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Digital printing
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== Digital printing methods of note == === Fine art inkjet printing === {{refimprove section|date=May 2024}} [[File:Large Format Printing of Black Numbers on a Brushed Aluminum Sheet.jpg|thumb|left|Large format printing of black numbers on a brushed aluminum sheet by a Mimaki inkjet printer]] Fine art digital inkjet printing is printing from a computer image file directly to an inkjet printer as a final output. It evolved from digital proofing technology from [[Kodak]], [[3M]], and other major manufacturers, with artists and other printers trying to adapt these dedicated [[prepress proofing]] machines to fine-art printing. There was experimentation with many of these types of printers, the most notable being the [[Iris printer|IRIS printer]], initially adapted to fine-art printing by programmer [[David Coons]], and adopted for fine-art work by [[Graham Nash]] at his [[Graham Nash#Early digital fine art printing|Nash Editions]] printing company in 1991.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://digitaljournalist.org/issue0105/nash_intro.htm |title=Nash Editions: Fine Art Printing on the Digital Frontier|last=White|first=Garrett|website=Digitaljournalist.org |access-date=2011-10-20}}</ref> Initially, these printers were limited to glossy papers, but the [[Intel Graphics Technology|IRIS Graphics]] printer allowed the use of a variety of papers that included traditional and non-traditional media. The [[IRIS printer]] was the standard for fine art digital printmaking for many years, and is still in use today, but has been superseded by large-format printers from other manufacturers such as [[Epson]] and [[Hewlett-Packard|HP]] that use fade-resistant, archival inks ([[pigment]]-based, as well as newer [[solvent]]-based inks), and archival substrates specifically designed for fine-art printing.{{citation needed|date=October 2021}} Substrates in fine art inkjet printmaking include traditional fine-art papers such as Rives BFK, Arches [[Watercolor painting#Paper|watercolor paper]], treated and untreated canvas, experimental substrates (such as metal and plastic), and fabric. [[File:Digital Printing Press.JPG|thumb|left|Digital Printing Press]] For artists making reproductions of their original work, inkjet printing is more expensive on a per-print basis than the traditional four-color [[Offset printing|offset lithography]], but with inkjet printing the artist does not have to pay for the expensive printing-plate setup or the marketing and storage needed for large four-color offset print runs. Inkjet reproductions can be printed and sold individually in accordance with demand. Inkjet printing has the added advantage of allowing artists to take total control of the production of their images, including the final color correction and the substrates being used, with some artists owning and operating their own printers. Digital inkjet printing also allows for the output of [[digital art]] of all types as finished pieces or as an element in a further art piece. Experimental artists often add texture or other media to the surface of a final print, or use it as part of a mixed-media work. Many terms for the process have been used over the years, including "digigraph" and "giclée". Thousands of print shops and digital printmakers now offer services to painters, photographers, and digital artists around the world. Digital images are exposed onto true, light sensitive [[photographic paper]] with lasers and processed in photographic developers and fixers. These prints are true photographs and have [[continuous tone]] in the image detail. The archival quality of the print is as high as the manufacturer's rating for any given photo paper used. In large format prints, the greatest advantage is that, since no lens is used, there is no vignetting or detail distortion in the corners of the image. === Digital cylinder printing === {{unreferenced section|date=May 2024}} Digital cylinder printing is when a machine directly lays ink onto a curved surface that usually is the wall of an object that has a circular cross section, and a constant, tapered, or variable diameter. Digital cylinder printing is a method of reproducing black-and-white or full-color images and text onto cylindrical objects, typically promotional products, through use of digital imaging systems. The digital process is by definition faster than conventional [[screen printing]], because it requires fewer production steps and less set-up time for multiple colors and more complex jobs. This in turn enables reduced run lengths. The ability of digital cylinder printing machines to print full color in one pass, including primers, varnishes and specialty inks, enables multiple design techniques, which include: * Mirror prints: viewable on the inside and outside of glass or plastic * Tone on tone: solid matte-finished substrate enhanced with one ink or clear coat * Stained glass: color opaque enough to see through * Contouring * Etched Full-wrap cylindrical printing also benefits from seamless borders with no visual overlap. For ease of print file preparation, original design artwork should be able to be imaged on cylinders and tapered items without the need for manipulation or distortion; i.e., flat images will print to scale on a curved surface, with software automatically making the adjustment. The more advanced systems available on the market can handle these requirements. The digital cylindrical printing process involves inserting a cylinder-shaped item, or part, into a fixture, which securely holds it in place. The part then travels under a print head mechanism in which tiny droplets of [[CMYK color model|CMYK]] (cyan, magenta, yellow, and black) inks are released in a specific pattern to form an image. Typically, one part is printed at a time and can require from 8 to 45 seconds to complete, depending on artwork complexity and quality. It is then finished with a [[UV coating]] to add a glossy finish and protect it from abrasion. There are three different imaging techniques used by digital cylinder printing machines: multi-pass, single pass, and helical printing. Multi-Pass: Multi-pass printing is when the print heads or printed object move axially in steps down the part, like a [[Flatbed digital printer|flatbed printer]]. The move time is inefficient and can lead to stitching artifacts between moves. Single Pass: Single pass involves using an array of print heads to print the full image length with a single revolution of the printed object. Different colors are usually printed at different stations, leading to higher cost, increased complexity, and sensitivity to print nozzle drop-outs. Helical Printing: Helical printing is a hybrid method between the single-pass and multi-pass approaches. Image data is mapped to allow continuous imaging in a helical pattern with a limited number of print heads. Users can optimize the print resolution, speed, and curing controls to optimize image quality or choose higher speed if quality isn't critical. Tapers can be imaged at high speed and curved vessels can be managed through the range of controls offered. Items that can be printed using digital cylindrical processes include cups, tumblers, thermos bottles, bottles, makeup containers, machine parts, carrier tubes, pens, tubes, jars and others.
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