Océ Arizona 250 GT. Revision A Issued by: ODGS S & S, Vancouver June 12, Recommendations for Printing on Various Media. Card Stock...

Transcription

1 Océ Arizona 250 GT Media Notes Revision A Issued by: ODGS S & S, Vancouver June 12, 2007 Recommendations for Printing on Various Media Card Stock...2 Clear Acrylic or Polycarbonate...2 Plastic Coated Aluminum Sheet such as DiBond...3 Fluted Polypropylene...3 Foam Cored Clay Coated Paper Capped Board...4 Foamed PVC such as Forex or Sintra...4 Glass...5 Heavyweight Outdoor Poster Paper such as IJM 601 or HPSTERSOL...5 Irregularly Shaped Materials...6 Opal/White Acrylic or Polycarbonate such as Lexan...6 Polystyrene...7 Polystyrene Faced Foam Board such as Gatorplast...7 Pre-Stretched Canvas...8 Textiles...8 Un-Documented Materials...9 Variable Height Materials...9 Page 1 of 9

2 Card Stock Media Model: Use Generic Media Model. Printing: Depending on ink coverage and image content, all modes may print acceptably. Solid colors look best in Quality Mode. UV Lamps: Use as little UV power as possible to cure output, which is generally no less than UV 4. Note that some types of this material exude a burn-like smell while printing. Vacuum: Depending on thickness, may require bleed valve or spoil board to avoid vacuum dimple effect. Edges may need to be taped down. Prepping: Dust with lint free cloth to remove any dust and handle with gloves to avoid fingerprints on edge of media. Despite not always being visible, oils from fingers may still mar surface for printing. Output Handling: If tape necessary, use low-tack tape that is easy to remove and pull off slowly to avoid removing top layer of coated paper. Media creases easily, especially in printed areas as ink increases stiffness. Have care when lifting off table to avoid creases. Clear Acrylic or Polycarbonate Printing: Ink saturation and curing best in Quality or Fine Art Mode. Print reversed from PosterShop. Will require printing twice (1 Overprint) to achieve acceptable backlit saturation unless painted or flood coated white afterwards. Increasing saturation of image prior to printing is helpful in obtaining pleasing density UV Lamps: Maximum UV Level best for curing and adhesion. Vacuum: These materials at common thicknesses usually heavy enough to lie flat, but it is important that there is a sufficient level of vacuum to facilitate registration for printing twice. Media may expand and contract during printing, so if multiple pieces placed on table, a small gap of about 1mm should remain to allow for these changes to occur without causing buckling. Note that these changes may result in slight data mis-registration. If this is of great concern, we suggest pre-heating media, printing data in such a way that media is same temperature when it begins overprint, or sourcing material with known good thermal expansion characteristics. Prepping: Peel protective film off one side, place this side down on table. Vacuum down and peel off top layer. Print on side without any lettering or graphics on protective film to avoid transfer effect from printed areas. Wipe with anti-static cloth or device to remove static charge and possible cutting remnants. If firmly affixed to media, adhesive based protective films can be left on backside while printing. This type of film creates less static when removed. Use only alcohol or approved plastic cleaner if needed. Output Handling: Have care when lifting sheets off table as media, especially PC may scratch. Use clean, cotton gloves to avoid fingerprints. Page 2 of 9

3 Plastic Coated Aluminum Sheet such as DiBond Printing: As material costly, it is best to run in mode with greatest tolerance for possible nozzle outs. This media has low dot gain so obtainable saturation best in Fine Art mode, which places the most ink. UV Lamps: Maximum UV Level best for curing and adhesion, reduce if banding artifacts visible. Vacuum: This material at common thicknesses usually heavy enough to lie flat, but it is important that there is a sufficient level of vacuum to avoid un-intentional movement. If edges bent, they should be flattened well before imaging. Prepping: Vacuum to table and peel off protective top layer. Print on side without any lettering or graphics on protective film to avoid transfer effect from printed areas. Clean well with lint-free cloth made very wet with isopropyl alcohol. Fluted Polypropylene Media Model: Use media model designated for Fluted Polypropylene. Printing: Production mode gives very good results. Output looks best when printed parallel with flutes, as ink density will be slightly higher in flute valleys where ink accumulates. The use of profiles reduces ink load, thus reducing this effect. UV Lamps: Use UV Level 5 in FineArt and Quality Modes and UV 6-7 for Production Mode. Media sensitive to high heat and may buckle along flutes, especially if fluting irregular in that area, so use as little UV power as necessary to cure. Under-curing on this media is most likely visible as an orange-peel and/or cross-color bleed effect. Vacuum: Flutes tend to bleed vacuum, so tape edges if sufficient vacuum not obtained. Prepping: Clean entire sheet well with alcohol or alcohol and water combination. Media often supplied un-square, so trimming to square may be necessary for some applications, such as full bleed printing. Output Handling: Adhesion can be poor on this media, printing in a higher quality mode, and/or waiting 24hrs improves adhesion. Sometimes it is beneficial to wait 24 hours before cutting media that has ink on the edges. When cutting media always use a sharp blade and be aware that some ink flaking will occur in high ink load areas unless trimmed outside printed area. Rotor blades may provide better results than straight blades. Use of Corona treated material has also been reported to improve adhesion. If good adhesion important, prepping with an adhesion promoter, such as Sericol UviJet Adhesion Master ZE720 is recommended. Do not stack freshly printed sheets on top of each other for extended periods of time as some ghosting of printed image may be transferred to preceding sheet. Page 3 of 9

