The two different types of printers to which I'm referring are Thermal Transfer (a.k.a. Thermal Resin) and Inkjet.  Each of these printers has specialized capabilities.  I'll do my best to explain the differences, as follows:

Generally speaking, unless an Inkjet printer is specifically indicated for the type of work you're currently doing or considering undertaking, Thermal Transfer printing offers the most options and is the best place to start.  Thermal transfer printers have the following capabilities and benefits:

1. Thermal transfer prints have a longer life - up to 5 years outdoors with no lamination.  These prints require lamination only for extreme cases, i.e. industrial applications, where chemicals are involved.

2. Thermal transfer printers have spot color ribbons for bright, vivid colors.

3. Thermal transfer printers produce sharper text on small (decal size) prints, and are generally better for printer vector graphics.

4. Thermal transfer printers have white ribbons - useful for printing white on  a colored background or for double-sided printing on clear media.

5. Thermal transfer printers can print a perforated pattern for producing window films on inexpensive clear media, instead of having to print on expensive perforated window films, like an Inkjet.

6. Thermal transfer printers require much less maintenance.  In fact, they can stand idle indefinitely, without the weekly maintenance required by an Inkjet printer.

7. Most thermal transfer printers, such as the Summa DC4 and DC4sx have print and cut capability in one unit.  This makes much more sense than Roland's inkjet print and cut technology.  Since thermal transfer prints rarely, if ever, require lamination, it's not necessary to remove the print for lamination before cutting.  This means there's no need to reregister the print before you cut.  Cutting your finished print is accomplished with merely the push of a button.  (Inkjet single unit print and cut technology is not very effective, and can produce problems.)  Both Summa models have two cutting steps.  They will contour cut around your prints, and a second cutting step allows them to cut through the backing sheet to also die cut your finished prints.

Inkjet printers offer the best value under the following circumstances:

1. Inkjet prints last up to 3 years outdoors.  They do require lamination for high scrub applications, such as vehicles.

2. Inkjet printers do better graduated fills, and produce superior hi-resolution photo quality prints, especially in a small decal size.

3. Generally, Inkjet printers are faster.  The Mutoh ValueJet is much faster, even compared to other Inkjet printers.  The ValueJet 1204 prints up to 140 square feet per hour!

4. Inkjet printers print on a wider variety of media, such as paper, some fabrics, and generic vinyl banner material. (Thermal transfer printers require special banner media.)

5. Inkjet printers have lower production costs only when lamination is not required.

6. Single unit Inkjet print and cut may not make sense, but if you pair your Inkjet printer, for instance the Mutoh ValueJet 1204, with an optical printer, you get print and cut with the added advantage of being able to print while you're cutting!

There you go, the low-down on digital printers.  If you're shopping for your first printer, hopefully this will clear up any confusion.  On the other hand, if it generates more questions on your behalf, that's a good thing, as well.  The more questions you have, the more likely you are to get the answers you need to make a qualified decision in the best interests of your business. 

I'd just like to re-emphasize that once you've entered the digital printing market with one large format printer, it's time to plan on investing in a second as soon as possible.  This will allow you to grow your business even more by opening the door for you to new markets.

by Diane Corbin

Reprinted from the June 2007 issue of SIGNED UP e-newsletter.
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