By: Erik Vlietinck
Fri, May 18, 2007 - 6:22:00
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Philippe Barrer Business Manager, Inkjet & Colour Solutions at Kodak wrote a short piece on some practical tips to adopt when looking for Wide Format Media. I’ve re-formatted his list of tips and am publishing it here without changes.

If quality and performance is important to you, never select a wide-format media on price alone. Going for the cheapest available, regardless of your application needs, is like playing Russian Roulette and will eventually lead to loss of trade.

Ensure you select the right media that suits the needs of the particular application. Compromise here and you almost certainly risk unpleasant surprises later.

Check your supplier’s website for additional information that will provide a useful aid in selecting the appropriate media. Proactive suppliers will offer media compatibility charts and selector tools that suggest certain media according to your application needs and printer manufacturer/model.

Be sure to thoroughly examine the entire media portfolio offered by a supplier. You might find a specifically manufactured media that directly correlates to your requirements. Again, supplier websites should list their complete range, including the more ‘unusual’ substrates, such as Tyvek.

Once you have a media in mind – double-check any specific requirements. For example, if it’s an outdoor billboard application, does the supplier guarantee the media for longevity in such applications?

If your print stable comprises wide-format inkjet solutions from different manufacturers, you will enjoy cost-savings by using a media that is guaranteed for performance and compatibility with each system. Kodak currently offers a guarantee that, in specified wide-format printer and ink combinations, certifies the media against fading, cracking and bleeding.

Enquire as to whether your supplier provides additional information such as the actual testing data relating to the media in question. This invaluable information will give an overview of exactly how the media will perform when it comes to printing, laminating and finishing. 

The level of quality control is often proportional to the level of consistency you can expect to achieve from your media. Check with your supplier to see how stringently this is applied.

Once you have selected your media, check to see if your supplier also provides software profiles developed for that particular substrate.

Check the supplier website again - Forward thinking suppliers will have loaded it with a wealth of information that often includes additional tips, tricks and hints for getting the most out of your wide-format media.