Mobile printing

"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, this comes up 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? First, let's go over a couple ways of printing from your iOS device.

How to print from the app #1: AirPrint

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.

Printing the the Tagify iOS app to an AirPrint printer is super easy:

1. Preview/Make a project like normal.
2. Tap your project name up top.
3. Tap Preview.
4. Then tap the printer button up top.
5. Check out Quick Start (tags) in case you need to brush up.

How to print from the app #2: Share to another app

For some printers (like the Brother PocketJet below), it's much easier to just share the PDF's Tagify makes with another printing app. This will allow you to use non-AirPrint printers like ones that only work with Bluetooth or Wifi.

Sharing your signage from the Tagify iOS app to another app is super easy:

1. Preview/Make a project like normal.
2. Tap your project name up top.
3. Tap Preview.
4. Tap the share icon up top.
5. Find or add the app you want to share with.
6. Check out Quick Start (tags) in case you need to brush up.

Now, let's check out some printers that you can bring with you.

Printer #1: Brother VC-500W

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 perfect color 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 if/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.
• Battery powered. It's pretty mobile as you can charge the battery and print without all the wires.
• 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.

Printer #3: Brother PocketJet 863 (PJ-863)

The Brother PocketJet 863 is a very interesting printer. It's a mobile thermal printer that can use letter size thermal paper to get the job done. You can think of it's paper as heavy duty receipt paper. It's super easy to print from Tagify using the Share to another app method above, so setup is a breeze.

Tagify tag material compatibility:

• Any 8.5"x11" size material

Printer upsides:

• Full page printing. Assuming you can get the specific material you need, you can print full letter size sheets.
• Ease of use. As mentioned above, setup (especially Bluetooth) literally takes seconds. There's a power button and status LED's that keeps things simple.
• Print resolution. It prints at 300dpi which is pretty dang sharp.
• Mobile. It comes with an AC power cord but you can also purchase a battery to get that full mobile experience.
• Durability. This thing is pretty small but built like a tank.

Downsides:

• Relatively expensive. By far the most expensive printer on this list with an average retail (as of 2023) of ~$530.
• Thermal paper. Since it uses this special kind of paper, you'll have to be a little more involved in making sure you're getting the right material and size. Brother sells direct as well as some third parties, but it's something you might not be able to just grab at the local Walmart.
• Monochrome. This is the only monochrome printer (meaning it basically prints in only blacks and grays) on here so you won't be wowing people with your rainbow prints.
• Another piece of hardware. The technical debt of giving another piece of hardware to your salesforce. Someone is going to have to manage the paper, printer issues, etc.