Printable metallic? - Printer Ink

Printer Ink

Printable metallic?

Posted by Matt Rhoades on September 5, 2011 at 2:16 pm

Could anyone advise me on the above? I want to print on metallic vinyl, a basic fade from top to bottom. I have been told to try an etch which is printable, but i’m after a 8yr+ vinyl to apply to vehicles. Can anyone help please?

Many thanks
Matt

Alex Pirozek replied 12 years, 8 months ago 4 Members · 10 Replies
10 Replies

Chris Wool

Member
September 5, 2011 at 4:33 pm

we have some very metallic cast silver vinyl from the sign makers warehouse that prints well, some nice effects
Kevin Flowers

Member
September 5, 2011 at 4:53 pm

i have printed to standard vinyl for labels & such with good results

Kev
Matt Rhoades

Member
September 6, 2011 at 10:13 pm

We ordered a cast metallic eventually. Due to run some tests tomorrow. Will keep you informed. Thanks

Matt
Alex Pirozek

Member
September 7, 2011 at 8:23 pm

Could someone also advise or recommend thermal printable metallic foil based vinyl for a PC-600 or the Edge FX. I have a few variables now from over the years but I’ve lost the spec of the stuff and I’m having small issues with one or the other on the different machines. I find that if it prints fine on the PC-600 it will be good on the FX. i don’t really want to buy lots of stuff again in trial and error as i would rather just get the stuff that is known to work.
A cast metallic silver (mirror) would be advantageous for the future.

Al.
Chris Wool

Member
September 8, 2011 at 8:53 am

Hi Alex

i use on the pc60 orical cheap chrome sorry don’t know the no.
i will try and find it
Alex Pirozek

Member
September 8, 2011 at 9:35 am

Thanks Chris,
I currently use Hexis Chrome but it’s now giving patchy results, Without knowing what was supplied it’s very easy to go round in circles until i find a good one that works well.

I will try a solvent printable Chrome aswell.

Cheers,
Al.
Chris Wool

Member
September 8, 2011 at 9:47 am

patchy prints on chrome has been a problem over the years and i am sure its to do with which batch the roll comes from one roll prints fine replacement rubbish pissed me off more that once.
only thing i can serest is check the machine head voltages.
Alex Pirozek

Member
September 8, 2011 at 11:54 am

Maybe that could explain why my results have been mixed and unexplained really?
I have increased the head voltage on the PC-600 so it covers better. I’ll try and adjust the settings on the FX as well.
It only seems the metalized mirror chrome that is a little inconsistent with the results I’ve been getting.
I’ll try some solvent printable mirror chrome to see if i can get better results with that stuff.

Cheers,
Al.
Chris Wool

Member
September 8, 2011 at 12:29 pm

quote :

I’ll try some solvent printable mirror chrome to see if i can get better results with that stuff.

sorry meant to say have some here and thats hit and miss perfect with genuine roland black carts
Alex Pirozek

Member
September 9, 2011 at 9:39 pm

Well it might be a little premature but whilst talking to vinyl manufacturers regarding sourcing suitable chrome vinyl that thermally prints well I might have found the best type for this job.
PVC based vinyl looks like the one for this job and not Polyester based.
For a while now I’ve been using another type of vinyl which printed extremely well at all times and unknown to me this was a PVC based with the colour beneath the surface of the vinyl. My problems in the past with chrome vinyl and patchy or no print was with all the varieties of Polyester based chrome mirror vinyl.
Maybe a little more testing is needed but early indications of a good strong solid print look promising.