The Texart can be controlled remotely using a tablet

Roland DG is reinforcing its presence in the textile printing market with the release of the Texart RT-640, a dye-sublimation transfer printer available with four or eight colours.

Taking into account the need for a vibrant gamut, the 1.6m machine boasts a gold-plated anti-static print-head which outputs seven different droplet sizes, facilitating both the strong colour replication and smooth gradient required in fabric printing. With the inclusion of the company's Ink Switching System, a user is able to remove and load an ink pouch without needing to halt the print process. This applies only in 'fast four' mode, which features two CMYK ink sets; otherwise, the machine is available in standard four-colour or CMYK with orange, violet and LcLm.

Several elements of the print engine, whose chassis bears a similarity to the VersaArt series, have been specifically designed for an easy operator experience, including media loading levers positioned both on the front and back of the machine, media brackets for heavy loading and the incorporation of Roland's Printer Assist cloud-based software, which allows the Texart RT-640 to be managed, checked and cleaned from a tablet device.

"We built this machine to answer user demand for a high production sublimation printer that’s affordable, reliable, efficient to run and easy to operate," explains Mark Elvidge, product manager for Roland DG. "Previously, colours sublimated to fabrics could look distorted with dull blacks, missing greys and fuzzy details.

"The RT-640's variable droplet technology, in combination with new Roland Texart dye-sublimation ink display bold, vibrant colours and rich velvety blacks, as well as subtle gradations and fine details."