When you're building up your company's graphics production, one of the things you might be thinking about is investing in a UV flatbed printer. Since these printers are significantly different from your traditional inkjet or laser printers, it's important to understand what you're looking for. Here's a look at some of the things that you need to know.

Cost Is About More Than Just The Equipment

When you start pricing out UV flatbed printers, you may be focused on what it's going to cost you for the actual printer. Looking for the right price on the equipment itself is important, but you also need to consider the other associated expenses, too.

For example, consider the cost of the consumables, including ink, lamps, and print material. The cost for these things will vary based on how much of it you buy and use, but make sure you can reasonably afford the materials that you'll need.

You also need to think about the parts, labor, and maintenance of the machines as well as the overhead cost associated with the printer itself. The larger the printer, the more space you'll lose in your work area.

Printer Design Is Relevant

As you start looking at the UV printer models, you'll find that there are two primary printer designs. One style moves the media as it prints, so the actual printer heads are stationary. While you may find that there's less floor space and clearance required for this type of printer, it's important that the print media feed through the system properly, and even a small hiccup in the rollers can disrupt the final print.

The other option is a printer style where the printer bed holds the print media still while the print head system moves to create the images. This usually results in higher quality, clear images and is often the preferred option.

Image Processors Affect Project Control

When you choose a UV flatbed printer, look for one with an image processor that allows for image manipulation before the final print. The image processor should be efficient, responsive, and accessible so that you have control of the final product before it goes to print.

These are some of the things that you need to think about if you're investing in a UV flatbed printer. Don't risk buying a machine that isn't ultimately going to meet your needs. Instead, consider these elements and make the choice that is the best fit for your business. 

For more information, contact a local company like DigiTech USA.