Nov. 11, 2021
Solvent and eco solvent printing are common printing methods used in the advertising industry, and most media can be printed with either solvent or eco solvent.
The core of printing is the ink used, solvent ink and eco solvent ink, they are both solvent-based ink, but eco solvent ink is environmentally friendly.
"Strong solvent" or "full solvent" ink Is an oil-based solution containing pigments and resins. The high VOC (volatile organic compound) content requires ventilation and extraction to protect the printer operator, and many of them retain a distinctive lingering odor on PVC or other substrates that makes the image unsuitable for people to use indoors close enough to the sign to notice the odor.
Eco solvent ink is derived from ether extracts of refined mineral oils and have relatively low VOC content by comparison, and can even be used in studio and office environments, provided there is adequate ventilation. They are virtually odorless, so they can often be used with interior graphics and signage. Their chemicals do not attack inkjet nozzles and components as strongly as strong solvents, so they do not require such constant cleaning.
Eco solvent inks allow printing in enclosed spaces without printing technicians risking inhaling the same dangerous fumes as full-strength conventional solvent inks; but don't let the title fool you into thinking this is an environmentally friendly ink. The term low-solvent or light-solvent is sometimes used to describe this ink type.
New eco solvent inks for printing have become the latest choice for printers. Compared to solvent inks, these new weak solvent inks offer you some unusual benefits because they come with additional enhancements. These improvements to Eco solvent printing inks include faster drying times and a wider color gamut. The inks also have improved ink retention with better scratch and chemical resistance, so you get better print quality. With higher print speeds and more sophisticated media compatibility, these inks allow printers to run more smoothly while giving you better quality work.
Eco solvent inks can also help you reduce the cost of printing digital, thus reducing the overall budget for such products. This happens because Eco solvent cartridges provide you with a better percentage of quality than the regular inks available in the market. Eco solvent inks can also help you print on low-cost PVC with standard paper backing. These inks are backed with a PE coating and also have the characteristics of paper-backed PVC compared to regular PVC.
Some of the key benefits of these inks include reduced print head wear, which also helps extend the life of the printer. These weak solvent inks are also environmentally friendly and can be used to print high resolution and outdoor signage and can handle coated and uncoated surfaces well. With the durability and color vibrancy of the ink, the overall cost of printing is reduced.
These Eco solvent inks do not produce harmful fumes and are ideal for billboards and other indoor signage. They are available in different ranges to suit your commercial printing needs. These inks have Eco solvent properties and therefore protect the environment, making them an Eco-friendly printing option and a more economical choice. There is also no requirement for ventilation systems as these inks do not produce any fumes. These Eco-friendly and Eco solvent inks have become the choice of a new generation who prioritize protecting the environment and ensuring cost reduction. These inks are more practically and economically viable than their expensive and environmentally harmful conventional counterparts.
Solvent printers are mainly licensed format printers, while Eco-solvent printers are much smaller in size.
▷ Print speed
Solvent printers have much higher print speeds than Eco solvent printers.
▷ Print heads
Industrial print heads are mainly used for solvent printers, and Epson print heads are used for Eco solvent printers, including Epson DX4, DX5, DX6, and DX7.
▷ Outdoor use of solvent printing
Solvent printing is mainly used for outdoor advertising, such as billboards, wallpaper, car stickers, etc.
▷ Indoor advertising with eco-friendly solvent printing
Eco-friendly solvent printing is mainly used for indoor advertising schemes, indoor banners, posters, wallpaper, floor graphics, retail POP, backlit displays, flexible banners, etc. These advertisements usually stand near people, so they need to be printed with fine details, high resolution, small ink dots and many print passes.
While there are obviously many benefits to eco solvent printing, choosing eco solvent inks may not be right for you for the type of printing you wish to do.
Due to the heat required to dry, eco solvent inks are not suitable for all types of materials. If you need to use thin, inexpensive vinyl, then solvent inks will be better. If cost is a factor, you should know that eco solvent inks are more expensive than solvent inks because of the many benefits you can get with eco solvent printing. However, they are widely used by businesses and individuals who are just starting out or have medium-sized printing needs. Industrial printing usually still uses solvent inks.
Finally, you need to check which type of ink is compatible with your large format printer. If you know from the start that you want to use eco solvent inks, you need to make sure that they are compatible with your printer.
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