I see more places starting to offer full color full bleed envelope printing and I think they're using inkjet more and more. What are the current printer options for full bleed, full color envelope printing (printing on the envelopes already converted to envelopes to allow short runs)?
Have used the Riso HC5500 line and Xante Illumina. The Riso line offered envelopes at less than 1/3 the cost of the Xante, but at a quality level that was lower. Customers have to decide if goood is good enough or if they want the best quality... my customers most always choose good is good enough when given the price options of the two.
Thank you very much for the advice Joe. I appreciate it. I've seen some inkjet envelopes that are quite bled-together and not very crisp, and others that I believe were from an inkjet that are quite good, but I have no idea the range of machines they're run on. I've started putting feelers out whenever I see envelopes 'what machine are you running these on.' There is also a lot of price variance between one envelope and another in the market as you say although most of my customers don't want to pay an arm and a leg for them. Do you find some envelopes accept the Riso ink much much better than others?
I printed mostly on 28#WW and they seemed fine. Did mostly adjust the customer files in PitStop to get my color settings in place to deliver a good product. I ran a color refernece chart to show customers because PMS 200 red does not print with inkjet the same as the customers expect a offset PMS 200 red to look. Trick is to get color management down and never show a customer a envelope that has just come out of the inkjet. Had more problems with the heat on the fusers than with the bleed thru you talk about with inkjet. For short runs, give me digital!
