Roland and it's advertising :{)

[messmedia]

So, still a newbie, still looking to buy a solvent printer, still trying to decide roland or mimaki ...
I posted one thread before, which was EXTREMELY large, so, I am guessing nobody answered 'cause nobody wanted to READ A BOOK of usuall questions :{)

Anyway, I am more leaning toward Roland at this point, and when I think about reasons why, I can not neglect the fact that Roland has EXTREMELY good - ADVERTISING. They attack their customers trying to say - what we wanna hear, and, of course, trying to give us - what we really need. It seems that they are really LISTENING to the needs of us.
Now, how TRUE is all that? We can see photos, videos, and it all looks good. I only hope it IS as good as it LOOKS.
At the other side - we have MIMAKI for which I couldn't find decent video on internet, and their printed material is not really trying to gain my trust. It just is not trying to comunicate with me/us. It only provides a bunch of information of which me, as totall beginner, don't really understand (or want to understand) much.
All I need is - how good it prints (the quality of print), how well can I controll it (colors, printing and cutting), how much does the prints cost me (estimated color expense), and how durable are those colors.

To get back at the begining: I am close to decision to buy Roland SP-540 v. Or VP 540. And my decision is based mostly on good Roland's advertising (and Yes, I know it can be dangerous :{) ).
What "the advertising" did not answer me (possibly deliberate??) is this: What are improvements in vp-540 model over sp-540 v? Why the 3 -4000 euros (around 6000 USD) price difference? Does VP modell have some improved technology to make better prints? Do I have Rolands color management with SP model as I have it with the VP modell (and by that I mean nice little option to make color tables printed on my own printer, which, with Roland swatches, can be crutial to good color management in my studio - video about it )?

So, please, if anyone has answers from Your own expirience to any of these questions, please share them .! :{)

 

[jasonx]

SP540 is a two head machine. I believe the VP540 is a four head machine thus making it faster at printing. I would buy the VP.

We have the SP540 model.

The difference between the two brands comes down to how comfortable you are with each and further which suppliers have you got access to who can service and backup those machines. I think that's another important factor in making your choices.

The final advice is get test images printed on both machines and see which one you like better.

We have two rolands here but I would have no problems moving to Mimaki. We seriously considered the JV5 as our second printer.

 

[jasonx]

Oh missed the colour management issue. That's a Versaworks thing so it doesn't matter which printer you get the colour management works in the same way.

 

[Mainframe]

I just bought a Roland vp 540 I don't really know much about the Mimaki or the sp 540 but I will tell you I wouldn't want to have anything that prints any slower than the 540, not saying it is slow now but a slower printer would be unacceptable to me. I must say the color matching swatch is a very handy tool to have, after you print a swatch book & hand it to your customer & tell them to pick the color all guessing is gone, you can pick the same number in your illustrator file & it will print out matching the swatch, you have to design in cmyk though, something many people won't do. I cornered the tech about the difference between the sp & vp & he said the vp reminds him of the more expensive soljet machines in every way, he liked the way it was built from more pinch rollers to 4 heads to a more compact build, he strongly suggested the vp & I am VERY glad I listened. I have a good tech that set this up & told me how to save my files etc., I have not had any banding on anything I have printed, I save everything as illustrator eps & it seems ok. I also noticed something Roland mentioned in the advertising was they realize you may not print ever day & they designed the vp with that in mind, good luck on your quest

 

[Vital Designs]

I have a Roland (SC-545 EX) and a Mimaki (JV-33 160) and you can't go wrong with either. I had an earlier Mutoh and I will never have another one in my shop.

When I bought the roland I got the 545 over the versacamm for the speed even though I didn't need it at that point. It paid off when I got busy with it. If you can afford it and have a solid business plan get the SC 540. I am really high on the Roland.

The Mimaki is only a few months old but it is proving to be a great machine too and the inks are a little more durable being full solvent.

