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AnaJet DTG Printer - has anyone seen or used this printer?

115K views 251 replies 89 participants last post by  AnACustomPrints 
#1 ·
Wondering if anyone has seen or is using one of these printers, I have talk with them and got some of their sample shirts, might add they were the only one out of 5 DTG companies I requested info and samples from that sent anything.

Sample washed out great, on the white and black garments, I even washed right side out with bleach (not much) and didn't hurt the print. I have super dried them nothing to the print.

Wish I could compare samples, however I guess the others don't care???? I was invited to view a T-Jet however a conflict cause me not to be able to go (three hr drive)

Just wondering if anyone has seen or used one.

Thanks
 
#114 ·
I bought an Anajet printer about 2 months ago. There was a slight learning curve with the cleaning of the machine. But the online videos really helped me out. Printing on black was a pain in the butt as well at first but after talking with the tech support guys I realized that my white ink was nof printing correctly, and after cleaning it and doing a printhead clean the issue was fixed. And have been printing dark garments ever since. Pretreatment is really easy. I bought a $10 sprayer at walmart and used a squeege to spread it out onto the shirt. I let me shirt dry over night and do not heat press them until right before I am ready to print. I hope this helped.
 
#115 ·
This might sound strange but were still learning (about 1 1/2 mo. with Anajet) Can't get a good nozzle check running it 3 times, 2 head cleanings no luck, put in cleaning carts run till we see cleaning fluid coming from ink carts at the lines from white, about 2 times. Then replace white and nozzle check is good as is the printing.
John
 
#118 ·
We have to do an ink charge pretty much everyday before we start printing white ink....does anyone know how much white ink the ink charge uses...how much waistage?
According to the post above by Ian / ZoomMonster, here is what he has experienced:

I have measured, and it does use 1.5 to 1.75 grams per channel!
Others have told me much that it is more. I would bet it is around $6.00 to $10.00 in ink. But that is my gut. Since you do one everyday, you might be able to do a test by measuring the cartridges and waste bottle over a series of days (4 or so) and let us know. That would be helpful if you are willing to do this. No pressure.
 
#121 ·
:mad: I PERSONALLY OWN AN ANAJET AND I AM VERY DISSATISFIED WITH THE PRINTER. THEY HAVENT GOT THE WHITE INK PROCESS DOWN YET. THERE IS SOOOO MUCH INK WASTE, DUE TO ALL OF THE PRINT CHARGES YOU HAVE TO DO TO KEEP THE INK TUBES FLOWING. THEY ALSO DO NOT HONOR THEIR WARRANTY. THEY WILL PROBABLY HAVE SOMEONE GET ON HERE AND TRY TO REBUTE WHAT IM SAYING. IMPROPER MAINTENANCE IS WHAT THEY SAID. I AM A BI-POLAR, OCD MANIAC WHO OVER CLEANS:D SO THAT IS NO THE ISSUE (ASK MY SHRINK). BOTTOM LINE IS... SAVE YOURSELF THE MONEY AND LOOK ELSE WHERE!

M
 
#126 ·
:mad: I PERSONALLY OWN AN ANAJET AND I AM VERY DISSATISFIED WITH THE PRINTER. THEY HAVENT GOT THE WHITE INK PROCESS DOWN YET. THERE IS SOOOO MUCH INK WASTE, DUE TO ALL OF THE PRINT CHARGES YOU HAVE TO DO TO KEEP THE INK TUBES FLOWING. THEY ALSO DO NOT HONOR THEIR WARRANTY. THEY WILL PROBABLY HAVE SOMEONE GET ON HERE AND TRY TO REBUTE WHAT IM SAYING. IMPROPER MAINTENANCE IS WHAT THEY SAID. I AM A BI-POLAR, OCD MANIAC WHO OVER CLEANS:D SO THAT IS NO THE ISSUE (ASK MY SHRINK). BOTTOM LINE IS... SAVE YOURSELF THE MONEY AND LOOK ELSE WHERE!

M
Mine's working great. You have to have patience for learning and understanding the process. I wouldn't blame this or any other printer for the shorcoming of white ink. Personally, I work mine as a secondary income...and an investment in a growing business. It cannot support me yet, but I do make a profit AND a good hourly return and if anyone were to compare to the stock market, money market etc. over the last 2 years, it wasn't a bad investment at all! :D

Don't give up. Adjust your Business model and make it work.
 
