If you have limited funds, start out smaller and build your business. Then when the time is right, invest in DTG. There is nothing wrong with using various methods for decorating and it would be a great goal to reach!
VersaCAMM vs DTG
So I am planning for the future (dreams can't hurt right?), and I was wondering if investing in a DTG printer (If I did I would be going with the NeoFlex Printer or a Mod-1 ((forgot about that one)) or look into getting a VersaCAMM SP-540i from Roland.
I know with the Versacamm, you can do a whole lot of other things beside logos for t-shirts. But I am wondering if it is a good investment for one off's. Now I would be using the machine to get into more of the sign cutting and window graphics. Accept I dont know much about that at this time. But for argument sake, lets just say I want to use the versacamm for one offs and for production runs.
But on the otherhand, the DTG is a dedicated t-shirt printer, great for one off's and small high color production runs. It is a bit more expansive than the versacamm, and its stuck to one printing method.
I guess my true question here is what would be the smarter investment?
-DTG can be taken to print custom imgaes/photos on the spot at events
-Versacamm can print out the images and can be supplied like transfers but not custom on the spot images.
-Versacamm can be multi-use
-DTG is stuck to clothing product (I know there are a few different Neoflex printers that can print on different things)
-DTG technology is new and improving every year
-Versacamm technolog has been around for a bit?
-DTG can be printed on 100%, 50/50 cotton and a few other types of fabric
-Versacamms film can be put on anything
Thats a few comparisons I have between the two, what others am I missing?
I know with the Versacamm, you can do a whole lot of other things beside logos for t-shirts. But I am wondering if it is a good investment for one off's. Now I would be using the machine to get into more of the sign cutting and window graphics. Accept I dont know much about that at this time. But for argument sake, lets just say I want to use the versacamm for one offs and for production runs.
But on the otherhand, the DTG is a dedicated t-shirt printer, great for one off's and small high color production runs. It is a bit more expansive than the versacamm, and its stuck to one printing method.
I guess my true question here is what would be the smarter investment?
-DTG can be taken to print custom imgaes/photos on the spot at events
-Versacamm can print out the images and can be supplied like transfers but not custom on the spot images.
-Versacamm can be multi-use
-DTG is stuck to clothing product (I know there are a few different Neoflex printers that can print on different things)
-DTG technology is new and improving every year
-Versacamm technolog has been around for a bit?
-DTG can be printed on 100%, 50/50 cotton and a few other types of fabric
-Versacamms film can be put on anything
Thats a few comparisons I have between the two, what others am I missing?
1 - 20 of 22 Posts
Well at the moment, I am starting out with Screen Printing, and I will be doing all printing for a sporting goods store. They do over 100K in decorating and 95% of it will now be coming through me. So funds at this point are not a huge deal. I just want to wait to see how the technology develops over the next year.
Pro's and Con's to both.
DTG gives a softer feel whereas the Versacamm gives you more of a transfer feel.
DTG is more expensive when using white ink but not color ink only.
DTG is more geared for 100% cotton especially with white ink, Verscamm can do pretty much any material.
DTG can't print larger banners, Versacamm can.
It's all going to depend on where you take the direction of your business...
DTG gives a softer feel whereas the Versacamm gives you more of a transfer feel.
DTG is more expensive when using white ink but not color ink only.
DTG is more geared for 100% cotton especially with white ink, Verscamm can do pretty much any material.
DTG can't print larger banners, Versacamm can.
It's all going to depend on where you take the direction of your business...
Yeah, Those were other thoughts I had.
I really really like the DTG printers, I think the technology is cool and I have a bunch of ideas to take the DTG business far. While I was at the ISS show, I visited your booth and saw one of your sales reps printing with the Mod-1 on a canvas. That game me huge ideas for custom team photos on canvas at sporting events.
But I also like what I see with the Banners and all. I can see both sides going far haha.
Maybe if things go well I can afford both.
I really really like the DTG printers, I think the technology is cool and I have a bunch of ideas to take the DTG business far. While I was at the ISS show, I visited your booth and saw one of your sales reps printing with the Mod-1 on a canvas. That game me huge ideas for custom team photos on canvas at sporting events.
But I also like what I see with the Banners and all. I can see both sides going far haha.
Maybe if things go well I can afford both.
(One of the ways) Belquette started was printing canvas. There is truly a market there for it and dtg is a good fit for it. Thanks for stopping by our booth! We always try to put faces to names and shows are a good way to do that!