 

[Bigdawg]

I've used both the VP540 and the SP540. VP is definitely faster and has a better detail quality in the smaller prints. IMHO the VP540 is worth the extra money.

 

[signrios]

i have a vp-540 which i bought used, it has not given me any troubles at all, i don't use it every day tough.
i'm new to this printing stuff and printing out of flexi, ripping in versaworks the colors come the way i see them on my screen, i've also been lucky not to get any banding.

 

[Mason]

SP, two print heads
VP, four print heads

The difference in speed dosent appear to be that dramatic, the cost of replacing print heads however seems to be a factor no one has mentioned, at the current price (around$700) I would rather have only two to worry about than four. just my .02

 

[Stan B]

Mimaki's entry level printers (JV33's) will outperform Roland VP series bar far in speed and quality. JV33's are more robust higher volume printers. But with Roland you get so much better support, knowledge base, profile help and availability. So for a newb who does not have much business to begin with your best choice is Roland (alomost any Roland)

Also, the downside of more robust printer, with Mimaki, you will have to deal much more with proper ventilation, climate control, drying of prints. Also it is more critical to Mimaki to print something everyday VS roland can sit for sometime doing nothing

 

[messmedia]

Yeap, THIS IS A BUNCH OF GOOD, USEFULL ANSWERS!
Thanx guys, :{)

So, Sol Jet (somebody mentioned it) is a liiiitle bit out of my budget, especially as I don't have much business - YET (though, the reason why I am buying the printer IS because my studio has done a lot of printing for our customers - through third party service providers (and it was neither good service, nor cheap one! ), so, paying off the Roland in a year would not be a problem - I hope! :{) ).

Tonight, one of dealers I am in negotiation with (I acctually speak with 3 of them, but this one distribute both - roland and mimaki) suggested me - a Mimaki, and it was not just a suggestion, he acctually said - he couldn't sleep well if he let his customer buy worse machine. Have U ever find a dealer being that decide about brands if he deals both of them? WILD! He also said I don't need to vent with ss21 inks. I think I believe more to what I've read here, and at other places. Or, somebody think different?
Anyway, something smells fishy there, I think (and it is not solvent :{o ). Or, he's being REALLY sincere???

So, it is Roland VP for me, unless the tests I am gonna do prove otherwise.

Oh, yeah, @jasonx: does that mean I can use Versaworks with mimaki, and also, have those swatches made for it??? Isn't it Roland's only-for-Rolands software?
And, @Mason, how often the heads must be changed (or - what is their working-life)?

Thanx again, people!

 

[bbeens]

Messmedia-

Your question on Versaworks = will only work with Roland printers. But as for the swatch feature, In Wasatch's Softrip program we have a feature called 'Color Atlas Generator' which performs the same basic feature. You can generate any number of patches for each specific media and be certain you can hit that color (assuming the printer is in good calibration and working order).

Wasatch does sell a version of Softrip with a reduced price that only drives Mimaki printers. I have many customers that very happy with the Softrip / Mimaki JV33 combo. If you have any questions regarding the RIP side of things let me know.

Bryan
Wasatch Support

 

[AllSquare Jason]

SP, two print heads
VP, four print heads

The difference in speed dosent appear to be that dramatic, the cost of replacing print heads however seems to be a factor no one has mentioned, at the current price (around$700) I would rather have only two to worry about than four. just my .02

Pretty good difference in speed actually, and the ability to print in lesser quality with better results is easier achieved with the VP Printer. They do not share the same print head.

Keep in mind the VP also carries a 2 year parts/labor warranty and the SP retains its 1 year warranty parts/labor warranty.

The VP is a great machine and worth the difference in price over the SP series in my opinion.

The VP is a great machine and worth the differnece in price over the SP series in my opinion.

 

[B Snyder]

I chose the VP-540V over the SC-540V back in January of this year. At times I wish I chose the XC-540.
At the amount I am paying towards my VP I'll have it paid for in 3 years. If paying the same amount towards the XC it would take 4 years.