Ink is ink is ink, right? Wrong. If you are a commercial printer, ink is basically ink, but if you are in the wide-format business, ink can be a crucial part of your production economics equation. It can be the thing that determines not only the cost of a job for your customers, but the likelihood of them coming back to you for more. And more is what business is all about.

The point about wide-format digitally printed inks is that, unlike in litho, the technology for getting them to substrate and making sure they stay there moves so very fast. Just consider the changes in the last few years. Every month seems to bring us a new ink option. Gone are the days when sign and display work was all about nasty smelly solvents. Today the options are as varied as the imaging technologies.

Choose inks that support the full range of the work you do, from car wraps to banners and everything in between

Solvent inks used to be pretty much the only choice for outdoor signage and they are still widely used. They are tough, long lasting with bright, fully saturated colours. But they are also toxic and require special handling and ventilation, so they are not really what one could consider a user-friendly ink. More recent alternatives have come onto the market, optimised for new head technologies. Sign-makers and display producers now have the option to use eco- or mild-solvent inks which are less unpleasant than solvents, but also less durable and snappy looking. There is also a bio-solvent ink but the jury's still out on it.

Far more interesting alternatives to solvent inks are the UV options which work on flexible and rigid substrates. They can be used for all sorts of applications, from car wraps to printing on glass and have excellent colour gamuts. These inks can also last a long time and although they have been at a premium, the market uptake is helping to bring down the price. HP Latex ink, meanwhile, is used in Designjet and Scitex devices and is a pigmented water-based ink that works for indoor and outdoor applications.

Whatever print-head and ink combo you opt for, make sure that the ink will work on the substrates you most commonly use. Given the efforts manufacturers of machines and substrates put into making sure of compatibility, it's always worth taking the time to run a test.