Looking for a way to print high speed color labels without compromising on print quality? You’ve come to the right place. The Epson C7500 ColorWorks Inkjet Label Printer is one of our favorite printers on the market today as it is a great way to add flexibility to your labeling strategy.
In this article we’ll go over the features, limitations, cost, and availability of this printer so you can decide if it’s the right choice for you.
Features
This is a great addition to any growing business looking to print full color labels. These unique features give you the flexibility to print your own custom labels with ease.
Color
The Epson C7500 is a full color inkjet label printer which uses the CMYK color model. Inkjet printing technology is much better suited to printing color than thermal transfer. In our review video, John compares the two by describing inkjet printing as a waterfall of ink evenly coating your label, whereas thermal transfer prints bands back and forth. Additionally, thermal transfer printers cannot accommodate full color printing, with most only supporting one color. With four high yield ink cartridges, this printer can accurately print any custom color on your label format.
Efficiency
The ink cartridges for this printer are much larger than other printers, which allows for much more efficient printing as you do not need to change out cartridges nearly as often. These high yield cartridges ultimately lead to far less downtime. Additionally, both versions of the Epson C7500 are equipped with an automated cutter by default to streamline your printing process.
Speed
One of the most remarkable features of this printer is its incredibly high print speed. This printer can print at more than twice the average speed of a thermal transfer printer in full color without losing any print quality. Both versions of the Epson C7500 can print at a speed of up to 11.8 inches per second.
Nozzle Verification Technology
This model has built-in Nozzle Verification software to ensure that each nozzle is releasing ink evenly which allows for a clean, accurately printed label. This feature will detect any missing dots as a result of clogged nozzles. If the printer senses a clogged nozzle it will supplement with a nearby nozzle.
Printing
The Epson C7500 setup disk includes drivers to support NiceLabel, BarTender, and CODESOFT label software.
Limitations
Without a doubt, this is an impressive printer; however, it is not without its drawbacks.
First, keep in mind that the sensors used for calibration on this printer require you to use either gap or black mark media. This printer will not work with continuous media.
Also, this printer needs to be run consistently; inkjet printers do not function well if left to sit idly by. If the printer sits idle for too long it will go into maintenance mode to prevent the nozzles from clogging or jamming. Since the maintenance procedures use ink, this means that your ink could be wasted on maintenance instead of being used to print your labels.
Cost
So, the big question – how much does it cost? The Epson C7500 has a starting price of about $10,000 and is only available through a reseller. That’s no small number – so you need to determine if the initial investment will provide an acceptable ROI given your specific needs. In comparison, the Zebra ZT610 – which is a comparable thermal transfer printer in terms of performance (but does not print color), costs roughly $3,000.
So, the Epson C7500 is a great option if you’re looking to print a reasonably high volume of full color labels. Although the high cost might seem like a deterrent, having a print on demand solution in-house can provide great value in the right situation.
