optimont® IPF

optimont® IPF is suitable as a print medium for a wide range of applications.

optimont® IPF is used both as an inkjet imaging film for screen printing and as an exposure film for inkjet printers. The film is manufactured from biaxially oriented PET (BO-PET) material and enhanced with a special coating. This coated film material is ideally suited for high-resolution inkjet printing applications. The microporous coating of optimont® IPF allows for rapid ink drying. Its smooth surface with high opacity ensures precise detail reproduction, brilliant colors, razor-sharp print results, and uniform ink distribution.

Examples of applications for optimont® IPF in the printing sector

• Stencils for screen printing
• BO-PET film for screen printing films
• Printing plates for pad printing
• Inkjet film for reprography
• Inkjet film for UV exposure
• Printing plates for flexographic and offset printing
• Production of high-quality repro films on modern inkjet printers

BO-PET material as the basis of optimont® IPF

The base material of optimont® IPF is biaxially oriented polyester film, known as BO-PET film. The material offers optimum flatness as well as dimensional stability and can therefore be positioned precisely on the printing form.

The production process of BO-PET begins with the polycondensation of terephthalic acid and ethylene glycol to polyethylene terephthalate. The thermoplastic material is converted into polyester film by means of flat film extrusion. After extrusion, the polyester film is reheated and further processed by biaxial stretching. This stretching refers to controlled elongation, which in biaxial stretching takes place both in the machine direction and transverse to it.

The BO-PET film produced in this way is characterized by high tear strength, abrasion resistance, dimensional stability, and temperature resistance. The term BO in BO-PET stands for the biaxial orientation that the film has obtained through the stretching process.

After stretching, the BO-PET film is coated on both sides and becomes optimont® IPF. With its double-sided, microporous coating, optimont® IPF is suitable for various printing applications, including use as an inkjet film for UV exposure.

Product properties of optimont® IPF

optimont® IPF is waterproof and tear-resistant and is therefore very well suited for long-lasting applications. During printing processes, the film can be vacuumed. This contributes significantly to the prevention of underexposure. Due to its dimensional stability, the film can be processed largely free of shrinkage and distortion. Even during long-term archiving, assemblies on optimont® IPF remain accurately aligned.

The microporous ink-receiving layer enables short drying times and fast further processing times even with high ink coverage. optimont® IPF is an exposure film with high density and a very well-suited transparent film for film replacement.

Advantages of optimont® IPF

• No bleeding of prints
• High edge sharpness
• Very low dot gain
• High optical density and high UV density
• Compatible with pigment inks, dye inks, and UV inks
• Suitable for use in professional printing processes, including industrial applications
• Easy handling due to high scratch resistance and very good flatness

Optical properties and processing notes for optimont® IPF

Printed areas on optimont® IPF are reproduced homogeneously without halo formation. Due to the very short drying time, prints on optimont® IPF can be further processed quickly and without loss of time. The UV density of the prints depends on the printer ink used and is influenced by the amount of ink applied. Particularly good results are achieved when printing on optimont® IPF using Canon Lucia or Epson UltraChrome pigment ink systems. optimont® IPF is regarded as an ideal inkjet exposure film for Epson.

Successful printing with optimont® IPF

For good print results, printing on optimont® IPF should be carried out within a temperature range of 15 to 30 degrees Celsius. A relative humidity of 30 to 60 percent is specified for successful printing. For high-quality printing on optimont® IPF, printers should be set to the highest print quality. optimont® IPF must be well protected from dust, water, and fingerprints in order to avoid imperfections in the printed image. Printing on optimont® IPF can be carried out successfully with pigment inks as well as with dye inks or UV inks.

Summary of key product features of optimont® IPF

• Reusable
• Archivable
• Mechanically durable and dimensionally stable
• Excellent vacuum behavior
• Free from shrinkage and distortion
• Very good UV density
• Precise reproduction at high density
• High edge sharpness
• No bleeding
• Safe handling and very good scratch resistance

Examples of application areas for optimont® IPF

optimont® IPF is an ideal print medium for graphics or technical drawings. Overhead films can also be produced very well using the BO-PET material. In the printing industry, optimont® IPF films are used as screen printing templates, as printing plates for pad printing, and as film replacement in reprography. Printing plates for flexographic and offset printing processes are also manufactured from this material. optimont® IPF is the suitable solution when high-quality repro films are to be produced on modern inkjet printers. In addition, packaging prototypes and high-quality labels are manufactured from optimont® IPF.

Advantages of inkjet printing on optimont® IPF

• The simple design of inkjet printers results in comparatively low printing costs
• High-quality print results
• High printing speed
• In inkjet printing, there is no pre-made printing form. The print data comes from a file. This allows variable content to be printed quickly and easily. Names, dates, times, or batch numbers can be retrieved from a database for a predefined text and printed onto optimont® IPF.
• When printing with an inkjet printer on optimont® IPF, only the ink ejected from the print head comes into contact with the surface of optimont® IPF. No printing forms or repro films are required that could affect the material to be printed.
• Printing on optimont® IPF with inkjet printers can achieve considerable color gamuts.

Available formats and rolls of optimont® IPF

optimont® IPF is available as standard in DIN A4, A3, and A3+ formats. Special formats are available by arrangement. The cut sheet formats are supplied in cartons containing 100 sheets.

As roll material, optimont® IPF is available in a length of thirty meters in the standard widths of 432, 610, 914, 1067, 1118, and 1524 millimeters. The core diameter of the roll cores is three inches (76 millimeters).

Storage information for optimont® IPF

optimont® IPF generally has very good storage stability; however, certain conditions should be observed. In a storage room for optimont® IPF inkjet film, a relative humidity of approximately 50 percent should be maintained. The temperature range in the storage area should be kept between 15° and 25° degrees Celsius.

After the printing process, exposed films should preferably be repacked in the original packaging and stored. Particular attention should be paid to effective protection against UV radiation, whether from sunlight or other light sources.