What is cheaper in your workshop per m2, cut vinyl or digital print?

[David Hammond]

Depends I suppose.

If it’s a bit of block black text, going onto board, cut vinyl.

If it’s a layered logo, I’d probably print it, unless there’s a reason not too.

We do a fleet of vans, with blue & grey text with a white border, we just print and cut it, as it’s usually a quick turn around and we just rock up and throw it on. :thumbsup:

[Pane Talev]

Based on this artwork David?

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[Peter Johnson]

If it’s just a bog standard printable monomeric vinyl, and also a bog standard monochrome image, then I charge pretty much the same price (comparative sizes) as cut vinyl.

But with printed stuff, the price starts going up the more you need to do to produce the finished item; design, laminating + remembering the type of vinyl can also increase the price as most digital media is more expensive than cut vinyl.

[David Hammond]

I’d just plot that.

Doddle to cut and weed out. :thumbsup:

Depends also if you have it in stock, or need to order vinyl in.

[Martin Cole]

Agree with David..

If vinyl is in stock, no brainer

If it was a one off and had to order vinyl in, (knowing you’d have to buy 5mtrs) I’d print it.

Interesting question though, just a lot of variations to consider

[Pane Talev]

Thank you all for your input so far.

I agree. It is complicated question. Lots of factors play role.
It is not a question of: Is this design a cut job?
I agree. That is an easy cut job.

Peter, you answer my question. Thanks.
"bog standard printable monomeric vinyl, and also a bog standard monochrome image"
If I charge 1m2 Digital print @ £1000
What shall I charge for a 1m2 cut vinyl @ ?

I’m I right in establishing that 1m2 in cut vinyl should cost less than 1m2 in laminated printed vinyl. (simple design as shown – like for like media)

[David Hammond]

Learning from last year, we’d simply put that in as our minimum order amount, we have a sliding scale depending what they want. Unfortunately we can’t charge £50 for a photocopy :shake:

Suppose you had 1m of that colour in stock, it’s still time talking to the customer, cutting weeding, taping, phoning them to collect it, the billing, processing the payment, fitting & travel if required.

[Hugh Potter]

Same as Martin and David..

Unless it’s an odd colour or impractical to buy in on cost grounds, I would use cut vinyl from the shelf.

Your example would be fine if it was a single colour onto a white board / the background colour was to show through. but if two colours and more than 610 wide I’d probably be lazy and print it!

[John Hughes]

Printed vinyl should always be more expensive that pre cut. Why? because your printer & laminator cost in the region of 30k, for decent kit, whereas a plotter costs 8k ish. You’ve got to factor that in to the final cost.

John

[Pane Talev]

What a simple way to explain it well John. Thank you!

[Martin Pearson]

Firstly I don’t own a large format printer & also do very very little digital print which I obviously buy in from trade printer so not in the best position to answer this type of question but my answer would have been along the same lines as Johns.

Based on the fact that not only is there a big difference in the purchase price of the equipment needed but also the maintenance costs as well, can’t speak about material costs although I would have thought print media + ink costs would be more than cad cut vinyl 😆 😆

[Jamie Hunt]

First of all Pane is that a £1000 pounds or £10-00 job cost lols ,
i would look at charging per linear mtr £25-00 610mm wide for cut vinyl and £35-00 per 760mm wide print , which possibly works out at the same price for a single colour , but if i was laying 3 or 4 colours on the design i would be producing the digital printed job rather than vinyl, simply because it takes less time, ie theres no weeding out and also no app tape hence cutting the cost and your stock , Ask yourself How many rolls of vinyl do you need in stock to produce a simple vinyl job possibly 2 rolls with a minimum of 5 mtrs with some companies plus delivery,
the price of that is possibly £3 per mtr plus delivery (£30 x 2 = £60-00) which you now have on your vinyl rack wondering when your next job is going to come in for that colour , where as a printed job would cost you less yes you would order 50 mtrs of white roll in and your inks are minimal cost per linear mtr , but you could tile 5, 6 , 20 ,100 etc different colours at one time to print hence minimising waste,
So going back to your question for single colour i would cut in vinyl and only order what I needed and yes I would charge the same price as printed but would do in vinyl, as i would with a vinyl drop shadow as well but any more than 3 to 4 colours i would Print.
Edit:
Just to add about Johns question that it depends also on the cost of your printer as well which yes you do need to factor any printers & laminate machines into the job but also you do need to look at your overheads cost as well rent, fuel lighting, rates,which yes should be added on your labour rate cost per hour.
Have a look at this pricing per hour structure from Estimate software http://www.estimatesoftware.com/calculators

[David Hammond]

John & Jamie make good points.

Yes the printer is more expensive than the plotter, and does have higher running costs, but the printer can save much more time over a plotter as Jamie explains.

Despite using clarity, we have a price per linear meter for vinyl, and charge a premium if it’s really small or intricate to reflect the time involved weeding.

Occasionally I’ll time how long it takes to do a simple task, like making a banner up, as it feels like it takes 5mins, but its often more.

[Martyn Heath]

My print m2 price and vinyl m2 work out about the same but the vinyl is more profitable. (not sure why its that way but the market dictates)

[Pane Talev]

This gives me an answer on all the questions I had.
Thank you all for your input.