Tips on Buying a Digital Printer

When you are buying any digital printer, here are some things that you should consider, especially if you are a first time buyer: 

a Anything mechanical can breakdown. What reputation does the manufacturer have for building reliable equipment? In the event of a problem, what service and technical support does the manufacturer provide?

a Is a service agreement available? What type of maintenance must you regularly perform, such as cleaning of the printheads or replacing UV lamps? What are the estimated annual costs for parts replacement and maintenance? How long will the printheads generally last before they must be replaced? 

a How easy is it to operate the equipment? What training is required? What type of training does your distributor provide with the system? How long will it take your people to become proficient with the system?

a What substrates can the system print on? What sizes of material will the printer handle?

a Will the system handle rigid substrates, such as expanded PVC and foam boards, and roll-to-roll substrates, such as pressure-sensitive vinyl and banner material?

a How fast is the printer? (Caveat emptor!  When shopping for new equipment of any kind, the best advice is to be skeptical of manufacturers’ claims. For example, published print speeds are usually for low resolution images. )

a How many colors will the printer print? The advantage of a printer with more than four colors is that you expand the range of colors that you can print. In addition, because the transition from highlights to midtones to shadows is smoother, the resolution appears higher – in other words, higher apparent resolution.

a How much floor space does the system require? What type of temperature and humidity control and ventilation equipment will be required for the printer?   Will you need to build a special room for the printer?

a How much do the consumables, such as special top coated media, ink and printheads, cost?

 a What is the cost per square foot of the finished graphic?

a What is the total cost of the system? In calculating your fixed    monthly expense, there’s more to consider than just the payment for the printer. The other costs of your system could include the work station, software, peripherals, scanner, digital camera, laminator, ventilation hood, maintenance agreement, and training.

a What type of financing or leasing is available?

a Can you generate the business to support your investment in the printer? What are your target accounts?

a How easy is it to use the software? 

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Vinyl Application Videos

Squeegee Technique. Nothing is more basic in vinyl application than the squeegee. But some squeegees work better than others. And there are right ways and wrong ways to use this simple tool. This video clip reviews squeegee selection, squeegee care and squeegee technique. Click to Link

Wet Applications. Dry applications are typically recommended for most vinyl applications. For those exceptions to the rule, this instructional video explains the right way to perform a wet application. Click to Link

Application of Window Graphics. Installing vinyl graphics on glass can be challenging, because the adhesive aggressively grabs onto this high energy surface. Repositioning graphics on window is generally difficult, if not impossible. This instructional video explains how to dry apply window graphics right the first time. It also describes the necessary steps required for surface preparation. Click to Link

Transferring Frosted Window Graphics Films.  Because frosted window films are highly textured, transferring cut vinyl graphics can be problematic. This video provides direction in selection of the right application tape and how to apply these films quickly, easily and without problems. Click to Link

3-Step Surface Prep. This instructional video describes how to properly clean the surface of a vehicle before applying pressure sensitive vinyl graphics to a trailer or doing a full wrap of a car or van. This three step surface prep involves detergent washing, solvent cleaning and a final wipe down with IPA. Click to Link

Vinyl Application Over Rivets. Applying vinyl graphics on vehicle surfaces with rivets is challenging for most sign makers. Vinyl failures to these surfaces are all too common. This video demonstrates some tips and procedures, used by professional decal installers, which will make these demanding applications easier and more trouble-free.  Click to Link

Vinyl Application to Corrugations. Learn how to apply vinyl graphics to corrugations in a relaxed state. Forcing films into the valleys of corrugations puts too much mechanical stress on the film. Sooner or later, the vinyl will lift or tent in valleys. Click to Link

Applying Air Egress Vinyls. Vinyl films with air egress release liners have almost eliminated bubbles and wrinkles from applied graphics. Air egress release liners with their highly textured surface structure are problematic. Not much will stick to these liners other than the vinyl film. At RTape our best premask solution for air egress liners is a special Conform® tape called 4761RLA. Click to Link

About Jim Hingst: After fourteen years as Business Development Manager at RTape, Jim Hingst retired. He was involved in many facets of the company’s business, including marketing, sales, product development and technical service.

Hingst began his career 42 years ago in the graphic arts field creating and producing advertising and promotional materials for a large test equipment manufacturer.  Working for offset printers, large format screen printers, vinyl film manufacturers, and application tape companies, his experience included estimating, production planning, purchasing and production art, as well as sales and marketing. In his capacity as a salesman, Hingst was recognized with numerous sales achievement awards.

Drawing on his experience in production and as graphics installation subcontractor, Hingst provided the industry with practical advice, publishing more than 150 articles for  publications, such as  Signs Canada, SignCraft,  Signs of the Times, Screen Printing, Sign and Digital Graphics and  Sign Builder Illustrated. He also posted more than 325 stories on his blog (hingstssignpost.blogspot.com). In 2007 Hingst’s book, Vinyl Sign Techniques, was published.  Vinyl Sign Techniques is available at sign supply distributors and at Amazon. 

Slides of Jim's Artwork

© 2016 Jim Hingst