Updated for 2010, the desktop, standard-sized version of the Signwriters pricing guides. The same information as in the mini Sign Contractors Pricing Guide, the desktop guide includes pricing for artwork, ...
Fine art in wide format
Question: If your shop produces large-format, digital images, the prints must be light stable, with an (acceptable) outdoor fade rate, right?
Answer: It depends on your market. Meaning, do you print – or want to print – POP signs for retail stores, tradeshow graphics, wall murals or images for other, indoor events? Do your customers ever want a photo enlarged to a poster size, for a birthday, an anniversary, or an office announcement? What about printing presentation images or architectural (or sign proposal) renderings?
Our point: A digitally printed image doesn’t always have to be weatherproof.
Weather-resistant images are best made with either a UV-cure or a solvent-ink printer, but, will you and your fussy customer be satisfied with the print quality? Perhaps, yes, but . . . if your printer can’t produce the correct colors, or if banding or dithered artifacts are evident, say goodbye to that market.
Our shop prints many images on paper, and, although it may seem easy, we’ve found it difficult to produce paper-media images with a UV-cure or solvent-ink printer. The best solution has been to use our aqueous-based, inkjet printer.
We’ve reviewed numerous printers over the years, but we haven’t reviewed an Epson, aqueous-ink printer. However, we suspect that many signmakers are using Epson’s other printers for digital photos or presentation drawings. If so, they – you – know Epson printers have a great reputation.
Epson has developed a line of professional, wide-format printers for producing high-quality, indoor signs, photo enlargements and similar graphics. And, when compared to solvent or UV-cure printer prices, these printers are a good, economical choice for high-quality, indoor graphics.
Intrigued? Keep reading, to learn more about the Epson Stylus Pro 9900 printer.