And they said we were “going paperless!”

While we don’t really use less paper, the output we require today is more specialized. So how do you pick the right printer? Start with the result you want and work backwards.

I want to print:

• Bar code labels or tags
• High quality, unique documents or correspondence
• Multi-part forms
• Internal documents or memos
• High speed, high volume documents with high quality print
• Color
• Other

Bar code labels or tags:

What size label or tag do you want to print? And how will you apply these labels or tags? These are the first questions to ask when selecting a printer for bar code labels or tags. Most bar coded labels are produced on a thermal direct or thermal transfer printer. The result is a high resolution bar code that is printed on labels or tags wound on rolls or fanfolded. This is the best choice when you have on-demand labeling needs or when it is to be applied by an automated applicator. For larger labels or tags or if you need efficient batch printing, you can use a laser printer or for very large labels, a line printer. Printronix makes a high resolution dot matrix line printer that is often used by lumber/paper companies to print very large bar code tags.

High quality, unique documents or correspondence:

This would typically be documents printed in an office environment such as letters, contracts, or proposals. A laser printer is the best option. These printers can be either connected directly to a computer or to a network for shared printing. For documents requiring color, a color laser printer or solid ink printer can print both color and black and white.

Multi-part forms:

Multi-part forms must be printed on an impact printer. Depending on the quantity of forms to be printed at one time, a character dot matrix printer (one at a time/on-demand) or a line printer (high speed) are the choices.

Internal documents or memos:

Since high quality print is not required for internal documents, using a dot matrix printer (character dot matrix or line printer depending on volume) or a lower speed monochrome laser printer will save your company money.

High speed, high volume, high quality:

For high speed printing and high quality documents, the best choice is a high speed laser printer. These printers are available with cut sheet or tractor feed options and can print at speeds as fast as 1,000 inches per minute.

Color:

There are three primary technologies that are used to produce computer-generated color documents: Color laser printers; Inkjet Printers; Solid ink printers. Inkjet printers have the lowest quality print, are the slowest and the lowest cost. It is a good choice for low volume documents that need color for charts or spot color. Solid ink printers have the highest quality, highest resolution output, are fairly slow and user high-cost wax ink. This is the choice of most graphic artists who want to see a pre-production proof. Color laser printers come in various speeds and resolution, and range in cost.

Other?

If you have a unique application let us know. We have worked with companies needing to print on cloth, to produce a label that will last in a cryogenic cooler, and to etch a bar code onto a circuit board. We can help! Please Contact Us.

Thermal/Thermal Transfer Printers:

• Resolutions up to 600 dpi
• Print speeds up to 12 inches per second
• Print widths up to 10 inches wide
• Portable Printers for mobile applications
• Bar code and Flexible Font software packages

High Speed Laser Printers:

• Print speeds up to 60 pages per minute
• Print Resolutions up to 1200 dpi
• Most industry Standard emulations and programming languages such as PCL5, Adobe PostScript Level 2, Printronix IGP, QMS Magnum V
• Printing Duty Cycles up to 450,000+ pages per month
• Specialty Laser printers with special sizes and fonts, supporting PGL, HP-PCL4 and HP-PCL5 RISC languages which allow for printing of complex pages at high speeds
• Continuous-form, duplexing, and emulation-switching laser printers

Desktop Laser Printers:

• Print speeds up to 60 pages per minute
• Print Resolutions up to 1200 dpi
• Most industry Standard emulations and programming languages such as PCL5, Adobe PostScript Level 2, Printronix IGP,QMS Magnum V
• Printing Duty Cycles up to 450,000+ pages per month
• Specialty Laser printers with special sizes and fonts, supporting PGL, HP-PCL4 and HP-PCL5 RISC languages which allow for printing of complex pages at high speeds
• Continuous-form, duplexing and emulation-switching laser printers

Color Printers:

• Print speeds up to 60 pages per minute
• Print Resolutions up to 1200 dpi
• Most industry Standard emulations and programming languages such as PCL5, Adobe PostScript Level 2, Printronix IGP,QMS Magnum V
• Printing Duty Cycles up to 450,000+ pages per month
• Specialty Laser printers with special sizes and fonts, supporting PGL, HP-PCL4 and HP-PCL5 RISC languages which allow for printing of complex pages at high speeds
• Continuous-form, duplexing and emulation-switching laser printers
• Solid ink printers with extremely high resolution for photos and proofs

Character Dot Matrix Printers:

• Up to 800 cps (400 lpm) throughput
• Multiple tractor feed options for multiple forms handling
• On-demand printing with waste-free forms tear off
• Available with Serial, Parallel, Twinax/Coax Interfaces
  

Line Printers:

• 175 to 2000 Lines per minute line matrix printers for high speed production
• Supports barcode, high-density text, forms and graphics
• On-demand printing with tear bar available
• Available with programming languages such as QMS Magnum and Printronix IGP and PGL