Many people have asked to get portions of the FLAAR web site wide-format-printers.org in PDF form. So we have prepared three levels: Preview (which show what's in the other levels);First Level free reports; and Second Level premium reports. The previews and first level reports are all free (you get them in exchange for filling out the Inquiry Form). The Premium Reports are available by credit card. The Premium Reports include tips, help, information, and evaluations of printers, scanners, and digital imaging software not available on the web pages.

But here, now, on this Inquiry Survey Form, this is where you can acquire the Previews and Free Reports at no cost. The more you tell us about the needs you have and what you will use wide format or professional scanner for, the easier it is for us to pinpoint which report titles are ideal for your situation. The information in our reports can perhaps save you from making an expensive mistake!

If you need help deciding which large format printer and/or professional scanner is optimal for your situation, or what inks are archival and long-lasting, just fill out the form below. Nicholas Hellmuth's staff of the FLAAR Digital Imaging Technology Center , will do their best to answer you within 48 hours by sending the information to you in Adobe Acrobat PDF download format via e-mail. Don't worry about paying FLAAR, we are non-profit and neither ask for nor receive payment for the Previews or first level reports. Providing basic reports in exchange for you telling us what kinds of information we should put into our system is part of sharing what we know with you in return for you sharing with us your questions and comments. Of course if you prefer to pay and get the premium series, you can do that from another page. But below it's all free.

First level reports Survey Form (so you get the FLAAR material in PDF format in return at no cost)

Please send me the following reports: ** We will send you the reports, but it would help us to know WHY you selected these particular titles. What is it about these titles that interests you?

Current Situation

Use your own words to describe how can we best assist you : * You can write auf Deutsch, en Español, en Français or in Italiano; reports themselves are in English. What do you intend to print? What are your main interests? The more detail you provide, the more we know what people want. This allows us to continuously update and improve all the reports. Don't be shy.    Do you own a wide format printer now?*      No   Yes. Which brand(s) and model(s) ?   What do you typically print (or intend to print)? *

Your Interests :

If you intend to buy equipment or software, how soon?   I intend to buy in the next 3 months I intend to buy in the next year I have no definite plans to buy

About :Wide format inkjet printers

What size printer are you looking for?*        Undecided/Not Sure 41-47 inches (Average cost US $10-12 K)   13 x 19 inches (The smallest size we cover) 48-64 inches (Average cost US $15-25 K)   24 inches (Average cost US $2-5 K) 65-73 inches (Average cost US $15-30 K)   30-40 inches (Average cost US $4-8 K) 74 inches and wider (Average cost US $20-300 K)   Which brand(s) and model(s) are you most interested in?* Have you changed your mind recently, or added a new brand of printer that you want to learn about? If so, what made you wish info on this new printer?     What features and options do you seek in a printer? *(Please elaborate) What capabilities do you need; what kinds of results do your clients ask for? FLAAR will read every word; the more we know the easier it is to assist you. Here is where you personally can influence the features in the next generation of printers, RIPs, or inkjet media. FLAAR feels that it is useful to educate printer manufacturers too. What is your idealized dream wide format printer?   What problems do you wish to avoid?*(Please elaborate) What do you NOT like about each brand you are considering? If a newbie that's fine. But help us by providing some commentary about what situations you wish to avoid. Here again you can tell manufacturers what does not work with their products. The more of your experience you relate here, the easier it is for FLAAR to know how many additional FLAAR Reports you might wish to receive free (out of the list of free reports).

Contact Information

First name* Last name* E-mail* Alternative e-mail Organization (if applicable) Address 1 Address 2 City State Zip Country* Telephone* (Include area code) Web site (if applicable)

How would you describe yourself or your organization?*     Individual, printing as a hobby   Other non-profit, church, advocacy group...     Individual, printing as a home-based business   Government, including military, police, fire, parks...   Corporation   Student     Educational, including library, museum... Manufacturer of printers, RIPs, inks, or media What industry are you in? * (photography, art, museum, educational (college, university, other school), automotive, banking, construction, entertainment, graphic design, health care, retail grocery...) E xplain in detail; we read every word. You do not have to be a company to get the FLAAR reports, you may print giclée as a hobby (we will still send you your reports).

On what subjects do you wish follow-up?