4 Foam Cored Clay Coated Paper Capped Board Media Model: Use media model designated for Foam Cored Board Printing: Depending on ink coverage and image content, all modes may print acceptably. If ink load high and glossy edge effect produced un-satisfactory, use Quality-Matte mode. UV Lamps: This media sensitive to high heat, so use as little UV power as possible to cure output, which is generally no less than UV 4. Under-curing on this media appears as a speckled appearance with non-inked areas visible. Over curing can result in an increase in some kinds of banding. Vacuum: Media holds moisture so when heated is prone to warping, which could break vacuum bond. Ensure strong vacuum before printing. If corners are bent, they may bleed vacuum and/or cause head strikes, so tape up or cut off any areas that are damaged. Prepping: Dust with lint free cloth to remove any dust and handle with gloves to avoid fingerprints on edge of media. Despite not always being visible, oils from fingers may still mar surface for printing. Output Handling: Heat warp is usually recoverable by lying media flat and allowing it to cool. Always use a very sharp blade when trimming. Foamed PVC such as Forex or Sintra Media Model: Use media model designated for Foamed PVC Printing: Depending on ink coverage and image content, all modes may print acceptably. If ink load high and glossy effect produced un-satisfactory, use Quality-Matte mode. UV Lamps: Most images and modes cure acceptably with UV Level 5. Under-curing on this media is most likely visible as an orange-peel effect. Vacuum: Vacuum without special means, unless material 1.0mm or less when bleed valve or spoil board may be needed to reduce vacuum dimple effect. Prepping: Note smoother side of media if one is evident and print on this side. Dust with lint free cloth to remove any dust and handle with gloves to avoid fingerprints on edge of media. Use Isopropyl Alcohol to clean handling edges. Despite not always being visible, oils from fingers may still mar surface for printing. Output Handling: No special handling. If adhesion poor, as is sometimes the case, printing in a higher quality mode and/or waiting 24hrs before trimming may improve. Always use sharp blade when cutting and be aware that some ink flaking may occur in high ink load areas. Page 4 of 9

5 Glass Printing: Ink saturation and curing best in Quality or Fine Art Modes. Print reversed from PosterShop. Will require printing twice (1 Overprint) to achieve acceptable backlit saturation unless painted or flood coated white afterwards. Increasing saturation of image prior to printing is helpful in obtaining pleasing density UV Lamps: Maximum UV Level best for curing and adhesion. Vacuum: These materials at common thicknesses usually heavy enough to lie flat, but it is important that they have a sufficient level of vacuum to facilitate registration for printing twice. Prepping: Clean well with glass cleaner followed by alcohol. If good adhesion is important, pretreat the surface with an adhesion promoter, such as Sericol UviJet Adhesion Master ZE720. Output Handling: Shows fingerprints easily, so handle with gloves at all times. Adhesion poor, so if not pre-treated with adhesion promoter, protective top-coat may be required if output is to be regularly handled or placed long-term. Heavyweight Outdoor Poster Paper such as IJM 601 or HPSTERSOL Media Model: Use Generic Media Model. Printing: Depending on ink coverage and image content, all modes may print acceptably. UV Lamps: Use UV Level 4 for Fine Art, 5 for Quality and 6 for Production mode. Vacuum: If ink coverage high, use spoiler board. Vacuum dimples in lower ink coverage may be made acceptable using bleed valves only. Begin with vacuum bleed valves fully open and increase as necessary. Initializing vacuum at its full power on these materials may allow vacuum hole draw to permanently deform media. Media edges may need to be taped to spoil board or if larger than board, taped to table around all sides. Whenever available, use outside print surface wound media of no greater width than tables vacuum surface as this allows media to lie more flat without the use of tape Prepping: Handle with gloves to avoid fingerprints on edge of media. Despite not always being visible, oils from fingers may still mar surface for printing. Output Handling: Adhesion is good on this type of media. Can be trimmed with flat or rotary blade. Page 5 of 9

