42-44in large format printers, Canon, Epson or HP

My wife wants to set up a large format printing business servicing the canvas, photography, banner CAD markets. Research on the various models, and their consumables, is a hard slog so if anyone has experience with LF printers in the 42-44 in range, preferably in a small commercial environment, any input would be appreciated. Looking at machines in the 8-12000 australian dollar market although it seems the same equipment has US price tags about 70% of this.

Thanks,
Hal55

Hi Hal,

I use the Canon iPF series printers.
I print for individuals, photographers, graphics art companies, museums, retail etc.
What would you like to know?

The Canon large format machines are great, but like any...a little quirky sometimes.
Replacement printheads are expensive (about 450.00 each and these machines take 2), 300ml ink tanks are about 175.00 each. Ink usage is awesome though.
Networkable, rather self-maintaining.
The available print media selection is awesome.

If you pursue this, and it takes off, you'll spend more on paper rolls, large paper trimmers, other accessories than on the printer itself.

Good luck to you, and if you have any questions specific to the Canon machines...let me know.

Thanks for the reply, it is much appreciated. My wife has decided on an Epson 9900 and will be placing an order in the next day or so. Can i just ask what you found most beneficial in promoting your business. These days is it traditional advertising, web, twitter etc that you have found most useful?

Thanks again,

Hal55

I use an Epson 9800 that I very much like, but the 9900 will be a very sweet printer indeed.
Note: as for inks, I've printed over 100 A1-size prints at 2440dpi and still have quite a bit left, it certainly isn't a hog in that department.

hal55 wrote in post #11993349
Thanks for the reply, it is much appreciated. My wife has decided on an Epson 9900 and will be placing an order in the next day or so. Can i just ask what you found most beneficial in promoting your business. These days is it traditional advertising, web, twitter etc that you have found most useful?

Thanks again,

Hal55

Hi Hal,
That Epson is a nice machine.

As far as advertising goes, I cant be much help.
We don't Twitter, but a website is essential.
I may get around to that Facebook thing someday (when I have the time)

We (as a company) have been in existence for over thirty years, and as a former employee and now owner for a dozen years....that has introduced new technology from Day 1, enjoy the benefit of a fairly large client base.
Most of our new business is from referrals from other photographers, from people that already know our other audio visual/video/photograp​hy services locally, and from people that grew tired of the Big Box stores limited capability and knowledge.

As far as promoting the business on the internet, I haven't done much. Haven't needed too and I'm thankful for that.
To promote it locally when I first started with it all, I drove around the city to various businesses, took a shot of their facilty, then delivered a poster size print of the business to the people that would like it. It worked.
Local framing shops send clients to us for the canvas prints, then the framing shop finishes the work for gallery wraps.
Every good customer I have started out with a sample so they could see the quality. Good customers then refer us, or head off to internet forums to talk about us, then they talk, and so on, and so on.
So far...so good. I have multiple large format printers, and will be adding 2 more this spring.

As time goes on, you'll want to explore various means of mounting, laminating, trimming, etc., as well as the printing process itself, and as you may already know....knowledge of color calibration and management is key.
Good luck to you!

The epson is nice, but I think the new canons are even better..imho

I just got the 7890 from Epson (24" version of 9890) after checking out all the offerings at WPPI in Vegas last month. One of the big deals with these printers are that they have both Matte and Gloss black inks loaded at the same time.

I just did my first print on it this morning and it looks awesome... but it hardly qualifies me as an expert...

I have an Epson 9800 and love it. I sold some prints from it and the quality is outstanding. I think I have a thread of me printing from it a while back with pics.