Images_Digital_Edition_March_2020

www.images-magazine.com MARCH 2020 images 29 TIPS & TECHNIQUES Heat presses, like printers, come in a wide range of sizes. They are available from A4 through to greater than 2m x 1m, and the size required will depend on the size of the printer you own and/or the volume of product you are printing. RIPs and paper Some form of RIP software will also be required to ensure the colour reproduction is accurate. For desktop printers, Sawgrass Print Manager has intuitive features to enable optimum output for photography and graphic artwork alike. It also adjusts the ink amounts depending upon the substrate being printed. Larger format printers have an array of RIP software available, often packaged with the printer during purchase. The RIPs for these printers have greater functionality for production, allow for custom profiles to be created and achieve even better colour reproduction. Desktop printers utilise a general-purpose paper, generally about 100gsm, that’s suitable for Will you be able to react to any fast changes that may occur? These are all questions to ask yourself. That being said, there are a few markets that are looking particularly healthy at the moment and could be worth targeting: ■ Giftware can be a rewarding market to enter due to the vast array of products available and trend- driven additions frequently becoming available. For example, stainless water bottles and tote bags are very popular at the moment, due to the demand for reducing single-use plastic. ■ For larger format printers, it is possible to produce home décor applications such as cushions, blinds and blankets. However, entering this area is dependent upon the skillset of the employees at the business. ■ Soft signage can be a great market for signage businesses as textile applications can replace those printed with solvent inks – this method can be better for the environment due to the water-based inks and the possibility to recycle textiles after use. www.xpres.co.uk both soft and hard substrates. Wider format printers benefit from a range of available paper grades – some are specific for textiles and others designed for high quality photographic output, such as ChromaLuxe. Depending on what you are looking to print, you will need the consumables or garments to print on. These are often available from the same place you purchased your printer or heat press. Which are the best markets to target? The first thing to consider when looking at what market you’re looking to target is the scalability of your business. Can you handle the demand? Is it a stable area? Your end application will determine which is the best type of disperse dye for your needs