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Advise Please … on work to target for a HP3500CP
Hi everyone,,
I’m after a little advice on what sort of work I should attempt to get for my old HP 3500CP printer.
It’s in pretty good shape still and I have a set of dye and a set of UV inks for it.
I know this is going to sound mercenary, but as I have virtually no experience in the sign or printing field (I’m an electronics tech) I would like to target some work which is likely to be as easy as possible, but with reasonable potential to earn good money. Not that I’m lazy, I just understand that after 20 plus years in business, you need as much going for you as possible!
Eg. In my line of work there are plenty of jobs I can do, and even enjoy doing, but which make me so little money it’s probably foolish to keep doing them.
On the other hand, there are some jobs (the bread and butter ones), which if I could get enough of them, would make life a whole lot easier, and keep the bank manager further at bay. I would bet it’s the same for you guys in this trade.
I’m located in a city of only about 16000 people, and I understand that apart from two other plotter printers located in draftsmans’ offices, there are no other wide format printers around, without people travelling 80 kms to Adelaide.
I happened to score cheaply, 4 rolls of HP Translucent backlit material, so some backlit signs are certainly a possibility and I have a 1500 mm wide Neolt Trimmer, which makes cutting to size far easier.
From scouring this forum I have learnt heaps about laminating, but will obviously need to learn so much more. Particularly what form for what jobs, liquid or film, subbed out, or hand applied … or start saving for an Ezy Taper … plus where to obtain the supplies.
Sorry for the “novel”, but I figure it’s easier to get more specific help if I provide all the details (I know ladies, it’s a guy thing … logic and all that 🙄 ). There is more background in the “Say Hello” forum from a couple of days ago …
http://www.uksignboards.com/viewtopic.php?t=30143
Any help or advice would be gratefully accepted. :thanks:
Regards, Roger.
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8 Replies
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Hi again mate,
Poster work is ideal for the HP. Backlit work too.
What RIP are you using?
Also, ring Warrick or Maree from Ezytaper here in Qld as they are doing Smart Rent on the units here. $7 a week for the big one I think (could be wrong on that I tho) Thats only one less Bic Mac Meal Deal a week!! :lol1:
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I’d be very wary of using dye inks on anything sign related as they fade far too quickly. I used to use my old 2500CP running UV inks for posters, canvas, coated vinyl for external signs and vehicles (only flat work – not very conformable), indoor banners, stickers, etc. Not a patch on my JV3 though in terms of media flexibility 😉
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Hi Shane, thanks.
… gulp … I’m only using the internal RIP.
Not that much control, but at least I’ve finally worked out how to use the “in computer” command, which speeds up the RIP time from 2 or 3 hours down to a few minutes.
… and at least it doesn’t just then print 2 or 3 feet of my graphics masterpiece 😉 … feed the remaining 8 feet of media out all blank … and CUT IT OFF !!! . . @@$#**$# :yikes:
It’s ok .. it’s ok … I’m back in control.
What RIP did you use with your 3500, and what advantages did it provide that you couldn’t have lived without.
I did download a trial version of Posterjet, and tried it out, but they were early days, and I didn’t really see any thing other than the quick action after pressing print, and the much improved preview and layout tools. I never got to try the colour management, which I assume is it’s biggest advantage.
Thanks for the suggestion on the Ezy Taper, sounds great. So far the only laminator I’ve found in town, is a medium size one, used by a local photo outlet for the occasional poster print.
The rest of the (traditional) sign guys here, have to send their stuff to the city, so may be some work there alone. Is that a silly idea, or fraught with danger?
I had already looked at their video and figured I’m gunna need one of them.
Regards, Roger.
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Hi Bill,
Nice to hear from you.
You said …
quote :I’d be very wary of using dye inks on anything sign related as they fade far too quickly. I used to use my old 2500CP running UV inks for posters, canvas, coated vinyl for external signs and vehicles (only flat work – not very conformable), indoor banners, stickers, etc. Not a patch on my JV3 though in terms of media flexibility 😉Ok, thanks. I had got that impression from other info I’d found on the net, but I could never get anything concrete with time frames or anything like that.
