Cards, invitations, book covers and light gift boxes are work with a good margin, but not every digital press produces them properly. The problem is always in three things: the paper weight, how well the toner holds on it, and printing both sides.
This guide tells you which Ricoh Pro model suits which kind of this work.
First question: what weight do you print on?
| Model | Maximum paper weight | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Ricoh Pro C9100 | 400 gsm | Automatic duplex up to 400 gsm |
| Ricoh Pro C7200X | 360 gsm | + gold, silver, white and clear |
| Ricoh Pro C7100X | 360 gsm | + white, clear and neon |
| Ricoh Pro C7100S | 360 gsm | 4 colours |
| Ricoh Pro C5200S | 360 gsm | 4 colours, small footprint |
| Ricoh Pro C5100S | 300 gsm | 4 colours, entry level |
If most of your work is business cards and brochures on 250–300 gsm, all these models will do. If you print covers and invitation cards on 350 gsm, rule out the C5100S. And if you need 400 gsm, there is only the C9100.
Weight alone is not enough: both sides
A card and an invitation are printed front and back. A machine that takes heavy paper but does not turn it automatically makes you turn the paper by hand and reload it, which means more time and misregister between the two sides.
The C9100 prints both sides automatically up to 400 gsm, in register, which is what makes it the first choice for cards and light boxes in volume.
Textured and linen paper
Invitation paper is often not smooth: textured, linen, or embossed. Toner on that paper comes out broken if the machine is not built for it, because it does not reach the hollows of the paper.
Ricoh Pro models have an elastic transfer belt that presses the toner into the hollows of textured paper. The feature is on the C9100, C7100X, C5200S and C5100S, so you can print on premium paper without losing detail.
Premium work: the fifth colour
If your market is wedding invitations, VIP cards and gift boxes, what sets you apart is not CMYK:
- Gold and silver: on the C7200X only.
- White on coloured, kraft or clear stock: on the C7200X and the C7100X.
- Glossy clear on parts of the design: on both.
The C7200X also runs at 2400 × 4800, which shows in the fine ornament and small type found on invitations. The detailed difference is in C7100X or C7200X.
Size: the open card and the long cover
- The C9100 prints up to 33 × 70 cm.
- The C7200X prints banners up to 126 cm.
- The C5200S takes banners up to 70 cm, and the C5100S up to 125 cm.
- The C7100X and C7100S go to SRA3.
If you make a three-fold invitation card or a book cover with a spine, make sure the open size fits the machine before you choose.
In short: which machine for which work
| Your work | Best fit |
|---|---|
| Cards and light boxes up to 400 gsm, in volume | C9100 |
| Premium invitations and cards in gold and silver | C7200X |
| White and clear on coloured paper | C7100X or C7200X |
| Four-colour cards and covers up to 360 gsm, medium volumes | C7100S |
| The same work in a small space on ordinary power | C5200S |
| Cards up to 300 gsm for a print shop just starting | C5100S |
Try it on your own paper
Heavy and textured paper differs from one supplier to another, and a result on paper other than the one you use proves nothing. Come to the showroom with your paper and your file, print your sample, rub the toner with your finger and see for yourself how it holds.