6 Irregularly Shaped Materials Media Model: Prepare file with media model/settings used for media, or media most similar in base color and porosity to that being used or use Generic Media Models. Printing: Print mode should be chosen depending on media surface, image makeup and desired output quality. See prepping guidelines. UV Lamps: Use UV Level for like media or media most similar in make up to that being used. Vacuum: Use mask created by printing on paper and trimming out. Or mask table with media of same or lesser thickness to provide sufficient vacuum. Use vacuum guidelines for like or similar tested materials. Prepping: Print on paper first, slide a piece of rigid stock under paper to protect table and cut out image, placing media here. Or create die-line file of image parameters while at image creation stage and print this die-line directly onto table. If full bleed printing desired, build in sufficient bleed amount. Printing full bleed may require more frequent cleaning of undercarriage due to ink misting. Output Handling: Irregularly shaped media more prone to post-print damage so handle with care to avoid edge damage. When removing from vacuum table, pay particular attention to edges, especially if printing full bleed, as ink may remain un-cured if allowed to seep under material. Opal/White Acrylic or Polycarbonate such as Lexan Printing: Ink saturation and curing best in Quality or Fine Art Modes. Print regularly, not reversed from PosterShop. May require printing twice (1 Overprint) to achieve acceptable backlit saturation. Increasing saturation of image prior to printing is helpful in obtaining pleasing density. UV Lamps: Maximum UV Level is best for curing and adhesion. Vacuum: These materials at common thicknesses usually are heavy enough to lie flat, but it is important that there is a sufficient level of vacuum to facilitate registration for printing twice. Media may expand and contract during printing, so if multiple pieces placed on table, a small gap of about 1mm should remain to allow for these changes to occur without causing buckling. Note that these changes may result in slight data mis-registration. If this is of great concern, we suggest pre-heating media, printing data in such a way that media is same temperature when it begins overprint, or sourcing material with known good thermal expansion characteristics. Prepping: Peel protective film off one side; place this side down on table. Vacuum down and peel off top layer. Print on side without any lettering or graphics on protective film to avoid transfer effect from printed areas. Wipe with anti-static cloth or device to remove static charge and possible cutting remnants. If firmly affixed to media, adhesive based protective films can be left on backside while printing. This type of film creates less static when removed. Use only alcohol or approved plastic cleaner if needed. Page 6 of 9

7 Output Handling: Have care when lifting sheets off table as media, especially PC may scratch. Handle with clean, cotton gloves to avoid fingerprints Polystyrene Media Model: Use media model designated for Polystyrene Printing: Depending on ink coverage and image content, all modes may print acceptably but most commonly pleasing is Quality Mode. This media shows evident edge-of-swath artifact in high ink load areas, if un-satisfactory, use Quality-Matte mode. UV Lamps: Use UV Level 4-5 in FineArt Mode, UV 5 in Quality and UV 6-7 for Production Mode. Thin stock may require lower UV power or uni-directional printing to avoid excessive warp. Under-curing on this media, appears as a speckled appearance with non-inked areas visible. Vacuum: Vacuum without special means, unless material 1.5mm or less when bleed valve or spoil board may be needed to reduce vacuum dimple effect. Thinner stock may require edge taping to adhere media to table, especially if edge warping is already evident. Prepping: Dust with lint free cloth to remove any dust and handle with gloves to avoid fingerprints on edge of media. Use Isopropyl Alcohol to clean handling edges. Despite not always being visible, oils from fingers may still mar surface for printing. Media static prone so may benefit from wiping with anti-static device prior to printing. Media surface very sensitive to shipping and handling conditions. Arrange delivery in a tube or on a pallet with a rigid blank without excessive media weight stacking or overly constricting strapping. Make sure not to pull media off stack in such a way that media beneath is scratched. Output Handling: Adhesion may be poor on this media, printing in a higher quality mode, using higher UV power and/or waiting 24hrs before trimming may improve adhesion. Always use sharp blade when cutting and be aware that some ink flaking will occur in high ink load areas unless trimmed outside printed area. Rotor blades may provide better results than straight blades. Polystyrene Faced Foam Board such as Gatorplast Media Model: Use media model designated for Polystyrene. Printing: Depending on ink coverage and image content, all modes may print acceptably. This media shows evident edge-of-swath artifact in high ink load areas, if un-satisfactory, use Quality-Matte mode. UV Lamps: Media sensitive to high heat, especially in high ink-load dark areas so use as little UV power as necessary to cure, generally UV Level 5 is best. Over curing can result in an increase in some types of banding. Vacuum: Strong vacuum required to ensure media remains vacuumed to table throughout printing. Page 7 of 9

