Colorific, the high quality, alternative ink supplier, has announced a new ink that enables wide format printer owners to convert their existing solvent printers to a greener UV solution.  Branded Colorific UV Light, the ink will be demonstrated at a number of upcoming international events - including EcoPrint Show, the Viscom events and SGIA - and will be commercially available from November 2012.

Compatible with any Mimaki, Mutoh and Roland wide format machine that use Epson Piezo DX4 and DX5 print head technologies, Colorific UV Light is a hybrid solution which combines the reliability of an eco solvent ink with the print performance of a UV ink.

With the same basic chemical formulation as a standard eco-solvent ink, Colorific UV Light offers superb media adhesion and stunning durability.  However, it has a significantly lower carbon footprint than eco-solvent inks and contains no VOCs.

Shaun Holdom, Business Manager for Colorific, comments, “I believe that Colorific UV Light inks are the next generation in UV ink technology for the wide format market.  They allow print service providers to meet all their customers’ sign and graphics needs.  Plus, as there is no need for secondary lamination or coating, they can also save time and money on every print job.”  

He continues, “The printed output is dry, robust and highly abrasion-resistant, yet has the glossy photographic finish achieved with standard solvent printing.”

Colorific’s new Smart UV Lightbar System is critical to the hybrid technology.  The system comprises an external, stand-alone lamp kit which fixes to the front of any compatible wide format printer.  During the printing process, the pigment is fixed to the ink-receiving layer on the media and then a secondary cure – using the new system – fixes the droplet and provides an immediate cure and cross link on the media. 

The printer requires no other modification and the inks are installed like any other ink, requiring a simple flush then a standard ink fill.

Colorific UV Light is available in CMYK, LC, LM as a standard set up for most machines and supplied in 440ml compatible cartridges and the relevant chip.  The ink system is a complete clean hands procedure and requires no additional maintenance other than documented when using the original ink from the machine manufacturer.

Colorific is actively seeking international resellers and partners to promote this ground-breaking new ink to the industry, with Shaun Holdom commenting, “We genuinely believe this ink will create an exciting new after-market for resellers, and a much more attractive price point for users looking to add UV class printing to their print production offering.”