"It'd be great to print perfect looking signage right out in the market. Like, have a printer hanging off my hip and I just hit print!"
Understandably, I get this a lot. It is indeed the dream to print mobile signage and completely replace your local sign shop for small stuff. Never having to go back to the office is the end game.
But is it possible? Kinda sorta?
How to print from the app
Printing the the Tagify iOS app is super easy:
Preview a project like normal
Tap the document icon up top
Then tap the printer button up top
Here's a quick guide in case you need to brush up.
Printer requirements
When it comes to mobile printers, the only thing the Tagify iOS app is going to need is AirPrint compatibility. Tagify can create virtually any size tag or sign you'll need which it will then send off to your printer. It's everything that happens after is where things can get tricky.
Printer #1: Brother VC-500W
(Thanks to Rob & Dan @ Silver Eagle for the discovery)
As of this moment, the Brother VC-500W is probably the most interesting mobile printer for making tags.
Tagify tag material compatibility:
Singles 3"x1"
Singles 2.5"x1"
Singles 2"x1"
Now, the upsides:
It can print single tags. This saves a ton of waste and makes your turnaround time insane for emergency pricing. Using the 1" roll from Brother, you can use the Singles 3"x1" tag material in Tagify just like you would any other material.
Print quality is pretty ok! You won't be getting color perfect or razor sharp text, but it's absolutely not horrible at all.
Full color, no ink. This printer uses ZINK tech which requires no ink cartridges/toners. Think of it like a lower end color laser but without the upkeep.
The downsides:
Wifi connection only, no Bluetooth. Using the iOS app, you'd have to have Tagify create your PDF, switch over to the printers wifi , print, then switch or turn off the wifi. Not a huge deal, just not as smooth as an experience as you'd expect.
Will not print more than one tag at a time. Meaning, if your project has 3 different tags, you can't just send the printer the entire PDF to print, it just....won't? So you'd pull the PDF up to print, select your tag, print, select another tag, print, etc.
Plug in power only. There are ways around this, but by default the printer has to be plugged in somewhere for power. Most stores have receptacles but it'd be nice to print from the back of the cooler.
Proprietary labels. You can't just buy any label rolls and use them, they have to be Brother labels made specific to this printer. That might not be scary now, but what happens when they discontinue the product?
Another piece of hardware. The technical debt of giving another piece of hardware to your salesforce. Someone is going to have to manage the labels, printer issues, etc.
Printer #2: Canon Pixma TR150
The Canon Pixma TR150 is a mobile printer that could maybe replace a color inkjet back at the office. The setup is a little weird as you have to make a Wifi hotspot for the printer, but it works pretty well once you get going.
Tagify tag material compatibility:
Any 8.5"x11" tag material (Long 18, Letter, Medium 24, etc)
Printer upsides:
Full page printing. Since you're feeding full 8.5"x11" sheets into this thing, you can print a ton of different types of signage. Tags, case cards, etc.
Pretty decent quality. The prints are never going to rival your sign shops, but look pretty good for 6pm on a Friday while the sign shop is closed.
Not grossly expensive? Granted, you need to get the printer, battery, ink, and paper. But if you're willing to go down the mobile printing road you should be ready to pull out the wallet.
Now, the downsides:
Waste for tags. You're printing a full sheet so if you only need 3 tags on an 18up page...
Signage durability. Since a mobile printer isn't going to be like the lasers you use back at the office, you probably won't be able to use the same tag material you're used to. Because of that, durability is going to be an issue.
Another piece of hardware. The technical debt of giving another piece of hardware to your salesforce. Someone is going to have to manage the ink, paper, printer issues, etc.