Posted by Vinylxpress on November 12, 2010
Recently, Roland DGA Corp. has announced the arrival of the LEC-330 30” roll-to-roll LED-UV cure inkjet printer cutter. This printer is actually an upgrade an existing version, but it reportedly offers a faster print speed as well as higher image qualities and additional performance features. The new addition to the large format digital printing market is an exciting mix of up and coming technologies. According to Roland, it’s perfect for one off packaging prototypes and short run label and membrane panel production, among other things. The new features and technologies used to create this printer make it a machine to watch for those with an interest in the digital printing world.
The newest upgrade to the Roland printer family offers:
- Six High Precision Print Heads
- Print Speeds of up to 101 sq. ft./hr.
- A New Intelligent Ink Circulation System
- A Redesigned Ventilation Hood
- Instant Drying and Flexible ECO-UV ink
On top of that, materials printed using the upgraded VersaUV LEC-330 printer require no degassing and can be stretched and applied around curved surfaces and edges without fear of cracking. Low heat UV cure LED lamps make it possible to print on heat sensitive materials. All of these features combine to make the printer an exceptional addition to a series of printers well known for their precision reproduction and flexibility of application.
In addition to the more common substrates, Roland reports that the LEC-330 prints on:
- Metallic Papers
- Synthetic Papers
- Foils
- BOPP
- PE Film
- PET Film
- Leather
- Fabric
- Rigid Sheet Stocks including Card Stocks and Polycarbonates
The new printer is one among several strong printer options produced by Roland. Other options include:
- The Roland SOLJET PRO III Series
- The Roland SOLJET SJ-1045
- The Roland VersaART RS Series
- The VersaCAMM SP Series
- The Roland VersaCAMM VP Series
- The Roland VersaCAMM VS Series
Together, these machines make up Roland’s Wide Format Eco Solvent and Pigment Ink printers and printer cutters. It’s a relentlessly strong group of printers and it has only been strengthened by the addition of this new machine.
Posted by Vinylxpress on November 5, 2010
You might wonder why a printer like the Roland SOLJET can be found on location during the filming of a movie like Miami Vice. You might be surprised. When it comes to setting the scene in Hollywood, a lot can be done using the design capabilities of a large format digital printer like the Roland SoLJET. For proof, you have only to ask designer Martin Charles, who has worked on over forty different films since he began working in 1990. He talks about his recent work on Miami Vice as well as the utility of the Roland SOLJET printer in a piece for the company’s website.
SOLJET’s Most Cinematic Qualities
It turns out that the very qualities that set this type of printing apart are the ones that make it perfect for the set of a pmovie like Miami Vice. The requirements are that necessary graphics be produced and installed quickly and cheaply while still looking good. They need to be durable and they need to be flexible. One day you might be printing up a vinyl car cling and the next you might need a mural or a magnet. The SOLJET’s ability to print on a wide variety of materials with precision and photo realistic accuracy makes proper set dressing possible. Charles mentions that another important quality of the printer is its simplicity. It’s easy to produce stable and appropriate graphics quickly and accurately, making it possible to create the world of a film like Miami Vice on just a little notice.
Roland’s Ready for a Close Up
Charles could have chosen any printer to serve his needs on set and he chose the Roland SOLJET 54” printer / cutter. Not only did it meet all his printing needs admirably, but he’s looking forward to using it on future productions as well. While working on Miami Vice, Charles used ECO-SOL MAX inks and Roland’s recommended matte adhesive backed vinyl products. The three products came together to make his design vision for the film come true, but its just business as usual for this large format digital printer.
Posted by Vinylxpress on May 3, 2010
When searching for the right equipment for producing large format printing assignments, it is important to consider the printing system. In many ways the capabilities of your printer will determine the quality of your end product. No matter how much care you put into the design, the printer’s physical capabilities will end up being the limited factor. So a good printer is important. Here are the stats on two of the printers currently available.
This printer was introduced in 2008. It prints at a speed of up to 441 sqft/hr on both coated and uncoated media and it can handle a load weighing up to 66 pounds. The resulting imaging is produced using a six color CMYKLcLm system that is photorealisticly printed up to 1440×1440 dpi and will withstand up to 3 years outdoors without lamination. The printer also features:
- A DU-540 Dryer System
- A White Ink Option
- An Automated Take Up System
- A Precision Firing Pattern
- Roland Intelligent Pass Control Technology
- Roland VersaWorks RIP Software
All of these features combine to create a printer that is truly meant for the unique challenges of large format print and design.
This is a hybrid printer that can be obtained in models that feed material from roll to roll or reconfigure to a flatbed that can feed rigid materials through the printer, thus expanding the options for printable material. Another innovative quality of the UVJ-160 is its UV LED curing technology. This allows the printer to eliminate post printing drying time, reducing error and increasing turnaround time for printing projects. The LED curing process is also eco friendly as it cuts down on the energy used in curing and eliminates the emission of short wave ultraviolet rays. Finally, this printer offers a white ink overlay that produces vividly colored images.