Task 7 - D1

Task 7: D1

There have been different developments in printing/ output techniques:
· Vinyl cutters and laser cutters for signage.
· Inkjet & wide format printing for bitmap displays and posters.
· Laser printers for leaflets and flyers.
· 3D printing Vinyl cutters have had new developments to improve such thing as the quality of which it cuts. This effects sign making considerably due to an increase in precision of the cutting as well as how reliable it is for cutting at a high quality. Vinyl cutters can now create larger signs; this is useful for companies to advertise a product as it makes the signs more visible. The improvements of vinyl cutters has affected the graphics and has improved sign making results, there would be a high quality for the graphics that are printed onto the vinyl cut outs.

UV inkjet is where acrylic monomers are dropped onto the page and are then set by a UV light. Inkjet are the most commonly used printers, and their prices fall low as they develop fast so they become cheaper and easier to buy. However ink prices increase, costing considerable amount to replace ink cartridges. These developments have affected the creation of graphics as people can do this in their own home, as they have a good quality printer they are able to create high quality of graphics. Now with inkjet better quality graphics as they are clearer than before.

The developments in laser printing allow companies that produce laser printers, also they sell the printers cheaply and charge considerable amounts for ink etc. they have developed the printer so it can now print onto card, by developing what thickness of paper can be accepted by the printers. There is now developments in the amount of page printed per minute; this is very useful for the bigger companies who print a large amount each day. These have affected the production of graphics as the laser printing allows people to produce high quality graphics in their own home for a sensible price.　

Developments in printers can produce large display board size images. Another development in printers is that the ink is weatherproof, which enables this to be use for posters and billboards etc. Wide format printers use the ink to produce much clearer signs etc. The printers also have a faster drying time and banding is no longer a problem. All of these developments have affected the creation of graphics as they can now create large scale graphics more easily and to a high quality so it does not have a bitmap quality. Also allowing companies an easy way to produce display boards.

The new developments in laser technology are the wavelength bands, so they can be used at various wavelengths. Also the cost of these laser cutters decreases as more developments are made. 3D printers work by layers of materials being laid down in different shapes with the use of lasers. We have recently started using 3D printers so there will be further developments in the future. This will alter the price and they will be a common object in households. The development of 3D printers and laser cutters has affected the creation of graphics by providing a way to turn a graphic on the screen into a real 3D object or a printed image.