Once you have the basics sorted out, there are many additional features you should look for in a wide-format printer. Here's a sampling of some of the most common.
Scanning/copying functionality
A major feature of some wide-format printers is the ability to scan and copy large documents. Some printers may come with this feature built-in; in others, the scanning capability is part of an upgrade module you can purchase separately.
Large-format scanning is a huge plus to AEC users: being able to reproduce full-sized blueprints in-house at any time provides flexibility and reduces the number of trips to the copy shop. For graphics use, large-scale scanning may not be as important.
Adding scanning and copying capabilities will substantially increase your costs – see Pricing for details. If your scanning needs will be few and far between, it may not be worth the extra expense.
Software, drivers, and file formats
To get the best performance from your wide-format printer, you need to ensure that communications between the printer and your software are as direct as possible. There are two aspects to this: the drivers the printer offers, and the printer languages it supports.
Drivers are small pieces of software that get installed on your computer so it can run the printer accurately. Ask the dealer if the printer has drivers for the specific software applications (e.g., image software, CAD programs) you will be printing from. The answer will almost always be "yes," but you can go one step further and ask if the drivers are certified by the software manufacturer. Certified drivers provide a little extra peace of mind: uncertified drivers will likely work, but you can't be sure without careful testing.
There are dozens of printer languages out there, but a small handful covers most needs. In the graphics market, Postscript and PDF cover almost everything; in the engineering market you may need support for HPGL, HPGL2, TIFF, or potentially Postscript. Make sure the plotter you choose natively supports the languages that your software uses.
Additional features to look for
- A built-in paper cutter is a real timesaver, allowing the printer to automatically separate each print as it comes off the roll of paper.
- Support for multiple paper widths gives you flexibility – some printers even hold more than one size roll at a time, allowing users to print the size document they need without changing paper or printers.
- Sorters and media bins let you walk away from big jobs, which can take hours, while the printer separates and organizes the output.
- Built-in accounting features are useful in situations where prints will be billed to different projects or clients.
- Support for varied types of ink allows you to choose the right ink for the media you're printing on – especially important for printing on vinyl or other less-absorbent materials.
- Modular or reduced footprint plotters are great for use in construction trailers and other job sites where wide-format technical documents are used but where space is limited.
Tip: Color processing
Trying to match existing colors exactly is a complicated process: it's fairly easy to get close, but the interaction of different inks and the material you're printing on makes exact matches difficult. For very precise color work, you may want to invest in a Raster Image Processor (RIP).
RIPs provide the highly accurate color management that's essential for prepress work. However, they're not needed for engineering work, nor are they required for many types of graphics printing. They can also add several thousand dollars to your purchase price, so don't feel pressured to add one if precise colors aren't critical to your needs.
