Over the years we here at Inkcups now have gotten many phone calls and emails pertaining to polymer plate making, also known as photopolymer plates. Customers often don’t understand the technical aspect of creating a film positive or they get stuck at a step in the process. We have decided the pain and anguish has gone on long enough! Creating photopolymer plates for pad printing machines should be fun, not difficult! Inkcups Now has created a two part instructional video to show each step (in detail) in the polymer plate making process using alcohol wash plates. The first video showcases how to create the film positive on your computer using the Adobe Illustrator software. We created a step by step instructional guide to assist the user through the process because this is often where the user has the most difficulty. The second video shows the entire polymer plate making process. We captured the whole process on video so the user can visually see exactly what to do. Photopolymer plates are great to use as a pad printing plate. The image can be created with great detail for clear/sharp looking prints. Polymer plate making is much more time consuming than laser engraving by about 20-30 minutes, however it is a much more cost effective process.

Questions or Comments? Click Here. Plate used in this project: Type: Alcohol Wash Brand: Photopolymer Plate Color: Green For use with: ICN-B100, ICN-2200, ICN-150, ICN-2500, ICN-2506 More info: Photopolymer Printing Plates page Technorati tags: Photopolymer Plates, Pad Printing Plates, Pad Printing Machines

We here at Inkcups Now like to share some interesting news about our customers every once and a while. Today we received an email from Wanda, one of our customers that had purchased our PromoJET edible image printer. Here is what she had to say:

“Montgomery Gentry was in town over the weekend and I had ‘ins’ with the caterer. We gave them a tray of cookies with their photos and it was a huge hit. We also made 2 large ones for them to autograph, Montgomery didn’t show his face, but Gentry was gracious enough to take time for a picture and an autograph. A first maybe?”
Wanda W.
Baker

I would say it was a first! Thanks Wanda for this great story!
See the places that the PromoJET solvent inkjet can take you? The PromoJET will enhance any business no matter how large or small, and in some cases attract famous people as well!

Printer used in this project:
Type: Edible inkjet printer
Brand: PromoJET
Model:
Standard applications: mints, candy, cookies…
Unconventional applications: golf balls, pens, CDs…
More info: PromoJET inkjet printer page
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Technorati tags: edible ink, inkjet printer, edible inkjet printer, Cookie decorating

Today at Inkcups Now, we printed on coasters with the PromoJET flatbed inkjet.

The interesting thing about these coasters was the texture of them. Two of the coasters had a rough/bumpy surface, and the other two had a smooth glossy finish. Both rough and smooth textures would present a challenge to anyone in the printing industry. The glossy finish of the coaster increases the difficulty of ink adhering to the surface and the rough/bumpy surface is difficult to print an image on without distorting it.

How do we overcome these obstacles? Use the PromoJET solvent inkjet! The PromoJET is able to print on both surfaces simultaneously. The PromoJET’s advanced printing technology allows the user to print on rough/bumpy surfaces without distorting the image. For smooth/glossy objects, the PromoJET ink will adhere to it with no problem at all!

The coasters were printed with two kinds of images, one in black and white, and the other using 4 colors. As you can see each image came out clear and sharp with no blurriness or distortion.

If you have any questions or want to see more please contact Inkcups Now.

Printer used in this project:
Type: Solvent flatbed inkjet printer
Brand: PromoJET
Model:
Standard applications: golf balls, pens, CDs…
Unconventional applications: mints, candy, stained glass, plaques…
More info: PromoJET inkjet printer page
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Technorati tags: Flatbed Inkjet, Solvent Inkjet, Inkjet Printing

Typically when we write blogs at Inkcups Now, we write about all the different things you can print on with our PromoJET. Our goal here at Inkcups Now is to assist our customers in any way we can to make their job as easy as possible. Keeping this mentality in mind, Inkcups Now offers so much more than just printing on objects. We offer a service in which we can design and build a custom fixture that will attach to the flatbed inkjet and hold any of your parts to increase printing efficiency.

As the picture entails, these are custom made fixtures for electrical socket covers, and socket protectors. The fixtures are designed with the customer in mind and in some cases with the customer’s specifications. The fixtures are optimized to fit as many pieces as possible in order to decrease production time by cutting down the amount of print cycles.

On the side of the fixtures, pins over hang to assist the user in guiding the fixture onto the PromoJET bed, quickly positioning it in the correct place. The PromoJET is an industrial inkjet, so why not print like it is?

Inkcups Now has made many fixtures over the years. Chances are we have made one to meet your specifications already and if we haven’t, we are always up to the challenge.

For any questions regarding custom fixtures or anything else:
Please contact Inkcups Now

Printer used in this project:
Type: Solvent flatbed inkjet printer
Brand: PromoJET
Model:
Standard applications: golf balls, pens, CDs…
Unconventional applications: mints, candy, stained glass, plaques…
More info: PromoJET inkjet printer page
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Technorati tags: Flatbed Inkjet, Solvent Inkjet, Industrial Inkjet

Printing on tin containers with the PromoJET solvent inkjet printer is a great way to increase awareness of a business or event through unique promotional methods. With inkjet printing, you can add pictures, logos, or any other image you can think of in order to customize the tin in a way that is appealing to your market. Tins are great for holding items such as food, jewelry, cards and any other gift item you can think of, so why not customize that tin and make a gift look even better.

