Océ ⏐ Arizona GT/XT Printers Customer Application Bulletin Number: 28 • Issued by: ODGS S & S, Vancouver • May 12, 2009

Selecting the Most Appropriate Océ Ink for Your Applications: Océ IJC255 or Océ IJC256 Introduction After many months of development and testing, a new ink formulation is available for Océ Arizona UV-curable ink printers: Océ IJC256 UV-Curable inks. These new inks are not intended to replace the original formulation Océ IJC255 inks. Instead they are designed for improved performance on outdoor-oriented media and applications. This document is intended to compare the features and benefits of the new Océ IJC256 inks and the original Océ IJC255 inks. It will help you make the best choice for your business, based on the applications and the media you use. It also provides some specific suggestions on how to work with each formulation.

Converting from Océ IJC255 to Océ IJC256 Inks Installing the New Inks in the Printer Converting from Océ IJC255 to Océ IJC256 inks is an easy process that can be performed by the customer in less than 2 hours; a service technician is NOT required. Each color may be changed independently or all four colors can be changed at the same time. There is a cost advantage to changing color by color because all ink in the previous bag (same color) can be consumed before loading the new formulation. However, if the applications being printed require perfect ICC color matching, you will need to change all colors at once and then load the new profiles for Océ IJC256 inks. If you have a mix of the two ink formulations loaded in the printer, applying the ICC profiles for either formulation will yield unpredictable results. When a bag of the new ink formulation is loaded into the printer for the first time, the printer will recognize it and lead you through a set of instructions and actions. This procedure will flush enough ink through the system to “purge” the previously loaded ink formulation from the ink system. This installation “wizard” is provided by the printer interface in all major European languages and Japanese. Hardware/Software Requirements All Arizona GT or XT model printers must be upgraded to software version 3.2 or higher before installing Océ IJC256 ink. In addition to this, all Océ Arizona 200/250 GT printers must be fitted with a special maintenance tray conversion kit in order to use Océ IJC256 inks. The kit is called the Arizona 250 GT H/W U/G Kit for IJC256 Ink (Océ article # 3010108766) and is available from the Imaging Supplies division of the local Océ operating company. Like the ink, it is designed for easy installation by the customer and does not require a Service technician.

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Changing Back to Océ IJC255 Inks after using Océ IJC256 Inks Changing back to Océ IJC255 inks requires that the same ink flushing process be followed. If a bag of Océ IJC255 is introduced into the printer after it has been running Océ IJC256 (same color), the installation wizard will be presented by the interface prompting the customer to take the appropriate actions.

General Observations about the new Océ IJC256 inks Adhesion to Media Océ IJC256 inks offer improved adhesion to most rigid plastic media such as polystyrene, acrylic, foamed-PVC and also to many outdoor-oriented flexible materials such as coated banner and self-adhesive vinyl. This improved adhesion is also evident when cutting through the ink, as edge-chipping and ink flaking are significantly reduced on most materials. Surface Characteristics Océ IJC256 inks are also less brittle (hard) in their cured state than Océ IJC255 inks. This makes them a better choice for applications where the ink is physically stressed in some way, such as stretching canvas over a frame. However, it is important to note that the cured surface of Océ IJC256 inks is more prone to scratches than Océ IJC255 inks, which may be a factor in some applications. Imaging Performance Imaging results will be different, when printing with the Océ IJC255 compared with the Océ IJC256 – not better or worse but always different. Océ IJC256 has lower dot gain characteristics than Océ IJC255. As a result, there is the potential for more structure and streaking in solid colors and for more image artifacts in areas of heavy coverage (dark colors) with the new formulation. This is especially apparent on many paper-based media used for most indoor applications such as foam board, corrugated cardboard, card stock and poster paper. Océ IJC256 inks also have a softer surface when cured and printed materials are less scratch and smudge resistant. Océ IJC256 inks feel slightly “tacky“ when cured and have a more satin finished appearance when compared to the semi-gloss finish of Océ IJC255 inks. This can be a benefit to distant-viewed applications where glare, caused by the semi-gloss finish of the original Océ IJC255 inks, can be a visual distraction. This particular characteristic is highly subjective and will be appreciated by some customers but not all. Maintenance The original formulation Océ IJC255 inks are famously easy to maintain, requiring only daily maintenance with the vacuum system and a weekly physical cleaning. The new Océ IJC256 inks require small jetting actions (“spitting”) between printing times to keep the printheads in a ready-to-print state. This spitting action amounts to very little ink usage but does require that the user clean the maintenance tray covers more frequently. Océ IJC256 inks have a more pronounced odor than the original formulation. Customers with weak ventilation systems may be more aware of the odor. The following table compares the two inks in more detail.

