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Joanne Gardner tracks down the solutions to your print problems

Q Can you name some suppliers who can print white ink digitally on to clear self-cling window vinyl? We’re looking for low volume, low cost, quick turnaround window graphics and the only suppliers I have found are screen printers where the cost is prohibitive due to screens or makereadies.
Steven Showler
Mutual Ideas

A You shouldn’t have a problem finding a non-screenprinter to do the job. Glazing Protection Systems (0845 003 7260, www.gpwindowfilms.com) can print white on to clear vinyl in low production runs at, in its own words, “relatively low cost, especially when compared with screen printing”. Email the image and sizes via the website for a quote. DS Smith Multigraphics (01274 683434, www.dssmith-multigraphics.com) can also do the job with its two Vutek flatbed digital presses and says short runs are no problem, with a minimum order of just one. Surrey-based Discount Displays (0844 800 1020, www.discountdisplays.co.uk) digitally prints self-cling film window decals at £40 per square metre (minimum order value is £50) but I’m not sure if it can print white on to clear vinyl, so check that out.

Q I’m a designer and I’ve been told problems may occur when reversing a small serif font from a solid printed background with 100% coverage. Do you know what the reason for this is?
Name and address supplied

A I’ve been told that the fine serifs (the ‘feet’ on the bottom of, for instance, Times Roman) will probably fill in. A substantial amount of ink is required to successfully print solid colour with 100% coverage. Every so often, depending on the quality and condition of the press and also of the inking and water rollers, fine type and reversed graphics will fill up with ink and therefore disappear.

MUDDY BLACK #2
Phil Hughes, director of Printing.com in Nottingham, luckily agrees with my judgement on the ‘muddy black’ problem of 8 May. He says it is likely to be the CMYK settings and “almost certainly there are too many channels making the black, which gives that nasty muddy effect. Best bet for large areas (not text) is ‘rich black’, which is 100k 40c”. Thanks Phil.