Printer recommendation please

[inquiring mind]

We are a small online business which has trees planted in national forests as gifts and memorials. As part of the gift, we print a 5"x7" gift acknowledgment card on 60 lb matte photo paper (https://www.redrivercatalog.com/browse/60lb-premium-matte-plus.html). The gift card designs often have images on them them, about 3" x 5" (almost half the 5"x7" page). We currently print on a VERY cheap inkjet printer and image resolution is lacking. We would like to step up our printing game and create cards with photo quality images (same as current size - 3"x5"). We print around 2500 cards per month and the printer needs to be dependable. We would like recommendations for a premium printer which will do the job for us, preferably under $1000. Image resolution is top priority, but right now, we need to feed each 5"x7" into the printer by hand - so we would love a printer which would let us stack feed the 60 lb sheets and get some efficiency back. Comments and recommendations are most welcome. Thanks in advance.

 

[The Hat]

Check out the Canon Maxify printer, it can do all these things and more, check on line or better still go to an outlet where you could see and test print your cards to be sure..

 

[inquiring mind]

Check out the Canon Maxify printer, it can do all these things and more, check on line or better still go to an outlet where you could see and test print your cards to be sure..

Thank you!

 

[stratman]

@The Hat - OP wants a "premium printer" for "photo quality images". Why not a Canon Pro model? Is it his 2500 cards per monthly print volume? It can stack a small quantity of paper (10?) and there is an ICC for his chosen paper for potential improved output.

 

[inquiring mind]

Check out the Canon Maxify printer, it can do all these things and more, check on line or better still go to an outlet where you could see and test print your cards to be sure..

According to the specs (page 432), the maximum paper weight is 24 lbs.

https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/D1lWhSLAImS.pdf

We use a 60 lb 5"x7" card stock for our cards, so I am wondering if the Maxify MB5400 will work for us. Then again, we run this paper through our cheap $50 printer and it does not get stuck. Does the weight range correspond to how, or if, the paper will feed correctly?

 

[stratman]

According to the specs (page 432), the maximum paper weight is 24 lbs.

On the Canon Europe web site, the MB5450 states:


Paper Weight

Plain paper: 64 - 105 g/m²
Canon photo paper up to 275 g/m²


https://www.canon-europe.com/printers/inkjet/maxify/maxify_mb5450_series/specification.html

275 g/m2 = 65 lbs

Maybe a quick call to Canon printer sales to clear things up.

 

[DKirk]

DO you have further specs on the media? FIW Canon tests just with their own media, so the MAXIFY range will work with up to 275gsm media, now this would be the PP-201 Plus Glossy media - https://www.canon.co.uk/printers/inkjet/pixma/photo-paper/pp-201/ Scroll down a little for the other important spec to be aware of - 0.27mm thickness. . .

I'd personally look towards some of the TS8200 series models (if you can still get them from a retailer, they've been replaced by the TS8300 range, slightly quicker print speed and a dual band WiFI module), Or the TS6200/TS6300 (both have 5 inks, compared to the 6 in the TS8200/TS8300). Another option, which supports A3 (If you want to use larger media then guillotine down) Would be the TS9500 models, again 5 inks. All models support up to 300gsm media and (based on Canon Pro Platinum), it'll take up to 20 sheets at a time in the rear feed. In the media options for the newer models, like the TS9550 it does support a 'cardstock' option for thicker media.

Now, (Admin please delete this paragraph, if you feel that it violates community rules). Canon do have an online chat service, https://imaging.chat currently running 7 days a week, open from 0900-2000 (UK time, it is Canon UK who are running this service). If you have further queries the guys there could help you out sorting through printer options.

 

[inquiring mind]

DO you have further specs on the media? FIW Canon tests just with their own media, so the MAXIFY range will work with up to 275gsm media, now this would be the PP-201 Plus Glossy media - https://www.canon.co.uk/printers/inkjet/pixma/photo-paper/pp-201/ Scroll down a little for the other important spec to be aware of - 0.27mm thickness. . .

The 5"x7" card paper we use is from Red River: https://www.redrivercatalog.com/browse/60lb-premium-matte-plus.html

Speed is not nearly as important as image quality and being able to stack the paper feed, as opposed to feeding them one by one, would be a big bonus.

 

[DKirk]

Looking at your paper specs, thickness is 0.279mm Seems similar to a cardstock I put through a TS printer, though without going to a larger 'Pro' photo printer, I think you may have to go with far fewer sheets in the rear feed.

 

[inquiring mind]

Looking at your paper specs, thickness is 0.279mm Seems similar to a cardstock I put through a TS printer, though without going to a larger 'Pro' photo printer, I think you may have to go with far fewer sheets in the rear feed.

How is the image resolution on the TS models? Our current printer is a bit blurry, so we want that to improve as well. Thanks in advance