8 Prepping: This media tends to be static laden, to reduce, clean entire sheet well with a lint-free cloth soaking wet with an alcohol and water combination of about 10:1. Handle with gloves to avoid edge handling fingerprints Output Handling: Adhesion can be poor on this media, printing in a higher quality mode, using higher UV power and/or waiting 24hrs before trimming may improve adhesion. Always use sharp blade when cutting and be aware that some ink flaking will occur in high ink load areas unless trimmed outside printed area. Rotor blades may provide better results than straight blades. Do not stack freshly printed sheets on top of each other for extended periods of time as some ghosting of printed image may be transferred to preceding sheet. Pre-Stretched Canvas Media Model: Use Generic Media Models without the use of profiles to provide maximum saturation. Printing: Production Mode provides good quality output on this media. Increase saturation and contrast of data prior to printing, as media absorbs ink. If printing with some bleed, more frequent cleaning of undercarriage may be necessary because of ink misting. UV Lamps: Use UV Level 6-7 for Production mode, but reduce if printing small pieces as warping may occur with increased lamp dwell time. Vacuum: Print image on paper, leave vacuumed to table and align canvas over printed area. Direct vacuuming on canvas can result in concavity. Prepping: Peel any protective materials off, handle with gloves to avoid fingerprints. Measure multiple areas of multiple pieces, as this substrate is often variable. If wooden frame warped, try to bend back into flatness before printing. Output Handling: Do not stack too high, or heaviness may cause scratches Textiles Printing: Depending on ink coverage and image content, all modes may print acceptably. Production mode usually acceptable in terms of image quality, but may not place as much as ink as desired. In this case using Quality or Fine Art modes is recommended. May require printing twice to achieve adequate saturation. If fibers loose and textiles not lint-free, more frequent cleaning of undercarriage may be necessary. UV Lamps: Use UV Level 4 for Fine Art, 5-6 for Quality and Production modes. Vacuum: Should be pulled, but not stretched too taut and edges taped. Loose weave may require spoil board to absorb excess ink and diffuse vacuum dimples. Prepping: Loose threads and fibers should be removed and media handled with gloves. Output Handling: Looser weave materials may act like sieve, leaving wet ink on backside of media. Use protective gloves and care when handling if wet after printing. Page 8 of 9

9 Un-Documented Materials Media Model: Prepare file with media model/settings used for media most similar in base color and dot gain to that being used or use Generic Media Models. While dot gain is difficult to judge without experience or an instrument, the porosity and smoothness surface properties of a media relative to another should be evident. Printing: Depending on media, ink coverage and image content, all modes may print acceptably. Print a small test first to verify ink and UV results are good. Do not leave printing unattended the first time as unexpected media reactions may occur. UV Lamps: Use UV Level 4 for Fine Art, 5-6 for Quality and Production modes to start. Vacuum: Verify vacuums ability to adhere media and check vacuum-dimpling effect noticeably. Be aware that heat buildup while printing may reduce media s bond with table so do not leave printing unattended the first time. Prepping: Prep as you would the most similar media, ensuring, as always that media is clean and dust free. Output Handling: If cleaning or use of an adhesion promoter is necessary, try a small area first to test for reactions. Variable Height Materials Media Model: Prepare file with media model/settings used for media, or media most similar in base color and porosity to that being used or use Generic Media Models. Printing: Print mode should be chosen depending on media surface, image makeup and desired output quality. More frequent cleaning of undercarriage will be necessary because of ink misting. Failure to do so may eventually result in banding, nozzle mis-direction or dripping. It is recommended that variable height media be printed uni-directionally. UV Lamps: Use UV Level for like media or media most similar in make up to that being used, reduce or increase level depending on curing and media reaction. Vacuum: Use vacuum guidelines for like or similar tested materials. Irregular media are more likely to cause head strikes, so ensure strong vacuum if possible. Prepping: Measure a few spots on media, choosing the highest as media thickness. Media should lie flat, but if it will not lie flat add a few milimeters to actual height value in UI to provide clearance. Be aware that these circumstances may damage heads and will also result in poor bi-directional alignment. So it is recommended to print the image uni-directional. Output Handling: Media of variable thickness may contain regions which do not cure fully and are therefore easily smudged, and other regions which may over cure and result in flakiness. Pay particular attention to edges, especially if printing full bleed, as ink may remain un-cured if allowed to seep under material. Page 9 of 9