Written By Sabah Karimi

Printing high quality large documents such as marketing materials, posters, bulletins and signs can be costly, especially if you're depending on office supply stores and local printing shops to manage each project. Investing in a wide format color printer can help reduce overall printing costs, and if you print on premium printer paper you can get the professional results you expect.

If you're considering purchasing a wide format color printer for your office, review these key advantages and drawbacks during your decision-making process.

Advantages of a wide format color printer
A wide format color printer offers several benefits for businesses of all sizes, and can produce high quality color images at high speeds. If your business creates large color printouts on a regular basis, managing the printing jobs in-house may help offset printing costs without compromising on quality. Key benefits of the wide format color machines include:

• Better image quality than standard printers to produce high resolution images
• Options to print on a wide range of media
• Ability to control speeds and image quality for each piece
• Unattended printing options to manage large-scale projects efficiently
• Can be used to create large outdoor applications such as vehicle graphics, point-of-purchase displays and banners
• No lamination needed when using high gloss paper

Drawbacks of wide format color printers
While using a wide format color printer offers several advantages, there are some drawbacks of these machines:

• Heavy ink usage: You will need to replace ink cartridges on a regular basis as the ink gets used up quickly to create the high quality color images.
• Repair and replacement costs: Some machines can handle many types of printing projects for extended periods of time, but the longevity of the printer will vary depending on the manufacturer and model.
• Lamination services may be needed: In some cases you will need to add a coat of lamination to the pieces to preserve the color. Some printers can make use of high gloss vinyl paper that holds its color for years.

Purchasing a wide format color printer offers several advantages for printing projects of all shapes and sizes, but there are some drawbacks to consider when making your investment. Choosing a quality company and brand can ensure that your printer will last for years before needing replacement or repair. Additionally, most printers are backed by a manufacturer's warranty, giving you extra peace of mind.

You will need to count on the dealer you buy your printer from for service, parts, and warranty coverage if needed, so be sure to compare several dealers before you buy. BuyerZone can connect you to multiple wide-format printer dealers for free..