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Difference between household inkjet printers , and production printers.

Jwalk

Jwalk

New Member
Hello.

I have a job where we need to print small 2"x1.5" portraits many times for an event. We need them to be be a sticker.Ideally I would like to use a "normal home use printer" to print on adhesive vinyl. I am finding that the ink does not dry on the vinyl. Is there any helpful hints other than Im a dum dum.

Thank for your help.
 
Solventinkjet

Solventinkjet

DIY Printer Fixing Guide
The main difference is the ink used. Your home use printer ink requires a coated vinyl in order for the ink to adhere. If you try to print on regular non-coated vinyl, it will fall off easily. Look up your manufacturer's website and they most likely have coated vinyl sheets that you can use. Don't expect long term outdoor durability though.
 
Vinyldog

Vinyldog

New Member
Paper Ranch had printable vinyl in 8.5 x 11 sheets at one time. I used them before I got the Large format. Trisolve 3686 won't print in a Officejet. I've tried that.
 
Jwalk

Jwalk

New Member
Thanks for the reply, I grabbed "Inkpress Media adhesive vinyl" seems to work ok so far.
 
M

mameighan

New Member
How many different images? How many copies? I would do these on high quality label stock or just get stickers made. I run these type on my full color laser for short runs or farm out for large runs.

PM me if you need more info
 
Jwalk

Jwalk

New Member
Its for an event so no farming out has to be done on site , the short answer is we take a person picture than print it out then and there and has to be on a vinyl adhesive. So I am using a "normal inkjet printer" from staples for instance.

The inkpress media adhesive vinyl works well but I need a glossy one and this is only matte. I was looking at http://www.generalformulations.com/solventink.asp this says inkjet but I am guessing that inkjet can also mean the roland type of machine too. So how do I determine what ink/ inkjet the "normal desktop" small printers are?
 
T

Tony McD

New Member
For a waterbased injet printer you need the coated material for the ink to adhere.
Unless they have come up with something new, not sure you will find a glossy version.
You could use gloss laminate to get the shine.
 
B

Brink

New Member
The difference that others have hinted at is regular home/office printers use water based inks and vinyl/outdoor/wide format printers use some variant of solvent ink or UV curable ink. There are other types as well.
 
dypinc

dypinc

New Member
I can't imagine where it is cost effective to print what amounts to 1.5" x 2" labels on any inkjet printer.

I would do them on a digital press or even a cheep tabloid color laser printer.
http://alturl.com/pfpuw

These are polyester labels but you could also use gloss paper labels.
 
Jackpine

Jackpine

New Member
H & H Sign supplies has a large selection of goo material. Nick is a good guy too
Jwalk said:
Hello.

I have a job where we need to print small 2"x1.5" portraits many times for an event. We need them to be be a sticker.Ideally I would like to use a "normal home use printer" to print on adhesive vinyl. I am finding that the ink does not dry on the vinyl. Is there any helpful hints other than Im a dum dum.

Thank for your help.
Click to expand...
 
Jwalk

Jwalk

New Member
Ok so wait does a desk top laser printer work on normal vinyl? I would think its still need the same coating.

Oh in regards to cost effectiveness this is one of those job where cost is not the issue.
 
dypinc

dypinc

New Member
Jwalk said:
Ok so wait does a desk top laser printer work on normal vinyl? I would think its still need the same coating.

Oh in regards to cost effectiveness this is one of those job where cost is not the issue.
Click to expand...

Did you read the label spec., something wrong with polyester?

Not sure why the thread was even started if cost is not the issue.

If you want to print normal vinyl and cost is not the issue, then you need to get a normal vinyl printer, latex, eco-solvent, solvent. Roland might be your best bet for printing and cutting small labels.
 
Jwalk

Jwalk

New Member
dypinc said:
Did you read the label spec., something wrong with polyester?

Not sure why the thread was even started if cost is not the issue.

If you want to print normal vinyl and cost is not the issue, then you need to get a normal vinyl printer, latex, eco-solvent, solvent. Roland might be your best bet for printing and cutting small labels.
Click to expand...

Not that I have a roland, would like to .

This is a event ie in the public sphere so roland machine there would be a little much. It is not an issue with in price with the frame work of your statement here. I can't imagine where it is cost effective to print what amounts to 1.5" x 2" labels on any inkjet printer

And actually come to think of it sure it is very cost effective . Ie ink jet = couple hundred dollars, vinyl paper for the inkjet I found is cheaper than normal vinyl, so I guess it is quite cost effective. I dont think you quite understand what im doing nor do we both have the time for it either, to explain and or understand.

The thread was started for the reason it was. Simple as that.
 
K

kanini

New Member
The household inkjet uses waterbased inks and not solvent or eco-solvent inks so perhaps you can try some self adhesive that's ment for water based printers such as the HP Z-series or similar? Have never tried it and as another poster said I'd use a laser printer with suitable self adhesive material in sheets if the print quality is acceptable for you. Otherwise this might be a job for the Roland BN-20? =)
 
danno

danno

New Member
I used some 3M 8522 end pieces through my Epson Artisan. Seemed to work really well. I would think that if you purchased a vinyl for an aqueous based printer, you should be fine.
 
OldPaint

OldPaint

New Member
inks for production ink jet and home ARE THE SAME INKS. i have an ENCAD 736, 36" inkjet. IT IS THE VINYL that makes the difference. thew vinyl i run thru the 736.......i can cut it to 8.5 X 11 sheets and print on it from my HP/CANON/EPSON... deskjet. i wait till it dries and hit it with a couple light coats of KRYLON SPRAY CLEAR.
 
P

player

New Member
Jwalk said:
Not that I have a roland, would like to .

This is a event ie in the public sphere so roland machine there would be a little much. It is not an issue with in price with the frame work of your statement here. I can't imagine where it is cost effective to print what amounts to 1.5" x 2" labels on any inkjet printer

And actually come to think of it sure it is very cost effective . Ie ink jet = couple hundred dollars, vinyl paper for the inkjet I found is cheaper than normal vinyl, so I guess it is quite cost effective. I dont think you quite understand what im doing nor do we both have the time for it either, to explain and or understand.

The thread was started for the reason it was. Simple as that.
Click to expand...

I don't think the small consumer inkjet cartridges would be cheaper to run than a Roland ecosol ink. I am not sure but my Roland hardly uses any ink but my desktop will suck back $$$$ worth of cartridges in no time.
 
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