Mimaki Solvent Printers - what are the differences?

Solvent printing still remains the most popular technology for the sign making and vehicle graphics industry.

Alongside self-adhesive vinyl for signage and vehicle wraps, Solvent ink can also be used to produce Posters, PVC Banner, Floor and Wall Decor, Canvas, Window Graphics, Heat Transfer and a number of other applications.

The key consideration of solvent ink is that it needs to ‘gas off’ after printing - this means that the print needs to be left for 24 hours before laminating, cutting or applying.

It’s understandable in this modern age that waiting 24 hours doesn’t work for everyone - many print providers want to offer same-day turnaround, which is where alternative such as Latex, Resin and UV come into play.

Check out our 'Solvent, UV Or Latex? Decisions, decisions…' Blog HERE.

That being said, there are a number of reasons people continue to pursue Solvent and why it’s remained so popular.

So, why would you opt for Solvent?

Mimaki's CJV Series offers an integrated vinyl cutting feature, which ultimately eliminates the need for an additional machine. This helps minimise the initial investment significantly and also makes CJV range better suited to smaller print rooms with limited floor space.

While the Mimaki CJV150 has been in the market for nine years, the model has more than proven its reliability and still stands up against modern equivalents. It’s also one of the most affordable Solvent Printer / Cutters on the market and a go-to solution for many low to mid-volume sign makers (with four different print widths to choose from), many of which opting for multiple units over an upgrade option.

One of the main reasons Solvent has held its own against the alternatives comes down to the print itself. Solvent ink produces the most vibrant results for the outdoor print market, with the widest colour gamut capability and fine detail resolution.

The Solvent range from Mimaki all come equipped with eight ink channels with multiple ink configuration options to suit your key client base.

A Dual CMYK configuration is the most common option, due to a speed advantage and capability to automatically switch to the secondary cartridge. With the printhead having two dedicated channels for one colour, the Dual CMYK configuration runs at twice the speed of any other configuration.

Second to this is an 8-colour configuration, which is often chosen to provide the widest colour gamut. This is particularly important if your clients need to achieve difficult Pantone references for the likes of corporate logos / branding / motocross and vehicle graphics.

For many Sign Makers, the standard CMYK configuration is enough, so the choice will depend entirely on your target market.

On a few of the models, there is also the option of White ink and / or Silver ink, although we would only recommend this if you intend to use these colours on a regular basis. This is due to the significant reduction in speed and the cost and maintenance required to run these inks.

Over the last few years, Mimaki have introduced six variations to their Solvent Printer range, providing a solution aimed to fit every budget and workflow.

Below, you can find a quick breakdown of the key features and differences between the six variations offered.

If you’d be interested in arranging test prints or a private demonstration on any of these models, get in touch with our Hardware Team who would be happy to help.