Epson revamps proofing, LF range, adds new ink: news commentary by Andy McCourt

The 2005 range marks the third major new range roll-out since EPSON entered the large format market in 1998 with the 1118mm (44”) Stylus Pro 9000. The dye-based 9000 was later complemented by the 610mm (24”) 7000 and in 2002 the '600' range being the 7600, 9600 introduced UltraChrome inks with considerably improved fade-resistance, colour gamut and droplet size. The 10600 model with pigmented inks continued to be available for the signage market.

Epson has raised the bar once more, and driven another nail in silver halide imaging's coffin, with K3 inks and three new eight-colour models. The eighth colour is LLK - a 'Light-Light Black' making three blacks in all and enabling smooth and subtle mid-tones to be achieved. Metamerism, always a problem with previous inks, has been reduced to an almost unperceivable Delta-E variance of 2. For proofing applications, this is good news. Black density is also up (on gloss paper) from Dmax 2.1 to 2.3. The all-important grey scale rendition is also improved.

The new 8-colour K3 ink range consists of:
Stylus Pro 4800 - a 435mm (17”) wide sheet or roll printer for 2-up proofing
Stylus Pro 7800 - a 610mm (24”) wide model suitable for 4-up
Stylus Pro 9800 - the 1118mm (44”) model that can handle 8-up signatures
All the above models are also ideal for photographic and art reproduction, with EPSON claiming 80 years for colour and 200 years for B&W before noticeable fading occurs.
RRP Pricing is aggressive, with the 4800 at $2,995 +gst; 7800 at $5,395 and 9800 at $10,895.

For the CAD/GIS/AEC and retail point-of-sale markets, Epson has also announced simplified CMYK only models, known as the '400' series - 4400, 7600 and 9600. These are very fast, low cost, printers for applications where colour is not as critical but speed and economy are.

The 4400 and 4800 are available from May/June with the larger models rolling out in third quarter 2005.

EPSON's business unit manager, Pro Graphics, Craig Heckenberg (pictured right) noted: “We are delighted to announce the new range of EPSON Pro Graphic printers and K3 ink in time for PacPrint. They can be seen on the EPSON stand (810), and on selected Pro Graphics dealers' stands.

My Call

It's all in the ink.

For proofing purposes in the graphic arts, digital 'drop on demand' inkjet has reduced costs and added convenience but the inks available, whilst improving, have exhibited metameric qualities, insufficient gamut and occasionally Delta-E shifts up to 8+ in a day. EPSON's UltraChrome was giant leap forward and now K3 appears to bring digital inkjet proofing into the 'high-end' provided you use a good quality colour managed Rip. Remote proofing benefits too, as machine-to-machine repeatability is improved.

The eighth colour, LLK, enables less CMY ink and more K to be used, just as offset printers have used UCR (under-colour removal), for years, yielding greater colour control. The nanotechnology in K3 ink is remarkable - each molecule is coated with a resin that delivers the light-fastness by protecting the pigment. The smaller, rounded particles lie flatter on the substrate - a major factor in reducing metamerism.

For photographic reproduction, surely silver-halide is now dead and it's just a matter of when it will lie down? EPSON's new printers/inks can now exceed the colour and monochromatic gamuts of silver halide, and the results can outlast the history of photography itself.

EPSON is in a highly competitive large-format field with Hewlett - Packard, Encad (now part of Kodak), Agfa, Mutoh, Mimaki, Roland DG and McDermid all vying in this sector. But only EPSON has the K3 ink and it will defend its ink market vigorously, as exemplified in last month's filing of patent infringement lawsuits against the two largest 'after market' ink cartridge suppliers in the USA.

Like the great Castrol GTX “oils ain't oils” campaign of the 90s; EPSON could well claim for K3 technology, “inks ain't inks.”