• Big Graphics gets attention.
• Can use electrostatic up to 54" wide and inkjet up to 60" wide.
• Generally are web fed. Projected to $5.7 billion in 1998.
• Length up to 100’s of feet.
• Solid ink (hot melt stick) systems from Tektronix are appearing on the market.
• Systems are used for retail signs, trade show displays, point of purchase sales presentations, courtroom graphics, packaging comps, trucks, buses and billboards.
• Originated in engineering and oil exploration. Electrostatic was pioneered by Versatec in 1967.
• Versatec was purchased by Xerox in 1975. Introduced first wide format electrostatic “plotter” ESP 42 (42") in 1983.
• 8900 series introduced in 1992 (we have a 8944). Graphic arts applications began to be popular in 1990's.
• Services were first offered by reprographics firms used by engineers and architects and later graphic arts.
• ReproCad was an early player. These began to be used in graphic arts as well through network of distributors under the MegaChrome brand.
• Veenstra in Grand Rapids offers MegaChrome service. Service bureaus (third party companies selling to client companies) getting into this market.
• The capability is being brought in-house by medium to large-sized companies.
• Some companies now offer direct marketing to individuals with photos to scan.
• Can find many on the Internet (although none in this area).
• IT Strategies of Hanover, MA estimates about 200,000 print providers in US, many of whom will need to buy large format printers.
• Varying from corner shops to sophisticated imaging bureaus. Many customers will eventually bring capability in-house.
• Devices usually fitted with PostScript RIPs, which can be compatible with imagesetters and platesetters.
• Electrostatic users pigment suspended in liquid (hydrocarbon) toner.
• Inkjet uses liquid inks, (usually DOD). Output usually heat laminated with a clear plastic to improve durability.
• Prints sell for $10-15/ft² plus $1.50-5.00/ft² for laminating. Can do tiling to produce signs that exceeds maximum width of printer.
• Systems can be used to print billboards, sides of buses and trucks. Can also do step and repeat to place multiple images on a sheet or multiple replications of original.
• Electrostatic used for high productivity. Multipass electrostatic (like we have) produces up to 600 ft²/hr (we'll see this in the lab). Single pass units now becoming available print up to 2700 ft²/hr. Inkjet now generally 20ft²/hr., increasing to 150 ft²/hr.
• Electrostatic process requires special paper with dielectric coating on print side and electrically conducting coating on back side.
• Very sensitive to temperature and humidity. Inkjet less sensitive to substrate but does not print well on totally glossy substrates. Usually surface specially treated with silica or other materials.
• Inkjets are less expensive. A 36" HP inkjet is available for under $4,000; up to $50,000. Electrostatic can range from $35,000-250,000.
• Inkjet inks generally have poor UV resistance. UV resistant inks are now becoming available more suited for outdoor use.
• Alpha Merics offers a flat bed versions of inkjet printers for printing on non-flexible substrates. There are a large number of RIP vendors for only a handful of printers. Some software companies offer the same RIP for both electrostatic and inkjet. There are RIPs for Mac, PC and Unix (Silicon Graphics and Sun).
• Resolutions vary from 200-600dpi. RIPs usually employ a version of stochastic screening called error diffusion dithering.
• New electrostatic systems have sensors which detect the level of suspended pigment and automatically replenish the pigment from concentrate (the system recycles the liquid after the pigment is transferred to the substrate).
• A third party, Power Print Technologies offers an electrical toner analyzer that monitors the electrical properties of the toner suspension.
• The solid concentration is not sufficient if not enough charged pigment particles are available. Newer inkjet systems offer high capacity ink systems to allow more unattended operation.
• With UV resistant inks (both inkjet and electrostatic) large format systems can be used outdoors to print billboards, and sides of vehicles. Water resistant paper can be hung with wallpaper paste.
• Electrostatic can also be used with special transfer materials to produce prints on vinyl, wallpaper material and fabric. This is a growing industry, with revenue projected to more than $19 billion by 2000