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Comparing Océ IJC255 and Océ IJC256 Inks Océ IJC255 Inks

Océ IJC256 Inks

Working Characteristics

Low odor, average dot-gain, edgechipping low user maintenance

Slight odor, low dot-gain, moderate ink system maintenance.

Imaging Characteristics

Brilliant luminous color, superior print quality, smooth semi-gloss finish.

Dense, saturated colors. Very good print quality, slightly tacky satin finish.

Maintenance Requirements

Daily cleaning and as needed.

Daily cleaning and as needed.

Recommended Applications

Indoor oriented: Point-of-purchase (POP), exhibition graphics, fine art, posters, etc. Signage made on Foamed-PVC & Foam-cored board.

Outdoor oriented: Backlit rigid signs, Billboards, contour cut full bleed signs, banners, framed canvas, self adhesive vinyl (excluding vehicle wraps)

Recommended Rigid Media

Foam-cored Board, poster paper, PET-G, Di-Bond™ Digital, Digital Grade Hi-Impact Polystyrene, corrugated cardboard, card stock

PVC, DiBond™, Hi-Impact Polystyrene, PET-G, Acrylic, polycarbonate, blue-backed billboard paper

Recommend Flexible Media

IJM652 - Océ Frontlit Banner, Matte, MPI 3021 - Monomeric Vinyl Matt, IJM601 Océ Outdoor Paper, IJM628 Océ Polyprop Solvent, IJM608 Océ Double-sided laminated banner vinyl

IJM613 Océ Outdoor Paper Blue Back, IJM628 Océ Polyprop Solvent MPI 1900 Vinyl Gloss, IJM667 Océ Scrim Banner Light Matt, IJM657 Océ Scrim-less Banner. IJM606 Océ Coated Scrim Banner Vinyl

Inadvisable Applications

Long-term outdoor graphics, billboards, contour cut full bleed output, wet-pasted posters

Frequently handled output, such as activity center graphics and closelyviewed indoor prints, such as posters and POP/POS graphics.

Inadvisable Media

Acrylic, polycarbonate, coated banner vinyl,

Poster paper, Foam-cored Board, card stock (Eska card)

Preparation Guidelines

Use of adhesion promoter may be required to achieve satisfactory adhesion on some media

Applying adhesion promoter on some media may improve adhesion but is typically not required.

Printing Guidelines

Pre-cutting for full bleed images advised. Slower speeds and higher lamp settings generally result in better adhesion.

Pre-cutting not required for full-bleed data on most materials. Use lowest lamp setting required to cure ink on band-prone materials, increase lamp power to decrease print tackiness.

Finishing Guidelines

Cut using least chip-prone method (See App Notes). Adhesion improves slightly over 24 hrs.

Cut as required, stack double -sided prints with protective sheets on scratch-prone media. Ink odor will fade over time.

More media are available: www.mediaguide.oce.com

Special Considerations

Idle print head spitting procedure in effect for CMYK; minimal ink consumption per annum.

