You have plenty of choices when it comes to printers and printing solutions for your projects; have you heard of aqueous printers? As the name suggests, aqueous printers use water-based inks to produce high-quality prints. They’re versatile and environmentally sound, plus they work with a wide variety of materials and substrates. What are aqueous printers used for, and how can these unique printers benefit you?
The Benefits of Aqueous Printers
All printers come with their pluses and minuses, but with aqueous printers, the pluses reign.
Eco-Friendly
Many printers use solvent-based inks that are harmful to the environment. Solvent-based inks contain volatile organic compounds (also known as VOCs) that can contribute to air pollution and create an unhealthy working environment for those who use them. Aqueous printers lack such solvents, reducing pollutants and making the workspace healthier overall.
High-Quality Prints
Ditching solvent-based inks doesn’t mean reducing print quality. Aqueous printers produce sharp and vibrant prints that offer a precise and accurate spectrum of colors and tones. Water-based inks penetrate media better than VOC-containing inks, creating beautiful prints with better details. Going green won’t negatively affect the colors and quality of your prints!
Versatility
Aqueous printers can handle a large variety of substrates or media, meaning the materials on which you plan to print your projects. Aqueous printers work well with cardboard, standard office paper, photo paper, canvas, and especially with premium bond paper. Their substrate flexibility makes aqueous printers the natural choice for projects as diverse as signage, advertising and marketing materials, fine art production, and textile printing. Aqueous printers accommodate everything from simple business documents to large-scale, graphic-heavy wall decorations.
Affordability
Make no mistake, aqueous printers cost a little more than other printers; over time, that investment pays for itself in quality and reliability. Water-based inks are also less expensive than solvent-based inks, so you save on supply costs. Aqueous printers are typically lower maintenance devices than many other types of printers, which adds to the savings. They produce the best-quality prints the first time every time, which means fewer reprints.
Aqueous Printer Applications
Aqueous printers serve as many functions as other printers, and a few more. Here’s a short list of applications for these amazing devices.
Marketing Materials
Marketing powers your business, and aqueous printers ensure the power keeps coming. Aqueous printers are excellent for producing marketing materials as diverse as brochures, fliers, posters, indoor and outdoor signage, and murals. Expect high-quality prints that make your branding and messaging pop and capture potential and existing customers’ attention. Vibrant colors, crisp reproduction, and sharp detailing make your marketing materials more attractive and engaging.
Product Packaging
Product packaging does more than contain your product; it also promotes your brand as the customer uses it! You can use aqueous printers to create bright, colorful, and detailed packaging, reflecting your brand’s commitment to quality. Aqueous printers can easily accommodate labels, boxes, bags, and containers.
Signage and Displays
Like any other printer, aqueous printers are excellent for producing signage and displays in assorted sizes and formats signs that communicate your message. Produce indoor and outdoor signage that’s durable, weather-resistant, and eye-catching while retaining quality over time. Aqueous printers also allow you to create signage quickly for special events, seasonal and holiday sales and promotions, and other last-minute announcements and promotions.
Photographic and Fine Art Reproduction
Photographs, paintings, digital art, and other reproductions look terrific with aqueous printer prints. These devices can reproduce bright colors, specific hues, and other aspects of fine art and photography with the original details. Water-based inks also resist fading, helping prints retain their quality through the years.
Textile Printing
Not all printing takes place on paper! Aqueous printing works well with fabrics, ensuring brightness, vibrancy, and durability. Custom apparel, upholstery, and other fabric-based projects provide perfect surfaces that absorb and hold water-based inks.
Documents and More
Aqueous printer projects don’t have to be big, flashy, and colorful displays, designs, and signs. These devices are suitable for everyday office documentation, including memos, reports, presentations, handouts, and pamphlets. They are handy for daily office work, reducing the need for other printers in your place of work.
What’s the Right Aqueous Printer for You?
If you’re shopping for an aqueous printer, keep the following precepts and suggestions in mind:
Print Volume
How many prints and projects does your new aqueous printer need to handle daily, monthly, and beyond? If you expect high volume, purchase a printer with a high-capacity ink system and rapid print speed. It will be able to keep up with demand.
Substrate Compatibility
What sort of materials are you printing on? If you plan to stick with bond paper and other office papers, find a basic aqueous printer. If you plan to print on paper, canvas, film, and several other types of media, find a printer that has versatile media handling capabilities, allowing you to switch between them easily.
Print Quality
All aqueous printers produce high-quality prints, but if you plan to produce high-quality marketing materials and/or fine art reproductions, look for a printer offering the highest resolution and color accuracy. Don’t skimp on price, or you’ll skimp on quality!
Cost
Ah yes, the bottom line. Aqueous printers generally cost more than other models because they do the job right. On the other hand, the cost of ink is somewhat lower than other types. Plus, these devices require less maintenance than other models, which means you pay less by not having to deal with pricy supplies, repairs, and replacements. Run the numbers, and decide if the total cost of ownership provides the best value for your business.
Support and Service
Always choose a manufacturer or supplier who provides reliable customer service and support and will address any issues that might arise quickly and professionally. Make sure they offer technical support and warranty options. Also, ask previous customers about their experiences with the company and its products and services.
Now that you’re more familiar with these unique printers and what they are used for, take the next step and contact us on how aqueous printers can work for you. We offer a fine selection of aqueous and other printer models that will help your printing projects look their best!