Photo
gloss paper, photo matte, transparent, banner paper for wide format
inkjet printers is all called "media."
Let's
take the example of AZON color media, from Azon.
Posters,
banners, signs, digital fine art, exhibits, or whatever the job
at hand... each may require a paper appropriate to the use. Graphics
for outside or for exposure to lots of light will require pigmented
ink. Graphics for inside can be done with dye based inks,
when tend to be brighter. Ilford makes its Archival inks which have
a wide following as a result of their long-lasting color.
Azon
offers canvas in several varieties, paper in several kinds, and
photo paper in many flavors.
FLAAR
currently is evaluating media on the seven different large format
printers we have in our evaluation center. Since hundreds of different
kinds of media are available, our work is never-ending (and a bit
slow).
Shortly
we will begin reviewing wide format media from Sihl and other leading
suppliers of media. Rexam, IJ Technologies, TAL, 3-P Inkjet Textiles,
and Precision
Coatings Inc. have already provided plenty of media (which is
reviewed on various other web sites within the FLAAR information
network such as www.digital-photography.org and www.maya-archaeology.org).
We will begin reviewing Sihl large format media on another web site
shortly.
On
the present site, www.cameras-scanners-flaar.org we will single
out a different media source, such as Anchor Paper, Azon, Hammermill's
Panorama, Mitsubishi.
In
the meantime, FLAAR has a variety of reports on media: inkjet media
for signs-posters-banners; inkjet media for photo-realistic and/or
fine art giclee printing. It has turned out much easier for our
editors to update the reports in Adobe PDF format then it is to
update the now more than 500 pages in three languages on over 12
different web sites.
Our
university makes these reports available in convenient Adobe PDF
format at no cost as part of our program of public education. Just
indicate to us what kind of large format inkjet printer you have
(or what kind you are considering acquiring in the future) and we
will send the reports.
If
you really want technical details on inkjet media, inks, and/or
inkjet printhead technology, and especially if you wish to meet
the movers and shakers in this industry, be sure to sign up for
the next conference organized by IMI. To contact them write to imi@tdstelme.net.
These seminars are outstanding; the senior review editor of FLAAR
usually attends because he can get so much fresh information for
the readers of the FLAAR Reports in PDF format and the FLAAR Information
Network of web sites.
|