The adhesion of both ink sets to fluted polypropylene (i.e., CoroPlast, Core-X, Cor-Flute) is not optimal. While IJC256 ink may provide slightly better edge chipping results, the use of an adhesion promoter such as Océ UV Adhesion Master 720 is recommended for any mid to long-term outdoor print applications, especially when printing high ink-load data. See Application Note 6 – UV Ink Adhesion for additional tips.

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Imaging Characteristics of Océ IJC256 versus Océ IJC255 Inks Ink Adhesion Océ IJC256 inks offer improved adhesion on many media types, particularly hard plastics and outdoor vinyl media but do not print as well on paper-based media. This makes them a good solution for outdoororiented applications but less suitable for indoor graphics and point of purchase applications than Océ IJC255 inks.

Figure 1: IJC256 (right) offer improved adhesion on foamed-PVC media and many others.

Figure 2: IJC256 (left) show more banding and structure on paper-based media than IJC255. IJC256 seems more sensitive to UV Lamp accumulated hours and may require more frequent lamp changes.

Finishing and Handling Due in part to improved adhesion and in part to a “softer” cured state, Océ IJC256 inks allow for more predictable cutting (through the ink) without chipping or flaking. However these same attributes also make them more prone to surface marking if scratched or handled excessively.

Figure 4: IJC256 (right) softer surface finish is more sensitive to scratching and handling.

Figure 3: IJC255 (left) is prone to more chipping/flaking when cutting through the ink.

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Imaging Characteristics In terms of general appearance, Océ IJC255 inks print with a smoother, more glossy finish than the newer formulation but are harder and more brittle in their cured state, making them somewhat less flexible than Océ IJC256 inks.

Figure 5: IJC255 (left) has a smoother, less grainy finish, especially on low dot gain media such as paper, foam board, etc.

Figure 6: IJC256 (left) has a less glossy finish on most media, allowing for a wider viewing angle without glare but with lower saturation/contrast.

Figure 7: IJC255 (left) shows more surface cracking when wrapped around a corner.

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Imaging Characteristics (continued)

Figure 8: IJC256 (left) cause less edge curl on blue-backed papers.

Figure 9: IJC256 (left) withstands wet-pasting for short-term outdoor applications without media deformation.

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Working with Océ IJC255 and Océ IJC256 Inks The following section provides additional information and detailed printing guidelines to assist in obtaining the best possible output quality when using Océ IJC255 or Océ IJC256 inks.

Maintenance Regular daily maintenance is similar for both ink sets. However, there are some variances in ink composition and delivery that may influence maintenance requirements. Appropriate gloves and protective eyewear must be used whenever handling any ink formulation. Océ IJC256 inks require that a very small amount of ink be jetted from the print heads during extended idle times in order to keep the nozzles in a print-ready state. This action is referred to as “spitting” and it occurs in the maintenance station at set intervals, ejecting ink onto an absorbent foam pad. This foam pad should be changed when it becomes saturated or when ink can be seen close to the underside of the slots in the Spit Catcher. If it is not changed when required, ink may drip onto the floor when the maintenance drawer is opened or it may cause an excessive build-up of ink mist on top of the spit catcher. The Océ IJC256 ink formulation also causes a more sticky ink build-up between nozzle plates when compared to Océ IJC255. This ink build-up requires cleaning with a flush-soaked lint-free cloth, rather than a dry one. Ensure that all residual flush is cleaned from the surface or particulate matter from the environment and print surfaces will be re-deposited on the recently cleaned surface. Both Océ IJC255 and IJC256 are hazardous to aqueous organisms. Please ensure that any uncured ink waste is properly disposed of in accordance with local regulations.

Environment Since UV inks can be irritating to the respiratory systems, adherence to the minimum ventilation specifications is important. As stated in the Site Preparation Guide, the minimum space / working room volume for using the Océ Arizona 200/250/300/350 GT and 350 XT is 69 m3 or 2430 cubic feet. The printer should operate in an area where a good standard of general ventilation is available at 5 to 10 air changes per hour. Mechanical Ventilation must be added where the air changes per hour are less than 5 per hour. In addition, this new ink is slightly more sensitive to static than Océ IJC255. This trait makes it especially important that the environmental guidelines for heat and humidity be enforced. Use of a static suppression system is recommended for best output results on static-prone materials.

