SALES TEAM: 020 7842 1555
EMAIL: sales@designsupply.co.uk
SALES TEAM: 020 7842 1555
EMAIL: sales@designsupply.co.uk
7 September 2026
Canon, Epson and HP were quiet on hardware this week, but a new latex printer/cutter and a shift away from PVC vinyl are worth your attention — plus a practical guide to matching ink chemistry to media.
Billed as the first 64″ latex printer/cutter, it pairs new TA-2 water-based latex inks (CMYK plus Orange, Red and a high-density White) with integrated contour cutting through Roland’s VersaWorks 7 RIP. The instant-dry latex skips the outgassing wait solvent inks need — worth knowing if you’re comparing print-and-cut options against the Epson bundle we covered last week.
A WhatTheyThink analysis this week points to fabric/soft signage and recyclable paper-based media (from the likes of Neenah and 3A Composites) taking share from PVC vinyl in retail and event graphics, partly driven by EU plans to phase out PVC by 2030. Vinyl isn’t going anywhere for vehicle wraps and hard outdoor use yet, but it’s worth watching if clients ask about sustainability — and it connects directly to the ink point below, since UV and latex inks are what make printing straight onto these alternative substrates practical.
The show runs 23–25 September in Las Vegas, and pre-show announcements are ramping up, with Agfa, Domino and SCREEN among the exhibitors confirming plans. Worth holding off on a purchase decision until any show announcements land, if your timing allows it.
We get a lot of questions about which ink “is best” — the honest answer is it depends entirely on what you’re printing onto. Here’s a quick guide to the main chemistries and where each earns its keep.
| Dye & pigment | Dye gives punchier colour for short-term indoor display; pigment costs a little more but resists fading and handling far better — the standard choice for anything client-facing or displayed for more than a few weeks. |
| Solvent & eco-solvent | Bonds into the surface of vinyl and film rather than sitting on top, which is what gives vehicle wraps and outdoor banners their durability. The trade-off is odour and a cure time before laminating or cutting. |
| UV-curable & latex | Cures instantly under a lamp rather than soaking in, which is why these are the chemistries opening up printing onto uncoated paper, fabric and other non-PVC substrates — no lamination step, and none of the media limitations solvent brings. |
Not sure which ink and media combination suits the job in front of you? That’s exactly the kind of question our team is happy to talk through before you order — a much cheaper conversation than one after a reprint.
Thanks again for the opportunity to quote for this. If you’re weighing up a media switch, a print-and-cut upgrade, or just need advice on the right ink and media pairing for a job, get in touch and we’ll talk it through with you rather than just pointing you at whatever’s newest on the market.
We’re now in our 36th year supplying large format printer solutions and have sold over 7,000 printers to architects, photographers and signage businesses across the UK — more about us here.
Looking forward to hearing from you.
