"Colour laser or colour inkjet printer?" Topic

At present, I am using a HP inkjet printer to print of downloads for cardstock models.

However, I am tempted to get a colour laser as I understand they are cheaper to run. Are the colours more permanent than those from an inkjet and would the definition and actual colours be as good?

I use my colour laserjet to print out flags.

The colours tend to be quite resilient but I usually give them a coat of matt acrylic varnish.

The colour intensity tends to be a bit lower than some bought flags but I tend make the unit and the flag look in campaign mode so doesn't need to bright.

Best check out the straightness of the paper path before purchasing. Some printers struggle with heavier cardstocks.

laser. inkjet inks will run or react strangely when the paper gets damp. laser prints don't.

I've had both. Currently dumped the laser and went back to the ink jet. Lasers do a really nice job…..but have some very expensive parts in them. The last laser printer I had needed a new drum and a new imaging cartridge…the cost of replacement parts was over $400 USD…..

Agreed that inkjet prints don't survive water splatters (or worse). But the cardstock may be ruined with either.

Here's a good place to find info about various printers, and issues that may arise when using them for card modeling:

link

I use ink jet but with refillable carts – easily the cheapest option using compatible inks. Ignore dire warnings of damage to the printer – never had that happen, even if it did the printer is paid for after 3 or 4 refills anyway. The refillable cart I use cost about £4.00 GBP-5 from China.

Thank you

I use a laserjet for my business (PaperTerrain). Colors are very vibrant and don't run. Toner is reasonable if you buy the cheap non-name brand stuff. But laser printers don't last long and are ridiculously expensive to maintain. I usually just buy a new one when they start to act up. With the high volume I do I go through two a year.

Hi Scott,

Of course, if you sold as pdfs, you would not have that outlay and probably increase your market on this side of The Pond!

Best regards,

Alan

Hi Alan,

In recent times I have started offering PDFs for some of my products. I can't say I've noticed any significant increase in sales.

Scott…"Toner is reasonable if you buy the cheap non-name brand stuff'…are you refering to color laser or just black & white?

I have a b&w laser printer now, the OEM toner works great but sometimes the cheap toner rubs off.

I want to upgrade to a color laser but am worried about the high cost of the color toner cartridges and if cheap toner will rub off too.

My old b&w laser printer has lasted for more than ten years without problems, but then again I'm not mass producing stuff.

I switched to laser, but I print on paper, then cut, and glue, to 3mm-thick cardboard from framing shops. Very durable, beautiful models, with heft, and strength. Will never go back to ink, and cardstock…

Laser printers are expensive, as are toner cartridges, but the output is so much better quality compared with water-soluble ink. The toner is a plastic which is melted into the paper. For best results, spray a clear varnish on them, to seal against moisture.

If printing terrain pieces, with page-saturating colors, your toner cartridges will give only around 1,000 pages, if that, before they're empty. Printed text is gauged at 5% coverage of ink on paper; printing a castle wall, for example, will run at around 50-70% coverage! It is expensive, but worth it, IMO.

When you need to replace more than a toner cartridge, replace the whole laser printer -- cheaper in the long run. They can be had for around $300 USD-$400, for an HP; they usually have a scanner, as well, so they can be used as a full-color photocopier! That makes the investment easier to swallow. Cheers!

Again,
Many thanks

In recent times I have started offering PDFs for some of my products. I can't say I've noticed any significant increase in sales.

Actually I wasn't aware of that and I have bought in the semi distant past. I'll go look now…