DO YOU NEED ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FROM THE COMPANIES WHICH HAVE BEEN SELECTED AS KNOWLEDGEABLE IN THESE FIELDS? mark only those you wish to be contacted about. Fine art giclée or photo-realistic printer Printer for signs, posters, banners Printers for CAD, GIS, drawings, maps Printers for following purpose Contact for info on laminating equipment Contact for information about color management & ICC color profiles Contact for info on options in scanners Contact for info on trimmers and cutters   Other products would you like follow-up about? Do you need more information about Raster Image Processing (RIP) software?   No Yes information to decide whether I need a RIP Yes, information to compare brands of RIP´s Do you need help selecting the appropriate inkjet media and inks ?   No Yes If yes, which type of media or inks? What media and inks do you want to learn about for possible future use ? If you know what brands you already use, let us know which kind of media you now use and what brand. What ink? dye, pigmented or solvent?   What media and inks do you want to learn about for possible future use? If you are new to inkjet, just indicate this. Although it helps to know your media preferences, we will still send you all the FLAAR Reports even if you have no comments on inkjet paper or substrates. What are your all-time favorites inkjet media types? What makes these your favorite inkjet media? Despite these being your favorites, what downsides does this same media also have? Which brand ? Where do you buy your inkjet media? What are your all-time favorites inkjet media types?   What about lamination to protect your photographs? Or top-coating to protect your canvas giclee? Do you need information on trimmers, cutters too? What are your common media headaches? What kinds of ink, media, and printer causes these problems? Do you wish to print with traditional water-based inks, at home or in a giclee atelier? Or so you wish to learn about eco-solvent and mild-solvent inks for full-scale production of décor? If so select the free reports on Intelligent Interweaving or Mutoh Factory visit (in the eco-solvent section). FLAAR also has information about UV-cured flatbed printers which can print directly on a pre-stretched canvas or any art material up to one to two inches thick. If you want info on UV-curable ink technologies, select free titles from the UV-cured section of the available list. Do you need or seek any training, courses or books?   No Yes If yes, on what subject?

Completing Your Request:

You will receive within 48 hours (a bit longer on weekends or major holidays), at no cost, automatic download full-color reports by Nicholas Hellmuth via Adobe Acrobat PDF format. This is a service of our Digital Imaging Resource Center (FLAAR). YES, I want FLAAR Reports by Nicholas Hellmuth and have filled out the Survey Form in exchange for the reports. I understand that survey statistics are utilized to better understand markets and applications. In return for the FLAAR reports I allow FLAAR to use my comments to update and improve the coverage in FLAAR material as well as to assist manufacturers understand the flaws of their current products so better products can be offered in the future. Your comments may help design the next generation of new products. In return, first we send you up to eight free FLAAR report(s) on the topics that you have selected. Next, if your comments relative to digital imaging equipment suggests that a follow-up would be helpful, then we select support staff from a pertinent partner sponsor that can best follow-up directly with you. We forward your form to them so they will contact you with additional counsel based on the questions you have asked or problems you have indicated. Once you are a member of the FLAAR family, we may send a follow-up Survey in the future together with a partner. This is part of our learning process and allows you to communicate to a manufacturer. After all, if we as end-users don't communicate our needs and preferences, no one will develop the kinds of printers, inks, RIP software, or other equipment that we need. You would be given additional new and special FLAAR Reports in such a case. And, naturally, if you don't wish to fill out any further survey, you can just decline. NO, I do not wish any follow-up on outside product information, but wish to auto-download the free reports from the links below * By choosing the NO option you indicate you do not wish any follow-up from third-parties. Although you do not need to send this inquiry form to obtain the free auto-download reports, we have no way to know what additional FLAAR information to send you unless you tell us where you need help in digital imaging. By sending this form, you only receive notification directly from FLAAR, including announcements of new publications or future university courses on printing, scanning, color management, and digital photography or additional survey forms (which bring additional FLAAR reports at no cost). I understand that survey statistics are utilized to better understand markets and applications. In return for the FLAAR reports I allow FLAAR to use my comments to update and improve the coverage in FLAAR material, to serve as statistical data (with my name deleted, my e-mail deleted, my street address and my telephone number deleted) as well as to assist manufacturers recognize the flaws of their current products so better products can be offered in the future. You will receive 3 and potentially up to 6 FLAAR reports in exchange for sending in this survey form. If your range of interests is narrow, please understand there may not be more than 2 or 3 reports that fit your interests.