Cover story
re l a te d to w i d e - fo r m a t
helped to initiate—and will
continually change—this
business. As technology
advances, it will influence
equipment, media and inks.
I also foresee a time when
t h e s o f t w a re u s e d f o r
design and print will evolve
into a direct connection to
the consumer. Software will
be more than just a way of
Matt Bartlett, regional sales
making a printer print – it
manager, Mutoh Canada
will be a pipeline to the final
output via devices like
smartphones, with much more wide-format printing being
done remotely.
“We don’t print on just paper anymore. When wide-format
started, we had water-based inks and used paper. That
quickly evolved into using blank white vinyl, so we could
do more long-term outdoor prints. Now we see printing on
glass, acrylic, metal and even stone. Also, more types of
inks will be used and machines will be able to print on flat
as well as irregular surfaces. In fact, some signage is already
being put on LCD-style substrates.
“We at Mutoh also agree with studies indicating that the
two largest growth areas for North America will be dye
sublimation (textile) printing and aqueous inkjet. We also
foresee a crucial need for education and training as new
markets emerge.”
HP “The world of traditional
wide -format , previously
focused on sign and display,
is undergoing phenomenal
changes thanks to advances
in printing technology, inks
and materials,” said Sonia
Grobanopoulos, marketing
manager, graphics solutions
business, at HP Canada. “For
example, when HP launched
Sonia Grobanopoulos,
its latex technology in 2008,
marketing manager, graphics
it was mostly used for trad-
solutions business, HP Canada
itional signage, wraps and
retail signage. However,
improvements in ink technology (such as better water-
fastness, instant drying, and scratch resistance) have
continued to open up new applications, expanding into
areas such as car wraps, floor and window graphics. We do
see the ability to print on textiles opening up an entire new
range of applications,” she added.
“HP Latex recently certified a new range of durable textiles
on materials made from 100% cotton, cotton linen or poly-
ester. These durable textiles can deliver mass commercial
18 | May 2018 | GRAPHIC ARTS MAGAZINE
products such as handbags, curtains, blinds, cushions and
lampshades. Inks are another area that HP views as moving
wide-format to another level. For example, its latex white
ink delivers a true glossy white that doesn’t yellow over
time.
“High print quality and vibrant colours at high speeds will
be essential to this market moving forward. A wider range
of media will enable printers to expand their services to
deliver new applications – especially for new clients such
as architects and designers. Speed to market will also be
key. Finally, water-based inks deliver odourless prints that
are both safe for the environment and device operators, all
the while simplifying ventilation, storage and transportation.
Also, final prints can be used where solvent and UV-curable
might be unacceptable, such as hospitals, hotels and
schools.”
Mimaki Lucas Crossley is
Mimaki’s regional manager
for Canada. “In today’s com-
petitive market, businesses
often seek to expand their
product offerings, create
new profit centres and retain
their clients. Recent advan-
ces in technology have
emerged that offer greater
diversity in print-and-cut
applications, making it pos-
sible to achieve this goal. Of Lucas Crossley, regional
specific interest, are sub- manager, Mimaki Canada
strates that are too sensitive
for latex or solvent technology, due to the heat or coatings
required to cure those inks.
“The combination of white and colour ink adds value to
applications utilizing transparent or semi-opaque films.
LED-UV-curable inks deliver greater opacity with less ink
consumption, while maintaining image vibrancy and density.
High opacity white ink enables block-out printing within a
single print, so printers can easily create window graphics
that can be viewed differently from either side, or when
backlit.
“Today’s print service providers seek technology that offers
the broadest possible range of applications at an affordable
price with reasonable running costs. That, in my opinion,
will always be par t and parcel of the future of
wide-format.”
Tony Curcio
Editor, Graphic Arts Magazine
[email protected]
graphicartsmag.com