Did I get a bad roll of media? Orajet 3751 RA

[FatCat]

I've had no issues printing on 3751RA using the Oracal 3951 profile. But, that's on an L25500 and Flexi, so YMMV.

Yes, appears to be the majority of the responders to this thread are running solvent or eco-solvent machines (Mutoh, Roland, Mimaki, Epson) and all appear to have/had issues with this film across the board. I find that it is interesting that it isn't just focused on one machine or type of RIP. Glad to hear it is working on your Latex - wish we could make this work somehow.

FWIW - I just rec'd an updated profile, newer than the one listed on Oracal's website and will be making a test print shortly, will return with my findings...

 

[FatCat]

Well, I had high hopes of resolving this issue, but it appears even with the most recently updated profile from Oracal, this stuff just won't print on my VJ 1604.

THIS is how my roll of 3751 printed using the most recent 3751 profile..
Notice the banding, speckling/gritty adn washed out print quality?
(Sorry this pic really doesn't do justice to how bad this stuff really looks in person.)



Using the same ORACAL profile here is how IJ-180CV3 prints on my machine...



And here is how IJ-35C prints using the same ORACAL profile...




So my conclusions lead me to believe that I either have a bad roll of material, or this stuff is problematic for many users...

 

[ORAFOL Americas]

Sean,

Have you contacted our tech support? They can help you determine if you have a bad roll and will help you make a claim if you do. They can be contacted at techsupport-americas@orafol.com or 888-672-2251. Sorry to hear about your troubles.

 

[FatCat]

Sure did. My Fellers rep put me in contact with the regional sales person who then turned over my info to Timothy Wright a product support specialist. Tim contacted me yesterday morning and sent me the newest updated profile for this material. Unfortunately, even that failed to produce usable results - as you can see above. Funny thing is, using that Oracal profile produced much better results both on IJ-180 and even IJ-35. Tones were smooth and color was consistent throughout. The 3751 printed very gritty/blotchy and even was causing light/dark banding.

I really wanted to like this material in hopes we could move away from the IJ-180, but from what I've seen I can't see it happening. Tim was going to send me a sample roll in hopes of proving I got a bad roll. Unfortunately, I had to scrub this and purchase a roll of IJ-180 to complete the job because we're installing this wrap on Friday and don't have time to waste.

I will post back with my findings once I receive the new roll from Tim.

 

[strypguy]

You can see I posted on 8/12/13 that I had no problems with the 3751GRA. Well, I just opened a new roll and started printing a partial wrap. I'm also getting the light/ dark banding and about every foot and a half the film has a long verticle "scuff" down the vinyl and you can see it through the print. Just called Fellers and ordered some 3M and they are crediting me for the roll when they get it back, less what I used of course. John

 

[FatCat]

Hmm, I'm wondering if they have changed the formulation somehow?
Although, the other posters above were talking about this problem much earlier in the year...

 

[Filmpro]

These kind of problems are typical for cast film constructions and are related to a problem with the liner used. Thing is that during the manufacturing of the liner some silicone transfer takes place from the silicone side to the backside of the release paper which later is partially transferred to the face side on which you print. Depending on the quality of the silicone crosslinking, the pressure in the rolls during all the manufacturing steps, storage temperature, storage time etc. variations occur in what is transfered, how much is transfered and how even the transfered layer is.
This problem is best visible in cyan prints but present in all colors. Eco-solvent inks normally show the problem more severe as hard solvent inks do and some times a roll showing this problem in eco-solvent is problemless printable with a hard solvent ink.
Best solution: claim all the material you have from the same lot (although it is possible that not all rolls in one lot have this problem!).
In order to be claer: I have seen this problem with 3M, Avery, Orafol, Metamark, Grafityp and Hexis.

 

[Letterbox Mike]

Heh. Printed 4 or 5 rolls of 3751 over the last couple weeks flawlessly, opened a roll this morning and having this issue again. Oracal definitely has a problem on their hands. I really want to like this vinyl, when it prints right it prints beautifully, and same when it applies right, but manoman have we had a lot of issues with it since it came out.

Filmpro, interesting information, in messing with this this morning my gut was starting to tell me this is not a profile issue but a contamination issue with the film, what you say makes perfect sense, unfortunately.

 

[lbpalm]

I'm getting the same thing. I cant' figure out a profile that will work on that 3751 stuff...kinda blowing my mind. It's nice to work with, but geez...would be nice to print on it. Would love to hear how people profile for it as I'm sure that's what it is