Printing Restaurant Menus on Card...

  • Thread starter Thread starter Sniper
  • Start date Start date
S

Sniper

Hi, would anyone here be able to advise me on
a decent printer which would be suitable for printing restaurant menus
on thin card.

Any input would be greatly appreciated.
 
Sniper said:
Hi, would anyone here be able to advise me on
a decent printer which would be suitable for printing restaurant menus
on thin card.

Any input would be greatly appreciated.
Click to expand...

Hi.

I have done it.

Any A4 printer will do the job.

Instead of plain thin card, I would suggest using a Photo Paper from the
same maker as the Printer. Set your media selection to that paper.

It will use more ink and take a bit longer to print, but you will get much
stronger colours and even clearer text doing it this way.

Roy G
 
My first though would be an HP business printer but after thinking about
the paper handling I would be inclined to go with a Canon IP4200.

When using OEM ink the print result is almost as good as the HP but the
paper handling is much better. In addition to the flat cassette feed
you have an auto top sheet feeder that will feed all sorts of different
paper with very little bending. Each color is in a separate cartridge
so you only replace what you used. The printer is usually on sale many
times with a rebate and can be had for around $80.00.

If you were going to print photos as well then I would opt for the
IP5200. It is the same printer with a faster print engine for printing
photos. The print quality is the same and it takes the same ink.

Both of the above Canon printers can print two sided automatically.
This is called duplex and is a real nice feature.

If you need to print larger menus then you need a wide format printer
that can take paper up to 13x19.
 
Roy said:
Hi.

I have done it.

Any A4 printer will do the job.

Instead of plain thin card, I would suggest using a Photo Paper from the
same maker as the Printer. Set your media selection to that paper.

It will use more ink and take a bit longer to print, but you will get much
stronger colours and even clearer text doing it this way.
Click to expand...

I would not recommend photo paper at all. I printed a bunch of menus on
my Canon IP4000 and used HP Office specialty paper that has a nice gloss
surface on it that is designed for this kind of use.
 
measekite said:
I would not recommend photo paper at all. I printed a bunch of menus on
my Canon IP4000 and used HP Office specialty paper that has a nice gloss
surface on it that is designed for this kind of use.
Click to expand...

Hi there,

Thanks for the suggestions, much appreciated. At the
moment I have an Epson D88 Series printer, would this printer do the
job If I bought the appropriate type of thick paper you were
describing?

Thanks,

Alex
 
Sniper said:
Thanks for the suggestions, much appreciated. At the
moment I have an Epson D88 Series printer, would this printer do the
job If I bought the appropriate type of thick paper you were
describing?
Click to expand...

Should do...

This page..
http://www.epson.co.uk/products/inkjet_printers/Stylus_D88.htm
...mentions that it's suitable for printing birthday cards.

The specification for your printer is here....
http://www.epson.co.uk/products/inkjet_printers/product_spec/Stylus_D88.htm

It lists the following Paper Types...

Premium Ink Jet Plain Paper A4, Bright White Ink Jet Paper A4, Premium
Glossy Photo Paper A4,13 x 18cm (5 x 7"), 10 x 15cm (4 x 6"), Premium
Semigloss Photo Paper A4, 10 x 15cm (4 x 6"), Ultra Glossy Photo Paper A4,
13 x 18cm (5 x 7"), 10 x15cm (4 x 6"), Matte Paper - Heavyweight A4,
Double-Sided Matte Paper A4, Plain Paper A4, A5, B5, Letter, Legal, A6,
custom, Photo Paper A4, 10 x 15cm (4 x 6"), Photo Quality Ink Jet Paper A4

.... so I would do some experimenting. Take a trip to the art materials
supply shop and buy a few sheets of various weights of heavy matt/gloss
paper and possibly even some thin card (eg birthday card weight). Give them
all try and see what works best well before buying a load.
 
Sniper said:
Hi, would anyone here be able to advise me on
a decent printer which would be suitable for printing restaurant menus
on thin card.

