Evaluating Wide-format Printers

THE DEMAND for high-quality color graphics in larger sizes has risen dramatically as the availability of larger ink-jet printers has increased. How do you decide what kind of ink-jet printer you should purchase?

As with any business decision, you weigh your demand for the product against the cost of the equipment, materials and labor involved. If your customers are only interested in the capability of printing 13x19˝, then purchasing a 60˝ wide-format printer may not be a good choice. However, you should try to purchase above your current expectations so you can handle future growth or expand the services you currently offer.

We conduct evaluations of large-format printers at Bowling Green State University for manufacturers in cooperation with the nonprofit group FLAAR, founded by Dr. Nicholas Hellmuth. FLAAR is a consumer reporting group providing evaluations of large-format printers and related technologies. Dr. Hellmuth provides consulting services related to large-format and high-resolution digital capture. These reviews are provided at the FLAAR Web site (www.flaar.org) either free or for a fee.

Classifying Printers

Ink-jet printers are generally classified by the size of the paper they can handle and the type of ink they use. Large-format printers are generally defined as printers that can handle roll paper or cut paper sizes like 13x19˝. The ink classification falls into three categories: aqueous (water-based) inks, solvent-based inks and UV-cured inks.

The aqueous ink printers are the same type you may have at home or the office. The solvent-based printers are used primarily by the sign industry because of their outdoor durability. The UV-cured ink printers are also used by the sign industry to produce durable outdoor graphics. Let’s take a quick look at these three types of ink.

Aqueous Printers

Aqueous ink-jet printers currently predominate in the large-format market. These pigment or dye-based inks have little or no odor, a common concern for operating these in an office or retail environment. They can be configured like an office printer and many have network capabilities. For higher production capabilities RIP software can be used to improve productivity.

The print quality can range from photographic (no dots in the image) to very good (looks good from three feet away). Printers range in price from just over $1,000 for the smaller versions to over $30,000 for the top end printers. On average, a 60˝ printer will range from $8,000 to $20,000.

We currently use aqueous printers in the FLAAR/Large-format Digital Imaging Lab. We print in-house for students, faculty and departments on campus to assist in our long-term printer evaluations and cover some overhead costs. Much of our printing volume comes from the digital art students who must have an output for their designs on a variety of media. The printing can be anything from fine art reproduction to scientific presentation posters. With vinyl media and lamination, we can produce outdoor signage as well.

The major tradeoff between different models is between speed and quality. If you are more concerned with speed you may have to sacrifice some image quality. Likewise, photographic quality comes at the expense of speed. These printers can print anything from architectural drawings to photographic-quality images.

Ink-jet prints are somewhat easy to scratch and are generally not water resistant. Lamination is the best solution to increase durability and print life with these prints. Once laminated, the prints are very durable and can last for a long time. Some manufacturers like Epson are developing ways to apply a protective coating at the time of printing.

Solvent Printers

Solvent-based printers are used for durable indoor and outdoor graphics. Prints are water resistant and more durable to abrasion. The substrate doesn’t necessarily need a special coating like water-based inks. Print quality has improved recently and is approaching near photo quality. Solvent-based printers can do a great job for point-of-sale prints, trade show graphics and outdoor signage.

Solvent printers are more expensive and do require proper ventilation to remove the VOC solvents released by the inks. Some printers are designed to be able to print directly onto stiff, flat surfaces. These “flatbed” printers are used extensively for signage applications. Prices for these printers can range from $10,000 to over $100,000 for more industrial-strength versions.

UV-cured Printers

UV-cured ink-jet printers are designed to produce even more durable prints using a polymer as an ink. After application to the surface the “ink” is cured to a durable solid state. UV printers can print on almost any surface and provide a very durable image.

Prints using UV inks are of lower resolution and can have a distinct dot pattern. Manufacturers are continuing to improve this, but it does remain a concern for certain applications. These printers are great for durable long-term outdoor signage that might have previously been screen printed. The cost of these printers is still high, ranging from about $30,000 to over $250,000. The price of this technology will decrease quickly as this market continues to develop.

How to Choose

As with any large equipment expenditure, careful research on your current needs and where you want to grow is important. Aqueous-based ink-jet printers lead the market for a good reason. These printers have the flexibility to print on a variety of different media and have great image quality. Ink-jet printers are currently being used by many offset printers to print proofs for their presses. Many in-plant printing facilities are also looking for ways to be able to handle short-run or one-off type printing jobs that just aren’t feasible using offset or other techniques. Lamination is a necessity for durable graphics.

As print quality improves with solvent printers and lower-VOC inks are formulated, solvent printers will become more attractive for many in-plants. Hewlett-Packard and Seiko are now working together to market a solvent printer under the HP name. Manufacturers such as Colorspan and Mimaki have improved the print quality from their ink-jet printers. Likewise, the cost of the UV printers will continue to come down, and their print quality will improve in the future.

You should determine what applications you plan on using on the printer over the next five or more years. Also, take a look at the print quality, durability and production capability you will need for your applications. If you are looking for a printer to be used in an office environment, check to see if you will need any additional ventilation for the printer.

Visiting trade shows and other end users is an excellent way to compare printers. You can check with your local printer dealer to find users you can visit. The best information you can gain is from people who are using the printers. With careful research you will find the appropriate large-format printer to suit your in-plant’s needs. IPG

FIND OUT MORE

Agfa www.agfa.com

Canon www.usa.canon.com

Eastman Kodak www.encad.com

Epson www.epson.com

Hewlett-Packard www.hp.com

Colorspan by MacDermid www.colorspan.com

Mimaki USA www.mimakiusa.com

Océ North America www.oceusa.com

Xerox www.xerox.com/printing