A rundown of current printing Technologies with advantages and disadvantages
| Type | Uses | Pros | Cons | Archival Life | Other Names | History |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Silver Halide | Professional Albums Display Prints Prints for your shoe box or album Framed prints | Best archival life for photographic printing Is the only true photographic printing Has been around for many years so can be trusted Can be handled with out further protection Does not mark or scratch easily Cost per print | Equipment to print on is expensive Limited range of paper choices Chemical waste needs the silver removed before disposal | 200 Years – Kodak Professional 80 Years – Fujifilm Crystal Archive | C type printing Wet Lab RA4 Chromagenic | black and white 1890’s Colour 1960’s |
| Pigment Ink Jet Anhydrous | Professional wide format printing Framed prints | Wide variety of paper types Equipment is moderatly priced | Marks scratches and scuffs easily Needs protective coating if it is to be handled Cost per print | Inks – 80 Years, Papers are unknown | K3 | |
| Dye Ink Jet Anhydrous | At home printingDry Labs | Equipment is cheap Convenience | Cost per print | Not consider archival | At home inkjet Dry Lab | 1994 |
| Inkjet Eco Solvent | Signage and display Stickers Car Wraps | Great range of self adhesive and signage medias available | Must be used in a ventilated environment | 5 to 7 years outdoors | ||
| Inkjet Solvent | Signage and display Stickers | Low running costs | Considered to be unsafe to use in closed enviroments | 5 to 7 years outdoors | ||
| Ink Jet Latex | Signage and display Stickers Car Wraps | Low Running costs and a large range of medias | High cost of equipment compared to other inkjet technologies | Unknown | ||
| Digital Offset | Greeting Cards Photo Books Promotional products Short run printing | Prints double sided | Only can print on papers upto 300gsm | Depends on paper type and use | ||
| Offset | Long run printing | Extreamly low print cost | Only viable for long run | Depends on paper type and use | ||
| Dye Sublimation – Print | Onsite printing | Easy portable printers ideal for event photographers | Low quality print with limited life | Varies due storage and heat | Dry Lab | |
| Dye Sublimation – Products | Range of promotional products | Great for Cups, clothing and promotional printing | Needs high heat and pressure | Depends on substrate | ||
| UV curable ink jet | promotional products Signage and display | Can print on large range of promotional products and flat bed signage | Cost of equipment and the ink sets hard so not suitable for flexable products | Depends on inks used |
This article is based on our opinions