Did you know that the U.S. billboard and sign manufacturing industry has a market size of $15 billion? Regarding efficient sign-making tools, the pros use plotter pens to create their unique signs. Why is this such a critical tool?
Plotters have unique advantages over traditional printers that help them create all types of signs. If you’re new to making signs or want to change your approach, it’s important to understand plotter pen options and how they impact the work your plotter can do.
The following guide will explain what plotter pens are and why they work so well for printing vinyl signs.
What Are Plotter Pens?
Plotter pens are what plotter printers use instead of toner and ink. Plotter printers receive commands from a computer or use a vector graphic file. Then, the printers use the plotter pens to draw lines from one point to another.
Traditional printers work by creating a series of dots, but plotters create continuous lines instead. This means that plotters are vector-based instead of raster-based.
You can also program cutting plotters to create an image and cut it out with special tools or lasers. They work well if you use anything other than paper, such as vinyl, to create signs and billboards.
The plotter method dates back to 1751 when Andrea Bina used a pendulum with a pointer during earthquakes to trace lines in the sand. From there, the method evolved into analog XY writers and, eventually, digital plotters.
Pen Plotters
Pen plotters typically use color pens filled with several colors to create designs. Because the plotter uses pens and holders, they can make multicolored designs and graphics that have a very high quality.
With the help of pens, plotters print their drawings onto sheets of paper, plastic, vinyl, and many other materials.
Pens for Drum Plotters
Drum plotters use plotter pens to print graphics, like diagrams, architectural drawings, and business charts. They create color printouts when paired with different colored pens, which can define or highlight various design aspects.
The plotter pen uses a pin feed attachment to cover the paper on all sides and throughout the drum. You’ll find that internal and external plotters are the two main types of drum plotters.
Internal drum plotter types surround the paper as a sheet, and outer types cover and envelop the paper over the drum.
Pens for Flatbed Plotters
Flatbed plotters work well for intricate designs, engineering drawings, construction maps, and architectural drawings. Flatbed plotter printers have a design that allows them to sit on a table for use.
They have pens and holders built into them that come in different sizes and shapes. Also, the plotter pens come filled with different colored inks. Multiple pens help create drawings and designs that use an array of colors.
Flatbeds can quickly draw and handle complicated drawings and structures with pens and holdings. Examples include modern car designs, plane designs, and vinyl signs.
Flatbed plotters use a horizontal surface which is where you place the paper. Then, it draws on the paper using a bar that moves upward, downward, horizontally, and vertically.
Advantages of Plotters
You can use plotters for many technical applications that traditional printers just can’t manage. They use their pens to make high-resolution line drawings, text, images, and graphics for specialized applications. Other advantages include the following:
- Flatbed plotters can handle the job if you need to print on big pieces of paper.
- Plotters work with a diverse mix of materials, too. They’re great for signs printed on vinyl, cardboard, fabric, plywood, aluminum, and plastic.
- Plotters can duplicate the same pattern repeatedly without losing any image quality.
You can use a traditional printer to make similar images to plotter prints, but it won’t have the same quality or clarity, particularly when it comes to complicated line drawings.
Plotters are the way to go if you need many signs printed quickly. They have incredible print speed and stay consistent while they work. It’s also important to note that the pens draw with almost 100 percent accuracy.
Modern plotters can sync to many computers and useful software instead of working as a standalone device. For example, you can use newer plotters with Adobe Illustrator, CAD, Corel, and Flexi.
Vinyl Sign Advantages
Using plotter pens to print vinyl signs has many benefits for businesses. For instance, they’re durable and can withstand rain, snow, and UV rays. So you don’t have to worry about your sign fading or deteriorating.
They’re also lightweight and flexible, which makes it easy to move them and place the signs in difficult-to-reach locations. You can use them on light poles and storefronts or pack them up for festivals and fairs.
Vinyl signs printed with plotters have vibrant colors and graphics to catch the attention of potential customers. Text is easy to read, thus getting your message across and increasing traffic to your business.
You can customize the signs to fit your brand perfectly regardless of your product or service’s niche. You can arrange your prints from large banners to multiple small signs for any situation.
It’s also very cost-effective to use vinyl signs printed with plotter pens. You can create them in bulk and use them repeatedly because of their durability.
The Importance of Plotter Pens
Now you know how plotter pens work, the different plotters that use them, and their advantages. You also know why using them to create vinyl signs is a smart idea for small business owners.
Remember this guide and use plotter pens to create eye-catching graphics with precision. You can contact us at Simple Solutions International if you have more questions about different pen types.
Simple Solutions International offers a full selection of plotter blades and plotter pens as well as a variety of useful tools for use in plotting and sign-making, such as plotter adapters, masking film, spray masks, and other sign-making tools and accessories.