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Print Quality. Variables. Factors that influence Print Quality. David Carmichael – SUN Automation. Digital Print Standards. Within the printing industry, quality is an important concept. Quality checks have become a standard for todays brand owners .
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Print Quality Variables Factors that influence Print Quality David Carmichael – SUN Automation
Digital Print Standards Within the printing industry, quality is an important concept. Quality checks have become a standard for todays brand owners. Quality assurance programs are widely used by box makers to insure customer satisfaction.
HP Thermal Print Heads https://youtu.be/5iiJMv-jh7U Epson Piezo Print Heads https://youtu.be/TSGfitxlkzI Continuous Ink Jet https://youtu.be/99Jz2JFmp1c
Digital Print Standards A device that is able to consistently reproduce the entire visible color space is an unrealized goal within the engineering of color displays and printing processes.
Setup Processes Digital printing, when compared to legacy printing, is a hands-off process • A legacy press operator who has tested the inks and substrates can make modifications for any problems that might occur on the press • add surfactants • add defoamers • add primers • adjust plate pressure • adjust press speed • adjust ink coverage • prior to a pressrun • or on the fly
Setup Processes Digital printing, when compared to legacy printing, is a hands-off process • Most legacy equipment is loaded and started before any adjustments are made to production quality!! • Start it, then tweak it.
Setup Processes Digital printing, when compared to offset printing, is a hands-off process To performto their best capacity most production digital printing processes depend on • certified papers • pre or post coatings • ink formulations • rasterization software • color software • printhead performance Most adjustments that need to be made to the digital printing process require the intervention of technical support personnel other than the press operator.
Setup Processes To maximize the productivity of your digital printing process, make every effort to insure proper controls are in place before the job goes to print.
Print Quality What do you do when?
Print Quality What do you do when? You’re going for this You get this
Print Quality Your Operator
Print Quality You
Print Quality Your Customer
Print Quality What does this tell you?
Support Develop relationships with Subject Matter Experts (the people who know your systems) With conventional printing, there is a lot of ‘tribal knowledge’ in most facilities. For digital, this ‘Tribal Knowledge’ is in your network of SME’s. The Technical Support most often needed: • Machine Operation • Image Placement • Color & Color Consistency • Ink/Substrate Compatibility
The Print Quality Pyramid Image compliments of SGIA
Print Quality Ambient/Environment • Consult your machine manual for proper: • Maintenance procedures • Printhead Alignment procedures • Media handling procedures • Media feed adjustments • Floor vibration • Ambient Temperature* • Ambient Humidity* • Jetting Temperature* • Substrate Temperature* • Printhead height* • * Also consult your ink supplier • Consistency is Key!!
Print Quality Environment Nozzle issues Banding Ink Bleed Liner Cockling Ink Voids Bad Dot Patterns
Print Quality Employees/processes/material flow • Consider your ability to maintain: • Ambient Temperature • Ambient Humidity • Media Quality • Media handling procedures • Substrate Temperature • Consistent steady power • Clean dry air • Maintenance procedures • Printhead Alignment procedures • Consistency is Key!!
Print Quality Employees/processes/material flow • Are you able to provide: • Trainable resources with the ability to understand and operate complicated software. • Proper network infrastructure to handle the large files needed for Digital with due speed • Efficient processes for insuring timely logistics for files, sheets, consumables, customer checks, etc • Trainable operators that can transition from legacy equipment to Digital • Clean conditioned space for substrate storage and staging • Proper logistics for staging from printer to coater/die cutter/shipping • Consistency is Key!!
Print Quality Operation – Operator Access
Print Quality Operation – Service Access
Thank You David Carmichael