HP Designjet T830 MFP vs Canon iPF770MFP or iPF771MFP

If you are looking for a entry level A0 size large format multi-functions printer, you will probably ended up with 2 choice, the HP Designjet T830MFP and Canon iPF770MFP (iPF770 with add-on L36 add-on A0 scanner).

 

The below video will show you printing, scanning and copying function in action. However, before you make your choice, you shall evaluate other factors like below:

 

1. Warranty period

2. Running cost (printhead and ink cost per ml)

3. Upgradability (Can your MFP separate into 2 devices to suite your future operations needs, can you upgrade your scanner to higher end model if your copying and scanning job increase.)

 

 

 

A guide to choose the right large format MFP

It has been awhile, since the debut of affordable large format multifunction printer, namely HP Designjet T830 and follow with Canon iPF770MFP (iPF771MFP in certain Asia regions) and Canon iPF670MFP (iPF671MFP in certain Asia regions), the criteria of selection has diverted from the printer true performance and user friendliness assessment to specifications comparisons. 

The potential buyers these days seldom evaluate good quality printers like HP Design T930, T790, or Canon iPF831, iPF780 (iPF781) and iPF785 (iPF786) because the focus has shifted to the add-on large format scanner or the integrated scanner.

Users need to understand their requirements before starting to shop for plotters or large format MFPs.

Are you looking for a plotter or technical document scanner or large format MFP?

This can be determined by needs evaluations.
1. Printing volume  (light, medium, heavy)
2. Scanning and copying requirement (not required, optional, rare, mandatory)

Some guideline for users looking for large format MFPs as below

1. HP Designjet T830
for light printing volume with optional or rare scanning requirements.

2. Canon iPF670+L24 or iPF770+L36 MFP
for light to medium print volume with optional and rare scanning requirements

3. Hp Designjet T2530 MFP or Hp Designjet T3500 MFP or Canon iPF771+M40 MFP
for medium print volume with optional or rare scanning requirements

4. Hp Designjet T1200 MFP Canon iPF781+M40 MFP or Canon iPF786+M40 MFP
for medium print volume with mandatory scanning requirements

5. Canon iPF831+M40 MFP or Canon iPF841+M40 MFP
for heavy print volume with mandatory scanning requirements

In short, the selection criteria is very much depends on the users operating requirements.
Hope the above article is helpful in guiding the readers on large format MFPs selection.

Media cost calculation for Canon iPF PRO540 in per square foot or per square meter

One of my blog reader wrote in to enquire on the media cost calculation for the Canon iPF PRO540 that he newly invested.

I told the reader to use the Accounting Function from the Canon iPF print driver to calculate but he insisted to learn the way to calculate media cost only in per square foot as well as per square meter.

Canon iPF PRO540

The new owner of the Canon iPF Pro540 is operating a fast print shop (print services provider). He mentioned that able to calculate various media cost in term of per square foot or per square meter is very helpful for him to quote customers that has various media requirements.

Example:
A roll of Matte Vinyl Sticker, 24inches x 30m, MYR210 per roll.

Cost per square foot calculation:

Width: 24inches = 2foot
Length: 30m = 98.43foot

1 roll of 24inches x 30m Matte Vinyl Sticker contains 2 x 98.43 square foot
= 196.86 square foot

Cost per square foot
= RM210/196.86 square foot
= RM1.07 per square foot


Cost per square meter:
Width: 24inches = 0.61meter
Length: 30meter

1 roll of 24inches x 30m Matte Vinyl Sticker contains 0.61 x 30 square meter
= 18.3 square meter

Cost per square meter
= RM210/18.3 square meter
= RM11.48 per square meter

*The above costing does not include media wastage.
 

HP Designjet T830 eMFP vs Canon iPF771MFP L36 Comprehensive Review & Comparisons

HP Designjet T830 eMFP or Canon iPF671 A1 MFP or 771 A0 MFP are entry level wide format multi-functions system. If scanning and copying jobs are critical for your operation, you shall opt for true wide format MFP system such as Canon iPF M40 series or Oce Plotwave 345 or 365.

However, if you require minimal scanning and copying functions but printing volume is reasonable high, Canon iPF671 A1 MFP or 771 A0 MFP shall fit into your consideration.

If scanning, copying and printing functions are also very minimal to your operation, you may include HP Designjet T830 eMFP as one of the option. The reason the T830 print engine is built from T520 platform but with much higher running cost.

