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Author Topic: paper or polypropylene?  (Read 1114 times)

lowep

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paper or polypropylene?
« on: April 05, 2012, 02:45:12 pm »

Hi

For the first time in a few years am chasing quotations for a series of large inkjet prints and looks like since I last did this a lot of water (ink?) has passed under the bridge.

My standard way of large format inkjet printing printing used to be on semimatte vinyl media with grommets spaced every 12 inches or so along the edges so the prints would be (1) not very expensive (2) easy to hang anywhere and (3) could also be rolled up in a tube for transport.

I wrote email to a couple of printers asking for a quote along these lines and am a bit confused about the replies I got.  ???

One printer suggests polypropyline with grommets but I have never heard about this media. Is it strong enough to survive being rolled up for transport and unrolled again a couple of times?

Another printer suggested photosatin paper with grommets. I am not sure if any paper is strong enough to be hung via grommets without ripping from the weight?

   
 
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Luca Ragogna

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Re: paper or polypropylene?
« Reply #1 on: April 05, 2012, 03:30:08 pm »

Get quotes from a sign guy rather than a printer. Ask them to quote on printing on a vinyl scrim. If they don't know what you're talking about move on to another sign guy. It's a very common media for outdoor signage.
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PatrickAllen

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Re: paper or polypropylene?
« Reply #2 on: April 05, 2012, 03:50:07 pm »

I suppose it depends on the application. Will it be displayed indoors or outdoors? Short or long term? Is it more fine art, commercial, graphic, text? Some materials render tones and colors better and some offer more durability. UV, dye, or aqueous inkjet printer?
I am only familiar with aqueous so I can only comment on them.
A heavier weight polypropylene could work. Something like this maybe http://www.lexjet.com/p-4043-LexJet-TOUGHcoattrade-Polypropylene-Extra.aspx
If you will be unrolling and rolling on the go quite a bit I too would think a photo satin paper may crease or tear.
There are also several tyvek or Polyester material that would work. For instance we have used grommets on this material before http://www.lexjet.com/p-4312-LexJet-Poly-Select-Heavy.aspx
I have no affiliation with Lexjet I am just most familiar with their products for this type of work. If you are looking for something cheaper and not as worried about the quality of the image being printed do what Luca says and go to a sign shop not a printer.

Best,
Patrick Allen
www.KenAllenStudios.com
www.patrickallenphotography.com
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lowep

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Re: paper or polypropylene?
« Reply #3 on: April 06, 2012, 09:41:27 am »

Thanks for this very useful advice that is much appreciated.

the intended purpose is to present a display of large photos (approx 42 x 56 inches) to push a development project – somewhere in the rough between social documentary and fund raising that is called these days advocacy :-) The first presentation will be at an indoor event. After that the prints will be rolled up and taken around for community presentations that could be anywhere. So reproduction quality is a consideration but not as important in this case as budget and survivability.

fortunately thanks to your advice I can know understand what the printers I have contact with are talking about. That's great!
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