How to Find the Best Wide Format Inkjet Printer

Jaime Ghisays
2021-01-26T12:05:11-08:00

When you’re researching wide format inkjet printers, you might feel overwhelmed by all the options available. There are different brands, countless models, an endless array of features—where do you even start? Our team at All Print Heads understands the printing business because we have years of experience in the industry. Below, we share our expert advice on selecting the best wide format inkjet photo printers.

Consider How You Plan on Using Your Inkjet Printer

Most wide format inkjet printers are purchased for business needs; even ones that are purchased for home use are usually meant for a side business—no one is printing high school essays or resumes on these types of printers! With a printer being used for business purposes, it’s more important to base your purchase on how you plan to use it.

Some wide format inkjet printers are excellent for certain applications and perform less reliably in others. There are inkjet printers that are well-known for high-quality photography prints and fine art, while others excel at retail and tradeshow displays. Knowing what you need from your printer will go a long way towards finding the right one for your needs.

Think About What You’ll Be Printing On

The last thing you want is to invest a large sum of money in a wide format inkjet printer only to find out that it doesn’t print on the substrate you use for your business. If you run a print shop, make sure the printer you purchase can handle a wide range of materials so you can serve all of your customers’ needs. For other types of businesses, versatility doesn’t matter as much as long as your printer is compatible with your substrate of choice (i.e., photo paper for photographers).

Determine the Speed You Need

While no one wants to wait around for their wide format photo printer to finish a job, speed matters more in some circumstances than in others. A print shop will need an inkjet printer that has substantial capacity in order to satisfy customer demand and accommodate rush jobs, but you’ll also need to ensure that you’re not sacrificing quality for speed. A photography studio or other small business may not need the same kind of speed because they’re not working with the level of volume as a professional print shop.

Choose Your Preferred Ink

Do you know what type of ink you want to print with? This is another important question that needs to be answered before you start shopping for a wide format inkjet printer. There’s solvent ink for printing on vinyl, water-based aqueous ink, heat-cured latex ink, and UV-curable inks. Each type of ink has its own pros and cons and suitable applications.

Make a Decision That’s Practical for Your Business

The previous points all focused on the needs of your application. Now, it’s time to think about the needs of your business. Consider factors such as:

Cost of inkjet printer

Cost of industrial printheads if you have printhead problems

Cost of ink

Ease of use

Space needed

Ventilation

Scalability

Green technology

You may have additional criteria that matter to you and your business, so it can be helpful to write down what you need, either on paper or in a spreadsheet, and mark off each of the criteria a printer meets to help you compare models and brands.

Learn More About Wide Format Inkjet Printers

Our printing industry experts can provide assistance with choosing a printhead or inkjet printer for your application. Contact us today at 1-800-616-0584 to learn more.