A printer plotter can save you thousands of dollars over hiring an outside printing firm if you need to generate large printed materials on a regular basis.
Large format printers run the gamut in quality and price, from inexpensive pin-impact printer plotters, to high-resolution sheet-fed ink jet plotters that reproduce poster-size photographs in stunning detail.
When shopping for printer plotters for business, usage and purpose should take precedence, with price being an important but secondary consideration. Key points to consider are:
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done
Know that quality comes with a price tag
Blueprints and monochrome renderings print easily on large format printers that use inexpensive impact-pin technology to print large sheets of drawings, charts and data. As the quality increases so does the price. Color inkjet technology reproduces a high level of detail in color-calibrated output.
I recommend: Hewlett Packard (HP) sells a wide line of
printer plotters for business and
industrial use with
formats up to 104 inches wide. Another giant in the printer plotter industry is Canon, with a range of large format printers, including their popular
PosterJet and high-resolution,
graphic-quality large format printing solutions.
Choose the widest printer plotter you can afford
You might use a narrower setting 80% of the time but choose a business plotter printer for the widest sheets you will reasonably be printing. Weigh the price difference between widths against the cost to have the largest sizes printed by a professional printer. The exception is when you occasionally need a super-size print in the "grand format" printing range. Unless you use a grand format printer often, opt for a regular plotter.
I recommend: Epson
business printer plotters offer numerous widths. Be sure to request a
sample print before you buy. In the event you need very large format printers, visit
Innovative Solutions to learn more about grand format printers with widths up to 16 feet. Get a
custom quote through BuyerZone for large format printers that fit your specific needs.
Find affordable plotter printers
Let's face it--purchasing a printer plotter is a major investment for many businesses. Depending upon your needs, used or refurbished plotter printers may be just the ticket. Manufacturers will refurbish plotters returned by customers and offer limited warranties with purchase. Buying a used plotter from a private party is more risky so be sure to ask for a demonstration before clinching the deal.
I recommend: Large Document Solutions offers refurbished plotters with all the needed software disks included.
Professional Plotter Technologies offers an extensive line of used plotter printers with a guarantee. If you purchase from a private party, you can
download any missing drivers online.