Print production planning
Estimate ink cost per print, square foot, square meter or linear yard from your own ink prices and production data. Plan sheet, roll and textile jobs for Mimaki, Vanguard, CET Color or your own printer setup.
Two input methodsMeasured rate or RIP volume
Price each inkColor, white and other fluids
Keep the estimatePrint, CSV and JSON export
Your job. Your measured inputs.
Enter your job dimensions, consumption and ink price. Expand additional costs when you want to include media, paper or labor. All prices are in U.S. dollars.
The calculator has not started yet. If the inputs remain unavailable, reload this page. The formulas and input guidance below remain available.
Worked example loaded. These are invented demonstration inputs, not manufacturer rates or current prices. Replace the values with your own job data.
The chart fills from the job costs you enter.
Complete your inputs to see the contribution of each selected cost.
Total entered job costs, relative to the largest scenario shown.
| Production ink | Job ink | Ink cost | Entered costs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 80% of entered | — | — | — |
| 100% · baseline | — | — | — |
| 120% of entered | — | — | — |
Illustrative changes to your production-ink input, not predicted coverage or quality settings. Fixed maintenance and selected material/labor costs stay constant.
Know what is in the number
Good inputs make an estimate repeatable. Record the artwork, ink family, dimensions, media profile and print mode that produced your consumption figure.
For each ink or fluid, divide its package price by the usable package volume. Multiply that price per mL by the volume allocated to the job. Sum the ink rows for the job’s ink cost.
Ink cost = job ink mL × (package price ÷ package mL)Enter a current invoice or quoted price. Different prices for color, white, clear or other fluids belong in separate rows.
A RIP estimate belongs to a particular job and setup. Confirm whether it covers one piece, one roll repeat or the whole job. A measured area rate must represent comparable artwork, media and layers.
Area method: production mL = job m² × measured mL/m²Do not multiply an all-channel job report by channel count or apply a second coverage percentage.
Extra ink percentage applies to production ink. Fixed maintenance ink is added once per row across the full job. Include media, transfer paper, labor and other expenses only when they belong in the estimate.
Unit cost = entered job costs ÷ the chosen output quantity or areaThe result covers the entered costs. Equipment, utilities, finishing, tax and other expenses need their own allocation when relevant.
Practical printing questions
For each ink, divide the package price by its usable volume in mL, then multiply by the mL required for the job. Add the ink rows to get total ink cost. Divide by the number of sellable pieces or the printed area for a unit cost.
Use the ink report for the artwork, size, media profile and print settings you intend to run. RasterLink7 reports estimated consumption in the job properties or log. ONYX and supported Durst Workflow installations also provide consumption tools. Check whether the reported volume is for one item or the complete job before applying quantity.
Mimaki RasterLink7 guidance · ONYX ink calculation guidance · Vanguard workflow information
Enter a rate from a representative job or measured production sample. Ink usage changes with the image and device profile. A rate for one print setup may not represent another. Record the profile and print mode with the estimate so it can be repeated.
Do not apply an extra coverage or channel multiplier to a job report that already includes the printed image and required channels. Enter each reported ink once. A change to white, clear or another layer needs an updated report or a separately measured amount.
Add separate rows for the fluids your installed printer actually uses, with each row’s reported consumption and purchase price. Some latex systems also use optimizer or overcoat. Use the report’s real breakdown rather than assuming that every channel consumes the same amount.
Keep production ink and additional maintenance consumption separate. Add an allowance from your own job logs or measured history only when that consumption is absent from the production figure. If a calibrated rate already includes the same maintenance, leave the additional allowance at zero.
A linear yard measures length along a roll; area also depends on print width. A 60-inch-wide print that is one linear yard long covers 15 square feet, or about 1.667 square yards. Use the actual printed width for an area-based ink estimate.
Kilograms measure mass and milliliters measure volume. Obtain a confirmed usable volume or the correct density conversion for the ink before entering mL. For example, Mimaki lists MLSb510 in 10 kg packages; that label does not establish a 10 L volume.
The printer and ink names identify your estimate. Confirm the exact installed ink family, color SKU, package and regional support with the manufacturer or Amcad. Enter your current purchase price or written quote; model selection does not approve an ink substitution.
Use roll or sheet dimensions and the consumption for your actual transfer or direct-to-fabric workflow. Include the appropriate paper, fabric and labor costs when preparing the estimate. Ink, media and print-time totals cover only the costs you enter; finishing, equipment, utilities and other operating costs may need separate allowances.
These resources help you find ink and workflow information for your installed equipment. Model names in the estimate are labels; they do not select a rate or approve an ink change.
Use RasterLink job information and the manufacturer’s ink-family reference for your exact setup. UV, solvent, latex and textile ink families have different requirements.
Mimaki RasterLink7 guidanceVanguard documents ink and material estimation within Durst Workflow. Check the features and report scope available in your installed software.
Vanguard workflow informationCET lists ONYX among its software partners. Use the consumption tool in your installed RIP and the actual prices of the inks allocated to the job.
CET software partnersPut the estimate to work
Bring your printer model, installed inkset, media, RIP consumption report and expected output. Our team can help you review supplies and the production setup behind your estimate.
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