The guy I was talking to (forget his name, but I have his card somewhere) Was telling me about one of your customers that takes his printer to Dog shows and prints pictures of dogs on canvas. Thats where I thought of taking the printer to a baseball/softball game and printing team pictures on canvas. He also printed my own artwork on a shirt so I could compare to other printers which was really cool too.
That might have been me (or Kevin) haha. What was the artwork of? Was it a dog or dogs?
If this sporting goods store is going to be your primary customer (at least initially) then perhaps the VersaCamm makes more sense to start with (in addition to your screen printing).I will be doing all printing for a sporting goods store.
It depends on what you'll be printing for the sporting goods store. If you'll be doing a lot of jerseys (with lots of names & numbers) then the VersaCamm may make more sense.
You'd be able to print a whole slew of names & numbers in one "run". The VersaCamm will print & cut each image ... and then all you have to is weed, apply lamination, and heat press. You can do tees, jerseys, hoodies, etc.
In fact, a basic Vinyl Cutter will accomplish the same thing if you're OK with solid color images (this is where the VersaCamm really shines ... with full color prints). And a Vinyl Cutter is a lot less expensive.
I love DTGs, however, you'll be somewhat limited in your output capabilities (mainly cotton tees).
It's a tough choice.
Good Luck.
Well Im not sure of the artwork the dogs that were printed were. But the artwork I had printed was my design. It was Pandemonium Printing, a kind of red/orange/yellow tribal logo.
Yeah, it will be a whole mess of names and numbers, I was looking at getting a numbering system too, one that attaches to my press. But the names are the ones I am trying figure out how to do.You'd be able to print a whole slew of names & numbers in one "run". The VersaCamm will print & cut each image ... and then all you have to is weed, apply lamination, and heat press. You can do tees, jerseys, hoodies, etc.
The one thing I am really unsure of with the VersaCamm is the whole getting the image from the sheet to the garment. From what I thought it printed, the machine cut out the image, you put a film over the image thats cut out, peel the image and the film off of the roll, and then you just press it with a heat press? Is that correct?
I've seen different materials for the transfer to be lifted, but here's a video on it as well:
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=csu2T_Y8KtA[/media]
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=csu2T_Y8KtA[/media]
Yep, check out the video that Jerid just posted ... I think they cover the "transfer" process around the 6 minute mark.The one thing I am really unsure of with the VersaCamm is the whole getting the image from the sheet to the garment. From what I thought it printed, the machine cut out the image, you put a film over the image thats cut out, peel the image and the film off of the roll, and then you just press it with a heat press? Is that correct?
Thanks for posting that video. Its alot "easier" than I thought it would be. At the moment the current company I work for uses a vinyl cutter, but I hate all of the weeding and problems that come with the film. Thats why Im on the fence about the Versacamm
Weeding for tshirts isn't typically as extensive as weeding for signage etc. The good thing about a Versacamm is if you are printing banners, no weeding is necessary. Weeding was never a fun pastime for me, but I do know people who enjoy it. We did invest in a Versacamm and I can say I'm extremely glad we did. We find so many more uses for it outside of our original ideas.
I really want to get into doing car graphics, thats huge around where I am, but no one around here does them, so if I can get into that, and get good at that, theres a huge market.
Vehicle wraps can be a very good opportunity as well. It's more of a specialized field and an art form. You can go to some of these shows and they will train people and demonstrate car wraps at the show. I've seen them do hummers, porches, VW beetles, golf carts etc. Some of the vinyl is heat shrinkable so when you apply it, you use a heat gun to remove wrinkles, bubbles and it helps conform to the curve of the vehicle. Some really cool stuff!
The Vesaworks software with the versacamm has a utility that allows you to enter the names and numbers in a spreadsheet and it will substitute the number and names as it prints.Yeah, it will be a whole mess of names and numbers, I was looking at getting a numbering system too, one that attaches to my press. But the names are the ones I am trying figure out how to do.
I can't remember if you specified which model you're considering ... but if wraps are one of your future goals, then make sure you save up for the wider VersaCamm printer (the 54" or 64" models). I guarantee you'll kick yourself if you go with the 30" model ... and you'll wish you had a wider model.I really want to get into doing car graphics
I was surprised that most people try to use 5' wide material for wraps. When they were first starting, I was told 2' wide. But as the industry progressed (quickly), people were doing 5' wide. I'm impressed!I can't remember if you specified which model you're considering ... but if wraps are one of your future goals, then make sure you save up for the wider VersaCamm printer (the 54" or 64" models). I guarantee you'll kick yourself if you go with the 30" model ... and you'll wish you had a wider model.
1 - 20 of 22 Posts
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