I could really use some printer help

[Bark]

So, I shoot alot of little league and softball tournaments. I want to start offering prints on the spot. The price on printers has really gone down, but mostly I have farmed out all my printing needs. I do not know much about printers at all.

Laser:
I was thinking of using a laser color printer. But I will be taking the thing in and out of a car alot. And kids will be around quite a bit with all their RESPECT for gear. I have heard that moving around that much will probably cause the cartridges to drop dust out. Further the field will always be dusty and I have heard that that can cause some real problems. Also, most color ones are huge.

Ink Jet:
I have heard that these now have higher yield cartridges, but I am still worried about having to have a small store of them anyways. I have been printing on glossy paper, but I have heard that that kind of paper drinks ink like a thirsty camel in a desert. I do not know much about any problems dusty fields will cause.

Any help? I am trying to find something that will get the job done. The image quality does not need to be very high, basically color prints on shipping boxes are about the quality I use right now and people seem happy. I also need to keep the cost per page as low as possible. And I really wouldn't be too happy with a machine that constantly has errors, or needs cleaning.

I want a simple printer that is somewhat portable, not too many bells and whistles, but if I happen to damage it, won't cost me an arm and leg to replace.

I know that is alot, but I was wondering if someone here could help me get started in the right direction.

Thanks alot!

[KdLaneJr]

In my opinion the only way to do this is using a dye-sublimation printer (dye-sub for short).

None of them are inexpensive, but they are fast and combine media and color roll. Print costs vary by manufacturer.

Give Imaging Spectrum a call. They can take care of your printer/media needs.

[Bark]

Thanks alot. Do they get up to 11x17 yet. Also, we typiaclly get more orders for lower quality because of the lower price point. I don't really need a dye sub unless it is just the bee's knees. I dunno? What do you think? I basically go to staples and they print on 100lb glossy stock using their four color copier. That seems to work just fine in the end.

[KdLaneJr]

As far as I know, Dye-subs used for onsite event printing only go up to 8x10.

There are rebates on the Epson 4900 which will print up to 17 inches wide, but it's too large to be used as a portable printer.

Once you drop down to 13" printers, none of the manufacturers offer the larger more economical ink cartridges.

You'd be better off establishing your business and using ROES at a pro lab to handle your photo orders.


The Epson 3880 might meet your needs. It uses 80ml ink cartridges.

[Bark]

I really tend to do better with off the table sales. I guess that mostly it is an impulse buy. I am a Millers Lab customer and have utilized their services on several occasions, but most of the income comes from prints that are sold right off the table.

The 3880 is more what I am thinking, but this thing will get banged around quite a bit. I know that thing delivers AMAZING quality, but believe it or not, med quality is the most successful sell for me. And I honestly think that some of the printers in the 100-300 dollar price range will suit my needs, plus If I break it I can always pick up another lickety split.

I have heard that many new cartridges get about 2k from the blacks and 1k from colors. This isn't ideal, but the cost of them at around 20-30 bucks and some as low as 10 sometimes is kind of appealing.

I'm sorry. I hope I'm not driving you nuts.

[Bark]

I guess what I am asking is the following:

1. Given the fact that this machine will have to work in Houston Summers at 100 degrees and more.

2. And the fact that it will be subject to alot of moving and abuse, ALOT.

3. And the dirty conditions at a ball field.

4. and that med quality 11x17s are my meat and potatoes

5. And I want to stop farming out the prints. The reason being that it pays more to have prints on the table, rather than trying to take orders and mail them out (impulse buys and running to print shops at midnight is getting old when I have to be back at the field by 7AM)

What are the pros and cons of dye subs, inkjets, and color lasers?

[KdLaneJr]

Not at all.

You've tossed out some numbers that I'm just not familiar with is all. I have an Epson R1800 and and Epson 7900. The R1800 uses small ink cartridges at at a replacement cost of about $15.00 per cartridge. There isn't any way I can print 1k 4x6's let alone anything larger, without having to feed it ink cartridges.

I can't imagine your being able to find a photoprinter that will print up to 11x17 and take large enough ink cartridges to be able to print 1K color prints and only run a max of $300 to purchase. It's always possible, but I'm sure not familiar with any models touting that capability.

I used to take the R1800 to events to print, but I also took two spare ink cartridges for each color with me. Now I take a dye-sub printer and never have to worry about changing ink cartridges.

I use the 350ml cartridges in the 7900. It's much more economical on ink usage, but you pay a chunk up front for the each ink cartridge.

Paper is still the largest expense.

[KdLaneJr]

the key here is that medium quality 11x17's is what sells for you. This website says it reviews primarily 11x17 dye-sub printers, but I'm not seeing any of them in the manufacturer listings.

A dye-sub printer will cost you more to purchase and higher media costs, but will print faster than an inkjet. I wouldn't consider using a color laser printer for event printing.

13" format inkjets will do what you need and allow you to take a couple of them with you, which should offset the slower print speed. Printing at medium quality lower your ink costs.

Whether you use a dye-sub or an ink jet, you will need to protect your printer from dust as much as you can.

[Bark]

Thanks alot! Now I think I am finally managing the right questions.

Can ink jets take all the abuse? I know they tend to clog up and dry out, but I will be using it regularly.

Today I talked with a guy who said that only very recently manufactures have started making more economical, high yield cartridges in consumer lines. He said people before were just buying new printers when they ran out of ink because it was less expensive, but now they are starting to fill the cartridges that are sold in the printer all the way up, lol dirty trick I may add, and offering higher yields.

Let me run to my car and grab a notebook I had with me today. Ill get some models numbers. But have you heard any of this stuff or is it just salesman talk?

[KdLaneJr]

Xerox Phasers use solid ink cartridges and have excellent output. Unfortunately they are not cheap. The Xerox Phaser 7500 can print 11x17 and do so at a rate of 35 pages a minute.

It weighs 145 pounds..

[KdLaneJr]

Originally Posted by Bark

Today I talked with a guy who said that only very recently manufactures have started making more economical, high yield cartridges in consumer lines. He said people before were just buying new printers when they ran out of ink because it was less expensive, but now they are starting to fill the cartridges that are sold in the printer all the way up, lol dirty trick I may add, and offering higher yields.

This sounds like BS to me.

[Bark]

Ok the new HP officejet pro line. I know it is not a dedicated printer line, but this is kind of a starting point for me.

[Bark]

HP Officejet Pro and Officejet printers and all-in-ones

[KdLaneJr]

Was there a model that is supposed to print up to 11x17?

[Bark]

Yeah, this thing HP Officejet 7500A Wide Format e-All-in-One Printer - E910a | HP® Official Store

And the from the website "HP 920XL Black Officejet Ink Cartridge (~1200 pages); HP 920XL Cyan Officejet Ink Cartridge (~700 pages); HP 920XL Magenta Officejet Ink Cartridge (~700 pages); HP 920XL Yellow Officejet Ink Cartridge (~700 pages)"