I'm planning to start a small digital printing business, can you please help me about choosing an entry-level digital printer machine. I need a printer that handles up to A3 size, 12"x18" prints (for brochures, posters, calendars, business cards, tickets, stationary, folders, hang tags, envelopes, letterheads, labels, menus, booklets.
Hello DarkIngram, apart from DocuColor 5065, look also on KM 6501. I have heard is really good. Also i am planning to go for it with same job description as yours.
Do you have a technician available where you are located, Xerox machines are a little difficult ? If you dont its def. not worth the buy.
P.s. are you looking to buy the machine or lease?
I'm planning to buy a machine, but I don't know which one I choose. And also I don't have an idea about the price range of an entry-level digital printer machines.
Can you please give me a estimate pricelists of those machines?
If you haven't looked already I would try Ricoh. The Ricoh Pro550EX would be ideal. Check it out on Home | Ricoh Global
The Ricoh machine is completely the wrong way to go. It can't print any solids on any uncoated paper. I had the c700ex (same machine but faster) as an in house demo and it was awful. Ikon had the c550ex in their demo room and it had the same problems. Look at the attached file. It is the pantone spot on print directly from the rip. All those blue squares should be solid blue, not all patchy. This is hammermill color copy paper. Ikon could not come up with a solution and Ricoh was put in little effort to fix the problem. They did testing in their lab and didn't have a solution. This happens on any uncoated paper. Even bold black text will look patchy. We returned the machine. There were several other small problems also. Do not buy this machine. Do yourself a favor and look at either Konica or Xerox.
Understand up front, I am biased as I work for Xerox. Here's the truth though, the Ricoh is not really equipped to handle graphic arts type work and it does a very poor job. I would steer you towards the Xerox 700 or the KM box. I'm being totally honest here. If you are in the market for price, they are both really close. If it's quality then really pay close attention to gradients. Look for banding on the KM box which you will not see on the Xerox due to the EA High-Grade Toner and the 2,400 dpi. I know, the guys who work for KM will pounce all over this, (they really feel the need to defend themselves) but when you view both demos, make sure you are evaluating gradients, shadows and fine detailed text. 2 years ago, when I was a printer and not a Xeroid, I actually owned several different models of the KM boxes, and while they were 8050's, 500's and the 650, I had to constantly redo work and mess around to make things look good. I run the Xerox 700 everyday for customers and let them bring anything and everything into my demo room and I've only lost to Ikon (Ricoh) due to price when they've used extreme low prices on demo or repo gear. Never have I heard "the quality is better on the KM 6501". Being totally honest here.
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Choosing an entry-level digital printer machine
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Originally Posted by CanarcticPress
