What Printer is Right for Me?
We know that when many of our customers first look to print their own plant labels, they're often unsure which label and printing solutions will best meet their specific horticultural needs.
As a leading manufacturer of high-quality, weatherproof horticultural labels, Bluepoint can guide you on the right type of printer for your nursery.
Printer Options
Before choosing your perfect plant labels, it’s worth considering which print solution will best fit your needs. We manufacture plant labels compatible with thermal transfer, laser and inkjet printers, however most horticultural businesses will use either a thermal transfer or laser printer – sometimes both – to print their labels.
We’ve outlined the key strengths & limitations of both printer types below:
Thermal Transfer
Thermal Transfer Printers provide a wonderfully efficient and cost-effective way to print labels. They use labels on rolls, with the ink applied via a print ribbon.
Strengths
- Speed – with labels provided on a continual roll, and a super quick print speed, you can print labels with incredible efficiency. If you are printing large volumes, this is a huge advantage
- Minimal waste – using rolls rather than sheets means you can print as little as a single label at a time with no waste. This is great when printing very small runs
- Low running costs – thermal transfer compatible labels and ink ribbons are notably more economical than laser printable equivalents – if cost is key, thermal transfer printing is a great option
- Great UV resistance – The print finish from thermal transfer printing is highly UV resistant; a great choice if you require maximum print finish durability (12 months+)
Limitations
- Single Colour Printing – thermal transfer printers can only print in a single colour at any given time
- Size Limitations – the size of the label you can print is limited by the size of the print head. Most horticultural businesses will use a 4-inch (104mm) print head, although printers with 8-inch print heads are available for industrial scale printing
- More Hands-On – feeding label rolls, changing printer ribbons and aligning sensors can initially feel a little daunting
Laser
Laser printers offer great versatility and a high quality, highly durable, full-colour finish. Labels are provided on sheets, and the ‘industry go-to’ printer – the OKI C650 – works just like a standard desktop printer.
Strengths
- Full Colour Printing – enabling you to create high-quality, beautiful and engaging point of sale labels that are fully weatherproof. If you want labels that help sell your products, this is a great solution
- Ease of Use – If you’ve used a desktop printer, you’ll already know how to use a laser printer; a great choice for those who want no hassle printing
- Versatility – a huge variety of labels are available on sheets, from self-adhesives to self-ties, stick-ins, bed cards and swing tags; great if you want to print a wide variety of different label types / sizes
Limitations
- Running Costs – laser printable labels and printer toners are more expensive than thermal transfer equivalents
- UV Resistance – whilst laser printed labels are still highly UV resistant, they will ultimately fade after extended periods in direct sun exposure
Summary
If you are looking to minimise print running costs, need to print a lot of labels quickly, need maximum UV resistance and don’t mind printing in one colour only, then the thermal transfer printer will be a great option for you.
If however, you are wanting to print full-colour labels, are looking for maximum ease of use and versatility, and don’t require labels to survive significantly more than 6-months direct sun exposure, a laser printer will give you everything you need.
If you’re still unsure which printer will work best for you, or would like to learn more about printer options, please get in touch, we’d love to hear from you.
And to learn more about available label options for both print methods, head over to our blog posting: Choosing the Right Plant Labels for Nurseries and Growers.
Why Choose Bluepoint?
We’re confident that the quality of our products is up there with the best that the industry has to offer – but what makes us most proud is our high levels of customer service. We’re always here to offer friendly, expert advice, and with us being a small, independent manufacturer based in the UK, you’ll always be speaking with an industry expert who is here to support your business!
If you’d like to find out more about how we can help with your plant labelling needs, drop James a line on 01392 927 030 or email him at [email protected] and ask for your free sample pack today!
