Meet Joe!

Meet Joe – our resident Technical Application Specialist at Ball & Doggett.

He’s here to help turn any technical problem into a technical delight.

When the printer isn’t working or you don’t know which material to use – what do you do?

Ask Joe…

Because when Joe Knows – you know

Choosing The Right Material

Whether you’re printing a poster, wrapping a car, or running a short-term promo, the wrong material can lead to costly mistakes like lifting edges, poor durability, or even reprints. Joe takes you through the key differences between monomeric, polymeric, and cast vinyl, plus the benefits of synthetic films like polypropylene (PP) and polyester (PET).

What you’ll learn:

When to use monomeric, polymeric, or cast vinyl
How synthetic options like PP and PET fit into sustainable print workflows
Material suitability based on lifespan, flexibility, and environment
Real-world examples to help match the right media to the right job

Print Profiles

We’re diving into one of the most overlooked—but critical—elements in professional printing: print profiles. Whether you’re running a solvent, latex, UV, or aqueous printer, a good print profile (also known as an ICC profile or media profile) is essential for achieving consistent colour, accurate output, and efficient production.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

What a print profile is and how it works
Why different substrates (vinyl, film, fabric) need different profiles
When to use generic profiles vs dedicated profiles
How proper profiling improves speed, accuracy, and repeatability
Joe’s top tips for managing print profiles in your RIP

Which Print Method Is Right For You? Direct to Film (DTF), Heat Transfer Vinyl or Sublimation.

What’s the difference between DTF, Heat Transfer Vinyl and Sublimation? Which print method is best for you? In this episode of Joe Knows, Joe reviews these 3 methods and compares which one is right for your next project

Mimaki UCJV330 Series UV-LED Inkjet Printer

Our resident expert Joe, reviews the Mimaki UCJV330 series printer and looks at some of its key features

Mimaki UJF Series

In this episode, Joe reviews the Mimaki UJF series printer. This advanced flatbed UV-curable inkjet printer creates high-value-added products, achieves superior productivity and print quality, and has a greater ability to accommodate a wide range of applications. Add the Kebab option and you’ll be printing on cylindrical products like a pro!Our resident expert Joe, reviews the Mimaki UJF series printer and looks at some of its key features

Mimaki JFX200 1213 EX & JFX600 2513

In this video, we explore the biggest production pain points facing the signage and display industry today—and how the JFX Series from Mimaki delivers powerful solutions.

Whether you’re battling bottlenecks, struggling with automation, or seeking better media flexibility, the JFX Series offers:

* High-speed, high-quality flatbed printing
* Versatile media handling and multi-layer print options
* Automation-ready features to streamline your workflow
* Hybrid ink flexibility for cost and application efficiency

Get to Know Joe:

Joe, can you tell us a bit about your background and what led you to become a Technical Applications Specialist?

I’ve been in the Sign & Display industry for many years, with experience that covers everything from substrates and inks to wide-format and industrial printing technologies. Becoming a Technical Applications Specialist was a natural progression. I enjoy problem-solving and my role allows me to provide hands-on expertise, ensuring customers get the best performance from their equipment and materials.

What excites you most about the future of wide format and industrial printing technology?

It’s the rapid innovation that’s transforming the industry. Advancements in digital printing, automation, and sustainability are opening up new possibilities. I’m also excited by how printing technology is expanding into new applications, from high-end packaging and textiles to industrial manufacturing and architectural solutions. The industry is evolving beyond traditional signage, and it’s fascinating to see how businesses can leverage these innovations to grow and diversify.

In your experience, what’s the most common mistake businesses make when setting up or scaling their print operations — and how do you help them overcome it?

A common mistake is underestimating the importance of workflow optimisation and future-proofing their investment. Businesses often struggle with colour management, material selection, and automation. Without the right setup, inefficiencies can lead to wasted materials, downtime, and inconsistent output.

What’s one piece of advice you’d give to someone new to the industry?

My biggest piece of advice is to focus on efficiency and future-proofing from day one. Take the time to understand your equipment, materials, and workflow. Not just how they work, but how they fit into a streamlined, cost-effective production process. Many new business owners get caught up in the day-to-day of printing jobs without stepping back to optimise their setup, which can lead to wasted time, materials, and money.

“Joe Knows” is all about sharing knowledge — what’s one lesser-known tip or hack that could save people time, money, or headaches when working with wide format printers?

My best tip is to regularly maintain and profile your media settings for different substrates. Many RIP software solutions and printers allow you to fine-tune print modes, adjust ink limits, and calibrate colour profiles for each specific media type. This ensures consistent colour accuracy, sharper details, and optimised ink usage, which translates to lower costs and fewer rejected prints.

What’s the most unusual or surprising thing you’ve ever printed (or helped a customer print)?

I’ve helped a customer create large-scale graphics for an architectural installation on concrete panels, as well as printing custom graphics onto surfboards for a branding campaign.

If you could have dinner with any inventor or tech pioneer (past or present), who would it be and what’s one question you’d ask them?

Johannes Gutenberg – the man behind the printing press! The question I’d ask him is: “Did you ever imagine that your invention would evolve into digital printing, allowing us to print on everything from paper and vinyl to glass, metal, and textiles?”. It would be fascinating to hear his thoughts on how printing has transformed over the centuries.

Contact us

Our Joe Knows series is designed to help you get the most our of your equipment and materials. Have a suggestion for a video?

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Joe Knows

Meet Joe!