Anyone in the Printing Industry

[Kitchen]

First, apologies for not posting in a while, a real while. I discovered the best way to get rid of any free time on your hands...have children and start a 2nd business.  

Anyway, in regards to the second business, I have hit kind of a brick wall and thought the great people here may have some answers. My second business creates backdrops for use in TV and film sets. Typically these backings are 6 to 8 meters (18 to 26 feet) tall, and could be up to...well let's just say really really long, but the length is not the issue.  

All commercially available printers max out at 5 meters wide and those are usually UV printers. So, nearly all of our backings need to be seamed, which is the Achilles heal of backings, and the ink cures to be too stuff with too much of a sheen if it is UV. 

So I have been looking into the idea of building a 10 meter printer. Design wise, this is not that difficult, although construction and storage would be expensive. The real issue is the fabric and inks.  

I can get 10 meter wide rolls of fabric, but it is raw, non-coated and a natural color. I first would need to bleach the fabric white with something that would not damage the cotton and then find an ink that would remain crisp, matte yet vibrant, be absorbed into the fabric to remain flexible but remain shallow enough to allow for double sided printing. I would also need to fire treat the fabric and (perhaps) pre-shrink it for printing.  

Anyone have any advice to where to get started?  

[Chibearsv]

Welcome back brother!  Wish I could help but looking forward to answers from anyone that can. I’m curious now. 

[Edicion]

This company seems to be able to do 12m prints for movies and backdrops too, looks like they are a UK based company. https://www.jcjoel.com/large-format-digital-print/

[Kitchen]

15 hours ago, Edicion said:

This company seems to be able to do 12m prints for movies and backdrops too, looks like they are a UK based company. https://www.jcjoel.com/large-format-digital-print/

They are more painted backings, which is exactly what it sounds like, hand painted. We are producing photographic printed backings, which is the standard right now.