WHY CHOOSE MUTOH ECO-SOLVENT OVER LATEX
COLOR GAMUT
Eco-solvent has a wider color gamut than latex that is especially noticeable in bright red, orange, magenta, blue, cyan and green output. The other significant color difference between the two ink systems is in the “glossy” quality of eco-solvent. Eco-solvent ink directly interacts with the fibers of the substrate and takes on much of the attributes of the substrate itself. Thus, when printed on glossy substrates it has a vivid, gloss appearance. In contrast, latex inks lie on top of the substrate when printed and have a matte, dull quality, even on glossy materials. In addition, latex simply doesn’t compare to the rich blacks and reflective color of eco-solvent.
With a latex system, the water-based ink is thinner and more ink must be jetted and dried to achieve the same color density as an eco-solvent ink system. Mutoh’s variable droplet technology prints in seven different droplet sizes from 4 to 20 picoliters, allowing for finer details, smoother gradations and a less “grainy” appearance when compared to the 10 pico-liter fixed droplet size of latex. Mutoh also prints at 1440dpi versus the 1200dpi for the HP Latex.
ECO–SOLVENT FOR RICHER, SMOOTHER COLOR WITH 7-DROPLET SIZES
COLOR CONSISTENCY (PRINT TO PRINT AND PRINTER TO PRINTER)
HP Latex printers use consumer-grade Thermal print heads vs. the Industrial grade print head in a Mutoh printer. Thermal heads operate at extremely high heat causing degradation of the print head over time. The result can be color shifts from print 1 through print 100 and from printer to printer.
HP recommends users replace the thermal print heads per 2-3 liters of ink (300 and 500 series) and every 5-6 liters of ink (700 & 800 series) or “frequently” due to thermal degradation or failure. The new HP 800/800W has 4 total print heads for non-white and 5 print heads with white. This means….
$125.00/print head x 4 = $500.00 in print heads per every 2-3 liters of ink used. (300,500)
$170.00/print head x 4 = $680.00 in print heads per every 5-6 liters of ink used. (700,800)
The Mutoh industrial print head is rated for 6 billion fires or 3-4 years on average but will vary depending upon maintenance and care procedures.
Because eco-solvent inks are thicker, with more pigment, they need less ink to print a specific color. They also require significantly less heat to cure and less time to print than a latex system. Latex inks require much more heat to cure, which effects the room temperature and material performance. Latex printers require (2) 220v power lines which will mean added installation expense and higher operating costs vs. the Mutoh XpertJet series of printers which only require a standard 120v power source.
LESS INK + LESS POWER = LOWER OPERATING COSTS
ECO SOLVENT VS LATEX CURING TIME COMPARISON
ENVIRONMENTALLY SAFE
Mutoh XpertJet MP-41 Eco-Solvent Inks are GreenGuard Gold certified which means they are environmentally safe and can be disposed of with no special requirements. There are three levels of UL GREENGUARD Gold Certification for printing ink products based on the amount of printed material that may be installed in a room. Mutoh MP41Inks are certified at the highest level (the lowest emissions), qualified as unrestricted to wallpaper a full room.
Wallpaper – unrestricted for a full decorated room 33.4 m2 (360 ft2 ) in an office environment and 94.6 m2 (1,018 ft2 ) in a classroom environment.
