Curious how other shops deal with double layer backlit images printed in-house. For Backlit images, we tend to print on clear media at like 50% ink and then a layer of white media full ink coverage (to prevent 'wash-out' of colors when illuminated), but for reasons unknown to me (I don't actually run the printer, a Roland Tru Viz VG-540) the two images never line up exactly, creating a blurred image when applied together. Because the viewing point is rarely ever 'in-your-face' we get by with it 99% of the time. I've never googled it, but after another incident yesterday with an image that is ground level and the client questioned us on it, I figured why not ask here to see if our community has any similar experiences. We are able to register everything else across multiple machines, platforms, vendors and materials through the sign making process, why can't the printer perform the same as when cutting vinyl in multiple colors to fit together? Is this purely operator error or lack of knowledge on how to set up the prints? This is despite having the optical registration marks being utilized.
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Double layer print images never line up
- Thread starter cwstevens
- Start date
DChorbowski
Pixel Pusher
See if your machine operator did a Media Calibration prior to each print layer. Different medias will go thru the machine slightly differently based on the weight of the roll and some other factors. The media calibration should fix that so you end up with two identically sized prints from different medias. There is also the possibility the prints are stretching during application. Make sure you are allowing the prints to cure/outgas at a minimum of 24 hrs before laminating and mounting which will give the media time to stiffen back up after being exposed to the ink solvents. Are you using an application table to mount the prints or are you applying by hand with a squeegee?
We let everything cure at least overnight (but 24hrs as a rule intended), we have a laminator but use that mostly for transfer tape or applying u.v. laminate so I think most of the time they are likely applying the overlaid prints by hand with squeegee. We have somewhat adopted the notion that perhaps the clear mat'l tends to stretch more so than the white media but I have no real proof of that theory. Smaller images of course tend to have more accuracy, but larger panels or larger pcs that get seamed together, the 2 images seem to never duplicate. I also believe they are applying the u.v. laminate to the top layer (white media) before applying the 2 images together...
JBurton
Signtologist
This will hurt to do to one print and not the other. When we started double layering, I figured why laminate the bottom print? Quickly learned that the top print will be stretched by the laminator.
Additionally, apply them the same way. If you did a center hinge on layer one, do the same thing on 2. If you floated the first panel, float the second.
Apply the laminate to one or both, as needed, then measure, and create the media adjustment. Clear may experience more stretch in the lamination than translucent (which I guess wouldn't stretch at all, but if you're going to do the exercise...
I find using two rulers as a sort of vernier scale (with a 6x loupe) gets me pretty good calibration with 1500mm lightboxes, viewing distance 24". Fiery's default correction is 500mm, but I prefer to do it once with 1500mm, to really nail down the correction.
I dont know in that machine but in mutoh 1324 and 1204 we print 3 layers on the same media, unidirectional and 1 sec drying between layers. In the xpertjet we print only 2 layers with ms51 inks. Both are calibrated with an i1 with backlighted white acrylic. Results are just perfect... But is slowwwww
When I run my roland printer, and have a new roll, the feeding changes, but I found the best way to print, (even for the motor, no to pull from a heavy roll) is to unwind or unroll the media, that way, the motor just pull the media hanging from the feeding are and not from the roll, I do this until the print finishes, in this case, I will print the the clear and white with the same profile, (either clear or white, not much difference) the printer should print exact or as close it can, but this is my trick, have the machine pull just the media and not from the roll. I unroll the media until almost touch the floor, again and again until the print is complete. It has worked for me.