David Zwang's "Drupa 2012, the Inkjet Drupa…again?" Articles

chevalier

Well-known member
I caught some free time this morning and read through all of the "Drupa 2012, the Inkjet Drupa…again?" articles David Zwang has been writing for WhatTheyThink. I haven't seen any activity here and thought I'd ignite the conversation/debate. Inkjet is exciting technology that possibly helps eliminate the variability and inconsistency of current printing methods.

What is being done about ink opacity?
Is there anyone with an inkjet solution for metallics?
Why the focus on CMYK and why not further gamut allowing accurate inkjet simulation of those long-running industry headaches like Reflex Blue and other out-of-gamut / edge-of-gamut colors?
Why the focus on such thin substrates? Short-run high-quality folding cartons is growing market (hence the Xerox iGen4 EXP on the EP side).
 
Great points! Been following inkjet solutions for years and just a few IMO answers...

What is being done about ink opacity?* The biggest problem is not with ink opacity but with the coating on the mediums to allow for full gamut of the inks. Different manufactures are using different methods (oil base vs water) and still no one as of yet has hit on the magic formula. I believe it will take a dedicated group of engineers, paper specialists, end users and owners to pool collective ideas to resolve the situation.
Is there anyone with an inkjet solution for metallics?* And how do you suggest the ability to run a metallic via a head with the spot size measured in picoliters? By the very word, the particles would have to be so small I'm not sure they would even show, and if they did, it would seem to me they would be prone to clog the heads and create a very expensive single use head.
Why the focus on CMYK and why not further gamut allowing accurate inkjet simulation of those long-running industry headaches like Reflex Blue and other out-of-gamut / edge-of-gamut colors? * I think this is due to short sighted development. They are trying to give us what we as printers are familiar with(CMYK) and not a product to take us past the next step(CMYKRGB+spot varnish?). I believe they should leapfrog what we expect and go for what we wish for to provide a solution that will make everyone say "I need that!".
Why the focus on such thin substrates? Short-run high-quality folding cartons is growing market (hence the Xerox iGen4 EXP on the EP side). * If you can make it work on paper and plastic, the world still has a huge demand for short run print on demand and that niche would be perfect. If you develop a sheet fed and 1/4 web solution that allows for very small to medium runs and allow the full webs to run the larger runs, you have a very profitable market to sell to for many years. After they make the short run market profitable, then they can spread to packaging with a proven solution that needs to be modified for different thickness and widths.

Again, these are just my opinions.
 
If you look at inkjet in the wide format market you'll see most of these issues solved. There are numerous extended gamut machines plus a couple white and metallic. The notable problem for transferring this to presses is speed. The more ink colors you add to the mix, the longer it takes to complete an image. Same problem for higher density, it's possible now but it slows production. The primary requirement for the inkjet press market is throughput to match competing technologies at reasonable quality.
 
InkJet drupa? Workflow drupa? Digital drupa? Nah...none of them. This clearly has been the Hall 9-Brainwash drupa!
 

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