Roll to Roll printing red at first

Discussion in 'Large Format Inkjet Printers' started by Ihrke015, Dec 21, 2011.

  1. Ihrke015

    Ihrke015 New Member

    Joined:
    Dec 2011
    Messages:
    1
    Location:
    Minnapolis, MN
    We recently purchased a new large format UV Cured inkjet printer (the Agfa Anapurna M2) and have had some issues with the first 50 inches or so coming out more red than the rest. This is typically more noticeable for blues and grays but I can see a definite difference in almost anything printed first of the day - which can be a large waste. We print very large pieces and they need to fit together so if the first piece is more red the entire piece does not look correct.

    I have had some theories about why this would happen but was hoping to get some feedback from others to possibly solve the issue. First off, we use a 60" roll of polystyrene that runs through the machine and ends up on a table (not a true roll to roll but a similar idea). When we are finished for the day I typically leave the last print on the table with the material connected to avoid having waste when starting up the next day (the material curls up so in order to avoid wasting a few feet I keep the last print on which keep the material flat). Could leaving the material sit over night slightly unrolled cause it to alter the color somewhat when it is cured vs the freshly unrolled material that has not been sitting unrolled a little?

    Second, the temperature and humidity in this building isnt always comfortable. In the winter it can get very cold at night and in the summer very warm midday. Does a UV cured ink system get affected by temperatures this much? I know the ink sits on top of the material when it is cured but could this affect the way it cures. The only reason I do not think this is the cause is that it seems to always happen, regardless of it being the middle of the summer and hot or the middle of the winter and cold.

    Another option would be the ripping software. We use Wasatch which was the recommended software with this machine. I do not think this is the cause as it seems to always be the first piece printed of the day, regardless of which order they were ripped.

    Has anyone else experienced this problem with this or other machines and if so was there a good solution for it? Otherwise does anyone have any good advise or options I should try in hopes of solving it and having less waste?

    Thanks,
     
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