You, as well as many others, have set me straight with all the info in previous threads. It was actually on a google search that I came across one of your posts on the subject, which led me to this site. Thanks again .. I owe you big time.
From your list of projects, what sort were the easiest (most forgiving) and the most profitable to do, time wise?
Did you ever use the dye inks much, and if so, for what sort of printing?
A JV3 sounds nice .. half your luck … but I’m going to have to tread fairly carefully for a while till I start getting a bit of income from this endeavor. 😀
I see you used to live up Brisbane way. Would the term "Adams Generator" mean anything to you?
Regards, Roger
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I’m in Brissie, Adams Generator does ring some bells to me, not sure why. Are they at Acacia Ridge by chance?
I used smart RIP. Only runs on ’98 I think. If you are running 98, and I can find the dongle, you are welcome to it. Only set up to run on the HP and a few other similar printers.
Only a basic one, but it was quicker than just using the HP without one.
Tweaking stuff is nice, Posterjet is much better tho. RIPs let you manipulate or print parts of files, or tiles with overlaps etc.
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Hi Roger, I find the most profitable jobs, in terms of hourly return, are the ones that come with supplied artwork and after I push a few buttons my printer spits out a full roll of poster paper while I’m off having a drink or two down at the pub :drink4: , or while I’m doing another job 😀
I never used dye inks after having to redo one of my first window display jobs that had faded to nothing in only a few months.
Yes, the JV3 is a great piece of equipment, but nowhere near as easy to use and maintain as the old HP.
Ah, the Adams Generator – takes me back about 15 years! I had one hell of a ride with old Bob and his dodgy invention 😀 Were you involved in all that fuss or did you just read about it in the funny papers?
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Hi Shane,
You wrote …
quote :I’m in Brissie, Adams Generator does ring some bells to me, not sure why. Are they at Acacia Ridge by chance?Nah! An Adams Generator was some weird science device that I played with way back … that turned out to be a load of rot. 🙄 I’m a bit embarrassed to admit I fell for the hype for a while … although I recognise (now that I’m out) that it was an ‘escape’ from a really lousy marriage.
quote :I used smart RIP. Only runs on ’98 I think. If you are running 98, and I can find the dongle, you are welcome to it. Only set up to run on the HP and a few other similar printers.I would certainly be interested in that thanks Shane, my older laptop still runs ’98, and it would be really worthwhile for the educational side of things. If you could find it, let me know how much you want for it.
Thanks again for your help.
Regards, Roger
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Hi Bill,
Sorry for the slow reply. Got half way through it and realised I was late for going out …
You wrote
quote :Hi Robert, I find the most profitable jobs, in terms of hourly return, are the ones that come with supplied artwork and after I push a few buttons my printer spits out a full roll of poster paper while I’m off having a drink or two down at the pub , or while I’m doing another jobOk, Makes sense. Did you get many jobs like that? Were most of your poster type prints, point of sale prints or ?
Like I said earlier, if I’m going to do any work with this thing, I’m going to have to drum it up, and I don’t see any point in making a noise about being able to do something, then find out it’s really painful to do, or time consuming, or expensive consumables wise.
Seems to me to learn from other people’s mistakes (or experience) is easier (and less expensive) than learning from my own … and God knows … I’ve made far too many of them already.
My idea is to identify a few target markets, learn as much about the processes and procedures, practice like mad, and then when I’m ready, hit the local market place. There’s no doubt I’ll be asked to do plenty of other stuff once people know some of the work that can be done with a big printer.
quote :I never used dye inks after having to redo one of my first window display jobs that had faded to nothing in only a few months.Hear you, loud and clear. That’s what makes this site so valuable.
quote :Ah, the Adams Generator – takes me back about 15 years! I had one hell of a ride with old Bob and his dodgy invention Were you involved in all that fuss or did you just read about it in the funny papers?Yep, sadly, I was involved with it, and a lot more .. but I’m recovered now. You may not remember, but I spoke to you once, at that time, and you were about to go over to see him, or had just gone over … and we discussed his formula for output power etc and even then it was looking pretty dodgy … and if I remember correctly the only thing that was keeping you a bit interested, was some odd RF type noise or ??? that was showing up on the CRO
Well thanks again for your input.
Regards, Roger
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