Roland printers have a strong following among sign makers, vehicle graphics specialists and print-and-cut shops. Two ink technologies account for most of the work we see from them: eco-solvent, on roll-fed printers and printer-cutters, and UV-curable, on machines used for rigid items, labels, packaging prototypes and personalised goods. They need quite different handling when it comes to protection.
These notes are Landor’s own guidance and are not endorsed by Roland. Always check your ink and media manufacturers’ recommendations as well.
Eco-solvent output
Eco-solvent prints on vinyl, banner, canvas and wallcovering are already reasonably durable. A coating becomes worthwhile when the job faces harder conditions: graphics touched by the public, signage cleaned with chemical products, displays in strong sunlight, or work where the client expects a uniform finish across mixed media.
- Drying. The most important step. Allow prints to dry and outgas fully before applying Colourjet. Coating too soon can trap solvent under the layer.
- Print and cut. If you contour cut after coating, test the cut quality and weeding on a coated sample. If you coat after cutting, take care at edges.
- Metallic and white inks. Where your printer uses speciality inks, test their behaviour under the coating separately, as appearance can change.
Phototex also runs on eco-solvent printers and is a useful choice for removable wall graphics that need to come down cleanly. See Phototex.
UV-curable output
UV prints are cured on the spot and are usually handled straight away. Here the question is whether a coating will bond well to the cured ink and the substrate. Results can vary with the ink, the curing level, gloss or matte print modes and the material underneath, especially on plastics, metals and coated items.
- Confirm the print is fully cured.
- Clean the surface of dust and fingerprints.
- Test adhesion on a sample with both printed and bare areas, including a tape test once dry.
- If you have used textured or varnish effects, check that a coating does not flatten the effect you were after.
Application options
Small items and short runs can be coated by hand or with ClearJet aerosols. For regular production, a liquid lamination machine for roll media or a flatbed laminator for boards gives better consistency. Our equipment page covers both.
Whether you are running eco-solvent or UV, we are glad to test a print for you. Drop us a line through the contact page or call 01252 624 411.