Dreamscape media are tested and certified for dimensional stability. Digitally printed wallcovering will not expand or contract under standard digital printing or conventional installation conditions.
Differences in panel or pattern size observed at installation time, are commonly the result of media transport issues that occur during printing.
Variation in panel height can be managed in several ways:
Some printing equipment use sensors to measure and calibrate media transport during printing. Systems that mark media margins (Canon Colorado) are highly reliable, but some systems that read media backing can be deceived by woven fabric and introduce errors. We suggest you test the accuracy of your transport calibration system.
On some large format (60 inch) systems, media feed (step) may be affected by the weight of the supply roll. For example: tall panels (8 ft.) printed on a heavy, full roll may be short by 1/4 inch or more, but when the feed roll has become smaller and lighter, the actual print height may be longer than the expected height. In most cases, this small variance in media advance (step) is generally not significant to result in visual banding but can result in issues with pattern match at install. Solutions include using smaller rolls to minimizing strain on the transport system and/or to increase the number of passes, giving greater precision to each advance of the printer. Both of these techniques can eliminate the need for manual unwinding of a heavy roll during printing.
Calibrate equipment for print width and height accuracy before starting a wallcovering project. Utilities are available in most rip software. Once calibration has been completed, validate accuracy of print size by printing a fixed image (48”x48” square) that has been created in the design software in use. Measure the printed square with a precise steel ruler to assure all calibrations are true. This type of calibration should become a routine part of set up for wallcovering production.
A test hang of initial production can reveal any issues with production sizing, color, and overall appearance of the product. This should become as a standard quality assurance component for wallcovering production runs.
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