Please watch below video for very professional and details analysis of the HP Designjet T830 eMFP and Canon iPF771 MFP.

Canon iPF771 vs HP Designjet T520 Comparisons & Reviews for Purchasers

Printing and scanning of technical CAD drawings has become very affordable. Unlike in the past, most of the drawings were outsource to fast print shops.

It is common for Architecture, Engineering and Construction companies to have multiple large format printers or even multi-functions large format printers for in-house printing and scanning requirements.

These AEC or manufacturing companies are designing, constructing or manufacturing projects or products that worth multi-millions to multi-billions dollars. But when comes to selecting a right printer to purchase, which cost as low as USD2000, most of the purchasers are comparing the price instead of the productivity of the printer that has great impact to the project team.

When the purchasers sounded very cost conscious, for example the requirement is A0 size CAD printing, the suppliers will normally quote the most affordable models from 2 very reputable brand, which is Canon imagePROGRAF iPF771 (labelled as iPF770 in some other regions) and HP Designjet T520.

Below is the comparisons for readers reference.

HP Designet T830 MFP, Canon iPF771M MFP & Canon iPF671M MFP

The multi-functions wide format printer is getting more popular recently. Both major manufacturers of wide format printers are introducing their new range of multi-functions wide format printers in the beginning 2016.

HP introduced the low end multi-functions printer, HP T830 where the scanning unit is built in with the printer.

HP Designjet T830 MFP

Canon introduced the medium end multi-functions printer, Canon iPF771M (A0 size) and Canon iPF671M (A1 size) multi-functions printers where the printer and scanner are separated as 2 devices. In some other regions, they are known as Canon iPF770M and Canon iPF670M.

Canon iPF671M MFP & iPF771M MFP

Now, the users are having multiple choice of large format MFPs. Below is the summary for easy reference:

High End 
1. HP Designjet SD stand alone scanner
2. Canon M40 scanner
Both high end MFP are adding scanner unit to the printers for HP and Canon.

Medium End
1. HP Designjet T2530 MFP (Built-in Scanner)
2. Canon iPF771M MFP (separate unit like Canon M40 or HP Designjet SD scanner)
3. Canon iPF671M MFP (separate unit like Canon M40 or HP Designjet SD scanner)

Low End
1. HP Designjet T830 (Built-in Scanner)


Personally I recommend users to opt for wide format MFP systems that are made up of printer and scanner instead of those built in scanning unit system. It is due to the clear differences in term of scanning  and post scanning editing performance as well as the total cost of ownership.

Canon iPF781, iPF786 & iPF681 Product Video

The fastest plotter has become faster.

The new Canon iPF681, iPF781 & iPF786 has been introduced in Asia region to replace the Canon iPF650, iPF760 & iPF765. 

The new models has improved significantly on areas as below:

1. Printer speed, >10% faster
2. More economical printing with 300ml ink cartridge option
3. More vibrant color
4. Improve connectivity with Clouds

Kindly view product video below for better idea.

*Note: Canon iPF780/iPF781/iPF680 is similar to Canon iPF781/iPF786/iPF681. The product naming is different due to different region.

Land Surveyor Board Malaysia - Subsidize On Plan Printer Purchase

Land Surveyor Board Malaysia - Subsidize On Plan Printer Purchase 
(Lembaga Jurukur Tanah Malaysia Pemberian Insentif Bagi Pembelian Plotter)

Land Surveyor Board Malaysia is providing subsidy amounting to RM5000 on purchase of large format printer to all the member in Peninsular Malaysia effective 10th October 2014 while the fund last.

The intention of the Land Surveyor Board is to assist its member in improving work productivity as well as to ensure the plan produce by land surveyors are printed nicely.

However, the question now is what model of plotter shall the land surveyors invest in?

In general, the price of plotter or plan printer is ranging from RM5,000 to RM20,000 depending on technology and class (disposable, SOHO or workgroup).

Below is the general specifications & comments of the common models for selection, starting from the lowest end to highest end.

1. HP Designjet T120 ( A1 size, inkjet, disposable, built on desktop printer platform)

For students or when mobility is key. Slow print speed, especially on full color printing and extreme high printing cost due to very small cartridge size, 29ml for Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, 38/80ml for Black.

