I am starting a small business. Which printer should I buy first?

Start with a desktop machine that covers several revenue streams rather than one. The VersaStudio range is built for this: the BN2 Series prints and cuts stickers, decals, signage and heat transfers at 20" or 30", the BY2-20 covers apparel by direct-to-film, and the BD Series and BF-16 print directly onto a variety of items, such as mugs, cases, giftware and promotional products. All are compact enough for a home studio or retail counter, come with software included, and make it easy to expand your setup as your business grows.

What is the best printer for custom T-shirts and apparel?

A direct-to-film printer. Transfers apply to cotton, polyester and blends, so you are not limited by garment type or color, and one-offs are as viable as bulk runs. There is also no weeding: the transfer powder adheres only where ink has been printed, so fine text, thin lines and multi-color artwork come off the film ready to press. If you currently cut and weed heat-transfer vinyl by hand, moving to DTF removes that step entirely. For small businesses and creators, the VersaStudio BY2-20 is a compact 20" DTF printer. For higher volume, the TY-300i prints up to 736 mm wide. Both also cut heat-transfer vinyl, so lettering and numbering work still runs on the same device.

What is the best printer for stickers and decals?

A printer/cutter, so printing and contour cutting happen in one machine with no separate cutting plotter. For volume production, TrueVis VG4 and XG-640 print/cut at 54" and 64" in eco-solvent, and the LG and MG2 Series do the same in UV for labels on films and specialty materials. If you are starting out or working from a desk, the VersaStudio BN2 Series prints and cuts at 20" and 30" at an entry-level price.

What is the best printer for signs and banners?

An eco-solvent printer for roll media. One machine covers banners, outdoor and indoor signs, window graphics and vehicle work, which is why most sign businesses start here. TrueVis VG4, XG-640 and XP-640 offer up to 8-color ink configurations for accurate brand colors and expanded gamut work, at 54" and 64". DGXpress ER Series delivers high-speed CMYK production with a lower cost of ownership. If your work includes rigid boards and panels rather than roll media, a UV flatbed is the better fit.

What is the best printer for vehicle and boat wraps?

A 64" eco-solvent or latex printer, or printer/cutter, is a strong choice. Both technologies are well suited to the vinyl media commonly used for vehicle graphics, fleet applications, marine graphics and boat wraps. The TrueVis VG4, XG-640 and XP-640 eco-solvent models offer up to 8-color ink configurations for accurate brand colors and a wide color gamut. The DGXpress ER Series is designed for high-speed CMYK production with a lower total cost of ownership. For a latex option, the TrueVis AG-640 combines 64" printing and contour cutting in one device. Its latex ink workflow allows printed graphics to move quickly into finishing, making it well suited to vehicle graphics, decals, signage and other applications where fast turnaround is important. Choose between eco-solvent and latex depending on the media you use, your color requirements, production volume and finishing workflow.

What is the best printer for wallpaper and interior decoration?

For smooth wallcoverings and display graphics, a latex printer such as the TrueVis AG-640, which prints and contour cuts at 64" with dense white ink for graphics on colored and transparent media. If you want to create surfaces with a tactile, dimensional texture, the Dimense DA-640 offers a unique solution. It prints a structural ink alongside CMYK that expands under heat to build embossing up to 2 mm high, on PVC-free non-woven and canvas media in matte, pearlescent and metallic finishes. The DA-640 is made for wallcoverings, canvas art, retail displays and office decoration.

What is the best printer for bottles, drinkware and cylindrical products?

A UV direct-to-cylinder printer. Helical printing wraps the graphic around the object itself, with no label and no seam, on shapes a flatbed cannot hold. The VersaObject RC-300 prints up to 300 mm long on objects up to 127 mm in diameter, with white, gloss and primer inks for glass, metal and plastics, and the RC-300c handles transparent and liquid-filled bottles. For personalized production scaling up to high-volume industrial workflows, the Peri Series by LSINC offers 360-degree printing across three platform options. Both suit premium packaging, drinkware and personalized gifts.

What is the best printer for printing directly on wood, metal and acrylic?

A UV flatbed printer. UV ink cures the instant it is printed and does not rely on the media absorbing it, so it prints directly onto rigid boards, plastics, metal, wood, leather, glass and finished three-dimensional objects. The VersaObject range covers this from benchtop to production scale, with the MO Series and IO-300 for objects up to 204 mm tall and the LO/CO-i Series for large-format work. For product customization on a smaller budget, the VersaStudio BD Series and BF-16 print directly onto 3D items from a desktop.

What is the difference between a printer and a printer/cutter?

A printer outputs graphics only; a printer/cutter also contour cuts them to shape in the same machine, with registration handled automatically. If you produce stickers, decals, labels or cut lettering, a printer/cutter removes the need for a separate cutting plotter.