Signs of the Times - March 2012 - (Page 48)

TECHNOLOGY REVIEW By Chris and Kathi Morrison Chris and Kathi Morrison own and operate The Image Specialists, a full-service graphics company based in Clements, CA. Chris is also a Microsoft-certified systems engineer. Roland’s VersaStudio BN-20 Sometimes a little inspiration will help expand your operation. Key Information Roland DGA Corp. 15363 Barranca Pkwy. Irvine, CA 92618-2216 (949) 727-2100 www.rolanddga.com In these lean bottom everyIdeally,isyou can buildtosales times, shop scrambling maximize the line. by offering a new service or process – especially if it’s one your customers want – and competitors lack. Easily said, but not easily done. The short answer may be on Roland’s truck. After all, they come up with some innovative solutions, especially for markets that reside under many people’s noses, so we decided to review the VersaStudio BN-20, an innovative, qualitybuilt, desktop printer/contour cutter that, get this, will image with Roland’s metallic ink. With a small investment (or lease agreement), and whether you’re completely entrenched in the digital market or just boarding the digital-print boat, this 79.4-lb. printer will produce myriad profit-making images. It can short-run print decals, labels, posters, textiles and other applications up to 20 in. wide with standard, metallic or pearlescent colors. The BN-20 can reside on a desk, tabletop or Roland’s optional base. The printer stands 11.5 in. high, 39.2 in. wide and 23 in. deep. Plan to leave some working room around it, for such tasks as media changes and replacing ink cartridges. The power and environmental requirements – dedicated AC 100 to 240 V ± 10%, 50/60 Hz – are minimal, so you shouldn’t need major in-house modifications. The environmental operating range is 68 to 90°F, and the humidity range 35 to 80% (non-condensing). Thus, it should work fine in an office environment. Roland recommends that you have a certified, dealerlevel technician install the BN-20. If you wave off installation, expect to spend an hour or two performing the initial cleaning and calibration steps. We installed ours and, yes, encountered a few holdups an experienced tech would have quickly resolved, but otherwise, it was a snap. (After we installed the ink cartridges, we performed a series of calibrations through the system’s utility wizard. Simple. Finally, the wizard prompted a normal cleaning to get the ink flowing and, soon after, we ran our first – and successful – test print.) Roland will soon announce a video that leads you through the self-install process. 48 SIGNS OF THE TIMES / MARCH 2012 / www.signweb.com Company Profile: Roland DGA Corp., the U.S.-based marketing, distribution and sales arm of Roland DG Corp. of Hamamatsu, Japan, is a leader in the sign, graphic-arts, fine-art, vehiclegraphics, UV-cure ink, photography, engraving and 3-D modeling industries. Founded in 1981 and listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, Roland DG provides wide-format inkjet printers and printer/cutters, vinyl cutters, 3-D scanners and milling devices, and engravers and other personalization devices. At a Glance: While the desktop-sized, 20-in.-wide, BN-20 isn’t for producing large graphics or full vehicle wraps, it will create stunning graphic elements. See it as a stand-alone profit center for such smaller, exclusive work as finely imaged photographs, labels, decals and posters. Even better, perhaps, is its use for partial wraps and logos, plus delivery-truck and storefront window signs. Further, this tabletop machine allows you to use sexy, metallic spot colors to jazz up the design. Also, the printer incorporates Roland’s automated, ink-circulation system that constantly circulates the ink and thereby ensures exceptional image quality and minimal maintenance. Overall, it offers a whole new world of possibilities, for around $8,500. Contact: Roland DGA sales (800) 542-2307 sales@rolanddga.com Technology The five-color BN-20 applies Eco-SOL MAX ink at 1,440 dpi with variable-droplet, piezo-printhead technology. Its printhead system diminishes onboard static, which helps prevent printhead clogs. At order time, you choose one of three ink configurations: dual-magenta CMMYK; metallic-silver CMYKMt, or, Roland’s aqueous ink for indoor use. The really cool metallic colors, obviously our favorite feature, match those produced by Roland’s XC-540MT and the VersaCAMM VS series wide-format printer/cutters. It’s not your typical desktop inkjet printer. Its metal skins and a heavy-duty chassis make it an almost mini-me of the SOLJET XC-540. However, the BN-20 has numerous differences – no control panel, for example. Instead, the BN-20 printer utility, which works with all Windows flavors, provides error, ink, maintenance and other operations messages and access. Additionally, the BN-20 is a USB-connected device, which somewhat leashes it to the control workstation. http://www.rolanddga.com http://www.signweb.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Signs of the Times - March 2012

Signs of the Times - March 2012
Contents
ST Update
Technology Update
Vinyl Apps
Strictly Commercial
Lighting Techniques
The Moving Message
Technology Review
Sign Museum News
New Products
The 2012 International Sign Contest
Get Smart
The Value of Signs
Industry News
Advertising Index
Editorially Speaking

Signs of the Times - March 2012