Part 1 of 3
By Cassandra Balentine
The February issue of Digital Output highlights the latest trends in silicone edge graphics (SEG). We also discuss the popularity of dye-sublimation (dye-sub) print processes for this application.
SEG requires fabric and a frame as well as a compatible print process. Here, we spotlight features and print products well suited to produce SEG with dye-sub.
Ideal Printer Features
Speed, media handling, and quality are all features of a printer that affect SEG success.
Michael Litardo, marketing manager, Mutoh America, Inc., says speed is paramount as many SEG pieces can be very large and a shop is typically doing multiple prints per project.
“Fast print speeds help print shops meet tight turnaround times, while efficient loading and unloading mechanisms streamline production and minimize handling time,” comments Lily Hunter, product manager, Professional Imaging, Epson America, Inc. “This makes it easier to produce SEG graphics that can be washed, folded, stored, and reused across multiple campaigns or seasonal displays.”
Beyond print speeds and media handling—which are always improving—Timothy Mitchell, senior manager, customer experience, Mimaki USA, Inc., sees the ability to consistently produce many applications on a range of media, quickly, and with minimal touchpoints as the holy grail of digital production. “This enables the production staff to be focused on tasks that require human interaction while being assured the digital components are productive.”
Hunter also believes is important that dye-sub printers produce consistent, high quality, and vibrant output with exceptional color saturation and contrast on polyester fabric.
In today’s production environment, Mike Syverson, textile manager – North America, Durst Image Technology, feels that operational costs, efficiency, and time to market are key points when considering a printing system. “Features such as inline sublimation (iSUB) and multi-roll staging capabilities lend themselves well to these points.”
Large Format Printers
The printer and ink selected to produce SEG must handle fabric media options designed for this specific purpose, such as the products listed below.
Durst
The Durst P5 TEX iSUB is an ideal solution for producing SEG graphics, according to Syverson. It is a versatile system that produces graphics with traditional transfer paper or printing directly to fabric with iSUB, all at high quality and speed.
Epson
The Epson SureColor F-Series dye-sub printers are well suited to SEG applications. The 44-inch SureColor F6470, 64-inch SureColor F9570, and 76-inch SureColor F11070 are tailor-made for performance, versatility, superior print quality, and engineered for reliability. Regardless of print size, Hunter says Epson offers a solution that can create final output with limited or no seams.
All SureColor F-Series printers tout the UltraChrome DG ink set with high-definition black ink. This ink set is formulated to deliver highly-saturated, vibrant output, ideal for backlit application. With six color options available on select SureColor F-Series models, customers have the ability of an expanded color gamut, ideal for creative use and recreating accurate corporate brand colors.
“Mechanical features on the SureColor F-Series printers drive impressive print speeds and consistent, reliable output. The SureColor F-Series tout advanced 2.6-inch PrecisionCore Micro TFP printheads with Nozzle Verification Technology to deliver quality prints at high speeds, ensuring precise output. Each printer includes a take-up reel system to ensure a seamless transfer for printer to heat press to improve shop productivity,” says Hunter.
Global Imaging, Inc.
Global Imaging specializes in supporting every stage of the SEG production workflow. Its product lineup for SEG production includes top-tier digital textile printers, cutting equipment, automated sewing systems, framing solutions, papers, and fabrics—with the expertise to help guide customers and ensure they succeed in this fast-growing and profitable market.
For SEG fabric printing, Global Imaging offers digital textile printers from ATPColor with sizes up to five meters, as well as the P5 TEX iSUB from Durst. “Both brands are well known for their reliability and high-quality output. Their printers cover a range of price points, speeds, and workflow options, allowing our customers to choose the right solution for their specific production needs. The longevity exhibited by these two manufacturers is what sets them apart, not to mention the service and support behind the scenes that keeps them up and running,” says Greg Lamb, CEO, Global Imaging.
Mimaki
Mitchell says the most widely used printers for the SEG market are 3.2-meter wide products. “The big advantage of SEG display is the seamless grand format fabric displays. Many applications work just fine with the smaller 1.6-meter printer widths, but the industry has settled on 3.2-meter printers as the primary choice for SEG frame printing because of the emphasis on large displays.”
Mimaki has a large textile portfolio with many printers that will print SEG fabric exceptionally well. However, Mitchell says several printers stand out as excellent choices, including the TS330-3200DS and TS330-1600.
The new Mimaki TS330-3200DS 3.2-meter wide format printer creates high-value textile applications because it is capable of being configured as either a paper transfer-only printer, or as a hybrid printer that can print equally well on both paper transfer and direct-to-textile options such as flags, banners, and heavy coverage backlit prints.
This model includes a clever magnetic ink-receiving spacer that allows ink to transfer through the fabric for excellent second-side coverage. Add in two proven, high-quality 1,200 dpi variable-drop piezoelectric printheads and the quality and productivity are impressive—especially considering the entry-level price tag. The roll handling engineering is perfectly executed to handle both heavy paper and fabric rolls with ease, and a ten-liter bulk ink option is available to accommodate expected growth in the display fabric market.
The Mimaki TS330-1600 sublimation transfer printer is a smaller sibling to the Mimaki TS330-3200DS printer and offers high-speed production with superior image quality and functions to save both time and labor. This advanced sublimation transfer printing system supports media up to 64 inches and offers four-, six-, seven-, and eight-color configurations.
The TS330-1600 printer is transfer only, but it can do all the SEG frame applications of the larger printer, just with narrower rolls. This model can also be configured with a specialty pigmented ink set to become the printing component of the TRAPIS system—a complete digital printing solution with the ability to print on a multitude of materials including natural fibers, in an environmentally friendly process. “TRAPIS radically simplifies the complex process of direct printing to coated natural fibers and introduces both increased productivity and a huge breadth of uncoated and untreated natural fiber fabric options in the process. Those natural fiber prints from TRAPIS could easily be sewn into SEG frames and could seriously influence the décor market when combined with ornate SEG frame displays,” offers Mitchell.
Mutoh
Mutoh’s dye-sub line, specifically the XPJ-1642WR Pro, is well suited for SEG. The printers feature a large format capabilities and DH-21 inks with double-density blacks.
In part two of this web series we look at fabric options well suited for SEG production with dye-sub. Find a full-feature article on the topic of dye-sub and SEG in our February issue.
Feb2025, Digital Output
