How to Pick the Best Canon Plotter and Printer
Tired of slow plotters, wasted materials, and project delays? AND know that your printing technology should be an asset, not a bottleneck. However, choosing a suitable plotter can be overwhelming. This guide breaks down the latest Canon plotters to help you make the best decision for your company or firm.
Your tools influence project success; outdated printing technology can compromise even the most brilliant design.
Old, legacy plotters can run incredibly slow, eat your budget with wasted materials, and cause delays that ripple through the entire project timeline. These setbacks can be costly in a world of tight deadlines and demanding clients.
So, ensuring that you invest in a cutting-edge plotter is a wise strategic move. The latest generation of large-format printers empowers you with:
Learn valuable tips about choosing a new Canon plotter that seamlessly integrates into your workflow, maximizes productivity, and elevates the quality of your output.
Some things to think about when picking a plotter
Are you looking to print CAD drawings or more high-end graphics?
Do you have a preference for Inkjet or toner-based technology?
Do you need to print color, B/W, or both?
What types of print media would you like to print on?
What is your estimated print volume? (Usually stated in either sheets or square feet)
Do you want a 36-inch output or perhaps another size?
What kind of print speed would serve you best?
How many users will access the printer?
Do you need multifunction (copy/scan) functionality?
This article focuses on new Canon plotter options. While there are other manufacturers, this information is dedicated to the Canon portfolio.?
A word about used plotters
You may feel that there are some fantastic deals on used plotters, but beware, they can be precarious investments. Often, used machines are traded by brokers who do not pack or ship these units correctly. I could tell you horror stories of some shipping damage I have seen through the years. Honestly, it is best to go through a reputable dealer.?
If you are considering used equipment, do your homework and ensure the manufacturer still supports it. Getting a great deal on a used plotter doesn't do you good if the machine fails six months later and you can’t find replacement parts.
This situation quickly relegates that “bargain plotter” to boat anchor status in a heartbeat.
How Much Do You Need to Print?
As with all print equipment, the duty cycle and print speed significantly improve the user experience. This brings up another great point - don’t simply decide on a new plotter based on the spec sheet.
Reviewing system specs can give you some great insight, but they miss all of the nuances of the human interactions, like how the machine neatly stacks printed sheets, so you don’t have to hand sort a nasty mess of drawings.
Or you are getting a new machine only to learn that the entire system needs to be pulled away from the wall to load paper. Make sure your new system will be one the whole office will enjoy using.
Scanning Drawings to Digital Files
Do you need to scan drawings? Consider an MFP (multifunction printer) with a wide-format scanner mounted on the printer. This new single-footprint design adds extra functionality without wasting valuable floor space.?
Not everyone needs scanning, but companies often default to purchasing an MFP (multifunction printer) that includes a plotter, wide-format scanner, and a dedicated controller PC.
This feature is needed if you have physical sheets to reproduce (copy) or scan into a digital format, such as PDF.
One or Two Paper Rolls?
Some Canon imagePROGRAF models today allow you to have one or two media rolls. This dramatically increases the system's convenience as you can load two different-sized rolls or paper types to print on demand.
Often, our customers keep a roll of 36-inch paper and another roll of 30-inch paper loaded. This lets them print 24”x 36” ARCH Ds or 30”x 42” sheets without physically changing anything on the machine. How convenient is that?
How Wide Do You Need to Print?
Typically, technical plotters are either 24”, 36”, or 44” wide. The most common size is 36 inches. One reason for this is that a 36-inch plotter printer machine is capable of printing any size up to 36”x 48” (which is now uncommon).
?
There is a situation, such as GIS or Oil & Gas, when a 40”+ is needed, but generally speaking, a 36-inch system gets the job done 90%+ of the time.
If space is an issue or budget constraints are a concern, there are 24-inch options for both plotters and MFPs. But beware: You are limited to a maximum sheet size of ARCH D (24”x 36”).
?
Use Every Drop of Ink in the Tank
The exclusive Canon Sub-Ink Tank System allows virtually all available ink in a tank to be used before replacing it, helping to eliminate wasted ink.
?
?
The empty tanks can also be replaced on the fly without stopping the printer, which is extremely useful during long print jobs. This dramatically enhances the plotter's dynamic functionality and gives you peace of mind that no ink is discarded when the ink tanks are replaced.
?
The Best Plotter Printers Available Today from Canon (Listed From Smallest to Largest)