Color and Media Models While the two ink sets are similar in density and color appearance, there is enough difference between them to require alternate media models and ICC profiles. These can be downloaded from several locations: http://www.dgs.oce.com/PrinterSupport/Arizona250GT_Customer/index.htm, http://www.mediaguide.oce.com/ http://www.onyxgfx.com/index.php?area=printers. The printed output of Océ IJC256 inks may appear slightly less saturated or of slightly lower contrast than that of Océ IJC255 inks, partly due to the reduction in glossiness, which impacts the perception of saturation and contrast. Dmax densities and lab color values of the two inks are actually very similar when measured with proper instruments.

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Dot Gain and Graininess When a droplet of ink makes contact with the substrate, it spreads (or gains) and covers a larger area than the area of initial contact. This action is known as dot gain. The lower dot gain propensity of Océ IJC256 ink relative to Océ IJC255 affects the appearance of smoothness and uniformity and may increase graininess in susceptible areas. This increased graininess can be improved in a number of ways, but the first step is to ensure that a trained service technician has aligned your printer and media thickness has been accurately measured. Once alignment and media thickness have been verified, try the following. •

adjust overall UV power (maintain enough power to sufficiently cure ink)



adjust UV power of trailing lamps



use ICC profiles, which in general produce less grainy output. Adjusting GCR/UCR settings may also improve spotty appearance



try alternate materials; the absorbency of the substrate significantly affects dot gain, with more absorbent substrates having more dot gain



use a higher quality print mode; Quality and Fine Art Modes will exhibit less graininess than Production Mode



print uni-directionally (if this resolves/improves the issue the bidirectional alignment of the printer should be checked)

Image Artifacts As stated earlier, Océ IJC256 ink tends to be more sensitive to streaks and artifacts in areas of heavy coverage (dark colors) on paper-based media such as foam board, cardboard and poster paper. These artifacts have a softer, more graduated look than banding caused by lost nozzles. This artifact is not exclusively seen on these materials, but may be more common or pronounced on them. Taking the following actions can often reduce the appearance of this type of banding. •

try alternate materials with less thermal insulating properties (i.e. not paper based and/or foam-cored)



reduce overall UV power (maintaining enough power to sufficiently cure ink)



reduce UV power of leading lamp



apply full carriage travel setting to print jobs smaller than table width



add delays to carriage print travel



maintain environmental guidelines for heat and humidity



ensure the media has an opportunity to acclimatize to the printing environment before printing

Note: As the Océ IJC256 ink set is more sensitive to the effects of UV Lamp Power, it is especially important that UV lamps be replaced when they reach 500 hours of usage, even if they still seem to be functioning. New lamps are more efficient and generate less heat for the same amount of UV energy, thereby infusing less heat in the media, and reducing associated image artifacts.

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Print Finish, Texture and Odor Océ IJC256 ink produces a more satin (less glossy), and tacky finish when compared to the hard, semi-gloss finish of Océ IJC255 inks. This is not necessarily an objectionable difference, and in fact many Beta test customers preferred it. However it is a characteristic that is best shared with clients, especially if they are familiar with the output produced with Océ IJC255 inks. In fact, the satin finish of the output allows for a greater viewing angle, as glare does not reflect back at the viewer as strongly as with the same image/media printed with Océ IJC255 inks. On more reflective materials, this satin finish look may be more pronounced. Using a less glossy material will help reduce the obvious dissimilarity in surface finishes. Reducing UV lamp power will slightly increase glossiness of ink as well, if desired. The texture of ink will be tackier than that of the Océ IJC255 inks, even when fully cured. Increasing lamp power does reduce this effect, but will not eliminate it entirely. Tip: If the lamp power required to achieve desired surface texture is higher than you would like to run with this media/image combination, print as desired, leave the material on the table and run an ‘empty’ file in Production Mode at UV Power 7 (Max) over the media for additional curing. Because the ink remains tacky and sensitive to scratching, printing double-sided work requires that your print bed be completely clean of debris to avoid it being deposited in printed areas. As well, when removing the printed material from the table, lift rather than drag the media in order to avoid scratching the surface. This action is particularly important when working with heavier media. Odor from the printed pieces will fade, but can linger and may prove unpleasant to operators in smaller, enclosed areas if there is not adequate ventilation.

