posted
Man, can you tell I was ****ed when I wrote that?! It's like they never listen, just pull samples off the shelf.
Anyway, I really need some help on this. Like I stated I'd be glad to pay for time, materials & shipping. And if we get some fresh Alaska salmon next weekend (like we hope to) I could throw one in dry ice and ship that as a thank you as well.
Types of sample prints & graphics (files you already have):
Full width prints (can be short 12"-18", but full width) All UN-Laminated
Some variety of small graphics contour cut Photo print Vector file with blends Photoshop created graphic print Something with a tough color range (skin tones?) Anything else you think I should see
Samples on:
banner (couple different types) vinyl (white & clear) paper perf maybe?
Anyone care to help a guy out?
email: denalidesign@hotmail.com cell: 907-301-5086 Alaska Time
posted
...too bad you don't want a Mimaki... I could send you samples & turn you own to a supplier who would also go the extra mile both before you purchase a machine & after... but... they don't take American Expr..... uhhh.. I mean, they don't sell Roland.
posted
Doug (P) ... Get thee to a show, bring sample files of what you want to print. But I'll agree, you do sound stressed over this...
Unless you intend to use the machine for fine art reproduction, you really don't need samples (Inkjet anyway) other than what manufacturers supply. They do print exceptionally well. The print quality IS simply outstanding whether printing on economy vinyl, HP or banner. The fastest (lowest quality) print setting on the versacamm prints better than the Highest quality print setting of my previous wide format machine (HP 3500). Accuracy in flesh tone printing probably has more to do with the accuracy of the image file rather than the printer. Customers are blown away with print quality. There must be several dozen inkjet users on this board, believe me if there were print quality issues at all you would hear about it.
Contour cuts are accurate as well...
-------------------- Mike O'Neill
It has yet to be proven that intelligence has any survival value. - Arthur C. Clarke
posted
Doug - my buddy owns the Roland Soljet Pro II 540EX.
It prints great on banners, vinyl, and photo paper, it cuts well (now that the technician came in and upgraded some settings and stuff).
There's really nothing *not* to like....buy it and you'll be amazed.
In a perfect world....I'd own an inkjet and a thermal printer(such as the Gerber Edge or Summa.) That would be the ultimate 1-2 punch.
You won't regret the Soljet....if you don't trust the output the dealers are sending you as "real-world" results.....do as Mike suggests.
Take some of your own files to a show and make them (actually, they'll be happy to oblige you) print samples on the spot for you.
I do see you're in Anchorage, Alaska. It's cold there a lot isn't it?
With the inkjets you have to make sure the prints are good and dry prior to applying and prior to laminating (which I would recommend - whether a vinyl laminate or liquid.)
Have you fully checked into the latest Summa wide format thermal equipment? They have some nice print and cut and apply without lamination or waiting for dry-out.....check the merchants area in this site.
-------------------- Todd Gill Outside The Lines Potterville, MI Posts: 7792 | From: Potterville, MI | Registered: Dec 2001
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posted
Thanks for the feedback guys! One thing that irked me was all the test prints were small and laminated.
What slovents will wipe the prints off -- and how 'bout gasoline?
BTW, I am looking hard at the new summa as well. I'm kinda thinking buy the summa first, since inkjet tech is changing so fast, then buy an ink jet in a year or so -- can't decide yet.
The summa samples (good ones) had "overlap lines" that kind of turned me off a bit but I guess thats the nature of thermal.
posted
Doug, since buying the inkjet I get a lot less use out of my Matan. If I had bought the Versacamm first, it's unlikely I would have bought the thermal at all. Yes, there are some jobs it does better, (especially spot color) but on the whole it can't hold a candle to inkjet in terms of print quality, or in maintenance, print cost, choice of medias or ease of use ... I got an email from Neil Butler who upgraded his edge at the same time as he bought his versacamm, guess what, his edge isn't nearly as busy as it used to be. Ask Karyn, who used to have an edge before versacamm if she'd go back to thermal... A friend of mine, whose core business is doing graphics on gasoline pumps bought a versacamm 3 months ago ... he's delighted with it.
Get the inkjet, get a good laminator, forget the thermal... you're talking about presently having no wide format, to needing 2 different processes. Doesn't make a lot of sense.
And I can speak from experience, I've got both.
-------------------- Mike O'Neill
It has yet to be proven that intelligence has any survival value. - Arthur C. Clarke
posted
Printed red outline on light gold metallic tonight with white primer underneath, black shadow too. Nice and opaque dry right outa the machine, no laminating .
No resolution needed.
yeah having a plethera of choice of materials is a drag. Don't buy thermal!
-------------------- Bob Rochon Creative Signworks Millbury, MA 508-865-7330
"Life is Like an Echo, what you put out, comes back to you." Posts: 5149 | From: Millbury, Mass. U.S. | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
It's not customers you need to worry about. It's the NSA.
-------------------- Jon Aston MARKETING PARTNERS "Strategy, Marketing and Business Development" Tel 705-719-9209 Posts: 1724 | From: Barrie, ON, CANADA | Registered: Sep 2000
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I was just looking at the thread that I meant to post these comments in...and wondering why they weren't there.
-------------------- Jon Aston MARKETING PARTNERS "Strategy, Marketing and Business Development" Tel 705-719-9209 Posts: 1724 | From: Barrie, ON, CANADA | Registered: Sep 2000
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posted
Doug, I don't want to make your decision more difficult, but there is also the ink issue to contend with. I've got a Seiko and a buddies got a Roland. Seiko is much faster and more aggressive ink, but he can leave his turned off for weeks without daily maintenance. But I'm a production shop and he's printing less often and doesn't want the head drying hassle. He finds laminating is not a big cost for that ease. If your a variety type shop the inkjet would suit the variety best. If your just a vehicle shop, the Thermal can let you scream through work with spot color pop difficult with the inkjets. Overall, I think the quality is just about equal nowadays on all processes, it's now just down to the daily operation details that can make your life easier or more difficult.
edited to add: As a screen printer I'm of the opinion that white printing is only reliably working so far with screen printing & thermal printing. White on dark material or white plates on clear material is probably less than 1% of our business. As screen printers and I couldn't justify the cost for that amount of business. If it were, the Summa would win hands down.
[ June 10, 2006, 11:11 AM: Message edited by: Ron Helliar ]
-------------------- Ron Helliar Marysville Sign 11807 51st Ave. NE Marysville, WA 98271 (360) 659-4856 Posts: 263 | From: Marysville, WA USA | Registered: Feb 1999
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