Guidance from FLAAR on wide format printing applications for quick printing shop, commercial printer, copy shop, copy center, reprographics shop, digital color shop, on-demand printing, franchised printshop, service bureau, short run printing who wish to prosper in today's rough economy.
First: you can't afford to buy the wrong printer. Our pithy reports cut through advertising hype and explain the actual pros and cons of piezo electric vs thermal printheads. Then we discuss brand by brand, the benefits and downsides of each make and model.
If your print shop needs to produce CAD drawings one day and you dream of getting into the profit side of fine art giclée printing, then it makes sense to select one wide format printer which will do both.
Thus second crucial service we provide is information on applications. What you prospered on printing 10 years ago may not allow you survive the next 3 years, much less the next 10 years.
FLAAR is a research institute associated with the architecture department on two university campuses. Yet we too do giclée one day, 3D designs the next, and architectural plans another day. Admittedly we have nine printers, but actually there are several individual models which will accomplish close to everything.
All this is patiently explained in reports available from our university.
Its impressive how many Kinko's Sir Speedy, and other franchise copy centers come to FLAAR to ask a second opinion. Their main headquarters may recommend HP or Encad or something else, but is that a political decision or one that is realistic for you, on the front lines?
The people who made those decisions, do they actually every use a wide format printers themselves?
The author of the FLAAR reports had a 36" DesignJet in his living room (until girlfriend said the printer had to go or Nicholas had to go). Actually they both left and are now at Bowling Green State University along with two 72" ColorSpan printers, Mimaki JV4, several Epson printers, an Iris giclée printer, and a bunch more HP DesignJets.
Especially if you need assistance on inks, media selection, color management ICC profiles, tips on RIP software or hardware, then the FLAAR Premium Reports will save you hours of time wasted on the Internet.