In order to print on tin containers we first wiped them down with a PP wipe, this wipe is formulated with a special chemical that will increase ink adhesion. The image was loaded into the PromoJET computer software and sent to the machine to start printing. Although the PromoJET does not have white colored ink, the light background of the tin is great for making it appear white colored and allows the user to print in almost any color.

Tin covers were once considered difficult to print on because of their surface texture and glossy look. New technological advancements in solvent ink and adhesion wipes now allow the ink to easily adhere to the tin surface. Inkjet printing is a versatile tool that can be used to print on almost any texture. The future of inkjet printing is now, so take advantage!

Contact us to request more information!

Printer used in this project:
Type: Solvent flatbed inkjet printer
Brand: PromoJET
Model:
Standard applications: golf balls, pens, CDs…
Unconventional applications: mints, candy, stained glass, plaques…
More info: PromoJET inkjet printer page
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Technorati tags: Tin Containers, Solvent inkjet printer, Printing on Tin

We printed on chocolate with the PromoJET flatbed inkjet printer with edible ink. The edible ink is safe to consume and looks great on chocolate.

Printing on chocolate was easy. First, we did a little preheating to the point where the chocolates are almost melting so the ink can infuse with the chocolate and not smear off. The PromoJET flatbed inkjet printer printed a whole tray of these chocolates in under 4 minutes! After printing on the chocolates, we placed them in the refrigerator to further harden the chocolates.

The PromoJET edible inkjet printer can print on all kinds of treats such as cookies, cupcakes, mints, and cakes!

Printer used in this project:
Type: Solvent flatbed inkjet printer
Brand: PromoJET
Model:
Standard applications: golf balls, pens, CDs…
Unconventional applications: mints, candy, stained glass, plaques…
More info: PromoJET inkjet printer page
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Technorati tags: edible ink, inkjet printer, Printing on Chocolate

The PromoJET can do just about anything! Take a look at these awesome pens!

Notice anything different? These are high quality images printed on promotional pens, not just your typical company logo or low quality image. The PromoJET solvent inkjet printer raises the bar for the promotional pen industry.

Creating these custom pens was a snap. We were able to load these graphics right into the software that came included with the PromoJET. The graphic was re-sized to fit on the pen, and that’s all it takes! To hold the pens in place we created a custom holder so they would not move during printing. Printed pens are a great alternative to laser engraving on pens.

Printer used in this project:
Type: Solvent flatbed inkjet printer
Brand: PromoJET
Model:
Standard applications: golf balls, pens, CDs…
Unconventional applications: mints, candy, stained glass, plaques…
More info: PromoJET inkjet printer page
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Technorati tags: PromoJET, Solvent inkjet printer, Promotional Pens

Here is a video of the ICN-150L pad printing machine in action! Pad printing is great for creating tagless labels on garments and clothing. Tagless printing is fun and easy! Just watch the video and see for yourself! The ICN-150L features a linear conveyor, a great addition for companies with high production volumes or anyone who wants to get their pad printing done faster. The ICN-150L is a 2 cups machine, meaning it can do multiple colors or one color twice as fast. Featuring a 150mm ink cup system for large images, this pad printer has it all!

Printer used in this project: Type: Semi-Automatic Pad Printer Brand: ICN-150 Model: Two Color Standard applications: neck tagless labels, pens, stress balls, other metal and plastic parts… Unconventional applications: cookies, contact lenses More info: ICN-150 Tagless Pad Printer page Technorati tags: Tagless Printing, Pad Printing, Multi Color

Here is a great promotional product idea! Printing high quality images on notepads.

The PromoJET solvent inkjet printer was able to print high quality images with ease! The graphics are loaded into the software program that comes included with the PromoJET flatbed inkjet printer. All full bleed graphics/photos or corporate logos are centered in the white areas. You can even print on all 4 sides, with same or different images! No pre-treatment needed.

Other ideas besides promotional use include: printing family pics on each side, children, pets, etc. You can even print a different person per side! Personalized notepads are a great gift idea!

*TIP* place an elastic band around the paper cube in order to restrict movement of the pages during printing.

Printer used in this project:
Type: Solvent inkjet printer
Brand: PromoJET
Model: Standard
Standard applications: safety socket covers, stress balls, pens, golf balls, CDs, iPod covers…
Unconventional applications: Rubik’s Cubes, custom guitar picks, mouse pads, stained glass
More info: PromoJET solvent inkjet

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Technorati tags: Notepad Printing, Custom Notepad, Solvent Inkjet, Notepads Personalized

Introducing the most versatile, capable, and cost effective pad printing machine on the market! The ICN-2200L is a heavy duty tagless pad printer that has a two color sealed cup pad printing system. This particular model is fitted with the linear conveyor, which is great for situations where future production volumes are unknown or are likely to increase. The ICN-2200L also has an XYR micro-adjust plate holder, allowing the user to get accurate prints every time! Its quick and easy to use!

Printer used in this project: Type: Semi-Automatic Pad Printer Brand: ICN-2200L Model: Two Color Standard applications: neck tagless labels, pens, stress balls, other metal and plastic parts… Unconventional applications: cookies, contact lenses More info: ICN-2200L Tagless Pad Printer page Technorati tags: Tagless Printing, Pad Printing, Heavy Duty