Just what the doctor ordered! That's how Dr. Graphix hopes users of inkjet printers will respond after they try some of the company's newest products, including abrasion-resistant fine-art media for high-resolution and thermal piezo inkjets with pigmented inks, a waterfast backlit film for use with multiple types of inks, and glossy and backlit films for use with mild-solvent or true solvent inkjet inks.
The secret to success is all in the coating, says Dr. Graphix's Doug Chen. For example, with the microporous coatings typically used in inkjet photographic reproduction, excess pigment particles on highly saturated images tend to sit on the surface of the media and are easily scratched off. Dr. Graphix has found a way to take both the ink and pigment underneath the inkjet-receptive coating, so the coating itself provides a protective layer.
Below are more details on some of the company's latest remedies for common graphics-production ills.
Artist Canvas-White: This 15-mil, acid-free, poly-cotton canvas is formulated to provide long-lasting output with pigmented, water-based inks including HP UV, Encad GO+, and Epson Ultrachrome. According to Dr. Graphix, the inkjet-receptive canvas can be stretched for framing and provides vibrant colors, a superior color gamut, and high image clarity. Art Canvas-Matte is available in 24-, 36-, 42-, 44-, and 50-in. rolls.
The art canvas is just one of several products in Dr. Graphix' line of printmaking materials. For use on Epson and other high-res piezo inkjets, the company also offers 100% cotton, acid-free papers in weights from 190 to 350 gsm. For photographers and artists seeking a scratch-resistant, bio-degradable, environmentally friendly media that resists creasing and fingerprints, Dr. Graphix prescribes its 12-mil TR (tear-resistant) synthetic paper with either a gloss or satin finish. According to Chen, users will also appreciate the fact that the TR media costs less than the microporous-media typically used in photographic reproduction.
Waterfast Backlit Film: Production-shops equipped with wide-format inkjets using different water-based, oil-based, mild-solvent or solvent-based inks no longer have to hassle with stocking a variety of different materials for creating backlit graphics. Dr. Graphix' new water-resistant 8-mil, polyester-based translucent film can be used on virtually any type of inkjet printer on the market. Available sizes include 36, 42, 50, 60, and 100 in. The waterfast backlit film is suitable for indoor and outdoor requirements. Other backlit films in Dr. Graphix product line include the 8-mil TR51 Front Print Backlit, the 6-mil TR51 Front Print Backlit, and a Universal Reverse Print Backlit Film.
Gloss and Backlit Films for Mild-Solvent and True Solvent Inkjets: Sign companies using a mix of mild-solvent and true solvent inkjets will be interested in the new TR51 Gloss film and Backlit Films that Dr. Graphix plans to unveil at the ISA Sign Expo. (Dr. Graphix Imaging: 909-923-6222; ww.drgraphix.com)