Resources
Media Guide
A media guide with practical notes on PVC, banner, vinyl, fabric, and other common stocks run on FastJET, Stormjet, and Skywalker machines.
How the media guide gets used on actual jobs
The Media Guide helps South African print teams choose the right setting for the stock on the machine. It covers PVC, banner, vinyl, fabric and other common media used on FastJET, Stormjet and Skywalker printers. Use it to match everyday substrates with practical running notes and profile choices.
Start the media guide entry with the exact stock, roll width, ink set, and pass mode on the machine. PVC behaves differently from banner, vinyl and fabric when Johannesburg dust, Durban moisture, or a long power break changes drying and feed stability. A short note tied to the actual substrate helps the operator choose a usable profile faster than guessing from a generic media label.
Include one photo of the first acceptable strip and one of the media label on the roll. That record matters when the same stock returns with a different coating, stretch, or backing from another batch. Teams often keep the note beside the FastJET, Stormjet or Skywalker so heater values and feed adjustments are not rebuilt from memory on the next run.
Stocks that need separate notes
Rigid-looking names on cartons often hide very different print behaviour once the roll is loaded. The guide separates common banner grades, self-adhesive vinyl, PVC variants, fabric types and other daily substrates so settings, curing checks and profile choices stay tied to the stock in front of the operator. Keep it at hand for shift use, not filed away after one test.
Use the media guide with the matching profile record and a quick swatch check before you move to a full production run.
- PVC, banner, vinyl and fabric notes
- Roll width and profile recorded clearly
- Defects logged with photos and settings
Machine room conditions that shift results
A media setting that holds in Cape Town winter may need another look in inland heat and dust. The guide makes room for workshop conditions, couriered stock arriving with different tension, and mixed batches that carry the same sales name but print differently. Operators can note where the stock was run and what changed on the machine before the result became stable.
Coastal humidity can slow drying on banner and some vinyl films, while drier inland conditions may shift static and feed behaviour on lighter materials. After load-shedding, the first checks should cover nozzle condition, heater recovery, and whether the substrate is still tracking square. Those observations belong in the media guide because they affect repeatability on later jobs.
Operated by Astros Marketing (Pty) Ltd from 2 Makro Place, Sunnyrock 1401.
What to record on each stock
Brief the media guide with the substrate name, roll width, profile in use, and issues such as banding, drying or colour drift. Add photos from the print floor and keep the subject honest.
Capture the substrate name, supplier code if available, roll width, profile used, pass count, heater settings and any feed compensation that solved the issue. Add notes on colour drift, curing, head strikes, edge lift or banding while the test pieces are still at the printer. A complete media guide entry gives the next shift something they can run from immediately.
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