What's New

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.

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.

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.

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.