I was looking into the Swiss Q high resolution flatbed printer that uses uv curable inks.
Does anyone know if any reliable longevity ratings have been published? I know some of these dyes are really fugitive, like one year ratings etc, but there are many of them out there now. Seems like still in the experimental stage....? Wilhelm published text that he was working tests a couple of years ago but I never found any data.
John
An Aardenburg member contacted me recently and offered to have some samples made using one of the newer Swiss Q UV curable printing systems. In the past I readily accepted such an offer, but in more recent times, I tend to prepare the samples here in my lab. It's much easier for me that way, but with the expense of the Swiss Q machines, that's not possible. So, I have agreed to test some member-submitted samples of this technology. I don't know whether he will follow through or not because it's a lot of work no matter who makes the product. We shall see. The other issue is that funding this type of research here at Aardenburg has become more and more difficult even as membership continues to rise, but I will cross that bridge with these UV curable samples when/if the time comes. There are big questions as to what samples should actually be tested.
Substrate independence is one of the claims for UV curable technology, but I'm skeptical, particularly about adhesion issues and yellowing issues. And there appear to be different ink sets and varied use of opaque white ink layers/subbing layers. So, it's a question of figuring out what substrates should be printed and included in testing and how they should be printed, eg. a traditional (sized but uncoated) fine art paper, an image on glass, dibond, acrylic, etc, plus white inks or not, plus back lit or reflective? Anyway, the combinations/permutations are many, and thus questions on UV curable longevity are a deep subject, IMHO. Moreover, it only matters to a very few buyers, e.g., fine artists and museums and galleries which may be the ultimate users and/or recipients of this printing process. The customary target market for UV curable printing is signage, both indoor and ouddoor, where longevity measured in weeks to perhaps a couple of years at best is acceptable and the fading/discoloration outcome can be run as a real world test
I suspect (but could be wrong) that the manufacturers know at this point in time the fade and discoloration resistance of UV curable inks isn't all that high which is why the warranties I've read tend to be for one year or less. Their main claim is how fast the inks "dry" and the variety of substrates that can be used.
cheers,
Mark
http://www.aardenburg-imaging.com