I think it may be time we buy a digital printer. We have been contracting out all of our printing but I think we are doing enough now to compensate buying one also if we had one in house I feel we could do more with it... Looking at around 42" or so thats whats in our budget. Looked at the New HP latex which seems real inviting also the mutoh, mimaki, roland and the Prism Jet that sign warehouse sells that suppose to be mutoh made... Any pros and cons to these printers maintenance, ink cost or any other printer you reccomend taking a look at
Posted by Tony McDonald (Member # 1158) on :
I'm on my fifth large format printer. The first four were basically for indoor prints. We currently have a 30" Roland Versacamm and really like it. The prints come out great, and the print/cut feature is priceless. There are a lot of people buying aftermarket inks for these printers, but I don't think the oem inks are so expensive that I would want to switch. My only regret was not getting the 54" machine.
Can't comment on the other brands you've listed.
Posted by Henry Edmonds (Member # 2145) on :
The prism jet valu jet is very appealing as far as price.. I have confirmed that it is in fact made by mutoh for sign warehouse and its the 54" value jet bascially in a 48" model.. has the new wave technology
Posted by Bob Boyd (Member # 2500) on :
If I were only having one digital printer it would be solvent and it would be bigger than 48" wide.
Posted by Chris Lovelady (Member # 2540) on :
all printers require lamination.
we are going to get the HP latex printer. it is self cleaning, the print heads are 150$ and you can replace. price the solvent print heads and you will have to hire a tech to install. the prints do not require out gassing and is ready to use and laminate right away. there is no need for ventilation..no solvents. it has a on board color calibrator and calibrates on the fly so no banding. i am sold 100% on this machine. the printing cost is $0.34 sqft....the mimaki is now advertising that you can use latex inks in their machine....this is the aqua green printing is the future in digital printing.
Lovelady
[ November 02, 2010, 07:54 PM: Message edited by: Chris Lovelady ]
Posted by Kevin Gaffney (Member # 4240) on :
Nearly six years in the digital printing thing with Seiko 64. Using third part inks that stick to almost anything. Points to be wary of re latex printers though. They do not print on all or indeed many media, hence media tends to be more expensive. The heads may be lots cheaper but how long do they last. I don't know but would strongly recommend you talk to end users who have latex printers and find out the pros and cons
Posted by Ian Stewart-Koster (Member # 3500) on :
I have a friend who wholesales digital printing. He was going to get an HP latex printer but after learning about the fussiness of the substrates/media, as well as a few other not-so-wonderful features, he decided to stay with Ecosol.
Another freind has one & so far thinks it's great. Previously he has two JV3s.
Posted by Kelly Thorson (Member # 2958) on :
I just got a message from a big wholesaler that they are going to be down while they switch over all their solvent inks to latex "green" inks. It makes me wonder if there is some "legislation" in the near future as far as the solvent inks are concerned.
Posted by Kevin Gaffney (Member # 4240) on :
I hope not Kelly. I've invested a lot of time over the past few years on different inks, media and calibrations. Have my printer running sweet as a nut noe and certainly don't want the hassle of being told I have to change the setup to some half tested latex thingie
Posted by Chris Lovelady (Member # 2540) on :
Ian, ok I'll bite, what are the not-so-wonderful features...details, and what is this about the material fussiness. general statements are not helpfull. and what makes it half tested...inquiring mind want to know. that what i heard when the UV printer started to come out.
any body out there using the Hp latex printer please chime in. this is a worthy topic to discuss
Lovelady
Posted by Henry Edmonds (Member # 2145) on :
What kind of media are you using.. for typical outdoor type applications calendered or cast?
Posted by Tony McDonald (Member # 1158) on :
I've been using Arlon cast and calendar films with my Roland. Unless it's short term, most exterior signs and vehicles get the cast film, but I do give them the choice between the 3-5 year cal. or the 5-7 year cast. Some will pick the 3-5 year saying they probably won't keep the vehicle longer than that.
A lot of the small decals are just calendar film. Some get laminated, and some not, depending on where they are going to be used, and customers budget.