Media Considerations On the majority of media, Océ IJC256 prints exhibit greater adhesion and edge chipping resistance than that of Océ IJC255. However, these improved properties are not without limitations nor are they universal to all media and print scenarios. In particular, it should be noted that adhesion on fluted polypropylene, while improved is still not ideal. Although the ink provides slightly better edge chipping results, the use of an adhesion promoter such as Océ UV Adhesion Master 720 (Océ article number 3010105398) is still recommended to eliminate chipping entirely as well as for any mid to long-term outdoor print longevity, especially when printing high ink-load data. See Application Bulletin 6 – UV Ink Adhesion for additional adhesion tips. In addition, materials printed with Océ IJC255 that exhibited cracking when stretched, such as canvas stretched over a frame, may still respond in the same manner although to a lesser degree. Océ IJC256 is a more flexible ink, but it is still not recommended for stretching and forming applications such as vehicle wrapping. Finishing of banner materials with grommets and hemming is more successful with Océ IJC256, but it can still exhibit some minor flaking in areas of higher ink load.

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Océ IJC255 wrapped around a corner

Océ IJC256 wrapped around a corner

Some applications that were not successful with Océ IJC255 inks may be more successful with Océ IJC256. For instance, Océ IJM613 or IJM 713 Blue-backed paper prints can now be applied to surfaces with a wet-pasting process without excessive curling or media failure.

IJC256 (left) withstands wet-pasting for short-term outdoor applications without media deformation.

As this new ink set is more sensitive to the effects of UV Lamp Power, it may be necessary to increase UV lamp power as the UV lamps age, and to replace UV lamps even before they reach 500 hours of usage. If the ink is not sufficiently cured it may offset to the backside of roll media when printing dark images and winding onto the take-up. In addition, the durability of ink finish on all materials, commonly referred to as scratch resistance, will be lower than Océ IJC255. Use the highest UV lamp settings when printing roll materials with liners to ensure that all ink is cured, including the ink on the liner. See the Recommended Media Document and Océ Imaging Supplies Media Guide at http://www.mediaguide.oce.com/ for more comprehensive information.

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Printed Media Handling Océ IJC256 ink has been formulated to be more flexible than Océ IJC255, as a result it is also somewhat softer than Océ IJC255 and is more prone to scratching, smudging and “bruising” from improper handling. It is especially important that printed materials be carefully handled while finishing. The use of cotton gloves is helpful to prevent smudging. If materials are printed on both sides, a protective sheet with a smooth surface should be placed between sheets to prevent ink rubbing against each other and potentially smudging and scratching.

Conclusion Océ IJC255 inks produce the highest quality images on paper-based media and are best suited for indoor applications where close-viewed prints are required and where prints are subject to excessive handling. Océ IJC255 inks are more prone to edge chipping/flaking during finishing, especially on hard plastics. Océ IJC256 inks offer improved adhesion to most media and are especially useful for printing on hard plastics, banner vinyl and self-adhesive vinyl, making them ideal for outdoor applications where media/image integrity is of crucial importance and where prints are subject to less handling. Océ IJC256 inks are more prone to image artifacts and graininess on lower dot gain media and have a softer surface finish making them less scratch resistant. Both Océ inks can be used to print on any media but the results may differ significantly in terms of image quality, scratch resistance, ease of finishing and ink adhesion. Testing your specific media and applications is advised before selecting the appropriate ink set.

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