For screen printers who have a variety of devices ranging from low-end to high-end devices, they prefer to use positive films. It is not only economical but also effective. Although advances in digital technology seem to make the use of positive films somewhat outdated, many screen printers still affirm the characteristics and value of positive films. Although the prices of printers on the market today are economically attractive, when you plan to choose a film job, the prices of consumables such as film, ink, toner, necessary chemicals, and RIP software have to be considered.
The mask film that was first introduced into the graphic arts field was Rubylith®, invented by Ulano. Masked film is a film (usually red or yellow) that is finely cut and then attached to clean polyester material. It can be cut manually, but it is usually cut with a computer cutting plotter. The computer engraving machine can cut text and field areas easily and quickly.
Unfortunately, the use of masks does not allow fine copying of halftones. At the same time, the process of cutting is both time-consuming and financial and labor-intensive. The price of a masked film is about 2.40 US dollars per square meter, so it is relatively more economical. The cutting work can be done by a cutting plotter. Cutting plotters are usually used for vinyl cutting in the sign industry, and the price is not expensive. The price of a 66 cm (26 inch) wide plotter is roughly 2600 US dollars.
The use of laser printers to create positive images is a primary and economical choice. The current model can output image size is 33cm x 89cm (13 inches x 35 inches). Laser printers use electrostatic imaging. The laser generator can use the laser beam to keep the electrostatic charge in certain areas according to the content of the pattern. The dry toner adheres to the charged area on the induction drum, which effectively generates images on the induction drum. Inside the laser printer there are two very hot rollers close together that heat the paper passing between them, melting the carbon powder and sticking it to the surface of the media. In the registration of multi-color printing, heat is a non-negligible factor that can change the size of the printed material. Polyester film has better stability, but its cost is also slightly higher.
To use a laser printer to print halftones, manufacturers need to provide RIP or Postscript drivers. Postscript drivers can simulate halftone devices in image applications. However, if you have stricter requirements for halftones, this is not the best option.
The laser printer has a maximum resolution of 2400 dpi and can complete a standard page job in a short time. The advantages of the laser system include: 1. Consumables are relatively inexpensive, such as kraft paper and toner. 2. There is no need to add chemicals during the production process. The disadvantage is that the maximum D-max value that can be achieved with their production is about 3.5 D, so that the plate making can not achieve the desired effect.
Another disadvantage of using lasers is that the D-min value of the non-image area is relatively high (>1.0 D). Under normal circumstances, if the toner in the non-image area is thick, the image area may be out of ink. If the area is thinner, sprays may be used to increase the density appropriately, thereby improving the positive image quality.
A new laser printer costs about $2,000 to $4,000, but older printers will be much cheaper. Printing halftone images must ensure printer compatibility with Postscript. Compared to product quality, if your customers are more concerned about product prices, laser printers can meet this requirement. If you want to print more than 85 lpi of realistic images and beautiful halftone images, laser printing usually cannot meet the requirements, such as registration and registration, material properties and other important aspects. Inkjet printing technology has become another option for making a positive film. Due to the low start-up costs, the need for chemical processes, and the user's ease of mastery, this technology is very popular. For garment decorators, or for operators who produce low-line halftones with density values ​​up to D-max 4.6 and D-min .07, inkjet printing provides satisfactory resolution. Films with densities up to D-max 4.6 and D-min .07 require RIP software.
Without the use of RIP software, inkjet printers alone cannot produce the required density values ​​as required. The disadvantages of inkjet printing include: the cost of the film and the ink; the slow production speed; compared with the laser imagesetter, the produced image cannot reach extremely high resolution; the print head may cause ink and waste of time.
There are several desktop models that cost hundreds of dollars, including Epson and other photo production equipment. The Epson R1800 and R2400 have a resolution (dpi) of 5760 x 1440 and a maximum print size of 33 cm x 111 cm. The Epson 4800 has a maximum resolution (dpi) of 2880 × 1440 and a maximum printable width of 43cm. If the width of the film is greater than 43 cm, there are several wide-format inkjet devices that can meet your requirements. For example, the Quadra Aspect system from MacDermid Autotype offers three wide prints: 137 cm, 162 cm, and 188 cm.
Laser imagesetters are printing devices that output high-precision, high-resolution images and text on film or photo paper. At present, the resolution of this technology can reach 1200 dpi to 4800 dpi. After the film is exposed to light, it needs to be washed by a punching machine and chemicals must be added. Using this technology can guarantee the quality and sharpness of the film, which is unmatched by other technologies. The laser photocopying mechanism version was also used in offset printing. Most offset presses have now used computer-to-plate (CTP), which uses digital technology to transfer images to plates, eliminating the need for film applications.
The material used for the thermal photo-composing machine is a film coated with a heat-sensitive material. The heater discolors the film as the film passes over the printhead. The output of the positive film using this technique has high resolution and can reach D-min.07 and D-max 4.0 density values.
One of the biggest advantages of the thermal technology is that it requires only one consumable (film) before printing, which is different from other systems that require ink, toner, chemicals, and film. In addition, the images printed on the film do not evaporate and are not erased or smeared. Compared to other technologies, it is not affected by water and weather.
In addition, thermal imaging costs are not affected by the printed area. The cost of printing a full page area is the same as the cost of printing 5% of the area. Accurate registration in multi-color print jobs can also be achieved using thermal devices. Their only downside is the sensitivity of the print head and the dot heater on the print head. When these small dots are driven, they produce a pattern corresponding to the heating element on the thermal paper. Once broken, it is difficult to repair small dots. This depends on the condition of the film. It may be necessary to replace the print head. The output width of the thermal photo-composition machine of OYO Instruments LP is 36cm-137cm (14.25-54 inches), and the price ranges from 10,000 US dollars to 85,000 US dollars. The cost of film for thermal imagesetters averages $21 per square meter ($1.95 per square foot).
