Since the caveman days of painting on the walls with hands and paintbrushes we have been trying to get ink onto surfaces. We now have printers to be able to assist us in this process. Printers come in a wide variety to choose from depending on the project you wish to complete. There are a few common types used that we will describe below.
Dye Sublimation |
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A dye sublimation printer is a computer printer that uses heat to transfer dye onto surfaces of paper, plastic card and fabric. The dye transitions from a solid to a gas state without passing through a liquid stage. This is commonly the type of printing that is used in photo finishing labs but can also be found in medical imaging, graphic arts proofing and security. These printers lay one color at a time onto a cellophane ribbon with each color being on a separate panel. The panels are then passed one at a time on the media under a thermal head with tiny heating element on it which changes temperature and lays a specific amount of dye depending on the heat applied to that area. The printing process usually has four steps, 3 for the colors and 1 for a laminate. |
Flatbed |
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Flatbed printers allow us to print an image or text onto a rigid, flat or uneven surface with ease. The surface to be printed on is placed on the flat bed and is secured with a lock or vacuum to prevent it from moving during the printing process. The surface is then moved under the printing heads and in some cases a UV light. Flat bed printers tend to be subtractive and allow for the spot colors including white and varnish. Dimensionality can be added using certain inks. |
Roll to Roll |
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These are used for larger scale printing. The printer can be either a UV printer or a inkjet printer. The surface that is being printed on is fed from a roll, through a printing head and in some cases a UV light and rolled onto a separate roll. This is great if since the finished product is easier to store since it is wrapped around a roll. |
Solvent Based |
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Solvent based printers are printers that use solvent based inks. Since the solvents are usually rapid drying the printed material can be printed out quickly. Solvent based printers tend to be ink jet printers. |
Ultraviolet |
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Ultraviolet printers use UV curable inks. UV ink dries in a matter of seconds once it is exposed to a UV light source. The material is passed under a printing head and then under a UV light to dry it to the surface. Since the ink dries so quickly it speeds up the printing job being completed and ready to use. |
When choosing any printer consider the surface you are printing on, the type of ink that would be best suited to your project and the speed of which you need to print at. Printers make it easier for us to apply ink to material but it is essential that you choose the right one.