ast:
Based on my limited, but recent experience with my own JV33, I would say that some of your questions depend on what you are looking to accomplish with the printer.
You will be THRILLED
with the end results as long as you follow the manufacturers recommendations. {They built it, they know what works best}.
As for printing on banner stock, or opaque vinyl. Again following the manufactures recommendations has given me EXCELLENT results. As you get used to the printer you might want to try different settings for the same job, and print out test pieces for yourself to see what gives you what you want to sell.
We printed out a full PMS chart on several different materials so we could get a handle on what the output looked like compared to what your monitor was showing.
THAT WAS A REAL EYE OPENER!
On the issue of printing on clear, {or back lit} material. I am working with a sign manufacturer, and have found that "most" times doing a double pass on the ink set at 6 is usually giving me the best results. Again this can vary according to what "your customer" is looking for. Test pieces are very helpful in the beginning so you can have a point of reference.
I am using the Mamaki Rastelink Pro III rip. and find it perfectly fine for what I am printing.
One of the draw backs of Rasterlink is that it came with only ONE profile. But that ONE profile has allowed me to print everything I need to date without ANY problems.
There are a number of fine after market rips available, but for my current situation, it seems like overkill to buy the high end rips. Others here might disagree, and that is fine, but we are in the sign business, NOT THE FINE ARTS BUSINESS.
Most of the time I find that I try to justify the extra money I've spent on specialty items by telling anyone that will listen that " you
need this to do that".
In actuality it boils down to trying to justify {to yourself, or someone else} that spending extra money on all the wizz bang extras was justified.
I chose to run the CYMK double ink set up. Again because of what I was looking to print, this set up works best for me.
I have heard that the WHITE INK set up is not giving some of the users everything that they expected from the set up. you need to look at that issue carefully IF you see a need to print into that market niche.
Bets of luck with you purchase.
Something to consider in these tough economic times: Does the volume of your current work justify spending $20-30,000 for a printer? And any other equipment that you need to supplement the printer? Not to mention the supplies to feed the little monster.
If you are buying this printer to "build" your business, you might do better outsourcing to a wholesaler that already has the equipment {and the inherent maintainance costs} until you can justify the cost of a new equipment payment.
Hope this helps a little!
