I can only comment for the print and cut side of the house but I made a decision to go that way earlier this year based on end product and range of goods that I can supply verse to cost of machine. The print and cut option allows for a MUCH greater range of products you can supply and already it is paying dividends as it has opened up new customers for me
When you say Print & Cut, are you talking about a system like a VersaCamm that is an all-in-one printer / cutter or are you talking about using a standard printer and then moving it to the cutter? Two totally different systems and they use different types of inks. Difference in cost as well.
Correct about the hand. The VersaCamm is going to use a Heat Transfer Material (HTM is what Roland calls it). The VersaCamm will give you the ability to print on more items (adhesive back labels, HTM, transparencies,..), but you have the additional cost of material since you are not printing directly to an item. VersaCamm's don't have white ink either.
Here is the new scoop on the VersaCamm VP (the newer model). The VP model has improved ink lines and uses 4 print heads instead of 2. The SP model (older version) uses 2 colors for each print head. The VP model uses 1 color for each print head. The cost on the SP model dropped I believe recently. I would call you local Roland distributor to see what the price is. Hope this helps.
we have a sample of the versacamm printer/cutter and the edges of the transfer pucker around where the shirt streaches. It does have a feel like it is sitting on top of the garment where the printed shirts are much softer after washing.
i'm thinking of buying the sp300 as i expect it to be on sale late this year. I'm only concerned about the printing speed. Would you consider it slow, or just OK?
In my opinion, it has held up very well after several washes. I am in the middle of testing some new products to see how well they stand up but so far they have been great. As for the speed question, after watching DTG printers at the ISS show, I don't think it is any slower than one of those.
Sorry Steven, I mean, compared to the much faster SP540, or maybe the new VP series, or even the Soljet 540, would you consider the SP300 slow? I just looked at the printingspeed in the specs and its the slowest among the print & cut systems, but I don't have any idea what speed is ideal?
Not too sure on that. I don't have a comparison of those units side by side or even seen one at that. I do know that the speed has not really been a factor yet. I hope it becomes one though as that would mean I am taking in so many orders that I have to get another unit!!
DTG vs Print & cut 
Heat Transfer Paper Price List
