A3 printers are a significant investment, but they are usually the best choice for printing graphics since they produce higher quality output compared to an A4 printer. By purchasing an A3 printer for your office, you can be certain that your promotional materials will be printed in professional quality and will be impossible to ignore. However, there are some things that you should keep in mind when using an A3 colour printer to produce graphical materials. Here we talk about some of these factors to help you get the most out of your A3 laser colour printer.
Determine the paper size
The first thing you need to consider is the paper size. The standard A3 paper measures 420 mm by 287 mm, and serves most purposes. There is, however, another size called A3+, which is slightly larger and offers more space outside the actual usable area for any person to jot down notes or comments. This can help advertisers and marketers review draft copies of their print marketing campaigns and other printed collateral including posters, pamphlets and brochures.
So depending on whether you are producing a draft or the final copy, make sure that you are choosing the correct paper size for your A3 printer. If a document has to be reviewed and approved my several individuals, then it might be a good idea to get it printed on an A3+ size since that will allow all feedback to be accommodated without affecting the original design or layout.
Choose the right GSM
The second important factor, and perhaps a more technical one than the first, is the weight of the paper. Paper weight is measures in grams per millimeter or GSM. Paper with higher GSM values is used for heavy color printing and this is the one you should be using to print color posters and brochures on an A3 printer. Lighter paper can be used easily to print text. However, for printouts that will be shared with important clients or will go out of the organization, should be printed on heavier paper to create a positive and professional impression.
Glossy or matte?
There is also a variety of paper that is coated with a special substance to lock in the colors and to add gloss to the paper. Typically, this kind of heavy GSM, coated paper is used to print photographs on an A3 printer. Such paper has a GSM between 150 and 200 GSM and is used for most photographic printing. However, for premium quality photography printing, paper with GSM above 200 is also commonly used since this creates a better visual impression.
Heavy or Light printing?
The fourth factor that you should consider relates to the efficiency of using the machine. There are different ways in which you can use an A3 printer, but you have to be sure that you are using it for the right purpose. For example, if you want to print a plain text document with very little or no graphics, then an A4 printer might be more suitable for the purpose. You can use 70 GSM paper easily for this purpose. Even small print runs of colour printouts can be done with an A4 printer. However, for larger print runs and heavy visual content, an A3 printer might be more suitable.
Finally, buying an A3 printer can be a good investment since the benefits can be enjoyed for many years. If you anticipate that your business needs are going to expand dramatically over the next few years, this might be the best time to get one for your business. Nowadays, A3 printers are not as expensive as they used to be, thanks to efficient technology and intense competition within the printer market.