Hello all, I've been sitting on an Encad 50" wide printer for months dreading the ink changeover to GO+ outdoor, but after a long day of it have accomplished just that, only to find the carriage belt was shredded and had to be replaced. No problem. Global Print Supply helped out there with just the right OEM belt and I now have good source for inks. I'm a patient new bee to wide format printing and now I need input on medias, the best way to go...Print on paper and have over laminated, print on banner scrim, print on adhesive vinyl? I know that these are all options, but I don't want to spin my wheels or spend a lot on media I won't use or is cost prohibitive. I'd appreciate any input and please keep comments like "You bought that machine?" to yourself. (Its what my small shop can afford, they still make the inks and all supplies.)
Just so y'all know who you're speaking with, I'm Randy in the bay area and have been active journeyman sign painter/maker for about 30 years
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I had an Encad NoveJet Pro 36 but never used the GO inks. I know the the other inks won't print on vinyl. The other inks did print well on Scrim banner material and photo paper.
-------------------- Laura Butler Vision Graphics & Sign 4479 Welch Rd Attica, Mi 48412 Posts: 2855 | From: Attica, Mi, USA | Registered: Nov 2000
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Hiya Randall, I had an old pro 36" which was a reliable machine. It sat for weeks and even months at a time and would almost always fire right up and print without issues. Too bad I couldn't say the same for the Novajet 700. When compared to today's printers, it is a dinasour. I wouldn't use it for anything more than temporary outdoor banners that the client needs right away - but even that's an oxymoron because the machine prints so slow. When you add in the high cost of coated media and it's low print resolution, you'll probably want a better printer really quick.
Havin' fun,
Checkers
-------------------- a.k.a. Brian Born www.CheckersCustom.com Harrisburg, Pa Work Smart, Play Hard Posts: 3775 | From: Harrisburg, Pa. U.S.A. | Registered: Nov 1998
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use it up. Practie with it. LEarn about color profiels, and about matching.
Use it to make yard signs pop displays and other short term stuff. ITs a good trainer. Learn how to keep it clean etc.
Get all the basic learning curve stuff out of the way. Then if you decide to get a late model machine you will have all the basic hard stuff out of the way.
-------------------- Leaper of Tall buildings.. If you find my posts divisive or otherwise snarky please ignore them. If you do not know how then PM me about it and I will demonstrate. Posts: 5274 | From: Im a nowhere man | Registered: Jul 2001
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Greetings fellow Letterheads, I want to thank you all for your advice regarding the Novajet. Yeah, I know its a trainer, but I need to get on board and offer this service to my customers. Heck they're all going to Kinko's for banners! That hurts when you've been doing this business as long as I have. I ordered scrim banner material and some matte adhesive vinyl, both for aqueous output. That should get my feet wet. Its just another notch as far as I'm concerned along with hand-painting, engraving and vinyl output. Interesting sidenote: The FAAR report stated the GO+ inks are rated real high for aqueous type over Epson which sart fading in a couple weeks time. I'm sure the solvents rock in comparison.
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