Large format printers – What to look for

If you need to print the occasional banner, poster, or blueprint, your local print shop can do the job. But when it’s time to print similar wide documents more frequently, you may want to consider purchasing large format printers.

Large format printers are application-specific, so you’ll find different machines based on the type of business you run and the type of printing you want to do. For instance, architects, engineers, and construction personnel use these devices for computer-aided design (CAD) printouts like blueprints, floor plans or spec documents. These monochrome LED printers won’t give you the best resolution, but they’re faster and more appropriate for large volume jobs.

On the other hand, businesses like ad agencies, educational institutions, and retail stores that need graphical printouts for signage and posters can benefit from large format printers that provide the best resolution for color graphics.

Large format printer features
Once you know the type of printing you want your large format printer to work with, you can then focus on specific features such as:

• Size - How large are the documents you’ll work with? Large format printers can commonly handle 24” to 60” sheets of materials, but there are special printers that can work with 72” documents or larger.
• Quality – The best way to gauge the output quality of large format printers is to see what the printed documents look like. Have the dealer print a sample document on the exact material you’ll use to see how it will look for your specific projects.
• Scanning/Copying – These features allow you to get electronic images of your printouts and create backups of master documents. Scanning/copying is not a cheap feature - if scanning/copying is important to you, find out if it’s built-in or if you must pay separately.
• Networking - Make sure large format printers connect properly to your network. This requires the right drivers to allow the printer to run on your PC, and printer language support to handle certain file types (like Postscript or PDF).
• Color matching – If you need to match specific colors, a Raster Image Processor (RIP) handles precise color work for prepress projects, but will add thousands of dollars to your costs.
• Additional features – You’ll find other large format printer features for:
• Convenience - Built-in paper cutters, sorters
• Accounting - Track which prints need to be billed to certain clients
• Multiple size support – Use different print sizes without changing paper or printers.

Deciding on the right large format printers
With so many decisions to make, how do you know which large format printer is the best fit for your business? BuyerZone can help. Submit a free request for large format printers quotes, and we’ll match you with multiple local suppliers who will carefully review your specific printing needs. They’ll suggest the appropriate solutions, and you can compare the offers and select the deal you’re most comfortable with. Submit your fast and easy quote request today.