TAVCO Construction Technology Blog

Despite all the digital advancements in the AEC industry over the past few years, the concept of a completely paperless office just does not exist. There is still a need for paper plans, maps, and other large images.

So, a plotter is still very much a viable piece of equipment for any architectural, engineering, and construction offices. But there are more options now than ever. The choices can be daunting. So, this article will help narrow down the important aspects of how to buy a plotter today.

Canon recently announced their latest additions to their imagePROGRAF line of large format printers with new hybrid solutions, the imagePROGRAF TZ-30000 and imagePROGRAF TZ-30000 multifunction printer (MFP) Z36.

Leave it to Canon to raise the bar when it comes to producing new ultra-high quality wide-format printers.

And the new breed doesn’t disappoint. In fact, the new Canon PRO Series is turning heads with a multitude of new technologies that are completely different from anything else in the competitive field.

Although designed for professional photography and other digital artwork, there are plenty of situations where one of these photo printers would fit nicely.

See 9 reasons why the Canon PRO 2100, 4100, and 6100 printers will exceed your expectations.

Do you want your large format prints to really pop, be durable, and resist fading?

To achieve the best results, the obvious solution is to make sure to use the right print media for the specific desired result. For instance, use photo paper for a large photo image, vinyl for banners, etc. But, one often overlooked aspect to printing the perfect image is found the ink itself.

In fact, the secret to printing awesome large format photos or graphics has just as much to do with the quality of the ink as the print material. This is why Canon has spent so much time researching and developing the best technologies for word class prints. Check out how Canon has elevated the playing field with their LUCIA ink sets for Canon large format printers. 

Today, it is commonplace to overhear someone recognize a member of our Armed Forces by saying, “Thank you for your service,” but one Texas man is doing much more than that.

Ken “The Dauber” Prigeon has spent several years painting hundreds of portraits of Texas Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines who have been killed in action.

His work showcases how one person can have a positive impact on the tragic loss experienced by hundreds of Texas families.

Lots of people would love to display fine art in their home, but artwork can be really expensive. Luckily, another alternative is to get a high-quality reproduction of a painting called a giclee.

Throughout Austin and Central Texas, artists and buyers alike continue to rely on the top-notch giclee printing services of Austin Art & Frame.

See how they do it and learn about their business in our exclusive TAVCO Partner Profile.

The Designjet 1700dr is HP’s latest wide-format printer iteration targeting CAD and GIS workgroups. As per the product’s nomenclature, the “dr” refers to a dual roll model.

Die-hard fans of HP will look at this unit with blind admiration. However, There is more than meets the eye when it comes to it.

When it comes to researching technology, in Google We Trust! 

Buyers today generally start their research on the web, and for good reason. There is a lot of content available for them to explore. 

So, in an effort to save you a chunk of time, we are providing a comparison between the well-known HP Designjet T730 and the new, popular Canon TM 300.

Duty Cycle -- It's a term that is normally related to office copiers or desktop printers. It usually refers to the maximum number of pages that a particular printer can produce in a month.

So, it is common to see a number like 20,000 or 60,000 when looking at those specs.

But, how does the term “duty cycle” relate to wide format printers?

Recently, a UK-based company, GDS, published an article comparing the HP T520 plotter to a Canon TM-300.

They are spot-on in showcasing the differences between the two printers and how the Canon TM-300 is a much more cost effective solution than the HP.

Here are some key takeaways.

Speed is always of the essence in construction. The faster companies access and share their plans, the more they increase their earning potential.

Despite the expansion of digital workflows, there is still an explicit need for architects, engineers, and contractors to use physical drawings.

Therefore, the right equipment is crucial. This is why AEC companies should really consider a Canon plotter with a built-in hard drive.

Even though the new Canon TX plotters have only been released for a few months, many initial orders were placed and a flood of new TX 3000 and TX 4000 printers have quickly been installed in the field. Likewise, some very encouraging feedback has come back from both other dealers and users alike regarding their performance of these new Canon machines.

Leading innovative change in the large-format equipment sector, Canon USA just leveled up another notch with the announcement of their new Canon imagePROGRAF TX Series. This newly unveiled family of printers is specifically designed to meet the needs of customers who have higher productivity needs. Look out, because once these models hit the street, there will be some major shakeups as the TX Series is sure to dislodge plenty of legacy systems in the field—ink jet and toner alike.