#122 ·
Hi All,

I was at the SGIA show in
atlanta and watched a demo of thed Anajet. I may be wrong but I know I heard the saleman say to a couple, " you should wait 1-2 minutes after the white underbase goes down to print the cmyk. I stood there and he manually stopped the machine after the white underbase and told the couple this will get the best results. Also they use that pirate head with bandana. It is about 9x10.5 it took nearly 4.5 minutes to print.
If all you plan on doing is 1 offs that OK. But in the real world a good comparison that we all use is how fast can it print a 10x12 with white underbase. If you do the math the Anajet can only print 10-11 prints per hour. Just my show observations

Bob
 
#123 ·
Anajet. When it works, it looks good, but these 14000 prices are way overboard for the profits... unless you are in an area where you might print 50 $25 shirts min. a day. The ink, my god. A gallon of plastisol will cost 40-75 bucks while a half cup of anajet ink costs $62 bucks. These machines are for people who dream about the easy way to print shirts... I'd like to hear from someone who is not doing shirts for fun, and hear how much the anajet is REally making them...Walt
 
#124 ·
I am really considering purchasing the AnaJet Ink Jet Printer as a backup to my main Silkscreen printing. I could use it for small custom orders of less than 30 and to reproduce individual shirts out of stock.

Questions:

1. What graphic applications does it work with? What change of files does it require?

2. Describe the quality as compared to Silkscreened T-Shirts.

3. The sales person is stating the the Economic Stimulus Package allows a 100% Business Expense deduction, if purchased in 2008. Do you know if this is true?

4. How does the cost of producing Tshirts on the printer compare with silkscreening? What is the estimated cost per shirt, using the printer?

5. How long do these machines last?

6. What is the best model? Is there only one? Is there an upgraded model that has very important features?

7. What is another good brand? How does the Brother printer compare?

Please answer any or all questions.

Happy Holidays.
 
#125 ·
1. What graphic applications does it work with? What change of files does it require?

......CMYK Any program in windows. White ink, you need a RIP. EK rip Anajet sells... multirip sells one also

2. Describe the quality as compared to Silkscreened T-Shirts.

....... This certainly isn't a black and white question. It's softer hand than plastisol. I dentical to waterbase ink. Since you are printing CMYK instead of spot colors, you have to understand gamut and management issues. Photgraphically you will not have halftone issues as you do in screen printing.


3. The sales person is stating the the Economic Stimulus Package allows a 100% Business Expense deduction, if purchased in 2008. Do you know if this is true?

.... call your tax guy

4. How does the cost of producing Tshirts on the printer compare with silkscreening? What is the estimated cost per shirt, using the printer?

...... much more expensive on larger orders and slower. Most cost effective on full color short runs. Shirts per hour... much less and design dependant

5. How long do these machines last?

.......Certain parts are consumable, but the main guts and superstructure should last many years if taken care of.

6. What is the best model? Is there only one? Is there an upgraded model that has very important features?

....only one model..unless there is something in the works.

7. What is another good brand? How does the Brother printer compare?

Brother (Smaller machine) is only CMYK. Newer one coming out with white. Good machines i hear, but much more expensive. I'm sure any of the Epson based models are comparable. Go with the machine and company that will take care of you. Service is great with the Anajet for me. Create your business model and mesh it with your expectations of a machine.
 
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#127 ·
I definitely think getting a DTG to make money for you is a completely separate issue from whether or not it works. It does take regular cleaning and head cleanings to keep your machine running. Sometimes no matter how well you do things, the smallest error will result in a big headache. Yet for all those challenges, I still think a DTG printer like my Anajet is less work and has a shorter learning curve than learning to print screens.

As for making money, zoom_monster said it and I think it bears repeating: adjust your business model. Your pricing and your target audience may need revision after adding a DTG to your shop.

Our Anajet makes us money but I'll be frank, I also had to completely rethink and redo my business plan once I took delivery and finished my test printing. A lot of the assumptions I had about DTG were wrong and some of the benefits of DTG didn't sink in until after I'd printed a case of color and wash tests.
 
