Posted by printer | Posted in Article on board | Posted on 02-01-2010
Wide format printers, also known as plotters, are a special type of printer that have the capability of delivering prints larger then the standard 8-1/2″ x 11″. Their initial high cost makes them an economical investment only to select firms performing specific functionality. Companies that make a lot of custom signs or posters, or that often need to print copies of blue prints will find wide format printers to be cost effective and of great use.
There is some variation among all wide format printers performance and capabilities, like all standard printers. For example, if you are an architect it might serve you to invest in a multifunction wide format printer. Like any other multifunction printer, these printers can not only print but make copies and scans at a larger scale. If image and color quality are of high importance to your firm, investing in a printer that performs highly in delivering color consistency, accuracy, and balance as well as clarity in the entire image may be of value.
Because wide format printers produce prints larger then your standard 8-1/2″ x 11″ paper, for the most part special paper will need to be purchased. It is important to note that most wide format printer paper is produced in rolls (and not sheets like most regular printer paper) in order to create a higher degree of size compatibility. And again, like all other printer paper, wide format printer paper (also widely known as plotter paper) comes in a large variety of options. Depending on your usage, your paper preference will vary. HP is one of the leading producers in wide format printers and their supplementary papers, so the following is a brief run down of the available options in photo paper. These option names and their functions should be easily translatable to other brands of papers compatible with different brands of printers.
HP Universal Bond Paper and Bright White Paper are two of the most commonly used papers for low cost every day prints. Both papers are designed for black and color line drawings and deliver crisp line resolution and high color contrast.
HP Coated Paper has a bright white base that produces vivid accurate colors and dense blacks that work to create fine detailed images. Heavyweight Coated Paper is great for use for long term signs or posters. This matte inkjet paper is affordable yet creates bright, colorful, medium ink density images. If you plan on replacing your signs or posters frequently, Universal Coated Paper is a great alternative to its heavyweight brother. Still delivering quality colors and images, this paper is lower in cost and has faster drying times.
HP High Gloss Photo Paper is a low cost high gloss photo paper that is great for appealing to audiences in visual presentations using graphic or colored displays. Universal Instant-Dry Photo Gloss Paper is another economical photo paper that also looks great in presentations using images; however this paper’s porous medium makes the prints quick to dry, yet still glossy in appearance.
