Guide to In-House Printing: Graphic Designers and Marketing Departments

Choosing a printer for graphic designers is critical to the upkeep of a business’s brand. The right printer, that is. Printing marketing materials in-house gives the marketing department more control and accurate representation of what the end-product will look like.

This is important because anything associated with your company directly reflects the business’s brand. Because first impressions are everything, whether that’s meeting a sales representative or grabbing a product brochure, marketing materials should appear crisp and professional.

Think of it this way… poorly printed marketing materials shouldn’t be the reason a customer gets a bad impression of your business. Presenting a company and its brand well is impossible if the sales material is poor quality.

But purchasing the right printer to meet the rigorous needs of a graphic designer or in-house marketing team is more difficult than choosing between a laser or inkjet printer. Consider everything from the cost of replacing ink cartridges to paper capabilities.

Cost of Ink

Often times the cost of ink cartridges is neglected when purchasing a printer. The printer can appear to be cost-effective upfront, but the cost of replacing ink can destroy a budget later on down the road.

Consider the cartridge yield. The more pages a cartridge can print, the less you’ll need to replace the cartridge and therefore, your budget will stretch further. Read more about choosing between OEM and compatible cartridges.

Paper Capabilities  

Another important factor when choosing a printer for graphic design needs is the size and type of paper it can handle.

Individual needs vary drastically from business to business when it comes to paper. Some need A2 or A4 capabilities, depending on the size of materials printed in-house (flyer, brochure, poster, etc.).

But paper weight is also extremely important. Paper weight determines the rigidness, touch and feel, and what can be done with it in regards to folding. Most designers prefer to print drafts on a light stock before printing the final product on a thicker, glossy stock. The chosen printer should have the capability to handle various sizes and types of paper to give the marketing department more freedom and versatility.

The research behind choosing a printer for graphic designers and marketing departments can be a little overwhelming. Lucky for you, our team can handle this for you at any stage of the process. We’ll put our best people on it to pick out a printer that meets your individual needs and make your marketing department look like rock stars. Send us your contact info and we’ll reach out to you as soon as possible.