Most Reflective Metallic Ink printer

[cburylax]

I have a vs640 with Metallic ink and I am looking for suggestions on a newer printer that has significantly more reflective output. I have already tried various profiles and media changes, etc, and I always use the layered print option but I have noticed better reflective metallic output from competitors recently. The straight silver seems sufficient but everyone time I use a colored metallic from the library or simply print a cmyk color over silver I lose the reflective property; I get more of a pearlescent look.

I have heard of the new max 2 inks from roland that are available on the vsi series printers but I'm unsure if their output is significantly more reflective than what i'm doing right now (upgrading my equipment is an option). I have done a little research on the epson printers but all I can find are the tech specs, nothing first hand.

Any suggestions or experiences with metallic output or a better printer model/brand would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for the help!

 

[MikePro]

:Welcome:2:signs101:

no experience with metallic inks here, except for disappointment.
but a random thought....can you print white? if so, have you tried printing on a chrome/metallic-base vinyl, and use a white-base print for the elements you don't want to be metallic?

 

[cburylax]

:Welcome:2:signs101:

no experience with metallic inks here, except for disappointment.
but a random thought....can you print white? if so, have you tried printing on a chrome/metallic-base vinyl, and use a white-base print for the elements you don't want to be metallic?

I can print white. I am already printing on chrome carbon fiber and brushed aluminum vinyl. I'm just not able to find a smooth chrome vinyl that works for my needs which is why I'm looking to come as close as I can with ink.

 

[woolly]

I have a wt met vs and silver has its uses but if you want a real chrome then it has to be thermal printer as far as I can find out. The edge is possibly favourite due to lack of banding.
The met of the vs works best at lower ink levels on very glossy media. At 100 % its a bit dull and less than robust lower levels increase the performance all round inc drying time.

 

[cburylax]

I have a wt met vs and silver has its uses but if you want a real chrome then it has to be thermal printer as far as I can find out. The edge is possibly favourite due to lack of banding.
The met of the vs works best at lower ink levels on very glossy media. At 100 % its a bit dull and less than robust lower levels increase the performance all round inc drying time.

Thanks for the insight. Thermal printing seems to be the solution and perhaps a good addition to my VS. Im looking at the summa dc4 and have been reading a few threads here on it. I still need to see if the new Max2 inks for the vsi are a significant improvement over what I'm doing now.

 

[woolly]

I would much like a edge but don't like the after sales mentality from spandex. So I looked hard at the summa. I rated it not very good for what I wanted.
I have a pc60 so now what thermal is about. Just use different machines to their strengths