The mask film that was first introduced into the graphic arts field was Rubylith®, invented by Ulano. Masked film is a film (usually red or yellow) that is finely cut and then attached to clean polyester material. It can be cut manually, but it is usually cut with a computer cutting plotter. The computer engraving machine can cut text and field areas easily and quickly.
Unfortunately, the use of masks does not allow fine copying of halftones. At the same time, the process of cutting is both time-consuming and financial and labor-intensive. The price of a masked film is about 2.40 US dollars per square meter, so it is relatively more economical. The cutting work can be done by a cutting plotter. Cutting plotters are usually used for vinyl cutting in the sign industry, and the price is not expensive. The price of a 66 cm (26 inch) wide plotter is roughly 2600 US dollars.
The use of laser printers to create positive images is a primary and economical choice. The current model can output image size is 33cm x 89cm (13 inches x 35 inches). Laser printers use electrostatic imaging. The laser generator can use the laser beam to keep the electrostatic charge in certain areas according to the content of the pattern. The dry toner adheres to the charged area on the induction drum, which effectively generates images on the induction drum. Inside the laser printer there are two very hot rollers close together that heat the paper passing between them, melting the carbon powder and sticking it to the surface of the media. In the registration of multi-color printing, heat is a non-negligible factor that can change the size of the printed material. Polyester film has better stability, but its cost is also slightly higher.
To use a laser printer to print halftones, manufacturers need to provide RIP or Postscript drivers. Postscript drivers can simulate halftone devices in image applications. However, if you have stricter requirements for halftones, this is not the best option.
The laser printer has a maximum resolution of 2400 dpi and can complete a standard page job in a short time. The advantages of the laser system include: 1. Consumables are relatively inexpensive, such as kraft paper and toner. 2. There is no need to add chemicals during the production process. The disadvantage is that the maximum D-max value that can be achieved with their production is about 3.5 D, so that the plate making can not achieve the desired effect.
Another disadvantage of using lasers is that the D-min value of the non-image area is relatively high (>1.0 D). Under normal circumstances, if the toner in the non-image area is thick, the image area may be out of ink. If the area is thinner, sprays may be used to increase the density appropriately, thereby improving the positive image quality.
A new laser printer costs about $2,000 to $4,000, but older printers will be much cheaper. Printing halftone images must ensure printer compatibility with Postscript. Compared to product quality, if your customers are more concerned about product prices, laser printers can meet this requirement. If you want to print more than 85 lpi of realistic images and beautiful halftone images, laser printing usually cannot meet the requirements, such as registration and registration, material properties and other important aspects. Inkjet printing technology has become another option for making a positive film. Due to the low start-up costs, the need for chemical processes, and the user's ease of mastery, this technology is very popular. For garment decorators, or for operators who produce low-line halftones with density values ​​up to D-max 4.6 and D-min .07, inkjet printing provides satisfactory resolution. Films with densities up to D-max 4.6 and D-min .07 require RIP software.
Without the use of RIP software, inkjet printers alone cannot produce the required density values ​​as required. The disadvantages of inkjet printing include: the cost of the film and the ink; the slow production speed; compared with the laser imagesetter, the produced image cannot reach extremely high resolution; the print head may cause ink and waste of time.
There are several desktop models that cost hundreds of dollars, including Epson and other photo production equipment. The Epson R1800 and R2400 have a resolution (dpi) of 5760 x 1440 and a maximum print size of 33 cm x 111 cm. The Epson 4800 has a maximum resolution (dpi) of 2880 × 1440 and a maximum printable width of 43cm. If the width of the film is greater than 43 cm, there are several wide-format inkjet devices that can meet your requirements. For example, the Quadra Aspect system from MacDermid Autotype offers three wide prints: 137 cm, 162 cm, and 188 cm.
Laser imagesetters are printing devices that output high-precision, high-resolution images and text on film or photo paper. At present, the resolution of this technology can reach 1200 dpi to 4800 dpi. After the film is exposed to light, it needs to be washed by a punching machine and chemicals must be added. Using this technology can guarantee the quality and sharpness of the film, which is unmatched by other technologies. The laser photocopying mechanism version was also used in offset printing. Most offset presses have now used computer-to-plate (CTP), which uses digital technology to transfer images to plates, eliminating the need for film applications.
The material used for the thermal photo-composing machine is a film coated with a heat-sensitive material. The heater discolors the film as the film passes over the printhead. The output of the positive film using this technique has high resolution and can reach D-min.07 and D-max 4.0 density values.
One of the biggest advantages of the thermal technology is that it requires only one consumable (film) before printing, which is different from other systems that require ink, toner, chemicals, and film. In addition, the images printed on the film do not evaporate and are not erased or smeared. Compared to other technologies, it is not affected by water and weather.
In addition, thermal imaging costs are not affected by the printed area. The cost of printing a full page area is the same as the cost of printing 5% of the area. Accurate registration in multi-color print jobs can also be achieved using thermal devices. Their only downside is the sensitivity of the print head and the dot heater on the print head. When these small dots are driven, they produce a pattern corresponding to the heating element on the thermal paper. Once broken, it is difficult to repair small dots. This depends on the condition of the film. It may be necessary to replace the print head. The output width of the thermal photo-composition machine of OYO Instruments LP is 36cm-137cm (14.25-54 inches), and the price ranges from 10,000 US dollars to 85,000 US dollars. The cost of film for thermal imagesetters averages $21 per square meter ($1.95 per square foot).
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