When people ask me about Canon Arizona flatbed printers, the conversation almost always starts with one simple question: What are you looking to print?
A simple question that generates many powerful conversations. Commercial printers, print for pay shops, and sign manufacturing companies are consistently looking to push the envelope in terms of what’s possible in print.
The Canon Arizona delivers in every aspect, allowing organizations to expand their horizons, and print on the largest selection of materials possible. From 4x8 sheets of rigid sign material, to golf balls, hockey pucks, grains of rice, and beyond, the Arizona series of printers have remained a powerhouse in the print industry over the last 20 years.
What Makes Canon Arizona a True Flatbed Printer
Canon Arizona printers are true UV flatbed printers, meaning the material stays completely still while the print carriage moves across it. That may sound like a small detail, but in real production environments, it makes a big difference in maintaining and achieving perfect registration.
Keeping the substrate stationery reduces reprints and opens the door to printing on materials that would be difficult — or flat-out impossible — to run on a moving-media system. You’re not fighting material movement. You’re controlling ink placement.
The Arizona family of printers continues to evolve with updated models, faster throughput, and improved workflow tools. At its core, the concept hasn’t changed: hold the media flat, place ink precisely, and deliver consistent results day after day.
Where Canon Arizona Flatbed Printing Excels
“What can the Canon Arizona print on?” is usually the number one question we hear, and for good reason.
Canon Arizona flatbeds are built specifically for direct printing on rigid and specialty materials, including:
- Acrylic, PVC, foam board, and aluminum composite panels
- Wood, glass, metal, and textured substrates
- Point-of-purchase displays and retail signage
- Architectural panels, wall décor, and interior graphics
- Industrial prints where accuracy matters
Because the media doesn’t move during printing, Arizona printers handle heavy, thick, or irregular substrates with confidence. You’re not dealing with skewing, shifting, or feeding issues. You’re focused on output quality and repeatability.
Arizona models also offer optional roll-to-roll capability, which can be helpful for shops looking to save on space, and expand what’s possible on their flatbed printer. That said, most customers choose Arizona because rigid printing is core to their business, not an occasional add-on.
Canon Arizona Print Quality and Best Applications
Once people understand what the Arizona can print on, the next question is usually about quality — and how it holds up in real-world production.
Canon Arizona printers are known for sharp detail, smooth gradients, and consistent color across a wide range of applications. Features like variable ink droplet technology and precise ink control allow these machines to deliver:
- Fine text and detailed graphics
- Smooth color transitions without banding
- Reliable results on both smooth and textured materials
- White ink and layered printing for backlit, second-surface, or specialty effects
This makes Arizona a strong fit for applications where appearance matters just as much as durability. Retail displays, branded environments, décor, museum-quality graphics, and specialty signage are all common use cases.
These features aren’t just nice-to-haves. They show up on the shop floor as fewer reprints, less waste, and more confidence when running demanding jobs.
The Features That Matter in Real Production
From an operator and production standpoint, a few Arizona features consistently stand out:
True vacuum flatbed table: Keeps rigid materials locked in place, even when they’re less than perfect.
FLXflow technology: Allows material to be held down or floated on air, making heavy boards easier to load and reducing setup time.
VariaDot imaging technology: Uses variable ink droplet sizes to produce smooth gradients, crisp text, and solid color without wasting ink.
White ink and layered printing: Supports backlit graphics, second-surface printing, and textured effects that help finished pieces stand out.
These aren’t just specs on a brochure. They directly impact how smoothly jobs run and how consistent your results are from day to day.
Canon Arizona vs. Canon Colorado: Two Different Jobs, Two Different Tools
Another question we hear all the time is how Canon Arizona compares to Canon Colorado printers. The short answer is that they’re built for different production priorities.
Canon Arizona printers are ideal when:
- Rigid or specialty media is the focus
- Registration and accuracy are critical
- Jobs involve thickness, weight, or unusual shapes
- You need true flatbed-first capability
Canon Colorado printers are roll-to-roll systems powered by UVgel technology. They’re optimized for high-speed, high-volume production on flexible media like vinyl, films, wallpaper, and textiles.
If your business is focused on banners, wraps, or soft signage, Colorado is often the better fit.
Many production environments run both platforms side by side. Arizona handles rigid and specialty work, while Colorado powers through roll jobs efficiently. It’s not about one being better. It’s about choosing the right tool for the work you’re doing.
Is a Canon Arizona Flatbed Right for You?
If your customers expect you to print directly on rigid materials, deliver consistent quality, and support a wide mix of applications, the Canon Arizona platform continues to be one of the most dependable flatbed options available.
These printers are built for real production environments, not just demo floors. When accuracy, versatility, and confidence matter, Arizona earns its place on the shop floor.
Your Local Production Print Partner
At Loffler, we work with organizations across the region to find wide format and production print solutions that make sense for their environment — not just today, but as their needs grow. From local sales and service to ongoing support, we focus on being a long-term production print partner, not just a vendor.
If you’re exploring flatbed printing, comparing Arizona and Colorado platforms, or just want to talk through what makes the most sense for your applications, reach out to our team. We’re always happy to help you take the next step.
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Erik Vinge is a Production Print Account Executive at Loffler Companies. He is a passionate and creative resource who designs custom solutions to help clients succeed. With expertise in the different equipment options needed to produce print and print-related products, Erik ensures that customers receive the best possible solutions for their needs. When he's not busy helping clients succeed, Erik enjoys golfing, bowling, and shooting pool. He's also an avid hiker and traveler, with a special love for the North Shore of Lake Superior, which he visits every summer. Whether he's on the green, at the lanes, or exploring the great outdoors, Erik brings the same enthusiasm and dedication to his personal passions as he does to his professional work.