#130 ·
Our Anajet makes us money but I'll be frank, I also had to completely rethink and redo my business plan once I took delivery and finished my test printing. A lot of the assumptions I had about DTG were wrong and some of the benefits of DTG didn't sink in until after I'd printed a case of color and wash tests.
Raise, So true.

My assumptions were off and I had to adjust also. I knew this wasn't going to be as easy as the sales pitch, but my many years in the shirt business made my expectations a little askew. The main thing I had to come to terms with was the speed of printing and the labor to pretreat and how this effects what I have to charge. The maintenence, ink usage and waste all need to be factored into what a profitable plan "is". The only way to get a handle on this is to use the printer. With the new pre-treat machines and the fact that I may soon be able to afford a second printer, I think the numbers may look even better!
 
#129 · (Edited)
Kevin, CMYK inkjet printing has been around for many years and has been tried and done successfully on t-shirts. The inks by design are transparent so that they can blend and give you a multitude of colors. White printing from inkjets created a new problem. How is an opaque layer printed from very small ink particles? Since the "market" demanded this solution, much research was made and manufactures rushed these beta solutions to market. The first white ink printers and inks had a lot more problems than the latest stuff. On this to work, The surface of the shirt must be treated with a binder that allows the ink to cling to the top layer of the shirt. This pre-treatment is an added production factor that makes the process slower. It is also a seperate factor in the learning curve. As in all processes, in order to get a consistant product, one must understand and control as many factors a possible. I would recomend that if you are not familiar with graphic programs, color management and a good understanding of how the CMYK works, concentrate on printing light colored shirts, and get good at this first. This will allow you to get familiar with your printer and feeling out the things that make this work. If you are very familiar with the graphics end, you can concentrate more on learning and testing the white end of things. You will use up hundreds of dollars worth of materials learning your craft and learning what you can do and cannot do. This gives you the knowlege to know what is involved and how to charge your clients for it. This process is not perfect for every situaton, but if you can sell what it does do, you can make money doing it. I still offer other forms of embellishment when the job (client, Art, Price) demands it. Don't take any sales pitch at face value, Research your business and method and try to be conservative on your expectaions and you'll do fine.
 
#131 ·
You give wonderful advice.

I'm going to get one. I will still outsource screen printing, but this will be very complimentary to my business. I received the sample 1 black and 1 white shirt from the salesman. The shirts look great! Like waterbase almost.

I do appreciate your advice. Have a very Happy Holiday.

Kevin
 
#132 ·
Hey everyone.

I'm a freelance t-shirt designer/illustrator and I've had my eye on this machine for a while. I am looking to buy and my question is about the dark colored shirt prints. With the white undercoating, does it thicken the design on the shirt? The water base feel on light colored shirts is great, and for my high end clientele, it's almost necessary. I want to know if the dark shirts are comparable in softness? Also, how easy would it be to double the design size by printing half, and then lining up the shirt a second time and printing the rest of the image, so I could hit the entire front of the shirt?

Thanks!

Evan

evanimal (take a look and maybe we can work together!)
 
#133 ·
Evan, Nice work!
Print is soft, not quite as soft as discharge and a little heavier (depending on settings) than CMYK only. Lineing up 2 prints to make it larger... probably not practical. Fabric would be difficult to line up perfectly. Come check it out at the ISS shows next week in Long Beach.
 
#134 ·
Thanks Zoom, I appreciate it.

So my big question is, as a designer/illustrator, where I'm creating my own custom stuff, for my own line, or for my clients, is it possible to work and print during the day, or when I'm printing am I going to have to sit there and load and unload all day. Right now I'm a one man operation, and not ready to hire someone to just take care of the printing. So basically, could I turn a profit designing 3 days in a row, printing one or two, and repeating that process, or could I meld it into my work day? Has anyone working solo found a good rhythm? Thanks!
 
#136 ·
Thanks Zoom, I appreciate it.

