Options for printing direct to foamcore or posterboard with wide format inkjet printers

If you prefer to print direct to stiff and rigid substrates such as foamcore, gatorboard, or posterboard, you have two options.

First, use UV-curable ink flatbed printer and print on untreated posterboard, styrene, gatorfoam, coroplast, Sintra, acrylic and comparable materials, even metal and glass.

Second, use normal water based inks (Encad, Mimaki, Mutoh) but this requires pre-treated (coated) foamcore, such as from Nielsen and Bainbridge or Lamitech Jetboard.

If you are considering the UV-curable flatbed solution, you better acquire the FLAAR series of reports on UV-curable flatbed printers first (to become a savvy buyer and understand the pros and cons of UV-curable process).

Glass, printing direct to the material
Glass, sample printed by I&P Cube printer.

We use a Mimaki JV4 to print on Nielsen and Bainbridge material. Works fine. Output is beautiful. People are really impressed to see printing direct to the material, with no mounting required.

Unfortunately no HP DesignJet can handle thick or stiff material whatsoever.

I Some ColorSpan printers will take thick material, contact uv_flatbeds@colorspan.com.

 

foamcore, Lamitech Jetboard, Nielsen and Bainbridge, Nielson, posterboard, styrene, gatorfoam, coroplast, corroplast
Gandinnovations 2030 printer with several samples printed on foamcore material.

 

Print direct to foamcore without lamination with large format inkjet printers
Samples printed by the Gandinnovations 1224 UV flatbed printer at FESPA trade show 2008.

 

Inkjet printable foamcore, posterboard, gatorfoam; direct to foamcore
Several samples printed at Gerber factory visit, 2008.

 

First posted: October 13, 2003.