Mimaki Inkjet Prints on Darks
Impressions Magazine
AUGUST 12, 2005 — Mimaki USA Inc. has raised the bar on digital direct-to-garment printing with the introduction of a midrange printer ($24,995) using discharge ink to print on dark-colored garments and other soft goods. According to the Suwanee, Ga.-based subsidiary of Mimaki Engineering Co. Ltd., Japan, the Mimaki textile pigment ink and discharge liquid are specially formulated for inkjet applications, producing an extremely soft hand and providing a cost-effective alternative to screen printing. The company estimates a cost of 45 cents per 16.5†x 24†image area.
The GP-604D, which is a 4-head flatbed printer, has an auto-adjusting head height feature that allows it to print objects up to 5†thick, according to the company. It can print on T-shirts, sweat shirts, tote bags and assorted cotton-blended items. The printer comes in a standard configuration with Raster Link GP RIP software, one set of inks (CMYK) and two each of discharge and wash fluids for one fill-up.
