Many sign and display businesses in the UK have run ColorPainter printers for years, and plenty still do. Landor supplied and installed OKI ColorPainter machines as part of our two decades in large format printing, so this is a family of printers we know well from the workshop floor, not just from brochures.
The guidance below is ours alone. It is not issued or endorsed by OKI, and you should follow the ink and media guidance for your particular machine.
What ColorPainter output is like
ColorPainter printers have generally used solvent-based ink systems, including eco-solvent formulations, designed for durable outdoor and indoor signage on vinyl, banner, mesh, backlit film and wallcovering. The ink keys into coated media well and has good weather resistance on its own. Many prints never need coating.
Where protection helps is in tougher settings: graphics that are touched or cleaned regularly, signs exposed to strong sunlight for extended periods, displays near chemicals, or jobs where a consistent gloss or semi-gloss finish is wanted across a set.
Recommended approach
- Dry fully. Solvent prints release solvent for some time after printing. Allow them to dry and outgas fully before coating, especially high-density prints and anything that has been rolled.
- Coat evenly. Colourjet applied with a liquid lamination machine gives a consistent layer across wide prints. Hand application works for smaller jobs.
- Allow the coating to dry before rolling, packing or installing.
Things to watch
- Some uncoated or speciality media can react to a solvent coating. Test the media as well as the ink.
- If you have changed ink type or supplier during the printer’s life, test again rather than relying on old results.
- Backlit prints should be judged on a lightbox after coating, as the coating can affect how light passes through.
- For banners that will be folded or rolled for transport, test flexibility on a coated sample.
Supporting older machines
If you are running an older ColorPainter and wondering how it fits with modern finishing, or considering what to pair it with, we can talk through options from our printers and equipment ranges.
ColorPainter users are welcome to send us a print for a coating trial. Call 01252 624 411 or use the contact form and we will arrange it.