Large Format Printers Guide
Finding you the large format printer that best suits your needs – and your budget – may just be the single thing the team at Design Supply does better than anyone else in the country. How so? Because…
Design Supply simplify your search for printers – so you can specify the brand, the size, the price and your usage.
We give you access to all the leading brands (such as Hewlett Packard, Epson, KIP and Canon) – and a range of solvent printers. Price is important and so is cost of ownership, take a look at our Epson offers for the Epson SureColor SC-T Range of Large Format Printers range.
Do you need help choosing the right size of printer such as A1, A0, A2, A3? Ask us to advise, we have over 35 years experience.
We understand your world – be that Art, Photographic, Graphic, Signage and CAD/ Architectural.
If you know exactly what you want, you can go straight to it and buy it online…here is a link to a list of current offers for some of the large format printers we sell.
If you don’t know exactly what you want, and need a helping hand – we’re here at the end of the phone – to talk you through your best options. We can also help with leasing or rental of your printer with terms available over 2,3,4 or 5 years.
If you can’t find the large format printer you want on this site, it’s probably not worth having!
And once you have bought your printer, we can help you get the very best from your machine – and open your eyes to the possibilities with large format by talking to our Media and Supplies team.
One question we are asked many times is how do I print posters? What software do I need?
Have a look at PosterArtist below. All your questions will be answered.
PosterArtist – Perfect for Canon Large Format Printers – Design Supply
Peace of mind is important. You can relax. Our large format printers come with a full on-site warranty.
We have plans to do a history of large format printers dating back to the very early days. It is difficult sometimes to keep up with all the changes! Even if you have a older large format printer device such as these end of line models, then keep in touch for repairs or service issues.
Also worth mention we can do Printer Installation & Training!
Once you have printed those valuable prints you may want to store them! We can help with that as well. Have a look at our large format storage options here.
Perhaps the best way to undestand our range of large format printers is to see them in action. Our video section is here: View all Graphic Design Supply Videos – Design Supply
LARGE FORMAT PRINTER TECHNOLOGIES
Aqueous: thermal or Piezo inkjet printers using an ink known as aqueous or water-based. The term water base is a generally accepted misnomer. The pigment is held in a non-reactive carrier solution that is sometimes water and other times a substitute liquid, including a soy based liquid.
Aqueous ink generally comes in two flavours, Dye and UV (alternatively known as pigment). Dye ink is high colour, low UV-resistant variety that offers the widest colour gamut.
UV ink is generally duller in colour but withstands fading from UV rays. Similar in general principle to desktop inkjet printers. Finished prints using dye inks must be laminated to protect them if they are to be used outdoors while prints using UV inks can be used outdoors un-laminated for a limited time.
Various materials are available, including canvases, banners, metabolized plastic and cloth. Aqueous technology requires that all materials be properly coated to accept and hold the ink.
Solvent: this term is used to describe any ink that is not water-based. Piezo inkjet printers whose inks use petroleum or a petroleum by-product such as acetone as its carrier liquid. “Eco-solvent” inks usually contain glycol esters or glycol ether esters and are slower drying.
The resulting prints are waterproof. May be used to print directly on uncoated vinyl and other media as well as ridged substrates such as Foam Board and PVC.
Dye sublimation: inks are diffused into the special print media to produce continuous-tone prints of photographic quality.
UV: Piezo inkjet printers whose inks are UV-curable (Dry when cured with UV light). The resulting prints are waterproof, embossed & vibrant. Any media material can be used in this technology, polymer made media are best. Ceramics, glass, metals, and woods are also used with printing with this technology.
Pen plotter: a pen or pens are used to draw on the print substrate. Mainly used for producing CAD drawings. Generally being superseded by digital technologies such as Solvent, Aqueous, and UV. Even now plotters is a term used when customers want a printer. We also have a range of plotter materials which you can see here.
Need some advice? Our specialists can guide you.