Any input would be greatly appreciated.
Click to expand...
Dye-based inkjet prints will run. That is a pain in the neck for menus
- unless laminated then if the menu gets wet (inevitable) it's going to
look terrible and be at risk of staining linen and patron's fingers and
clothes. Laminated menus are common in greasy spoon/family restaurants,
but perhaps not the image that you want to project.
Pigment based inkjet prints (Epson R800 - a4 - or R1800 / HP B9180 -
A3+) won't run. The Epsons are good for text quality, I'm not sure
about the new HP printer. They don't auto-duplex - so you have to feed
the paper through twice to print both sides. Also they're not great as
general office printers as the rear paper feed trays are near vertical
and act as dust traps (a dust cover is lifted to allow access to the
feeder) - most users wouldn't want to leave the printer sitting for long
periods with paper in the tray and dust cover open. Some dye based
printers use pigment black inks - but if only black text is okay then a
laser is probably a better option - if it will work with the card that
you want to use. Perhaps if you want coloured logo/graphics but can get
away with black menu text, then a local printer can print menu
"letterheads" and you can add the changing menu text with a laser printer.
 
Thus spake frederick:
Dye-based inkjet prints will run. That is a pain in the neck for
menus - unless laminated then if the menu gets wet (inevitable) it's
going to look terrible and be at risk of staining linen and patron's
fingers and clothes. Laminated menus are common in greasy
spoon/family restaurants, but perhaps not the image that you want to
project. Pigment based inkjet prints (Epson R800 - a4 - or R1800 / HP
B9180 -
A3+) won't run. The Epsons are good for text quality, I'm not sure
about the new HP printer. They don't auto-duplex - so you have to
feed the paper through twice to print both sides. Also they're not
great as general office printers as the rear paper feed trays are
near vertical and act as dust traps (a dust cover is lifted to allow
access to the feeder) - most users wouldn't want to leave the printer
sitting for long periods with paper in the tray and dust cover open.
Some dye based printers use pigment black inks - but if only black
text is okay then a laser is probably a better option - if it will
work with the card that you want to use. Perhaps if you want
coloured logo/graphics but can get away with black menu text, then a
local printer can print menu "letterheads" and you can add the
changing menu text with a laser printer.
Click to expand...

I would go the laminated route - how down or up market the end result looks
will depend more on subtle graphics & keeping the number of typefaces down.
If you can get hold of matt laminate - another option. The advantage of
laminating is you can use the existing printer the results wineproof. Then
again, if the OP wants to change the menu on daily basis, laminating will
cost a bomb. Another option is a B+W laser onto coloured card. Want to be
deliberately tacky? Hot foil printing!
 
Pigment based inkjet prints (Epson R800 - a4 - or R1800 / HP B9180 - A3+)
won't run.
Click to expand...
The epson D88 has pigment inks too. So it's also recommended for printing
menus. I also suggest photo paper (photo glossy, photo matte, photo
semi-gloss, etc).
Another choice is a color laser printer.
 
Dye-based inkjet prints will run. That is a pain in the neck for menus
- unless laminated then if the menu gets wet (inevitable) it's going to
look terrible and be at risk of staining linen and patron's fingers and
clothes. Laminated menus are common in greasy spoon/family restaurants,
but perhaps not the image that you want to project.
Pigment based inkjet prints (Epson R800 - a4 - or R1800 / HP B9180 -
A3+) won't run. The Epsons are good for text quality, I'm not sure
about the new HP printer. They don't auto-duplex - so you have to feed
the paper through twice to print both sides. Also they're not great as
general office printers as the rear paper feed trays are near vertical
and act as dust traps (a dust cover is lifted to allow access to the
feeder) - most users wouldn't want to leave the printer sitting for long
periods with paper in the tray and dust cover open. Some dye based
printers use pigment black inks - but if only black text is okay then a
laser is probably a better option - if it will work with the card that
you want to use. Perhaps if you want coloured logo/graphics but can get
away with black menu text, then a local printer can print menu
"letterheads" and you can add the changing menu text with a laser printer.
Click to expand...

Better than a laminate is a 'menu holder', basically a /very/ fancy
sheet protector, possibly with a leather (pleather?) cover. This way
the menu is protected, and can be easily changed and/or daily specials
added (and it doesn't look as tacky as laminating).

I'm getting major déjà vu with this question - I get the feeling this
is about the third time I've answered it on the newsgroup. Hmm...