HP Designjet T120

2. HP Designjet T520 (A1 or A0 size, inkjet, SOHO, built on desktop printer platform)

Slightly better than HP Designjet T520. Suitable for very light usage, slow in speed, high printing cost due to the size of the ink cartridge, 29ml for Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, 38/80ml for Black.

HP Designjet T520

3. Canon iPF605 (A1 size, inkjet, workgroup printer, built on plotter platform)

Recommend for small corporate environment, fast in printing & file processing speed, low printing cost with large ink cartridge size. 130ml for Cyan, Magenta, Yellow Black & Matte Black.

Canon iPF605

4. HP Designjet T920 (A0 size, inkjet, workgroup printer, built on plotter platform)

Recommend for small to medium size corporate environment, fast in printing speed but slow in processing speed, low printing cost with optional big ink cartridge size. 40/130ml for Photo Black, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Gray & 69/300ml for Matte Black.

HP Designjet T920

5. Canon iPF750 (A0 size, inkjet, workgroup printer, built on plotter platform)

Recommend for small to medium size corporate environment, fast in printing & file processing speed, low printing cost with large ink cartridge size. 130ml for Cyan, Magenta, Yellow Black & Matte Black.

Canon iPF750

6. Canon iPF815 (>A0size (44"), inkjet, production printer,  built on plotter platform)

Recommend for medium to large size corporate environment, fast in printing & file processing speed, very low printing cost with 700ml ink cartridge size.

Canon iPF815

The land surveyors shall take this opportunity to upgrade their plotter for better work efficiency.

For A1 size printer, the right choice shall be Canon iPF605

For A0 size printer, the buyer shall choose either HP Designjet T920 or Canon iPF750.

If you are one of the member of Land Surveyor Board of Malaysia, please refer to all the plotter reviews in this website for your decision making.

Canon iPF M25 & M40 Wide Format Copy, Scan & Print Solutions

Large format technical documents management like print, scan, copy, cloud sharing has become a very common features required by the technical users.

The video below has well explained the offering of the Canon iPF M25 & M40 Multifunction LFP series.

Features:

1. High Quality Scanning & Copying of the wide format documents.
2. Cloud sharing
3. User friendliness operation with large touch screen panel
4. Thick paper scanning via straight paper path (up to 2mm)
5. Mobile
6. Image enhancement & noise filter for better quality image
7. Scan preview with image editor before print

No doubt the Canon iPF M25 & M40 wide format MFP offers superb features, but the key reason that I like most is the 2 peace design. Basically the wide format MFP is made up by combining the scanner and the LFP.

Canon iPF M25 MFP
Canon iPF605 + M25 Scanner
Canon iPF650 + M25 Scanner

Canon iPF M40 MFP
Canon iPF750 + M40 Scanner
Canon iPF760 + M40 Scanner
Canon iPF765 + M40 Scanner
Canon iPF815 + M40 Scanner
Canon iPF825 + M40 Scanner

The combination is flexible as it shall be made up based on users' needs.

Related posts:

1. HP Designjet T2300 eMFP vs. Canon iPF750 MFP Review 
2. HP Designjet T2300 eMFP vs Canon iPF750 MFP Review & Comparison 
3. HP Designjet eT2300 MFP vs Canon iPF M40 MFP Review & Comparison
4. HP Designjet T790, T1300, T2300 eMFP vs Canon iPF750, iPF760, iPF765 MFP - Print Processing Speed Review

Canon iPF6400SE & iPF8400SE 6-Color Graphic Arts Large Format Printer Preliminary Review

Canon is going to launch the new line-up for the imagePROGRAF (iPF) inkjet large format printer.

The brand new Canon iPF6400SE (24" model) and iPF8400SE (44" model) are the combination of the strength of its 5-color (iPF650, iPF750 & iPF815) and 8-color series (iPF6410S & iPF8410S).

Information available as of now:
Pigmented ink, 6 color (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black, Matte Black & Red)
Single print head (low running cost)
Large ink tank (300ml for iPF6400SE, 700ml for iPF84100SE)
Suitable for CAD & Graphic Arts printing
Affordable
Small in size (iPF6400SE has smaller foot print as compared to iPF6410S)
Etc.

I shall reveal more once I have chance to hands-on and review the performance of Canon iPF6400SE & iPF8400SE in time to come.

Below is the product video for your reference.

Invest in wide format technical documents plotter or outsource printing?

