Eco Solvent vrs True Solvent

[Rodney Gold]

You have to test apples and apples , at the end of it all you can really only compare prints on the same media made with the same machine using the 2 inksets.
Problem is , some media holds inks better than others , for example if the ecosolvent ink was printed on polymeric and the true solvent on monomeric with a lighter ink deposit , the solvent would exhibit what you say and vice versa.
Durability is an issue that’s really a hot potato. So many factors influence the durability of a print that it’s actually almost impossible to give cast iron guarantees on output.
Essentially , both eco-solvent and true solvent will work well in 99% of all cases. At the end of it all , get the machine that suits your purposes and budget best. ANY print , no matter what the process needs lamination if being used where it can be damaged and you want to give some sort of warrantee on it.
Color gamuts , uv durability etc are 6 of one and 1/2 a dozen of another in terms of inksets. There are other things and issues with both types of ink that must be considered , far too numerous to mention. Have a look at some of my other posts for these.

[signworkshop]

Thanks Rodney,

What printer do you have?
And are you and your customers pleased with the prints that it does?

From Mark

[Brian Hays]

Where are the samples from? what machines are they printed from? have you got the 2 mixed up?!

[Rodney Gold]

I have a Roland Soljet SC540 Pro II ex , prints semi solvent using a heated platten on all uncoated media.
Im pretty pleased with quality and my customers are thrilled. I actually enter photographic competitions and print my pics on polymeric vinyl rather than paper cos my Soljet does a better job than my dektops or the labs.I don’t really do vast volumes of roll to roll low res billboard and banner but do the more upmarket and profitable stuff , a lot of print and cut etc and the machine is perfect for that. I print on lots of various substrates etc.
the thing I really like about the machine is that there is little or no maintencne , you rip and print without flushings etc etc. It’s been verry relaible and profitable for me so far.

[signworkshop]

Hi Brian,

The prints are from a Grenadier and an EcoJET Premier,
no i have’nt got the prints mixed up as the print from the EcoJET Premier has its name plastered all over it

[Robert Lambie]

ok so theres a spanner in the works now 😮 😆 😆 😆 😆

i have the same type of prints mate. various people sent me these prints so various materials used at probably differnt settings.
ok ok these are versacam eco prints (so we dont need to go into that again)
but the solvent ones i have tested many times now. no finger smudges unless you burn away your finger tips to the bone.
no metholated spirit smugdes unless you rub like crazy and hard.

like rodney says. it maybe down to the vinyl your samples are printed your on. who knows?

if your test are accurate it doesnt make much sense for the guys to bend over backwards to make these machines accept true solvent inks, the increase in costs of these modified machines etc.

watch that the supplier of the print hasnt sent you an eco print by their mistake.

one thing though.. although the tests show the versacamm has some drawbacks. everyone that now owns one and knows about these faults are perfectly happy with their machine. so for 10 grand less you can have what you want. 😉 so if your happy with the eco prints , then theres nothing to stop you. 😀

[Brian Hays]

Robert your quote of £10,000 price difference is a little unfair. The Uniform Cadet & Roland Versacamm machines are less than £1000 apart. The difference being down to the modifications which have to be carried out.

[Robert Lambie]

oops spot on brian.. im basing that on signworksop saying his test was on the Grenadier. the cadet is available at almost the same price. 😉

the cadet being the grenadiers wee brother 😀