Signs of the Times - August 2017 - 48
once exclusive field has caught fire, so to speak, because
most large-format print machine manufacturers are offering
more sophisticated and larger machines which easily
produce dye-sublimation images that transfer to rigid media
or fabric. He spoke of small shops that have historically produced lesser dye-sublimation products that are currently
buying larger printers and calendar elements, with plans
for fabricating tradeshow graphics and signage.
A confirming view comes from industry consultants
Vince Cahill and Claire Hunter who, in a May 2016 ST
article ("The Road to Printing and Producing Soft Signage,"
page 72) told of their observations a few months earlier,
at SGIA 2015. They said, "A few years back, the printed
cloth display graphics would have been imaged on rigid
stock, but today, tradeshow exhibitors have high interest
in fabric signage because it offers numerous advantages."
They said fabric is lighter, flexible and easier to transport,
and added, "You should envision the entire fabric-signage
process as one workflow package, i.e., the design concept
to mounted signage. This process comprises design, design
approval, prepress and print processing, post-print processes,
component acquisitions, framework assembly (prior to
fabric finishing, to allow real measurements), fabric finishing,
final test fitting and adjustments, disassembly, packing
and shipping."
you have three primary deliberations: the market demand,
the machine(s) required to produce products that will
satisfy that market, and the cash needed to equip and
operate the new shop division.
In his book Inkjet!, Frank J. Romano - technology editor,
writer and professor emeritus at the Rochester Institute
of Technology - discusses dye sublimation and direct-tofabric printing, both of which, he said, continue to add
expanding market opportunities. Romano advises that
dye-sublimation transfer paper carries specialty ink that
is heat transferred (at temperatures up to 400° F) to the
substrate, to create an embedded image that will not peel,
crack, fade or discolor over time. The latter two - fade
or discolor - should be noted as "within reason." Still,
he asserts that dye-sublimated prints provide high-level
color, a soft "hand," and permanence. Note, however, that
dye-sublimation on fabric requires 100% polyester fabric
or a custom sublimation fabric.
Romano adds that direct inkjet fabric printers image
directly onto fabric without a transfer process, which
eliminates possible heat damage, skewing or paper buckling
risks that are sometimes associated with dye-sublimation
processes. He also notes that direct-to-fabric printing
eliminates transfer paper costs, ink losses through the
transfer process and, generally, it's a faster process.
NOT REALLY ROCKET SCIENCE
Dye sublimation processing isn't rocket science, but each
type of processing involves machines, components and
materials that require precise methodological practices,
ones that expand with increased image size or specialty
commitment. UV-cure, promotional/personalized imaging
achieved with benchtop-sized printers follows a similar
track. Whichever systems and methods you might choose,
THE MORRISON'S ROLE OF THE DYE
My morning coffee phone call with Chris and Kathi
Morrison produced some interesting concepts, mainly, an
exploration of the level at which signmakers would bring
either dye sublimation printing or promotional/personalized printing into their shops. Chris noted that a heat
press and access to a printer that images transfer paper
with dye-sublimation ink can establish a small business
48
SIGNS OF THE TIMES
AUGUST 2017
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Signs of the Times - August 2017
Signs of the Times - August 2017
Contents
From the Editor
St Update
At Large
Tech Review
Shop Ops
Vehicles + Vinyl
Design Matters
Nuts + Bolts
Next Generation
The 2017 National Electrical Code
Dye Trying
Strictly Electric: Under the Big Top
New Products
Advertising Index
Last Look
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - Intro
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - BB1
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - BB2
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - Signs of the Times - August 2017
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - BD_L
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - BD
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - Cover2
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - 1
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - Contents
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - 3
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - 4
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - 5
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - 6
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - 7
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - From the Editor
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - 9
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - St Update
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - 11
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - 12
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - 13
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - 14
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - 15
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - 16
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - 17
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - At Large
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - 19
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - 20
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - 21
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - Tech Review
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - 23
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - Shop Ops
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - 25
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - 26
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - 27
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - Vehicles + Vinyl
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - 29
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - Design Matters
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - 31
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - Nuts + Bolts
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - 33
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - 34
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - 35
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - 36
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - 37
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - Next Generation
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - 39
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - 40
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - 41
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - The 2017 National Electrical Code
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - 43
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - 44
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - 45
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - Dye Trying
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - 47
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - 48
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - 49
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - Strictly Electric: Under the Big Top
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - 51
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - 52
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - 53
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - New Products
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - 55
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - 56
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - 57
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - 58
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - 59
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - 60
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - 61
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - 62
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - 63
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - 64
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - 65
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - 66
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - 67
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - 68
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - 69
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - 70
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - 71
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - 72
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - 73
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - 74
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - 75
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - 76
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - 77
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - 78
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - 79
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - 80
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - 81
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - 82
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - Advertising Index
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - Last Look
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - Cover3
Signs of the Times - August 2017 - Cover4
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