No Secret to Making the Right Choice
If
you’re like most sign shops debating their entry into the world of digital
color printing, the confusion over which system to purchase can be enough to
paralyze the decision making process. With the wide selection of thermal and
inkjet printers, how can one be expected to make the right choice for their
business? Well, there really is no secret to making the choice that’s right
for you!
Simply
evaluating who your customers are, what type of signage you need to produce
(indoor or outdoor), and whether outdoor durability matters, reveals the
solution to making the correct purchase.
What do your
customers need? What type of work already constitutes the bulk of your jobs?
Banners, car signs, 4 x 8 boards, or interior displays and posters? Do you
want to produce full-color graphics for indoor or outdoor applications?
If you need to
generate graphics that can withstand the outdoors, you’ll have to address
the difference in durability between an inkjet and a thermal unit’s output.
It’s no secret that an inkjet’s graphic usually requires lamination,
sealing, or the use of a polymeric unit to make it outdoor durable.
So, why all the
talk about color inkjet printers? Well, they certainly have their place. If
you think you’ll be consistently generating a high volume of large-format
graphics for interior use, inkjets are the way to go. In addition, the
consistent color output is a plus. But remember, an inkjet’s finished
artwork will usually require the services of a lamination bureau, the
purchase of a sealing machine, or a polymeric unit for protection if you
intend to use it outdoors.
To make the
right choice analyze these questions: Do my customers need indoor
identification or outdoor signage? Will the design need lamination or a
polymeric finishing system to achieve outdoor durability and will my
customers pay for this additional process? If in the elements, how long will
the completed piece hold up? What size will most of my indoor applications
be? How many will I need to produce and how quickly can they be done? Are
the size and quality of the finished graphics adequate for the bulk of my
jobs?
Just a few
questions and a few answers reveal the choice that’s right for your entry
into the digital revolution. There really isn’t any secret! |
