News Views & How-To's
A collage of images of latex ink production including textiles, packing tape, vehicle wrap and a poster.

Choosing a Latex Printer

We’re often asked “what should I be looking for in a latex printer?”

A wide-format digital printer can be the basis for your business, and you need to think carefully about what each model offers, before you invest.

With quick-drying prints and low VOC inks, latex printers are typically used for printing applications such as interior graphics, especially graphics intended for environmentally-sensitive areas such as medical facilities and educational buildings. Latex printers are also popular for vehicle graphics, fleet graphics, indoor and outdoor signage, posters, banners, decals, and other applications.

Here are the top 5 considerations we offer, whenever anyone asks us about selecting a latex printer.

Wall art of a woman singing with the Roland DG logo, set on a subway wall.

Wall art set on an underground train station wall

Are the prints high quality?

We encourage people to visit their Dealer or one of our Roland DG Creative Centres, with a file to run test prints on their preferred media, from the printer they’re considering.

Roland DG's TrueVIS AP-640 large format latex printer offers a premium 4-color ink gamut that produces vibrant results across a wide range of media. Its True Rich Color 3 print settings help ensure accurate colour production. In addition, its inks are GREENGUARD Gold certified for use in even the most sensitive indoor settings.

Man installing orange vehicle wrap vinyl on a truck.

Man installing vehicle wrap vinyl on a truck

Especially when producing larger projects like wallcoverings or fleet graphics, consistently accurate printing and precise registration are important. The AP-640 offers the latest TrueVIS media feed and take-up system, enabling it to deliver stable and accurate printing over long print runs, and over long periods of time. These systems deliver vivid prints and produce consistent colour, hitting specific brand colours needed for jobs like fleet vehicle wraps and retail signage.

Close up of inks as installed on Roland DG AP-640 wide-format latex ink printer.

Close up of inks on a Roland DG AP-640 wide-format latex ink printer

Is the printer you’re considering affordable?

One important factor in purchasing any wide-format printer is to calculate how quickly you'll be able to recover your investment. Think about your average hourly productivity, and how much that can be enhanced by the printer you’re considering.

We invite you to talk to us about your actual work/jobs so we can help you calculate your return on investment.

Printheads for Roland DG's AP-640 wide-format latex ink printer.

Printheads for Roland DG's AP-640 wide-format latex ink printer

What are the operating costs?

Along with what you can produce and earn with your printer, you need to consider its running costs. The AP-640 consumes 29% less ink on average during normal production than competing latex printers. It also prints 39% faster than competing latex printers in standard mode, allowing you to be more productive.

In addition, the AP-640 offers legendary Roland DG reliability. Its dependable operation, minimal upkeep, and long-lasting print heads save time and money.

Close up of 7-inch display on Roland DG AP-640 latex ink printer.

Close up of 7-inch display on Roland DG AP-640 latex ink printer

What kind of service and support will you receive?

There are ever more ways to print, and substrates to print on, and even the most experienced print professionals could use some guidance from time to time. All Roland DG printers come equipped with powerful and intuitive VersaWorks 6 RIP software. The AP-640 also includes the Roland DG Connect app, which provides automated maintenance and performance oversight.

In addition to the resources our Dealers provide, Roland DG customers have access to our Technical and Service Support Team. For additional peace of mind, the AP-640 is backed by Roland DG's 2-year Heads N’ All Warranty to give you added peace of mind and machine support.

The choice is yours

Whether you’re buying a latex printer for the first time or upgrading your current equipment, keeping these 5 considerations in mind will help ensure you choose the best latex printer for your business.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact one of our experts who will gladly help you out.