The Edge FX system is an advanced digital solution that is designed to quickly produce indoor and outdoor durable highly-customized labels, markings, control panels, bar-coded asset tags, nameplates or other product information.
How To Use InvisInk
InvisInk is a ribbon for the Gerber Edge Thermal Printing System.
Thermal Transfer media (referred to as ribbons or foils) is made up of a thin polyester film that is coated with a resin, resin/wax, or wax based carrier saturated with color pigment.
Resin is the most durable/abrasion resistant and wax is the least durable.
This film and ink combination "foil", is brought into contact with a substrate such as vinyl or polyester via a thermal print head.
The art is then transferred from the polyester foil and fused into the material where required to make the printed image. It is a dry process that produces no out-gassing or odor.
Durability is one of thermal printing's claims to fame. Most resin colors will last 3 to 5 years without laminating.
There are plenty of test results verifying UV, chemical, and temperature durability.
You can even print on "Kapton," which is a high temperature material (flash point of over 700 degrees) used on circuit boards and other products.
Due to thermal transfer technology, there is virtually no make ready or clean up when compared to traditional screen printing, offset, or flexo printing. And because it is a digital process, you have incredible versatility for fast changes. For instance, you can change colors, die cuts, size, and quantity with a few mouse clicks. You may not have to get out of your chair.
Dry vs. Wet Process:
The thermal transfer process is dry and safe, and therefore has no odor, or clean up of ink. Besides being messy, most liquid inks stink, require chemicals, time, and sometimes additional recovery processes to clean up.
Calculating costs are easy with thermal ribbons because they are supplied in rolls. If you are using 50 ft. of polyester to print your black and red label, chances are you will use 50 ft. of black and red ribbon too. And ribbon saving technology adds another layer of cost savings when full bleeds are not required.
Dies:
Dies or special finishing processes also play a big part in the price of traditional printing methods. You probably already know that dies can run from $50 for a simple steel rule die to $3,000 for a intricate rotary die for a flexo press. Therefore if there are costs such as these associated with the job, a short run can be cost prohibitive for the customer.
Cutting Digitally:
Some thermal transfer systems come with digital cutting solutions that are integrated with the printer (At least the ones we sell do). Remember there are no dies or turnaround delays associated with cutting your labels digitally. And the shapes or sizes can be quickly modified with the click of a mouse. The results are instant and bare none of the costs of traditional processes.
Pre-press departments only need to understand the output device to prepare artwork for it. Most thermal printing systems work with spot colors primarily and 4/C process only when the screen resolution is 100 lines per inch or less. With that said, keep in mind that 70% of labels are one or two spot colors.
As we have mentioned, there are no screens, plates or dies required to print with a thermal transfer system. So without all that STUFF in your way, you can print direct from your computer to the printer. Once it is printed, your job can be laminated immediately (no drying time needed), and then digitally cut on an integrated cutter.
Thermal Printing offers so many benefits, it is hard to mention or explain them all:
- Exceptional outdoor durability without lamination in most applications
- High abrasion resistance
- Prints on the widest range of substrates
- Outstanding color range and PMS matching, including metallic, chrome and opaque flood coat white and black, fluorescent, transparent, and holographic.
- Shop-friendly: low maintenance, no odor, no ventilation, no drying, no mess. small footprint
- Increased productivity on labor intense jobs
- Create niche market opportunities by producing products that are cost prohibitive to produce any other way.