Print media has long played a crucial role in shaping our society and culture. With digital printing, the possibilities are endless.
The Image Permanence Institute recently surveyed cultural heritage institutions and private conservators to quantify field experiences regarding the collecting of, deterioration of, and preservation policies surrounding modern digitally printed materials.
Natural Paper
Paper is a versatile material used in printing, painting, signage, graphics, packaging, decorating and writing. It is made from mechanically or chemically processing cellulose fibres derived from wood, rags, grasses, and other vegetable sources. The process involves mixing the fibre with water, draining the excess water, pressing, and drying. Historically, paper was made in single sheets by hand; however, most modern production is on large machines that can make reels 10 metres wide and run at up to 2,000 metres per minute. The resulting web can be further processed to form different textures, colours, sizes, and finishes.
Traditionally, wood pulp was used in the manufacture of paper. This was a problem as the trees needed to be cut down in order to make the paper, and the deforestation of old growth forests caused by this has led to global concern about the conservation of natural forests. In response, many paper companies now plant trees to help re-grow forests as well as offering recycled alternatives.
Pulps can be mixed with various additives to improve their characteristics. Fillers such as chalk and china clay are often added to strengthen the fibres and improve their ability to absorb ink or paint. The paper making machine also adds sizing to the fibre, which helps to establish the level of surface absorbency that will allow ink or paint to be printed on the paper without running.
The paper is then dried to less than six percent moisture. This was originally done by hanging the sheet like laundry, but now the paper is passed through a series of heated dryers on a paper machine. In the past, acidic sizing additives such as alum were commonly used; however, this has led to problems of disintegration over time. Today, most papermakers use non-acidic additives.
Our Cougar Natural is a smooth off-white paper stock with no yellow undertones, perfect for digital printing and featuring 10% post consumer recycled content. This is the optimal environmental choice for your next project. It is also FSC, SFI and Rainforest Alliance Certified for sustainability. This paper has excellent opacity and performs very well with high speed printers, while maintaining good foldability.
Foam
In this film, director Oana Suteu Khintirian focuses on the importance of paper and how it can bond people together. She also explores the future of these physical documents in an era when everything is pushing into the digital sphere. Through interviews with the founder of Moleskin notebooks, as well as her own family, Khintirian discovers that even in this age of digital connectivity, a physical letter or note can bring a person closer to their loved ones.
Foam is a lightweight material that is composed of gas bubbles trapped in a solid matrix. Foams can be found in a wide range of products, including packaging and insulation. They can be made from either a polymer and gas, or from a natural gas such as carbon dioxide or air. Foams have many advantages over traditional materials, including light weight, low cost, and excellent insulation properties.
To make paper, cellulose fibres are extracted from various natural sources such as wood and cotton, blended into a pulp with water, flattened, dried, and cut into sheets. The thickness and weight of paper varies according to the type of pulp used and how it is processed. Different types of paper have a unique texture and are used for a variety of purposes. For example, some are coated to resist moisture, whereas others are uncoated so they can be written on with pens or printed on.
Foams are a complex medium that can be observed on multiple scales. The structure of a foam can be determined by visual observation as well as analytical techniques such as conductivity measurement (determination of liquid content) and acoustics. In addition, foams can be studied by various diffraction methods, primarily light scattering techniques (DWS, static and dynamic light scattering, and X-rays scattering) at sub-micrometer or microscopic scales.
Foams can be used to construct a variety of objects, including helmets and soles. They can also be 3D-printed to create new products more quickly.
Textiles
Digital printing is more than paper, with technology offering the ability to print on a wide range of fabrics and other unique materials like the garment printing services at Cliff Digital. This is a growing trend that has allowed designers to create unique and beautiful designs on a variety of different products, including apparel. Textile printing is an eco-friendly and sustainable option that offers a wide variety of colors and designs for consumers to choose from.
Digital textile printing uses a large printer to print high-resolution images directly onto fabric surfaces. Unlike traditional printing methods, which require screens or plates, this technique allows for a much faster and more precise process. This also reduces the risk of color registration issues, which can often be a problem with screen printing.
To use this technique, a digital file of the desired design is programed into the computer that runs the printer. Then, the fabric is fed through the printer and a layer of ink is applied to it. After that, the fabric is dried and cut to size.
The type of fabric used for digital printing can have a huge impact on the final product’s look and feel. The most popular options include cotton and polyester, both of which have exceptional ink absorption properties. They also tend to be more breathable than synthetic alternatives like cloth, making them comfortable for wearers. In addition, these fabrics are highly durable, making them a great choice for long-term printing applications.
Other durable and versatile fabrics that can be printed with digital printing include vinyl, canvas, and leather. Each of these options offers a unique texture and look that can enhance the aesthetics of a product. In addition, vinyl and canvas are durable and easy to clean, making them ideal for outdoor applications where signage and other products may be exposed to harsh weather conditions.
For a more luxurious and elegant look, metal sheets can be used for digital printing. These materials offer a metallic sheen and are a great choice for creating eye-catching visuals that can catch the attention of passersby. This is a great option for businesses that want to showcase their brand in a distinctive and unique way.
Metals
Metal is an interesting and challenging material for digital printing. It has a wide range of uses and can be printed on in a variety of ways. The most common way is to use a solvent-based ink, but UV-curable inks are becoming more popular. They can withstand contact with chemicals and have the benefit of drying quickly, which allows for fast turnaround times. They also produce accurate colors that print well on metal surfaces.
In addition to metal inks, the use of specialty media has become more prevalent as printing services look for alternatives to traditional paper. These unique options offer durability, functionality and sustainability, all qualities that are highly sought after by customers. They are also often characterized by their ability to withstand the high temperatures that are generated in dry toner and HP ElectroInk printers.
Using metal in a digital printing application involves either adding the metal flakes into the ink or toner that forms the image, applying it as a silver or metallised layer under the image or printing on top of the image with a foil made of microscopically thin metal. Each method demands different techniques and produces different results.
One approach to high-resolution 3D printing of metallic materials uses powdered metals that are deposited layer-by-layer and fused together with computer control. This is similar to other additive manufacturing methods, such as Directed Energy Deposition (DED) and Fused Deposition Modeling (3D-FDM).
Another method for printing with metals utilizes inkjet technology to deposit the metal particles onto a substrate. The particles are deposited as droplets and then heated to melt them into the surface of the substrate or to build up 2D or 3D features. This type of printing is sometimes referred to as liquid metal jetting (LMJ). The mechanism for forcing molten metal into droplets can be mechanical, pneumatic or magnetohydrodynamic. Continuous printing with a magnetohydrodynamic system has been reported at a frequency of up to 24 kHz.
While the ability to print with metallic inks and toners makes an attractive selling point for many digital presses, the majority of digital processes are happy to work with plastics too.