We can answer your questions about imagesetters, prepress, film systems and any aspect of your screenprint, flexo or litho process. With over 30 years experience in the prepress industry to call on we can help - 8am-10pm everyday. If you can't find the answer here, please call 01793 686380
'Which printers work best with your films?'
'Why do I need a RIP?'
'What is the maximum lpi of the system?'
'What are the running costs of the system?'
'How does it work?'
'Are the printers modified in any way?'
'How will the system fit into my workflow?'
'What file types will the RIP handle?'
Do I need a PC?
'Can the RIP run on a Mac?'
'What maintenance is required?'
'Why are they so cheap?'
'Do you do extended warranties?'
'Which printers work best with your films?'
We prefer the current Canon range of printers for producing screenprint positives. They have demonstrated better registration than the current Epson range and particularly the Epson 7700 has been variable in quality.
HP printers are less suited due to the mechanics and the inks that they use.
There are many A4 and A3 printers that are suitable for low quantity production of simple positives.
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'Why do I need a RIP?'
If you use a Windows driver to print black ink at photo resolution, the ink will be composed of a mixture of cyan, magenta, yellow and black inks. Black will usually be a minor component. The ink will have a lower uv density and be less accurately deposited (since it comes from four heads).
The Wasatch RIP allows precise control over the amount of ink on the film. It uses a monochrome mode so that only black ink is deposited on the film
Halftoning is a critical RIP function, Wasatch has advanced halftoning technology that gets the best out of the printer and gives reliable film output.
If you need simple, small positives you may not need a fully functioning RIP.
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'What is the maximum lpi of the system?'
The desktop system can produce good films at 120lpi. Above that it is normal to see some patterns in halftones at some, but not necessarily all, tones. If you are printing very small images, golf balls/promotional goods etc. these patterns are not evident in the finished articles and 130lpi+ can be used.
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'What are the running costs of the system?'
For an average screen job of 10% coverage, the cost per square metre can be under £6. No extras, no chemicals, no problem. Sheets can be more expensive.
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'How does it work?'
Clear film-black ink, simplicity itself.
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'Are the printers modified in any way?'
They are calibrated for optimum performance, but use standard Canon ink. The OEM inks are more reliable than third-party inks of unknown manufacture and means that the warranty is not affected.
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'How will the system fit into my workflow?'
Everyone has a different way of working and we'll accommodate your systems. We'll also advise you when we think you could do things differently or better, but, if it works for you....
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'What programmes can I print from?'
Absolutely any - from notepad to Illustrator, Corel, Quark etc.
We install a virtual printer on your network and you can print separations as easily as printing a memo. Any programme with a print option can produce a postscript file for your RIP.
'What file types will the RIP handle?'
ps, prn, eps, pdf, tif, jpg, jpeg, bmp, psd, png, tgs, gif, pxd, sid, pcx, ppm & csf. Most programmes will export to eps or you can print via the Wasatch Postscript printer from any programme from notepad to Quark.
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We can supply a PC but we find that most companies have a suitable PC around the office and don't need to be sold another one. Anything relatively recent will run the RIP at a reasonable rate, it doesn't need to be a high spec gaming PC, just a decent processor and more than 2GB of RAM.
'Can the RIP run on a Mac?'
It CAN be run on PC emulation programmes, but it's not recommended, the Mac can print over a network to the RIP on a PC and it is then printed from the RIP. There are distinct advantages to removing the printing from your workstation, resources are freed.
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'What maintenance is required?'
The printers run a cleaning cycle when switched on to keep themselves functional, there is a disposable maintenance tank that is easily replaced and, depending on usage, the head will need replacing every 18 months-2 years or so. In general the printers are very low maintenance, certainly compared to traditional imagesetters. Because of the cleaning cycle, coloured cartridges will be emptied even though only black is used for the film positives!
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'Why are they so cheap?'
In a word - VOLUME - more people buy printers than imagesetters and we keep our costs to a minimum allowing us to pass our savings to the end-user.
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'Do you do extended warranties?'
Yes, these are available, ask for details.
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