Roll-to-roll printing is a digital printing process in which flexible materials—typically supplied on rolls—are fed through the printer, printed upon, and rewound onto another roll. This method is widely used in large format printing for its efficiency, scalability, and compatibility with a broad range of substrates.
How It Works:
Media is unwound from a feed roll, passes through the print area (where ink is applied via inkjet heads or other technologies), and is then rewound onto a take-up roll. This continuous operation supports long production runs and high-speed output.
Compatible Substrates:
Roll-to-roll printers work with a variety of flexible substrates, including:
Self-adhesive vinyl
Banner vinyl (PVC and PVC-free)
Polyester textiles and mesh
Paper (photo paper, blueback)
Films (PET, PP, backlit)
Wallcoverings and window films
Typical Applications:
Banners and signs
Billboards and posters
Vehicle and fleet wraps
Window graphics
Backlit displays
Custom wallpapers and interior graphics
Advantages:
Ideal for high-volume, continuous production
Supports wide-format media (up to 5 meters wide)
Compatible with multiple ink types (UV, latex, eco-solvent, solvent)
Lower media waste compared to sheet-fed printing
Enables easy finishing processes (lamination, cutting, welding)
Considerations:
While roll-to-roll printing excels with flexible materials, it is not suitable for rigid substrates. For printing on boards and other solid materials, a flatbed printer is required.