Large format plan printer used to be a luxury equipment for Architecture, Engineering or Constructions companies in Malaysia. 10 years ago, a HP Designjet 1020 can cost more than USD10,000 per unit. At the time, most of the drawings were out sourced to commercial printers. 

Canon iPF765

The cost of a large format printer (LFP) has become very affordable these days. A decent A0 large format printer like Canon iPF750 or HP Designjet T920 will cost you less than USD4,000. Hence, most of AEC firms are installed with at least one unit of large format printer. More established AEC companies with high print volume are upgrading to LED based multi-function wide format printer such as Oce Plotwave 340 or Oce TDS 750.

The benefits of investing in wide format printer:

1. On demand printing
Just click a print button, the drawing will be ready for pick up in less than 1 minute*.

2. Higher productivity 
Imagine the indirect cost like getting a dispatch staff to travel to and fro not forgetting the waiting time.

3. Secure Print
Confidential document is well control if printed in house instead of outsourcing printing.


The benefits of outsource printing:

1. Pay per print
No cost incurred to buy or lease a wide format printing device.

2. Piece of Mind
This applicable to AEC companies that have inconsistency high volume printing demand. The commercial printers will take care of the problem**.

 
* Benchmark based on Canon iPF605 & iPF650 performance in A1 CAD printing at normal mode.

** As the wide format plotters price has become so affordable, most of the AEC firms have their own large format printers, when volume surges, they will pass on the excess volume to the commercial printers.

Related Posts:
1. Large format printers for copy centres
2. Large Format Printer - Size Does Matter?
3. What large format printer consumables items should be stocked for maximum printer productivity and piece of mind?
4. Accounting Functions of Canon imagePROGRAF Large Format Printer
5. HP Designjet T920 vs Canon iPF750 Review

HP Designjet T920 vs Canon iPF750 Review

This is a head on comparison between the A0 size large format inkjet printer.

HP Designjet has bring the gap closer in term of productivity as compared with Canon iPF, but it was compromised with print quality (see video for details).

The new HP Designjet T920 has copy the media output mechanism from toner based multifunction wide format printer, i.e.Oce Plotwave. It is a good idea indeed, but in practical, due to the inkjet printing mechanism and low cost built-up, the functionality and reliability of the HP Designjet T920 top out-put tray is questionable.

As of now, I still think HP Designjet T790 is a better LFP as compare to HP Designjet T920.

HP Designjet eT2300 MFP vs Canon iPF M40 MFP Review & Comparison

HP Designjet T520 vs Canon iPF750 Comprehensive Review & Comparison

HP Designjet T520 vs Canon iPF750 is not an apple to apple comparison.

In fact, HP Designjet T520 is a lower end inkjet wide format printer if compared with the HP Designjet 510 or 500 series.

If you have read my previous post on HP Designjet T520 vs Canon iPF605, and convinced that Canon iPF605 is a much superior LFP as compared with the HP Designjet T520, you may just want to skip this video because Canon iPF750 (A0) and Canon iPF650 (A1) is as higher grade LFP as compared with Canon iPF605 (A1).

Many IT retailers and computer shops are proposing the HP Designjet T120 and T520 series to their customers because of the price. If you are looking for a A1 size printer, they will propose to you a HP Designjet T520 or T120 or Canon iPF605. If you are asking for a A0 size printer, the option given will be only HP Designjet T520.

Why? Because they only consider the face value of a products like specifications and price. 

The actual fact is there are more than price and specifications when come to technical documents printing. Just to name a few:

Print Quality

Durability

Printing Cost

Productivity on continuous printings especially under workgroup environment.

Ergonomics & User Friendliness

After sales service & warranty period

Etc.

If technical documents (CAD) printing is important to you, insists a Canon iPF750 or a HP Designjet T790 and above.

HP Designjet T520 A1 vs Canon iPF605 Review

HP Designjet T520 A1 vs Canon iPF605 is definitely not an apple to apple comparison.

The Canon iPF605 is a medium end printer like iPF610. Canon Inc has enhance the iPF605 features and reliability but price it lower for entry level professional users like Architects, Engineers or Designers.

HP Designjet T520 is designed for consumers market and intend to market via computer shops. It is meant for students, consumers or office users that print very minimal drawings, i.e. less than 20 pages a month.

Well, if you insists to compare the Apple with Orange, please view video below.

