How to create Traffic Signage with HP Latex 700-800 & Flexi Complete Authorized 3M Traffic Edition

Content preserved and reformatted from the attached source file titled "3M 700 - 800 Traffic Cook Book.pdf"

What You Will Need

• 3M reflective sheeting qualified for HP Latex 700 and 800 Printer series
• Design tools: Flexi Complete 3M Authorized Traffic Edition
• Printer: HP Latex 700 or 700W or HP Latex 800 or 800W
• Film laminator and recommended film laminate
• Flatbed applicator
• Cutting device suitable for reflective sheeting
• Post print finishing tools

Preparing the Substrate

Important Printer working conditions should be:

• Temperature: 15 to 30°C 59 to 86°F
• Humidity: 20 to 70 percent
• Optimum print quality: Temperature 20 to 25°C 68 to 77°F and Humidity 40 to 60 percent

1. Choose the Right Substrate

Select from the range of 3M reflective sheeting qualified for the Latex 700 and 800 Printer series:

For product information: http://www.3m.com/3M/en_US/road-safety-us/applications/traffic-signs/

Warranty

• The 3M MCS Warranty for Traffic signs requires 3M ElectroCut Film 1170C Clear Overlaminate or 3M Premium Protective Overlay Film 1160i or 1160iA.
• Warranties up to 12 years are possible. See http://www.3m.com/trafficsignprinting.

2. Application Purposes

3. Substrate Presets

• Use approved HP media profiles from:
  • HP PrintOS Media Locator: https://www.printos.com/ml/#/medialocator
  • Printer control panel, Substrate Library menu, Online search
• Search filtering by:
  • Printer: Latex 700 or 700W or 800 or 800W
  • Supplier: 3M Commercial Graphic
  • Application: Reflective signage
• Download and install

4. Substrate Color Calibration

• After installing the preset, perform color calibration.
• Calibration must be done on white self adhesive vinyl. Recommended: 3M IJ180mC 10. Do not perform calibration directly on reflective sheeting.
• Steps:
  1. Load 3M IJ180mC 10 automatically.
  2. From Optimize Quality menu, select Color calibration and select Start.
  3. Perform printhead nozzle check and printhead alignment.
  4. Calibration target is printed and patches are measured automatically.
  5. Select the reflective sheeting you intend to use for your traffic sign jobs.

Preparing the Job

1. Software for Designing and Editing

• Use Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, or InDesign.
• SAi Flexi Complete 3M Authorized Traffic Edition provides a sign making tool with the 3M Traffic Color palette preloaded. When using other design software, proceed to step 2 if Traffic Colors are needed.
• Define colors as spot colors using these case sensitive names: Traffic RED, Traffic GREEN, Traffic BLUE, Traffic PURPLE, Traffic BLACK, Traffic BROWN.
• The RIP will convert these spot colors to CMYK values to comply with ASTM D4956 09E1.

Note: Traffic YELLOW is not covered by the 3M MCS Warranty for Traffic but it is part of the 3M MCS Warranty for custom colors.

2. RIP Processes

2.1 Using the SAi Flexi Complete Editor

1. Click on RIP and Print to open printing options.
2. In the Advanced Options tab:
   1. Select the correct preset that matches your substrate selection.
   2. Enable Use Color Correction.
   3. Select the output profile and media that match the 3M reflective sheeting loaded on the printer.
3. If your job contains cutting paths named as spot colors:
   1. In the cutting menu, select the automatic cutter you will use.
   2. Select the corresponding registration marks.
   3. Configure cutting settings for each cutting path.

2.2 Working with Jobs Created in a Different Editor

1. Add your file in the job queue.
2. Open the job properties menu and go to the Color Management tab.
   1. Enable Use Color Correction.
   2. Select your substrate output profile and the media.
   3. Enable Use color mapping.
3. In the Color Mapping tab, enable the spot colors for each Traffic COLOR.

3. Printer Firmware

• Upgrade printer firmware to PLS_50_23_39.1. (Confirm with your Authorized reseller)
• Delete any previous 3M reflective sheeting substrate presets and download them again via online search from the control panel or via the HP PrintOS Media Locator.

