For reference Walmart prices (glossy photo paper)
11X14 - $5.86
12X12 - $7.86
12X18 - $8.86
16X20 - $12.86
20X30 - $18.86
Draco, how much would you pay DMS to print a car wrap and how many cars would you wrap? Honestly, do you see availability of this as a doorway to a side hustle inside DMS?
Here’s some information I pulled off Frequently Asked Vinyl Wrap Questions | Bay Area's Car Wrap Experts | Vinyl ink
We get asked this very vague question a lot and it is hard to answer without being given the correct relevant information. First you want to try checking our “pricing” page which was made just to answer this question. Getting straight to some general pricing, an average graphic advertisement wrap is about $2500 and the average color change paint replacement wrap is closer to $3600. Chrome wraps? Most chrome wraps start in the $6,000 range… yes, it’s that expensive! Chrome vinyl is the most expensive film and hardest to install. Want to just wrap your rooftop or hood? That can cost closer to $200-$450. Interior parts? $400-$800. All the chrome trim on the outside of your vehicle, $500 to $1200. These are all of course just a ballpark range and your price could be slightly less or possibly even more expensive.
I will state, from my perspective looking at a printer capable of printing custom car wraps is very industrially focused and desired by a some but not nearly all members. If you look at the results of the poll (although very limited) it seems most members are looking for a large scale photo printer. Time will yield more results so we get a better indication of what Makerspace members are looking for in a printer. I know makerspace is a place for wondrous things that make everyones toes curl but we must find some toe curling balance with actual usability. Just my perspective currently
I’d like to be able to print on paper, canvas, banner material (indoor and outdoor), vinyl, fabric, lots of substrates.
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Tell us about the substrates you want to print on
I think many of our tools can be used for business and are being used for business.
It is not the main reason that I would want some form of water proof printing.
Ideally, I would like some way to print out a decal for a window and have it cut it out.
I still want the ability to print car wraps. I’m sure that many people would love to create them for their vehicles.
Also, car wraps do not have to be use just for cars but all kinds of projects. Used in place of painting.
I think flexibility is key here. Being able to use many forms of material and have it water proof.
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I made this poster in hopes to get more people into taking the poll and weighing in. Could someone volunteer to print it out and hang it up around the space? @Team_PR possibly
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Here’s a pretty good article to take a look at comparing all the different printer media as well. Wide Format Printing: Pros and Cons of Ink Types | Clyde Blog
@apparently_weird I read your article too. Well, scanned it.
Mor substrates: window cling film, repositionable wall material (think FatHeads), I’m sure I’ll think of more.
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Just a thought, but until a width is decided, the price per linear foot is still kinda ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
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There’s also backlit media, front lit media, textiles… I just listed the one’s I personally see myself doing on a regular basis.
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@CaryF300 @Raymond @Draco when you have some time, do some research for the printer if you don’t mind and see what works best for what you’re wanting to do. I would like to poll everyone possible and get as much information gathered as possible to make the best decision possible.
Most importantly, I would like to know the general width so we can plan the “digital” room during the October CA meeting. It’s going to be as close to an educated guess as we can.
And just to restate so everyone is in the know -
October - plan out the digital room as best we can (dye sub, vinyl, printer, computers ect)
November - decide on large furniture purchases for the expansion (second bowling table…possibly chairs, furniture for sewing…ect)
Probably a Special Meeting - specifically about the printer (if we are in the room)
December - decide on large machine purchases (when to buy, what to buy, general plan)
CA meetings will be on the 2nd Thursday of the Month and (mostly)
For discussion assume 50" printer.
Until cost of the material printed on is known, neither is the cost. E.g. Canvas was $5 a foot vs $2 a foot for glossy. Expect cost to vary by material. Also if just 48" wide material is available and you are printing something 12" x 12" the cost per sf of printed will be high as you have to pay for material that wide, not just what you use. Of course you could print 4 of them for the same cost.
I’m guessing more 24" wide material will be stocked than say 48" wide as it will have high demand. Further exotic types like “wraps” I would expect the person wanting it will probably have to bring their own and just pay fee per linear foot for ink.
A big problem in the past was getting members to pay for their prints. If they made a mistake in size, color, whatever, they some how felt they weren’t require to pay for it. I’ve seen over 15 feet of misprints under the printer that weren’t paid for. I know Nicole went on a “Hunt them down” for non-payment once when unpaid for materials got really high.
There needs to software that tracks, by user anything that is printed. If there are machine fault misprints, there should be a way to turn them in so they are billed no more “Oh I threw that away”.
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good input. One of my top priorities is proper output tracking. It’s really important for us to function towards the future.
That or change your avatar to Artemis.
Just a thought, and who knows if the interested parties have the time, but if we are going to get a few different quotes from different companies; what about having their reps come out to discuss the different options in their printers?
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This was done on the last printer. I know I took part in one of those reviews.
You also never print edge to edge on the majority of printers, so a 24" wide roll will not produce a 24" wide print. Only way to really cut down on waste is to queue up prints and have a print day much in the way of ceramic’s fired days (is that how that works?). This would allow the prints to be arranged and printed at once, then cut out for the individual prints. They would have to be arranged by media type though with roll swaps for the different types.
Most solvent printers will not be able to print on porous material such as canvas or fibers, it will bleed through and ruin the machine. I believe Latex is the same but can double check. In all honesty the HP printer was a good choice for a variety of media without getting into the ridiculous price range of specialty prints. Pretty similar in cost but a solvent printer would be the Epson Surecolor 4000 series. I would stick with the 64in range if people want to do car wraps, banners, or wall wraps. It is better to use a smaller roll on a larger printer than not be able to use a larger roll on a smaller printer.
I would also plan on purchasing a plotter with the printer as it can replace the small vinyl cutter and can do stickers, buttons, decals, etc.
I work at the Corporate office of a sign company but in the digital signage/ digital out of home section. So this is only info I have gleaned from the print guys that are always evaluating new equipment. If you get a list of questions I would be happy to go bother them for their “expert” opinions.
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I know the HP latex printer that we were looking at came with a separate plotter for the cutting side of things. If would have probably replace our existing, loud, vinyl cutter.
In my experience having a separate printer and cutter is more efficient than having a printer that also cuts.
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Nicole,
Based on what everyone wants - it looks like CA will need 3 to 5 different machines.
One machine that is an “all in one” is not the way to go in reality (if it was then the wood shop would be outfitted with shopsmiths).
$2 a linear foot is a bit of a fantasy as well - unless you find dirt cheap rolls of 8" media.
If CA opts for supporting a business of vehicle wraps - it will be interesting to see those vehicles wrapped outside in the elements.
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And now for something different…
Archival inks on archival paper.
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