 

Video by Velmex Distribution

HP Designjet T790, T1300, T2300 eMFP vs Canon iPF750, iPF760, iPF765 MFP - Print Processing Speed Review

Productivity on demand is always a key concern of the plotter users in AEC (Architecture, Engineering & Construction) industries. This is because shared wide format printer within a work group or among work groups are common, and most important is the technical documents print volume could surge multiple times when there are project deadlines to be met.

Hence, productivity of a wide format printer has become one of the most important criteria. Most of the users relate fast printing speed as high productivity. There is nothing wrong on such assumption, but what has been overlooked is the file processing time or print processing time.

Printing speed is the speed measure based on how fast a printer produce a technical drawing or printout. It is measure from the printer head start moving until it stop printing.

File processing speed or print processing speed is measure from the moment a file is sent to the printer for printing until the print head start moving.

The video below best define the file processing speed and printing speed.

Canon iPF760 pre-launch debut at Asian M&E Show 2012, KLCC

The new Canon iPF760 is currently available for preview at Asian M&E Show 2012, Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre from 26th June 2012 till 28th June 2012 at Hall 6, booth H602, showcased by Plot-tech Services (M) Sdn Bhd.

I have visited the show yesterday and have witness the performance of the Canon iPF760. I shall be able to post up the Canon iPF760 review and comparison between Canon iPF760 vs Canon iPF750 soon.

Canon iPF760 printing the 3D perspective impression of the architecture designs

Visitors enquire on the Canon iPF760

Canon iPF760 and iPF765 Printer Stand and Basket Unit

Since the introduction of Canon iPF650 and Canon iPF750, I found that Canon Inc. has focus alot on the user experience as well as ergonomics in the wide format printer product development especially on the 5-color iPF series.

A part from enhancing the technical specifications, the new model has also improve in the design of the users operations such as paper loading and printed paper collection.

One of the key advantage of Canon iPF750, iPF755, iPF650 and iPF655 is the paper loading. These models feature easy slide in roll paper loading system in which media roll is first placed on top of the printer, then slide in along guide rails. Roll spindle is loaded at point easily accessible from the front of the printer for easy loading from a natural posture.

Canon iPF760 and iPF765 have further strengthen the ergonomics aspect of the design by featuring the new printer stand and media bin where users are able to collect the printed drawings easily without a need to squart down. (Please see below video for details).

The good news is the new design is adopted by the Canon iPF750 version up model now.

Canon iPF750 CAD drawing water resistance test

"Is the printing water proof?"

"Will the ink smudge when my technical documents caught by rain water?"

"How to prevent the CAD drawings from smearing in the rain?"

"I am looking for a wide format printer that produces water and smudge-resistant drawings."

Sounds familiar with the above questions?

A test was being carried in view of the above concerns or FAQs.

Printer brand & model: Canon iPF750

Ink Technology: Canon 5-color dye reactive ink*

*(Canon iPF605, iPF650, iPF655, iPF750, iPF755, iPF760 & iPF765)

Media: 80gram A1 size plain paper

We found the ink did not smear under the condition of soaking into the running water basin. The lines are still clearly visible with no sign of smearing until the paper was tear apart.

Please see video below for details.

In short, the Canon iPF 5-color series running on PFI-102, PFI-104 ink cartridges is capable to produce water resistance technical documents on plain paper. What it takes is just a few simple settings at the printer driver.

HP Designjet T2300 eMFP vs Canon iPF750 MFP Review & Comparison

Multi-function large format printer has become a hot topic these days. CAD users in AEC or M&E industry are exploring the viability in investing in a large format scanner or multi-function large format printer.

From the total cost of ownership point of view, it is not viable to invest in HP Designjet T2300 eMFP as the large format scanner is integrated into the printer. The life span of the scanner could easily last for more than 10 year, but the printer may just last approximately 5-6 years before it need a lot of maintenance due to life span of the wear and tear parts in the inkjet wide format printer.

It means if you invest in a integrated multi-function large format printer like HP Designjet T2300 eMFP, very likely you will need to replace the whole system (integarted scanner and printer) every 5-year.

If you opt for a seperate system like HP Designjet T790 + large format scanner or Canon iPF750 MFP where the systems are basically made up by two separate devices (scanner + printer), you can keep the scanner as long as it is still funtioning (easily last more than 10 year) while with the flexibility to upgrade the wide format printer in every 5 to 6-year based on the print volumes.

*Note: A large format A0+ (40") scanner price is approximate 2 times the A0 size large format printer.

For functionality of both types of systems, please refer to video below: