Digital printing is a versatile, modern print method that directly reproduces digital files onto a variety of substrates, including paper, vinyl, plastics and more.
Digital printing has become ubiquitous in today’s world, and for good reason. While there are different types of digital printing, including dye sublimation and laser printing, here we’ll focus on inkjet digital printing.
How does inkjet digital printing work?
There are several steps to the inkjet digital printing process.
- First, design your graphics, using Roland DG Connect Designer or another design program. Be sure to create your graphics with 300 dpi resolution and scale to the size of your printed object.
- Next, send the design to your digital inkjet printer. The printer will convert your file using its Raster Image Processor or RIP software (link to RIP blog) into a raster image for printing.
- When you’ve chosen your paper, card stock, vinyl or other material, start the printing process and your printer will apply ink to the surface of your material.
- When the printer is done printing and the inks are dried or cured, you’ll need to trim or contour cut your design, then finish or possibly laminate your print, depending on its final use.
- The last steps are quality control, followed by shipment or installation.
What’s the difference between digital and offset printing?
Digital printing uses digital files that allow fast, customizable prints where you can edit and change the design and its colors quickly and easily, while offset printing uses project-specific plates to transfer ink, offering lower costs for high-volume, static print runs.
What’s the difference between UV, eco-solvent, and latex printing?
UV, eco-solvent and latex are all different types of ink used in inkjet digital printing, each with its own features, including curing or drying method and workflow, and each suitable for different types of applications.
What can you print on with a UV printer?
UV digital printers can provide direct-to-object printing on a wide variety of substrates and objects including rigid materials like wood, glass, metal, acrylic, stone, plastics, foam board and composite panels, as well as flexible media like leather, packaging film, coated textiles and vinyl media. Roland DG sells both UV flatbed printers and UV roll-to-roll printer/cutters.
What can you print on with an eco-solvent printer?
Roland DG’s eco-solvent printers and eco-solvent printer/cutters offer the widest color gamut and best-in-class production speed while still maintaining excellent print quality. Eco-solvent inks are very versatile and can produce a wide range of applications, from vehicle graphics, banners, posters, backlit signage, indoor and outdoor graphics, to window clings, decals and stickers.
What can you print on with a latex printer?
Wide-format latex ink printers provide deep rich color and fast-drying graphics that do not needadditional time for outgassing. These printers are perfect for window and wall coverings, billboards and signage, labels and stickers, fabrics,and fine art. With very low VOC emissions, water-based latex inks are ideal for interior applications where safety and compliance are a higher priority.
How long do digital prints last?
The durability of digital prints is governed by several factors, including the inks, substrate, storage and display location (indoors or outdoors), lamination, and the printing process itself. Generally speaking, digital prints can last for many years when the right materials and processes are used.
Have more questions? Reach out to a Roland expert, here.