 Specialty
jobs such as large format printing are usually sent to copy shops.
However, if you often print banners, blueprints or other documents
over two feet wide, investing in a wide-format printer or plotter
can be a good choice. Such machines are capable of printing in
color, or black and white. It can handle a wide range of materials,
in widths of 24" to 60" or more. This article presents some of the
things that must be considered when deciding on the best kind of
large format printer that will work for you and the task at hand.
QUALITY
The first thing any user must consider is the quality of the
output. This goes hand-in-hand with the performance of the printer.
One good advice is to find a name that you can trust. Don't buy used
printers from companies that no longer exist. You will later realize
that you can't get service, parts, or anyone who knows how to get
them running again. Also, no new drivers or Raster Image Processors
(RIP) are made for them.
Small footprint large format printers are ideal for
graphics shops that need tabloid sized printing
The brand that you select can have a big impact on your
overall satisfaction with your wide-format printer. Before making a
decision there are several important considerations to be made.
Service and support are among the most important. Whether you need a
service technician to come out and repair a mechanical problem, or
just have a question you need answered, the support offered by your
chosen brand becomes valuable.
HP DesignJet printers are specifically designed to be
plug-and-play devices in order to make them a logical choice for
first-time users as well as professional graphics design or repro
shops. You won't find better technical support for your HP Designjet
Printer than that offered by the HP Customer Care services. Just as
printers themselves are designed to meet your printing needs, so are
these support services designed to identify, anticipate and meet
your support needs
SPEED
All printers slow down to achieve higher quality prints. The
corollary is that high-speed throughput occurs only when you lower
the quality substantially. In other words, if you buy a printer for
its photo-realistic capability, you do not get this quality at the
faster production speeds. Most printers have banding at high speeds
(one pass and two pass printing does not allow the printhead to
interweave and cover the printhead path lines). To do photo-quality
printing you need at least 4 passes while 6 and 8 passes are
preferable.
Faster production speeds are most suitable for
draft printing or for plan/chart/diagram/engineering drawing
printing
MAINTENANCE
To ensure the efficient operation of your printer, most
companies offer a wide range services from onsite support to
participation in online user forums. With these services you can
maintain the high productivity of your printing operation. Three
basic services that you must look for are:
-
Warranty Services
These services are designed to cover your basic service and
support needs, ensuring your printers' reliability and
productivity.
-
Repair Services
These services offer a variety of enhanced support options
that help to ensure the high performance of your printers and the
high quality of their output.
-
Installation and Maintenance Services
These services offer a variety of ways to help you with the
initial setup and ongoing maintenance of your printer.
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