What are the major advantages with solvent based printers in comparison to water based printers?

Speed and Efficiency: Solvent printers (such as the Roland XJ640, and the Epson Stylus Pro GS6000) are generally faster than water based (such as the Epson Stylus Pro 9880, Epson Stylus Pro 9800, Epson 7800, and Epson 4800) at producing giclee prints. Usually 25-50% more efficient. Solvent printing is geared more for production and is an industrial type machine. Commercial printer businesses predominately use solvent printing machines. These printers are designed to print wide rolls like 64" and above. They also have wider in diameter and higher in weight media capacity.
Cost of Ownership and Consumables: Solvent printing technology is designed every day, long-term high volume production runs. Their built to last, total workhorses! I know of companies that have the same machines in production for over 8 years and going. You will not have to upgrade or update your hardware every few years like most aqueous technology. Solvent inks cost 50-75% LESS than water based ink, this is a substantial savings considering it’s the most expensive consumable you purchase! Inkjet media like canvas and paper is one more cost savings component. This varies of course with the quality of the substrate, and if there’s an inkjet coating layer applied to the base. Solvent ink does not require an inkjet receptive coating, but it will indefinitely improve the output.
No Coating Saves Time and Money: there’s no top-coating (giclee varnish or giclee coating) necessary with so is the most important advantage solvent inks have over water based! You print onto canvas, you wrap your canvas prints, you ship the canvas prints. There’s no post treatment with top-coating canvas prints. What does this mean to you? You eliminate a huge step of production, perhaps the longest step if you include lamination dry time for every canvas print. And of course the waste incurred on canvas with coating rejects, or the trial and error with rolling and spraying liquid laminates. Your turnaround will be cut by 50% opposed to water based printing on canvas. Then there’s the actual cost of the coating chemistry itself, ranges from $30-$110 per container. Finally, the cost of labor(s) that are needed to apply the canvas varnish. This is a big expense that varies from shop to shop but without a doubt adds up over time.

The Year of Change: Aqueous to Solvent?

The day has come! The evolution of digital inkjet printing continues and has progressed with solvent in the art and photography market place. In the fine art market, the technological change from (aqueous) water to solvent based machines began at crawl speed around November 2008. Traditionally solvent ink-jet printers like Mimaki, HP, Seiko, Mutoh and Roland were adopted by sign shops to produce indoor-outdoor signage, banners, vehicle wraps and fleet graphics. Solvent technology gave businesses the needed durability for outdoor signage, added print speed and reduction in manufacturing costs. Now, virtually odorless solvent printers, such as the Roland XJ 570 and the Epson Stylus Pro GS6000 are being used to produce high-end canvas prints at a quality level never thought. Breathing Color has been diligently testing for the last 12 months various solvent printing equipment and media. We recognized that with the right machine, inkjet media and icc profiles solvent printers are ready to cross over into our home turf. We've prepared ourselves through ample R&D to lead our customers in the right direction. Happy to say that were on the forefront, with a line of inkjet canvas and fine art paper to compliment. Did you see the Roland XJ540 at our booth at the Imaging USA trade show last week? The printer was spitting out fine art photographic prints that were jaw-dropping observers. They were the best giclee prints in the building. Remember here, remember now, Giclee printing will never be the same.