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4 0 G R A P H I C S P R O • M A R C H 2 0 2 3 G R A P H I C S - P R O. C O M substrates, it is a great place for a print service provider to dedicate time to." Another thing to consider when looking at purchasing a flatbed printer is the price. Most experts say that buying a machine of this type outright is the best option, but many smaller shops don't have the liquidity to do that, making leasing a bet- ter option. Costs can be reduced depend- ing on the types of automation that are included. If a shop has worked well with a spe- cific company's printers in the past, it may be in their best interest to consider a flat- bed model from the same manufacturer as what they are already using. at makes it easier when it comes to workflow. "Automation in finishing is only get- ting more and more common, but with the right equipment and software solu- tions this is easy," says Michael Voight, application specialist with swissQprint. "Using the top RIPs, you can easily set up hot folders for specific jobs that not only send the file to the printer but also to the cutter." A barcode can be printed on the sub- strate so that the operator of the cutter can scan it and the cutting software will bring up the correct cut file without having to search for it. "Nesting software also helps keep material waste down, saves time for prepress and the amount of time needed for the job," Voight says. When choosing a flatbed printer, it is important to look for a manufacturer with (Image courtesy Durst) (Image courtesy of swissQPrint) W I D E - F O R M A T P R I N T I N G