The Printing Process

Loading Substrate

1. From the control panel, tap Substrate then Load.
2. Select the substrate from Self adhesive vinyl or Recently used list and tap Continue.
3. Substrate load configuration:
   • Recommended to activate optimize for tiling.
   • Select Assisted feed and auto skew.
   • Ensure skew is set at 1.
   • Tap Continue.
4. Follow control panel instructions. Place the edge holders before lowering the curing chamber to finish the loading process.
5. Attach an empty core on the take up reel TUR when substrate loading is successful.
6. Advance the substrate until reaching the TUR.
7. Cut the substrate into a V shape and attach it to the TUR so the printed side faces out. Attach from the center.
8. Advance enough substrate and activate the TUR by manually turning it in the desired direction for one full rotation.
9. Select calibrate on the control panel. A message about calibration not performed will appear. Tap OK. Key calculations occur internally.

Printing

1. Send the job to print from the RIP.
   • Check that the RIP has synchronized the loaded substrate with the printer.
   • In Color management, select the correct print mode and any other settings such as copies and placements.
   • Use the proper color management settings described in Preparing the Job.
   • Click Send to print.
2. The rewinding mode will leave a visible bag or a loose section close to the rewinder. This mode is necessary for tiling performance.
3. Cut and retrieve the printed roll.
   • The cutter is disabled for this type of substrate. Cut manually with a cutting device.
   • Tip: Before cutting the printed job, advance the substrate to protect the printed roll when it is unloaded.

Tiling Application and Length Accuracy

• Maximum tiling length deviation from tile to tile is expected to be plus or minus 0.5 millimeter per meter when following these tips.
• Absolute length accuracy printed length versus nominal length is 0.2 percent when following these tips.

Output Size Compensation in RIP

1. Attach the take up reel. Substrate needs to be attached to print and to set the size compensation factor.
2. In SAi Production Manager:
   1. Create a new printer setup and name it with your printer and the substrate in use.
   2. Edit the default job properties as desired.
      • Select the corresponding 3M substrate preset, Media, and Output profile.
      • Click Apply.
      • Save the preset and click OK.
   3. Right click the printer setup and disable Output size compensation. Click OK.
   4. With the selected printer setup and media preset, print two copies of a square image of known dimensions. Recommended 1 by 1 meter.
   5. Once dried, measure each side of the second copy. Calculate the average for the width and the length.
   6. In the RIP, right click the printer setup, select Output Size Compensation and input the values for the test size and the measured size. Check Enable output size compensation and click OK.
   7. Ensure Save in preset is not selected.
3. Use the new printer setup created above to load and send new jobs.
   • Important The output size compensation will not be applied to jobs already in the RIP job queue. Reload the file.

Post Print Finishing

1. Lamination

• To achieve maximum sign durability, laminate the prints with a matching overlaminate.
• Use the film laminate recommended by the vinyl manufacturer.
• Follow lamination settings speed, pressure, and temperature that are specific for the reflective sheeting and laminate combination.
• Note HP Latex approved profiles for 3M reflective sheeting have Overcoat setting at 0 dpp for optimal laminate adhesion. If laminating is not done for example temporary traffic then set Overcoat at 0.5 dpp to increase durability.

2. Cutting

• To cut graphics automatically, use flat bed contour cutters or vinyl cutters.
• Use cutting presets specific to reflective sheeting such as diamond grade, high intensity prismatic, and engineer grade.
• Some vinyl cutters may not be able to cut reflective sheeting. Confirm that cutter specifications such as pressure and speed match the substrate characteristics.

Remarks and Resources

• Benefit from HP Latex versatility to produce bright and durable traffic signs.
• Choose from a range of 3M reflective sheeting compatible with HP Latex inks for digital printing of traffic signs.
• Produce traffic signs with warranties up to 12 years with the 3M MCS Warranty.

Learn more:

• HP LKC: https://lkc.hp.com/
• Learn with HP: https://hp-gsb.docebosaas.com/learn
• 3M Traffic Sign Printing: http://www.3m.com/trafficsignprinting

Certifications and notes:

• Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals ZDHC Level 1 applicable to HP Latex Inks. See http://www.roadmaptozero.com/.
• UL ECOLOGO Certification to UL 2801 applicable to 700 800 Printer series HP Latex Inks. See http://ul.com/EL.
• UL GREENGUARD Gold Certification to UL 2818 applicable to HP Latex Inks. See http://www.ul.com/gg and http://www.greenguard.org/.