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Printer Perception!
Hello all, would like to learn a bit more about printing on vinyl! Most of the info in here is realy benificial for those whom are familiar. Does it need to be a particular in, I mean is it possible to print on to vinyl with a home printer. WHY are printers sooooo expensive? Any advice on what is the best type to start with? And is having a printer realy that benificial to a sign company? Any advice greatly appriciated.
Lawrence
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2 Replies
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Main reason I wanted a printer/plotter setup was to speed up production. When I have a complex graphic to do, its a whole lot easier to print & cut it than to do it in cut vinyl alot of the time. With my business experiencing the feast and famine with regards to custom, when there is an influx of work, I want to knock it out quickly, but still maintain the quality.
I think you can print onto vinyl using printers like the epson 1290, but you need special inks as far as I know, or special vinyl. I think there are some laser compatible vinyls as well. Companies like Magic Touch and Xpress have lots of products like that.
I was in a similar position to you Lawrence, should I, shouldn’t I… whats the real benefits of having a printer for making signs. Its not as expensive to get into and try it out as you might think, printers like the PC60 are relatively cheap to buy 2nd hand, and imho are an ideal starting point. Expensive to do massive stuff, but for the small quick fixes, they’re ideal.
Cheers, Dewi
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You can use a home printer to print onto vinyl and you can even register it ona plotter that reads crop marks and cuts , however a4 is really small so you would really want an A3. You get inkjet vinyl quite easily.
The print has little durability or resistance to moisture however , so its lifespan and usage is limited.
Why get a printer? Well the answer is EASY – A picture is worth a 1000 words.
Customers expect a more sophisticated product these days and a print and cut setup in a signshop is very flexible , not only does it print vinyl but MANY other substrates and the signmaker can offer a ton more products to the client
Like yesterday the local car agents came in for some banners , took 500 liscence discs , 25 custom numberplates , a few printed and bent perspex displays for the tops of the car , some business cards etc – so the order kinda added up to something quite decent. I could have done very little of this without a printer.
Large format digital printers are expensive cos they are precision machines , having to be within microns over 50″+ printing width and many meters of length , not that easy to maintain. The way the heads work and the cost of the head , pumps etc are not inconsiderable and a ton of R&D has to be amortised.
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