents can be used in office environments with minimal or fair smell levels.
- Sublimation of dye: Ink is distributed to special print media to produce continuous photo quality prints.
- UV: Piezo inkjet printer that can be healed UV (dry when cured with UV light). The resulting mold is waterproof, embossed & amp; excited. Any media material can be used in this technology, polymer making media is the best. Ceramics, glass, metal, and wood are also used by printing with this technology.
- Pen/plotter: Pen or pen is used to draw on print media. Mainly used to produce CAD drawings. Generally replaced by digital technologies such as Solvent, Aqueous, and UV.
Maps Wide-format printer
See also
- Inkjet technology
Source of the article : Wikipedia