So my big question is, as a designer/illustrator, where I'm creating my own custom stuff, for my own line, or for my clients, is it possible to work and print during the day, or when I'm printing am I going to have to sit there and load and unload all day. Right now I'm a one man operation, and not ready to hire someone to just take care of the printing. So basically, could I turn a profit designing 3 days in a row, printing one or two, and repeating that process, or could I meld it into my work day? Has anyone working solo found a good rhythm? Thanks!
Evan,
A good rhythm is to print something every day. The people who have the most success with these printers feed them a reasonable amount of work. If you stand around worrying about how much ink you waste on maintenance or head cleans, you're not printing samples or experimenting to find out what your printer is good at. It's not the best printing method for all designs. I still offer screenprinting and embroidery. In looking at some of your artwork, some may look better with a bit more pop than DTS can offer, but you could also spend a ton of money on screen separations and set-ups and not move any shirts. You can get the ball rolling. Direct to substrate, allows you to create a design, print on a shirt or two and get it out there. Pretreatment, white ink can be a rough road with any printer starting off. If you understand art, color management and process management you can do good at this.
 
#135 ·
I totally agree, I do regular maintenance and I have white ink clogging issues and continuous banding problems. To cure the banding problem I have to do print head alignments and clean sponge constantly. The wasted ink is wasted money and more money for Anajet. If I had it all over to do again I would have bought some where else.
 
#143 ·
I met some Anajet guys in vegas at the ISA 2009. The guys were young and excited about the product. I don't think it rivals high fashion quality but it's great quality, good enough for tournament tees or a small fashion line. It was my first ever DTG demo and it's perfect for low production quantities. I even got invited down to the OC to get a tour of the factory where the machines are made.

I like that the machine takes up no more space than a desktop and can easily be moved around with 2 people. When we talked pricing, the machine was mid $1X,000 range and there was a great sale going on. It's still half the price of our wide-format printer, plus DTG isn't the path we're taking but I'm partial to any company whom I've personally exchanged contact info with the customer service reps and the reps are passionate, knowledgable and just plain nice.
 
#145 ·
I would not buy one. All DTG's sound great until you own one. They are more work then screen printing. You find yourself cleaning the machine more then you do using it. Ink is expensive. I recently sold my Anajet and went to screen printing. In the 8 months we owned our Anajet I honestly was never happy with the quality. I told my wife we should switch to screen printing and after the classes we were hooked. Now 6 months later I have paid off my screen printing equiptment and have made a killing selling shirts.

Here are the biggest problems with Anajet:
Ink is extremely expensive for only a 4 oz container of ink
You loose ink every time you clean it once a day.
the prints are not as crisp as they are with screen printing
platens are $550 each for a kids platen Ridiculously expensive!!
The shirts fade after 20 washes unlike screen printing.
finally the machine is over $15000 for what a HUGE HEADACHE
They do print on light garment clothing ok but when you factor in the cost of the machine, ink, platens, pre-treatment, heat press, software, and a month of tweaking your machine you are in to this for over $20000
 
#147 ·
Bob,
I know Anajet does a lot in the engineering, marketing and sales dept. My honest thought is they just haven't quite got over the hump yet. I know this from a very time consuming and expensive experience. I'm not certain if it's the direction they are trying go or if they started in a certain design direction and got married to it. Either way it ain't workin'. I have recently purchased a Veloci-Jet and the dfference is night and day. The VJ actually has some very innovative engineering features. Their software is state of the art (and easy). Tech support is fantastic. Ink use is less than 1/2 the cost and the VJ actually prints at the advertised speed and quality. Again I know all of these things from on hands experience. Obviously I am very impressed with the VJ but for good reason. Good luck with your decision!
 
#150 ·
Hello

i'm interesting to know the feel with the white coating on black shirt. is it heavy like a thermal flex? or is it flexible like screenprinting?

what is the production per hour on white shirt?
what is the prodcution per hour on black shirt?
Feel is lighter than plastisol. If you know the feel of a screened waterbase ink, it is about equal to that though a little crisper. Itls not flexable like plastisol. You're coating the top fiber, not ecapsulating and forming a film.

Production is slow in comparison to screening, though we're not counting a set up period. Your average will depend on the image size(Coverage), how you are curing the prints and how easy it is to load your particular garments. Also, some prints will alow you to use lower resolutions, and thus faster printing. 20 to 30 per hour on lights and 8 to 15 on darks.
 
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