Ltd Ltd chooses SureColor SC-S70600
Put Epson’s first wide format printer with metallic silver and white ink together with Ltd Limited and the result is an array of stunning manifestations. Ltd is short hand for ‘Learn to Dream’, but that’s the only short cut this Bethnal Green-based company will take. Ltd Limited (www.ltdltd.com) has wished for a production-level wide format printer with metallic ink for a while and was eager to be the first in the UK to have an Epson SureColor SC-S70600. The device has enabled it to produce a range of metallic effects, previously not possible or very difficult to achieve.
Producing luxury décor manifestations
Craig Beecher, Director, Ltd Limited, commented: “We use the SureColor SC-S70600 to produce luxury décor manifestations for exclusive business and retail interiors. We print on a range of materials and it is particularly effective on white and clear vinyls, 3M Clearview and smooth/textured wallpapers. This printer particularly comes into its own when printing onto clear materials where you can mix metallic with clear areas very easily. Its ability to print vivid colours and fine graduations of white and silver without stepping is brilliant. Our top clients are always looking for the very latest specialist effects and once they see the amazing graphics we can produce with the SureColor they want them and we have won business as a direct result.”
Growth in interior graphics
Interior graphics is the fastest growth area of Ltd’s business and the most creative sector they work in. “Until relatively recently architects were not really that interested in interiors, but they have realised the impact and effect interior graphics can produce and we work with them to achieve a wide variety of effects on walls, glass, wood and metal,” says Craig.
“We like to go outside our comfort zone to achieve exciting effects and the Epson SureColor SC-S70600 with metallic silver and white ink plays an important role. We are producing crisp and smooth graduation colour consistent gel tints on transparent and translucent material for office and retail interiors that are truly impressive and long-lasting.”
Simultaneous support for white and metallic inks
The Epson SureColor SC-S70600 is Epson's first 64-inch printer to support white and metallic ink simultaneously, enabling creative print makers, specialist sign makers and professional display printers to expand their range of services. High-quality prints are assured with the combination of Epson's UltraChrome® GSX Ink and proven Micro Piezo® TFP printhead, which delivers clarity, fine detailing and smooth blends at resolutions of up to 1440x1440dpi.
The UltraChrome® GSX ink-set, featuring light magenta, light cyan, light black, orange, white and metallic inks as well as CMYK, makes the 10-colour SC-S70600 very versatile. It achieves ultra-smooth tonal gradations thanks to the use of light inks, including light black ink for enhanced, neutral greyscales.
“Before the SureColor we just couldn’t have produced and delivered this project so efficiently and with the level of metallic impact we wanted to achieve,” said James Everett, Digital Manager Ltd Limited.
“The SureColor SC-S70600 with UltraChrome GSX ink delivers brilliant quality combining fine detail with vibrant colours. Layering is easy, automatic and in perfect registration and the print is dry on delivery ready to use,” added James Everett.
“Challenging jobs that were very difficult before are very easy now. Instead of going through several stages and using several different printers to print multi layers to achieve certain challenging effects, we can now print it all in one pass on the single SureColor.”
City of York installation
A major installation for the City of York Council Buildings was one of the first projects where the majority of materials were produced on the new printer by Ltd.
“It entailed filling the interior of the council buildings – on walls, glass and windows – with subtle designs incorporating graphics and fine line drawings using silver and other metallic effects printed onto dusted materials, clear and white vinyls and wallpaper,” says James.
“Before the SureColor we just couldn’t have been able to produce and deliver this project so efficiently and with the level of metallic impact we wanted to achieve.”
Fast and easy
Epson has designed the new printer to be fast and easy to set up and use. Loading heavy media rolls, usually a two-person job, can be handled by one operator with ease thanks to a unique jack device. Media tensioning, traditionally only accessible from the front of the printer, is controllable from both front and rear, so operators do not waste time going back and forth. This reduces set-up time and maximises productivity.
“I’m very impressed with this machine,” says James. “While other printers can be complex to learn to use, this was very easy and the ColorGATE Production Server 7 software is nice. A lot of thought has gone into the design and handling system and it’s easy to maintain – just 5 minutes a day is all it takes.”
Craig, his co-director Seymour Reeves, and their 20 plus team at Ltd Limited clearly relish a challenge: “If you can design it, we can produce it,” says Craig.
“We combine our skills with the best technology and materials to find a solution that achieves a client’s vision. Collaborating with our clients at the creative stage means that we can inspire and influence the end result.” It’s this inventiveness which has attracted blue chip clients such as Adidas, Asics, Coutts, EDF, HSBC, Red or Dead, and P&O.
