Unit 30: Task 7a D1

Vinyl/laser cutter

Vinyl/laser cutters are a fairly new output device for graphics design, where an image can be cut out of vinyl for use for advertising, typically on the side of vans. Laser cutters are commonly used by schools, smaller businesses or hobbyists, rather than the professional vinyl cutters. As this technology develops, we can create things on a larger scale with a lot more precision and smoother images. This has affected the graphics design industry as it has allowed them to create large advertisements with a cheap method. One example of a vinyl cutter would be the Summa R D120 cutter which is a professional cutter used for cutting out images for advertising or other commercial purposes. The file types this can handle is vectors. This allows the prints to be used for companies who which to advertise large on billboards. The cutting is extremely precise therefore it can be produced in a high quality. 

Inkjet and wide format printing

Inkjet and wide format printers work by placing ink onto a piece of paper or other print materials. This is also a cheap way of producing graphics. Wide format printing is any printer with a print width between 17” and 100”. It is used to create larger banners and posters. This technology is developing towards ink technologies, with solvent, eco-solvent and UV-curing compared to water-based ink sets. Major applications where these printers are used are for outdoor settings for billboards, lorry sides and lorry curtains, building graphics and banners, while indoor displays include point-of-sales displays, backlit displays, exhibition graphics and museum graphics. The professional versions of this type of printer can cost up to $2 million. This has affected the graphics design industry as it has allowed them to mass produce graphic designs. One example of an inkjet printer would be the HP DesignJet T1200 which is a mid-level commercial printer used for clear precise images. The file types this can handle is bitmaps and vectors. As this can be done at home, the quality is much better and they have delveloped to become much more clearer than before. In order to create a 2m banner for advertisement, you must use 75ppl in order to be able to see it clearly from far away. Therefore if you designed something on photoshop however the file size was not as compatible, in order to get the same image, you could simply reduce the file size simply increase the resolution from 75ppl. 

Laser printing

Laser printers allow high quality graphics and text to be printed onto plain paper. This allows production of high quality vector images onto leaflets and flyers. This technology is rather expensive and potentially dangerous due to shock hazards and the toner particles can be a fire risk which can cause damage to the respiratory system. This has affected the graphics design industry as it allows higher quality flyers and leaflets to be produced. One example of a laser printer would be the Konica Minolta magicolor, which is a high-end graphics design printer. The file types this can handle is vectors. Resolution is not a big issue because the product on screen is usually enlarged. Therefore Bitmap is not an issue for laser printing. 

3D printing 

3D printing gives the printing in a three dimensional solid version so you can visually see it. It allows a different form of printing and allows individuals to see things in reality compared to three dimensional software's on the computer. It is limited therefore it is mainly used in industry. This printing is also very expensive and therefore it may not be available to all. The file types this can handle is STL - this is changed into a state of triangles in a 3D form which sends information to the printer to print it in layers to form the three dimensional products.