News, Views & How-To's
Inkjet Printers & Printers/Cutters
I'm not much of a car guy. First because I'm not a guy and second because cars to me are simply a method of transportation – not a source of entertainment or a statement of style. (Although I suppose my 4 Door Honda Accord DOES speak to my practical nature.) Recently, however, I'm looking at NASCAR in a whole new light.
A Global Award for the VersaUV LEC
Hey! Our Roland VersaUV just earned the Label Industry Global Award for new Innovation at Label Expo this week! How ’bout that!?! The VersaUV has been around for a few years now and although it’s gained some momentum recently, it remains for the large part unknown among most of our target audience.
30,000 package prototypes
In the category of “a picture is worth a thousand words,” this one might be worth 30,000! We’ve been working on a big summer project in our graphic production department. It all started when we were trying to figure out a way to get an actual box prototype – typically, a one-off – in the hands of the readers of Package Design Magazine. We struck on the idea of inserting one in every issue – which presented a monumental task:
The Benefits and Added Value of Metallic Silver Ink
Metallic Silver ECO-SOL MAX Ink from Roland is now available, making it easier and more affordable than ever for you to print true metallics and create pearlescent process colors for dramatic effect and high profit margins. Implementing this technology will allow your business to add metallic graphics to signs, banners, vehicle graphics and wraps, labels, decals, point of purchase displays and custom apparel, premium products that command premium prices in the marketplace.
Seven Points to Perfect Printing
I hate struggling with output. It is hard enough in this economy just keeping ourselves above water. Often we are working in more streamlined environments and wearing many hats in order to stay profitable. The last thing we need to do is struggle with our sign making equipment to make a decent sign or banner. Wouldn’t it be great to get consistent, predictable and high quality output from our large format printers each and every time we hit the print button? Well, the following points are designed to help you achieve and maintain a job quality that will make you the envy of your competitors. These points are primarily designed for use with Roland printers, but can be used for many different printers.
Setting Up for Digital Printing
I just had the pleasure of doing two seminars on design in Atlantic City for the United States Sign Council. You need only walk through the door of the Exhibition Hall to realize the impact that the digital printer is having on the sign industry. It’s the biggest change since computer-cut vinyl lettering.
Tips From a Vehicle Graphics Guru #2
Jay Lansburg of Automic Designs in Buena Park CA, has been specializing in vehicle art since the mid 70’s. While he used to either hand paint or layer vinyl to create his graphics, he now believes that inkjet printing is the key to making money in the sign business. “Our industry is on the verge of its next revolution,” he says, “A sort of second revolution that is going to change the way we make signs…not dissimilar to the way vinyl plotters changed the face of the industry 20 years ago!”
Tips From a Vehicle Graphics Guru #1
After building race engines and even taking a few victory laps himself, Jim Conquest became one of the first graphics pros to buy a printer/cutter. His shop, Imagine It Graphics, began 10 years ago by producing name decals on motorcycle helmets. When Conquest watched an introductory video for CorelDRAW®, he saw unlimited potential for computerized signmaking.
The Perfect Setup: File Preparation For Print/Cut Production
As any chef will tell you, the best recipes start with the right ingredients. And in the world of print/cut, the best graphics begin with a great piece of art.
The right artwork can be anything from a simple logo to a complex combination of photography and type. It can be 1/2” tall or 30 feet wide. It should have personality, color, detail, and most important, a definitive shape that takes advantage of the impact of print/cut production.
Four Essential Workflows: A Roadmap To Print/Cut Success
Here at Roland, one of the most defining trends we see for the industry today is the widespread adoption of integrated print/cut technology. Today’s integrated printer/cutters provide unattended printing and contour cutting on a single device. With their integrated design, printer/cutters streamline the production process, improve accuracy, and nearly eliminate the need to reload and reposition graphics, saving untold man hours and reducing costly mistakes.