At the moment’s expanded gamut ultraviolet (UV) inks can be utilized for quite a lot of signage and branding functions. Pictures courtesy Roland DGA
By Ginny Mumm
With the power to print instantly on nearly any floor, ultraviolet (UV) LED printers have develop into more and more common for quite a lot of shopper, company, and industrial functions. This has led to some exceptional advances in printing expertise and software program merchandise lately. Consequently, the worldwide market dimension for UV LED printers is projected to develop at a compound annual development charge (CAGR) of 9.5 per cent from 2023 to 2030, and attain US$758.7 million (C$1 billion) by 2030.1
The introduction of superior flatbed, hybrid, and roll-to-roll UV printers; up to date raster picture processor (RIP) software program; and new, wider ink color gamuts are main contributors to this development available in the market. To search out out extra, we spoke with Jay Roberts, UV printer product supervisor at Roland DGA, about how print service suppliers (PSPs) can leverage new color gamuts and expertise to enhance their UV-printed choices for purchasers.
How have color gamuts expanded over the previous few years? What components drove this enlargement?
Jay Roberts (JR): The push for expanded color gamuts got here from each producers and finish customers. The most important driving issue is the need to hit company colors extra precisely. Whereas everybody needs to have the ability to produce vibrant, enjoyable, and totally saturated color that pops, it’s additionally essential to have the ability to precisely print model or Pantone colors for company purchasers. The extra of these focused colors you’ll be able to hit, the higher you might be as a printing firm, and the higher the standard of merchandise finish customers can present for his or her purchasers.
The ink color expertise that has been developed over the past 10 years for the eco-solvent market—which incorporates inexperienced, orange, and lightweight cyan inks—has been translated to inks for UV machines. Crimson inks have additionally been launched to boost the accessible color area, and bringing out particular colors helps improve the gamut in different areas.
What are the advantages of getting these expanded gamuts for PSPs and different industries?
Raster picture processor (RIP) applications assist printers maintain their UV color output constant throughout quite a lot of substrates.
JR: The drive for model color matching began nearly 50 years in the past, with what was then referred to as “Coca-Cola pink.” Now, it’s grown to match “Residence Depot orange,” “Microsoft blue,” and an entire host of different company hues. From offset to banners to point-of-purchase (POP) shows, the higher your means to hit these colors throughout quite a lot of platforms, the higher you’ll be able to serve your purchasers’ vary of print wants.
At the moment’s expansions in color gamuts enable customers to focus on a bigger color area, with all the colourful and photographic components that include it. As an example, particular inks can goal as much as 89 per cent of Pantone colors, which is a giant leap up from beforehand having the ability to goal 55 to 60 per cent. The elevated means to focus on many extra Pantone colors represents a real enchancment in PSPs’ capability to supply excellent color output.
Inform us in regards to the current evolution of inks for the UV market.
JR: When folks discuss color matching, they’re sometimes aiming to match one thing initially printed on one other platform, maybe months and even years in the past. They need their output to look good to the one who is shopping for the job. The evolution of inks has actually elevated the power for PSPs to realize a “shared visible look” between completely different printing platforms.
An expanded gamut with orange and pink ink was developed over time and with excessive precision. The result’s an inkset that could be very efficient at reaching a shared visible look, with Delta Es (a measure of how a lot a displayed color differs from its enter color) of below two—a degree of distinction which is nearly indistinguishable.