How to Attain Premium Results in Digital Specialty Printing

Unlike text and image printing in our work or daily life, digital specialty printing often involves a more intricate process that can increase user fatigue. Is this frustrating process truly necessary? Scroll down to discover.

Written by Procolored - Published on Jan 20, 2025

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Written by Procolored - Published on Feb 7, 2025

PASSAGE SUMMARY

1. Main Features of Digital Specialty Printing
1.1 Digital graphic file
1.2 Digital printing techniques
1.3 Special materials
2. How to Achieve Premium Results in Digital Specialty Printing
2.1 RIP software: a perfect graphic file transformer
2.2 Top-notch digital printer: a competent printing interpreter
2.3 Premium consumables: the reliable execution agents

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1. Main Features of Digital Specialty Printing

An alternative to conventional printing used regularly in work or daily life, specialty printing involves methods that employ unique techniques, materials, or processes to achieve distinct effects or fulfill specific needs. Unlike traditional printing, specialty printing aims to produce distinctive outcomes, boost product functionality, or elevate aesthetic appeal.
In fact, specialty printing is frequently observed in our everyday environment, including but not limited to:

Signage, wooden printing achieved by UV(Ultra-Violet) printing

Custom t-shirts, caps achieved by DTF (Direct-to-Film), DTG(Direct-to-Garment), sublimation, screen or pad printing

Stickers produced by UV DTF or HTV(Heat Transfer Vinyl) printing

Given the above examples, it’s not hard to notice that besides traditional printings like screen and pad printing, digital printing has now been widely applied in the specialty printing industry. So how does digital printing differ from traditional printing? Its three main features will provide a brief understanding:

1.1 Digital graphic file

Taking screen printing as an example, one key element that makes it special is the use of a plate, or stencil. In screen printing, a desired graphic must first be processed through several steps: creating a film positive, applying emulsion, exposing it to light, and washing it to form the final stencil. This stencil then serves as a template for the subsequent printing process.
In contrast, digital printing only requires graphics in a digital format that can be directly interpreted and transformed by digital printers. This feature notably simplifies the preparation of graphics but also necessitates a higher quality of both the graphics and the printers themselves.
This comparison highlights the differences in preparation complexity and technical requirements between these two printing methods.

1.2 Digital printing techniques

Another distinguishing feature of digital printing is its printing technique. Unlike screen and pad printing, which handle either solid color graphics or a single layer of multi-colored graphics at a time, most digital printing methods can produce full colors and intricate details in one pass. This capability allows digital printers to deliver comprehensive and vibrant results directly from digital files (with the exception of HTV or heat transfer vinyl printing, which involves cutting out graphic outlines on a vinyl sheet and requires additional steps like weeding).
Therefore, for digital printing, the configuration of the printer plays a crucial role in determining the quality of the final output and should always be a primary consideration. This includes factors such as print resolution, color management, and material handling capabilities, all of which can significantly affect the outcome.

1.3 Special materials

Besides printers, digital printing also utilizes various special materials to achieve high-quality prints. These consumables can vary depending on the specific digital printing method being used. Here are some examples:

Ink & films: Designed to match specific configuration, digital printers from different brand often require proprietary inks and films that can’t be used interchangeably.

Adhesive powder & coating: Both are commonly used in digital printing to help improve ink viscosity on specific substrates, such as fabric, metal, glass and so on.

2.How to Achieve Premium Results in Digital Specialty Printing

2.1 RIP software: a perfect graphic file transformer

For those new to digital specialty printing, one of the first challenges they might encounter is the use of RIP (Raster Image Processor) software, which is essential for processing every printing task.
To understand what RIP software is, it's helpful to first look at two types of image formats: vector graphics and bitmap (or raster) graphics. Vector graphics are frequently used in the graphic design field and are made up of multiple reference points and curves, allowing them to be scaled without losing quality. In contrast, bitmap graphics are composed of pixels and are commonly used for photographs. When a bitmap graphic is scaled up, it can become blurred and pixelated, breaking down into visible individual pixels or dots.

image: https://amadine.com/useful-articles/what-is-vector-graphics

RIP software, also called Raster Image Processor, is used to transform vector graphics into bitmap graphics as digital printers require. Most digital printers, especially inkjet printers, apply nozzles to deposit ink onto mediums. With colors and details getting decomposed in raster graphics, they can be more easily interpreted by the printer to achieve more accurate, detailed, and vibrant printing.
With the popularity of digital printing, RIP software has seen significant development over the years. Take the PRO RIP software from Procolored for example; since its first launch, it has been progressively upgraded with improved functions like multiple operation languages, a clearer user interface, and more optional printing settings, and is estimated to launch a brand new version designated for Macbook in 2025.

2.2 Top-notch digital printer: a competent printing interpreter

With a high-quality bitmap graphic in hand, the very next step is to accurately convey it to a digital printer. This can only be achieved through a top-notch RIP software with the following exclusive configurations:

High DPI: DPI refers to Dots Per Inch, which measures the number of dots a printer can place within one inch of space on the printed material. A printer with a higher DPI can better interpret a graphic’s high resolution, delivering prints with vibrant reproduction in both colors and details. This results in sharper images and finer detail, making it ideal for applications where print quality is paramount.

image: https://www.kioskmarketplace.com/blogs/203-vs-300-dpi-for-printers-an-updated-guide/

Advanced Printer Driver: The printer driver determines the printer settings related to color management and data processing. An advanced printer driver supports a broader range of color gamuts, accelerates data processing, and elevates printing quality.

Top-notch Ink Circulation and Nozzles: Faulty nozzles can clog or misalign more readily, especially without a robust and efficient ink circulation system. To achieve premium results in digital specialty printing, it’s crucial to select printers equipped with a stable ink supply (particularly for white ink) and high-quality printhead nozzles. This ensures a continuous and reliable printing operation.

2.3 Premium consumables: the reliable execution agents

As previously mentioned, digital specialty printers require a higher standard of printing consumables since they must and are designed to work perfectly together. Take DTF printing for example. Besides machines like a DTF printer, an oven, and a heat press, DTF printing also requires DTF inks with specific viscosity and drying times to match the printing pace of the printer; as well as films with particular thickness and glossiness to prevent inks from flowing and bleeding; and finally, adhesive powder with specific components to fully cure inks.
To achieve premium effects in digital specialty printing, proper pairing and genuine consumables must be used to avoid any deficiencies caused by incompatibility between them and the printing machines.

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