There isn’t many differences between Latex and Solvent technologies as they offer similar levels of performance in terms of image quality and outdoor performance.

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The major advantage of latex is that the prints are dry as soon as they come out of the printer with no need to set them aside for degassing. There’s no need to laminate the prints, which last three years outdoors unlaminated or up to five years if laminated. Nor is there any smell from latex inks, unlike solvent inks, which have a distinct odour.

Latex inks are not only eco-friendly, but they also have the edge over eco-solvent technology as a water-based latex ink is non-flammable and doesn’t actually require any hazard or dangerous warning labelling. What’s more, there is no need for special ventilation with a latex printer as the ink has no dangerous air pollutants.

This means that a latex printer will not only improve employees working environment and surroundings, but it will attract customers who are concerned about the environment and prefer to use businesses who are eco-friendly. The ink is also odourless, which is a huge benefit for many businesses, hospitals, and health clinics where the strong odour of ink may cause problems.

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What is Latex?

In essence, latex inks, which are also known as resin inks, use a type of polymer to encapsulate the pigments, which are then suspended in water as a carrier liquid that can be jetted through the printheads. Heat is used to evaporate the water away, and to activate the polymers to bind the pigments to the media.