--

http://www.FenrirOnline.com

Computer services, custom metal etching,
arts, crafts, and much more.
 
frederick said:
Dye-based inkjet prints will run. That is a pain in the neck for menus
- unless laminated then if the menu gets wet (inevitable) it's going to
look terrible and be at risk of staining linen and patron's fingers and
clothes. Laminated menus are common in greasy spoon/family restaurants,
but perhaps not the image that you want to project.
Pigment based inkjet prints (Epson R800 - a4 - or R1800 / HP B9180 -
A3+) won't run. The Epsons are good for text quality, I'm not sure
about the new HP printer.
Click to expand...

...

It depends upon the kind of food that you serve; this is important. For
example, when tomato sauce is spilled on a menu that is inkjet-printed
with relabeled ink, it is known to run. The acid in the tomato sauce
causes colors to bleach out. Only use OEM ink if you serve Italian food.

However, if you serve Chinese cuisine, I'd recommend buying an Epson
printer because OE Epson is pigment based, resistant to rich sauces and
essences of noodles. Here, aftermarket ink will be ruinous, because even
the faintest hint of noodle essence will cause the image to become a
gelatinous goo which will squish onto your customers' clothing every
time that they squeeze the menus. You don't want to do that, do you?

It is important, too, if you serve American fast food, to insist on a
domestic brand such as Hewlett-Packard. HP ink is stable under
conditions of high carbohydrates, high-fructose corn syrup (found in
whoopie shakes, goo goo shakes, and other types of "shakes"), and
partially-hydroginated vegetable oil. Under these conditions, relabeled
ink will emulsify, being absorbed through the corpuscles, causing diabetes.

If you serve American fast food, you'll know that it's both patriotic
and righteous to buy the products of an American company, especially
those products that are made in China and Ireland.

I am happy to be of assistance. I have learned everything that I know
about ink from Miskeate.
 
Richard said:
..

It depends upon the kind of food that you serve; this is important. For
example, when tomato sauce is spilled on a menu that is inkjet-printed
with relabeled ink, it is known to run. The acid in the tomato sauce
causes colors to bleach out. Only use OEM ink if you serve Italian food.

However, if you serve Chinese cuisine, I'd recommend buying an Epson
printer because OE Epson is pigment based, resistant to rich sauces and
essences of noodles. Here, aftermarket ink will be ruinous, because even
the faintest hint of noodle essence will cause the image to become a
gelatinous goo which will squish onto your customers' clothing every
time that they squeeze the menus. You don't want to do that, do you?

It is important, too, if you serve American fast food, to insist on a
domestic brand such as Hewlett-Packard. HP ink is stable under
conditions of high carbohydrates, high-fructose corn syrup (found in
whoopie shakes, goo goo shakes, and other types of "shakes"), and
partially-hydroginated vegetable oil. Under these conditions, relabeled
ink will emulsify, being absorbed through the corpuscles, causing diabetes.

If you serve American fast food, you'll know that it's both patriotic
and righteous to buy the products of an American company, especially
those products that are made in China and Ireland.

I am happy to be of assistance. I have learned everything that I know
about ink from Miskeate.
Click to expand...

Perhaps edible ink - like they use for cake decorating, printed on
edible and flavoured rice paper. Dual purpose menu / after dinner mint.
 
In message said:
Hi, would anyone here be able to advise me on
a decent printer which would be suitable for printing restaurant menus
on thin card.

Any input would be greatly appreciated.
Click to expand...

Unless these are single use menus, I would suggest laminating - people
are quite good at spilling things!
 
frederick said:
Dye-based inkjet prints will run. That is a pain in the neck for menus
Click to expand...

There is nothing worse than a dirty menu. Says loads about a business.
Menu's should be checked every session. Forget the ink running - if they get
wet they will be dirty. Bin them and print spares.
 
Richard Steinfeld said:
It depends upon the kind of food that you serve; this is important. For
example, when tomato sauce is spilled on a menu that is inkjet-printed
with relabeled ink, it is known to run.
Click to expand...

If you run a greasy spoon cafe print fake tomato sauce stains on before you
laminate. Saves loads of time.
 
Back
Top