Graphic designers looking for an all-around elegant printer solution for their workplace are faced with a huge range of products. To ensure that everything really fits in later operation, a printer model must be found that fits as exactly as possible to the individual requirements. Questions about the required output format, usability in the team, and optional accessories play just as important a role here as the possibility of making everyday office life easier with the new device.
The challenge: There are big differences between the various printers of well-known manufacturers such as HP, Epson, Brother, and Canon, both in terms of the printer functions offered, as well as in terms of the hardware and software technology used. To help you choose the right printer for graphic designers, we’ll give you a few useful tips in this post and show you what things you should definitely consider before buying.
It’s best to search for a graphic design printer
The topic of printers for graphic designers is more wide-ranging than almost any other area in the field of IT equipment for creatives. The reason for this is easy to explain: graphic design requires high-quality optical results. Therefore, the printer used for the output of designed images, logos, and advertising posters must be designed in such a way that it does not compromise on quality during printing, reproduces all colors and blacks and gray tones realistically, and thus ideally brings a 1:1 copy of the graphics generated on the screen on paper. It is therefore not a good idea to rely on a conventional standard printer model here. Instead, as a graphic designer, you should look specifically for a product that was explicitly developed for your profession. Meanwhile, all well-known manufacturers offer corresponding devices – from the small but fine DIN A4 printer to the imposing large-format model. Products such as the DesignJet T230 inkjet large-format printer from Hewlett Packard prove that size and quality do not necessarily have to be expensive here. The device is able to output paper formats up to DIN A1 and convinces with a high printing speed. Nevertheless, it would be wrong to jump on this model without further research, because the printer market has a lot more in store for graphic designers!
Multifunction devices save space and costs
As mentioned earlier, print quality is the most important criterion in producing graphic design. At the same time, however, elementary questions regarding the later use must not be ignored. There are also multifunction printers for graphic designers that can not only print but also scan, copy and fax. With such a device, in addition to the actual work (creating graphics, images, etc.), necessary office tasks can also be performed. For example, invoices for the tax office can be scanned, order confirmations sent by fax, and copies of certain documents can be made at any time. By opting for a multifunction printer, you will definitely create more space in your office and save money. You don’t need to invest in separate scanners, fax machines, and copiers, or worry about where to put them.
Work in a team – and the printer is there!
If you are not a solo freelancer but employ employees in your office, they may also need to have access to your new graphics printer. For such cases, it is advisable to purchase a device that has been specially designed for companies and organizations with team use. A printer that is used by many people every day needs not only a fast processor and the largest possible RAM but also clever job management, with which wildly jumbled printouts can be avoided. Therefore, pay attention to these requirements before buying, because only then will the cooperation in your office succeed stress-free.
Tip: In addition to integration via LAN, most modern printers for graphic designers can be conveniently controlled via an existing WiFi network. This allows more flexibility and simplifies installation, operation, and maintenance.
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Which paper size should the printer be able to output?
While the most widely used printer in this country is likely to be a traditional DIN A4 printer, graphic designers are almost always looking for a device that can also output larger formats. After all, you should be able to print larger drawings and posters, presentations, and promotional materials you create quickly and easily without any effort and, above all, without external support. Here, DIN A2 or DIN A1 printers are the first choices. In some cases, however, a DIN A3 printer may be sufficient. Special large-format printers for so-called plotter paper could be another useful option to simplify your work as a graphic designer. While such premium models were quite expensive just a few years ago, the prices for such devices are now in the moderate range.
Speaking of price: Before deciding on a particular provider, be sure to compare the price-performance ratio and always include customer service in your considerations. With Office Partner, you are definitely in the right place. And the plotter paper that may be required for a large format printer is of course also available in our large range.
Sometimes it has to be mobile.
It may be that you also want to visit your clients and customers on-site and have to work directly on your designs. In such cases, mobile printers are an excellent option for graphic designers. Portable printer models are usually designed so that you can comfortably tuck them under your arm or carry them in a larger carrying case. Thanks to the built-in battery, the devices are self-sufficient and can be easily connected to any laptop or even to modern tablets – either via Bluetooth or even via NFC technology. When buying, please keep in mind that mobile printers have only been designed for relatively manageable print quantities and can by no means be a replacement for stationary devices!
A not unimportant question: Laser and inkjet technology?
Whether laser or inkjet technology is better suited for graphic designers depends largely on the printouts to be created. It must also be clarified how often the printer is used, whether above all photos or graphics should be output, and, last but not least, of course, the question of how large the available budget is. Despite many marketing efforts by manufacturers, inkjet printers are still smacked of a “hobby device for home use”, while laser printers are considered the ultimate in the office. Today, however, both technologies have improved to the point where both inkjet printers and laserjets are suitable for graphic designers. As a rule of thumb in decision-making, the inkjet is one step ahead wherever photos are to be printed regularly.
The pace comes only after the quality!
Finally, an important remark that can be important for the decision in favor of a particular printer model. With the printer for graphic designers, the pace comes only after the quality! While a classic office printer should eject many pages in the shortest possible time, the graphic design printer is primarily determined by faithful color reproduction and a distortion-free representation of all pixels. On the market and especially in our range of Office Partners there are many recommendable devices that impress with excellent quality. Therefore, spend a little more money for a better resolution and do without “turbo printers”. The results of your work will certainly confirm this decision.