Business Inkjet recommendations

[CNN_news]

Hello All,

I need to some 8 point coated cover stock of size 12 inch by 18 inch
printed.

What I will do is have these sheets printed in color on an OFFSET
press. I will then 'customize' each one with a

1) logo and name of a company in color (no photos, only graphics)
2) some lettering in black
3) some lettering in a solid color

So this is fairly minimal 'customization'. I tried this on a high end
color laser (Xerox Phaser 7400 ) but the resolution was too low (1200 x
600) and the edges of the logos were not smooth.

I think I need a to use an inkjet that can handle cover stock this
heavy (8 point) and with high resolution (4800 x 1200). The best
solution I found was the HP Business Inkjet 2800
(http://h10010.www1.hp.com/wwpc/us/en/sm/WF06a/18972-236251-236261-24728-f59-429041.html)

Has anyone experience with this printer and is it a good choice?

Are there better solutions for this task?

Thanks.
NK

 

[bmoag]

at this size-8 pts-all ink jets are likely to show unacceptable spatter.

 

[rafe b]

at this size-8 pts-all ink jets are likely to show unacceptable spatter.

Not at all, if you're using decent paper.

Here's a couple of 600 spi scans of a print from an
Epson R1800, of 8-point text. Printed from MS Word,
on Epson Photo Quality Inkjet Paper. (About $0.09
per sheet, from Atlex.com.)

The first 2 lines are Times New Roman, the next 3 are Arial.

First, with driver set to: Plain Paper, Fine, High-Speed Off:
<http://www.terrapinphoto.com/test008.jpg>

Now, with driver set to Photo Quality Inkjet Paper:
<http://www.terrapinphoto.com/test009.jpg>


To the naked eye, either print looks as sharp
as any laser output.


rafe b
www.terrapinphoto.com

 

[CNN_news]

Sorry,

I think I was misunderstood. I was talking about coated cover stock
(ie. paper) that has a THICKNESS of 8 pt.

A 'point' is a term used in describing paper qualities and is 0.001
inch.

I really want to know if this inkjet can use cover stock this thick.

Thanks

 

[measekite]

THE BEST WAY IS TO CALL EACH MFG TECH SUPPT AND ASK THEM WHICH MODEL (IF
ANY) MEETS YOU NEEDS.

 

[CNN_news]

Thank you,

I do appreciate you taking the scans of the type. I've never seen that
before on a NG.

 

[zakezuke]

at this size-8 pts-all ink jets are likely to show unacceptable spatter.

While the parent wasn't talking font size, my ip3000 has NO problem
with 4point text what so ever, but I prefer 5point text. Kanji at 5
point is ok depending on the number of strokes, I prefer it at 6 point
or above for obvious reasons. My old HP PSC950 was also very spiffy in
the small point department.

 

[Bob]

Thank you,

I do appreciate you taking the scans of the type. I've never seen that
before on a NG.

FYI - I don't think you can come close to offset quality on an inkjet.
It's going to look like you printed it on an inkjet. Even a (very
expensive) digital press can't approach offset quality (although it
costs much less).

 

[CNN_news]

Yes, I agree that offset has finer quality but if I printed these logos
on a offset printed image then laminated the whole page with 3 mil
thermal laminate film would it look out of place?

Coca Cola Logo (http://www.coca-cola.com)
Ford Logo
Tide Logo (http://www.tide.com/)

I contacted HP and the Business Inkjet 2800 is able to print on handle
60-286 gsm paper. 8 point stock is only 177gsm.

Thanks.

 

[me]

Yes, I agree that offset has finer quality but if I printed these logos
on a offset printed image then laminated the whole page with 3 mil
thermal laminate film would it look out of place?

Coca Cola Logo (http://www.coca-cola.com)
Ford Logo
Tide Logo (http://www.tide.com/)

I contacted HP and the Business Inkjet 2800 is able to print on handle
60-286 gsm paper. 8 point stock is only 177gsm.

How much printing are you looking at doing? If its a lot (several
thousand pages a month) it could be worth looking at a per page contract
for a digital press type machine.

 

[CNN_news]

Asked HP to demo this inkjet for me.

I am looking at up to 25k prints per month but each logo may be
different. This is classic VDP type operation.

Do you know the prices of a digital offset press? I know it is in the
500k range but do you know the actual prices? Can't seem to find this
readily.

What are the low end (in terms of price) of the digital offset presses?

Thanks.

 

[me]

Asked HP to demo this inkjet for me.

I am looking at up to 25k prints per month but each logo may be
different. This is classic VDP type operation.

Do you know the prices of a digital offset press? I know it is in the
500k range but do you know the actual prices? Can't seem to find this
readily.

VDP?

What about a top of the range colour copier? With them you are looking
at around the $20,000 mark to include a decent RIP to make it into a
pretty powerful printer. These are the sort of machines that a
commercial printers will have for doing short runs. eg: Canon CLC1180

Alternatively, at rather more money (but I don't know how much!) the
production machines eg CLC5100.

 

[me]

Alternatively, at rather more money (but I don't know how much!) the
production machines eg CLC5100.

Following up to myself, a quick scoot round ebay suggests a MRP/RRP of
about $90,000

 

[George E. Cawthon]

While the parent wasn't talking font size, my ip3000 has NO problem
with 4point text what so ever, but I prefer 5point text. Kanji at 5
point is ok depending on the number of strokes, I prefer it at 6 point
or above for obvious reasons. My old HP PSC950 was also very spiffy in
the small point department.

Forgetting the printer capability, if you use 4
point you must be young. I think I remember
seeing some about 15 years ago.

 

[Bob]

Asked HP to demo this inkjet for me.

I am looking at up to 25k prints per month but each logo may be
different. This is classic VDP type operation.

Do you know the prices of a digital offset press? I know it is in the
500k range but do you know the actual prices? Can't seem to find this
readily.

What are the low end (in terms of price) of the digital offset presses?

Thanks.

The people I know doing professional work paid $500-600K for a digital
press that does variable data and such. But, something that is just
punching out color is probably a lot less. I can check with the folks
that know th print business better than me if you like.

Bob