Flatbed plotter advantages and disadvantages

A plotter printer differs from a standard, traditional printer in that it uses a pen, pencil or marker to place ink onto paper or any other material being used. Whereas a traditional printer prints in dots, the line printing of a plotter allows for much greater accuracy which makes it ideal for businesses in the architecture, construction and engineering sectors. They are also commonly referred to as Technical, CAD and GIS printers.

If you’re in the market for a plotter printer, then you’ve come to the right place! We have a huge range of plotter printers available and a wealth of experience and knowledge to help you find the one you need. We specialise in large-format printers, and if this is something you don’t know too much about then here are the advantages and disadvantages of having a flatbed plotter printer.

The advantages of a flat-bed plotter printer

Size – Large plotter printers are capable of printing on material which is as large as 60 inches wide. This means that if you’re printing a large design or blueprint, a large-format printer is capable of putting it all onto the same page, rather than two pages. This increases the accuracy of the printing. What’s more, no matter what the size you are printing on, a plotter printer will maintain a high-quality resolution throughout.

Different materials – Many plotter printers can print onto other materials as well as paper. That might be plywood, cardboard, plastic or even aluminium. Basically, any flat sheet material! The variety of use is ideal if your business prints according to customer need as it allows you to offer a much more varied service.

Quality every time – The beauty of a plotter printer is that it can reproduce the same template again and again with no deterioration in the quality of the line drawing.

The disadvantages of a flat-bed plotter printer

Size – While the large size may be an advantage in terms of the variety of what you can print, it can be a logistical nightmare. In a busy work environment, you’ll need to find a large space sufficient to house not only the printer but also to allow the printed material to feed through as well. There is technology which can help with this though, with loads of large-format plotter printers coming with an in-built wi-fi connection. This means that you can place it within your office wherever it is most convenient rather than having to worry about the distance to your computer.

Price – The cost of a plotter printer can feel very prohibitive, particularly to new businesses or ones who haven’t invested in a plotter printer before. The advanced technology does mean that plotter printers are much more expensive than traditional printers but there are options to assist. Here at Perfect Colours, we offer rental options which allow you to pay a small monthly cost rather than a one-off larger cost. Alternatively, we also have a range of second-hand printers which you might consider if you want to keep costs low.

If now is the time for your business to invest in a flatbed plotter then give us a call today. Our team of experts will be able to discuss with you your business needs to ensure we find the right one for you.