Inkjet repro

Inkjet repro – as a medium for repros and other printing applications

Inkjet repro film, or simply inkjet repro for short, refers to film made from BO-PET material that is further processed with a special coating to become a print medium for inkjet printing applications. The microporous coating and the high opacity of the material make it possible to produce prints on inkjet repros with razor-sharp print images, brilliant colours and fast ink drying. Despite the microporous coating, inkjet repro has a smooth surface that enables precise detail reproduction and ensures even colour distribution. In the Bleher range, the inkjet film optimont® IPF meets the requirements for inkjet repro.

The production of inkjet repro from BO-PET film

The raw material polyethylene terephthalate for polyester film is produced by polycondensation from ethylene glycol and terephthalic acid. The thermoplastic polymer is processed into film by flat film extrusion. After the film has been produced, it is further processed by what is known as stretching. In the case of BO-PET film, the stretching process is carried out in the machine direction and transverse to the machine direction. This is referred to as biaxial stretching or, in the end product, as biaxial orientation, which explains the name component BO. Biaxial orientation gives the films special strength, high clarity and dimensional stability. In addition, the stretching process makes the film more temperature-resistant and durable. For use as inkjet repro, BO-PET film is coated on both sides after stretching. With its double-sided microporous coating, inkjet repro is suitable for a wide variety of printing applications. In the field of inkjet printing, inkjet repro is very well suited for both pigment inks and dye inks.

Applications for inkjet repro

• Stencils for screen printing
• Clichés for pad printing
• Printing plates for flexographic and offset printing
• High-quality repro films on modern inkjet printers
• Industrial and professional printed products

BO-PET quality polyester film as the basis for inkjet repro

The BO-PET film carrier material for inkjet repro ensures optimal flatness of the print medium. The film can be placed very precisely onto printing plates and can also be vacuumized if required. This is a decisive advantage for avoiding undercutting during exposure. Inkjet repro is water-resistant and tear-resistant, free from shrinkage and distortion, and suitable for long-lasting applications. Even with high ink application, the ink dries quickly on the microporous ink-receiving layer. The print image does not bleed and impresses with low dot gain, high edge sharpness and very high optical density. The UV density also reaches a high value.

Advantages of inkjet repro

• Printed areas are reproduced homogeneously without halo formation
• Improved scratch resistance for problem-free handling
• Short drying times enable further processing without loss of time
• High UV density

UV density depends heavily on the printer ink used and the amount of ink applied. The use of Epson UltraChrome inks or Canon Lucia pigment ink systems enables very good results in this area.

Printing conditions for prints on inkjet repro

A successful printing process on inkjet repro is influenced by various factors. The optimal temperature range for printing on inkjet repro is specified as 15 to 30 degrees Celsius. A relative humidity of between 30 and 60 percent also ensures good print results on inkjet repro. Before printing, the film must be well protected from fingerprints, water and dust and is suitable for pigment inks and dye inks. Printers should be set to the highest print quality for printing on inkjet repro.

Product features of inkjet repro

• Reusable and easy to archive
• No shrinkage or distortion
• Easy to vacuumize
• Very good UV density
• Sharp-edged reproduction
• No bleeding
• Safe handling thanks to improved scratch resistance
• Good visual impression for reliable inspection

Application examples for inkjet repro

• High-quality labels
• Overhead films
• Graphics
• Technical drawings
• Packaging prototypes
• Screen printing templates
• Film replacement in reprography

Storage conditions for inkjet repro

In a storage room for inkjet repro, the relative humidity should be approx. 50 percent. A temperature range of 15 to 25 degrees Celsius is optimal for storage. Exposed inkjet repros are best stored in their original packaging. Good protection against UV radiation and other direct light exposure is also important.

Further meaning of the term inkjet repro

As described at the beginning, the term inkjet repro does not only refer to inkjet repro film, i.e. the film to be printed, but also to the printing process itself. In this sense, inkjet repro refers to the process of high-quality reproduction of print templates using inkjet printers. It is also referred to as inkjet reproduction or inkjet proofing. The inkjet repro process is mainly used in the graphic arts industry, in prepress and for proofs in order to create colour-accurate samples of a planned printed product. Inkjet printing works by precisely controlling tiny ink droplets that are applied specifically to the print medium.

Advantages of inkjet printing on inkjet repro

• The simple construction of inkjet printers results in lower costs compared with other printing processes
• Fast printing speed
• Inkjet printing does not use fixed printing plates. This means that variable content can also be printed. Date, time, batch numbers or names are retrieved from a database and printed on inkjet repro as required
• High-quality print results, since only the controlled ink droplets come into contact with the surface of the inkjet repro during printing with inkjet printers, not printing plates
• Printing with inkjet printers on inkjet repro achieves impressive colour spaces