The mixture of different print settings has an impact on the ink consumption.
1. Print Resolution
Print resolution directly affects the ink consumption when no limitations are applied on the Color Management System (CMS). Higher resolutions allow a higher maximum ink laydown per area with the same drop sizes.
For example, 700dpi vs. 900dpi: 700dpi prints have 22% less pixel per area. Theoretically, each pixel can be covered with ink in a full-surface print if no limitation is applied on the Color Management System (CMS).
2. Saturation
Often digital presses can additionally print in double (Backlit) or triple ink modes, and in steps in between. This means that selected pixels from the image are printed several times. The term “saturation” is often used for these settings. The Durst P5 platform has all these features and allows an individual variation of this setting for the 700dpi resolution.
Mind the impact of this variation: Higher saturation allows higher ink laydown and respectively higher ink consumption.
3. Matt vs. Glossy mode printing
Beside standard matt modes, Durst scanning UV/LED printers use a specific glossy printing mode. This mode has a delayed curing in order to allow the ink to spread differently on the substrate.