Resin ink prints well on traditional signage materials, as well as on fabrics, wallpapers, and uncoated paper.
Why are resin ink printers becoming so popular with print service providers (PSPs)?
DV: There are a couple of reasons for the increasing popularity of resin ink printing. First, using the water-based technology found in latex or resin inks is required for print products in certain environments, such as schools, health care facilities, and hospitals. This sustainability aspect of resin inks is also more in demand overall, especially for interior graphics. Some manufacturers’ formulations have even achieved the Greenguard Gold certification standard.
Second, many people appreciate the time savings from resin ink production, which does not require additional post-production steps such as outgassing. Depending on the manufacturer, prints produced on eco-solvent or solvent printers require anywhere from six to 48 hours of outgassing time before the prints are ready for installation or finishing. Resin ink prints are ready to laminate, install, or ship much more quickly, and these time savings can be a significant advantage—especially for high-volume print shops.
Why are resin inks an optimal solution for high-volume production?
DV: Many resin ink printers are designed to be high-volume production machines and offer users lower running costs compared to other technologies. Further, since resin ink prints do not require any post-production steps, the printer can be loaded with one material and left to run for hours. This makes these machines ideal for printing on fabrics for walls or furniture, interior signage, window graphics, floor graphics, or fleet graphics.
Newer resin ink printers achieve deep, natural-looking colours that match the performance of eco-solvent inks.
What types of media work best with resin ink printers?
DV: Over the past few years, resin ink technology has evolved significantly, and the range of media these inks adhere to has expanded. These days, manufacturers are jumping at the opportunity to help PSPs make use of a wider range of materials. In fact, with certain machines, users can access more than 150 different media profiles. Of course, there are also specialty materials designed for resin printers. However, when paired with the latest hardware, resin ink is compatible with a variety of media types and is a perfect solution for traditional signage materials, as well as for fabrics, wallpapers, and uncoated papers.
What types of applications can be run on resin ink printers?
DV: Today’s resin ink printers are great for production of a range of permanent and temporary signage, including wall, window, and floor graphics; retail and office graphics; posters; banners; stickers; and labels.
Due to their eco-friendly composition, resin ink prints are in demand for indoor signage and decor, particularly at schools and medical facilities. Since these prints are viewed at close range, they also tend to be higher-margin products for print shops.
Additionally, the durability of resin inks has improved to the point where resin prints are competitive for outdoor graphic applications, such as vehicle or fleet graphics. Some manufacturers’ latex or resin ink formulations are best used for wraps on box trucks and trailers, where less conformability is required. However, some of the newest resin inks are far less prone to cracking, which make them a better choice for wrapping vehicles with many curves and edges.
