IMAGE PRO BLOG

New Epson Professional Printers

2010-12-18T12:18:00.002-05:00

Frederic

Hello friends and welcome to our newsletter! Today I want to bring to you three new products from Epson with incredible features that you cannot miss. It was only a matter of time before Epson engineers found a way to push ink jet technology to the next level.

By incorporating the most advanced technologies Epson has to offer, this could possibly be the most advanced photographic printers ever developed.

The models I’m talking about are the Epson Stylus Pro 4900, Epson Stylus Pro 7890 and 9890 printers which cover a wide printing spectrum from standard photo printing to signage and color proofing projects.

Epson Stylus Pro 4900

New Epson Stylus Pro 4900 printer

Designed to redefine the standard for photographic print quality, the 17” Epson Stylus Pro 4900 incorporates the latest achievements in professional-level ink jet technology. By combining the precision of the exclusive MicroPiezo® TFP® print head with the extraordinary performance of Epson UltraChrome® HDR Ink, the newest generation of Epson Stylus Pro printers continue to represent a level of technology unprecedented in Epson's history.
Handling virtually any media type, in both roll and cut-sheet up to 17-inch wide, the Epson Stylus Pro 4900 continues to set the standard for professional media use. And for the first time, you can have both the front paper tray and roll feeder loaded with different media types and automatically switch between them as you print.
The advanced Epson MicroPiezo TFP print head is capable of producing higher quality prints, at speeds up to twice as fast as the previous generation. And, with the latest ink-repelling coating and auto nozzle verification technologies, clogged nozzles are virtually eliminated.

Epson Stylus Pro 7890

New Epson Stylus Pro 7890 and 9890 printers

Representing a new standard of excellence, the Epson Stylus Pro 890 series incorporates the latest achievements in photographic ink jet technology. By combining the precision of the MicroPiezo® TFP® print head with the proven performance of the eight-color Epson UltraChrome K3® with Vivid Magenta, the newest generation of Epson Stylus Pro printers continue to represent a level of technology. The Stylus Pro 7890 has a maximum width of 24" while the Stylus Pro 9890 is 44" wide.

Let me explain a bit about the Epson UltraChrome K3 with Vivid Magenta. It utilizes eight colors - including auto-switching Photo and Matte Black inks - while setting the benchmark standard for the industry.

Epson Stylus Pro 9890

This 890 series also incorporates the new AccuPhoto™ HD screening technology as the 4900 series. And remember that like the other higher-end Stylus Pro 900 series printers, Epson has developed, in partnership with X-Rite®, a high performance, in-line spectrophotometer for commercial proofing applications. When driven by the latest Front-end RIPs, the SpectroProofer® can automate virtually any color management process in your workflow.

Well, this has been a very short list of features and would probably take me a few more pages to describe these new printers so, as I usually say, call us or visit our showroom for more details.

It’s been my pleasure to share all this with you, thank you for reading!

Frederic Friedmann

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Colorburst's Overdrive RIP Software

2010-12-18T12:15:00.000-05:00

Frederic

Hello Friends and welcome to this newsletter. Today's subject is a great software tool that can increase your productivity by boosting your print driver with award-winning color management technology from ColorBurst : Overdrive.

Overdrive is a PostScript RIP that delivers high-end color, accurate proofing and Pantone matching. Overdrive can use any paper manufacturer's RGB ICC profiles and is available for Mac OS X only.

Raster Image Processor
RIP stands for Raster Image Processor, which is the way of converting your images into a format that the printer understands. The RIP software executes many operations in the process: it converts the RGB images into CMYK, it applies color profiles, scales the image to the desired size and resolution, etc. A pre-release version of Overdrive named "ColorBurst RGB XProof" has been deemed the winner in the RIP category in the 2010 DIMA Digital Printer Shoot-Out.

MAC OS Ready

This early version of Overdrive made the winning prints in six categories even before reaching the market! I keep telling my customers: "Why waste valuable time manually configuring your print driver with every single print?" There's no need to risk wasted ink and paper "accidents" due to forgotten or mismatched menu selections. Overdrive lets you build print environments so there's only one selection needed at print time. Page format and color errors are minimized by merging all of your printing parameters into a single click.

Job Management
Overdrive offers Job Management normally only seen in much more expensive RIP applications, files and folders can be dropped directly into the Job Manager, opened from the File Open menu, placed or saved to the optional Hot Folder, or even dropped on the Overdrive application icon. Jobs can be reordered, deleted, or placed on hold to be processed later so you are in full control of the workflow.

Great File Support
Overdrive provides full PostScript and Raster File support including EPS, PS, and PDF files and is so flexible that can even handle Camera RAW and Adobe's Photoshop PSD images. Just imagine how handy it could be to retouch an image in Photoshop and send it directly to the printer knowing it will produce outstanding results. Furthermore, it has Adobe black point compensation built-in so the output matches Adobe Photoshop exactly, so users can get the expected results from Overdrive. Other file formats processed by this program include RGB, CMYK, and grayscale 8-bit and 16-bit support for TIFF (LZW compression is supported), JPEG, J2K, BMP, PICT and PNG.

PANTONE Library

Available Printer's Widths
Overdrive doesn't replace your printer's driver entirely but rather works together with it while handling the color profiles. Presently Overdrive is available for 17" wide, 24" wide, 44" wide and 64" wide printers so make sure you order the one specific for your printer.

PANTONE Library
Your proofing jobs are also covered as Overdrive includes a full licensed PANTONE Color Library together with proprietary AutoSpot technology that greatly improves the accuracy of Pantone colors.

Overdrive provides you with peace of mind when printing because all colors are handled automatically during processing.

And I could carry on naming features but why don't you call us today or visit us for more details?

Thank you for reading.

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Hahnemuhle FineArt Media

2010-09-01T18:04:00.000-04:00

Frederic

Hello friends, and welcome to our newsletter. Today I will describe ways of printing images and making them look like real art pieces. To do that we can definitely rely on a company with more than 400 years experience producing paper. Founded in 1584, Hahnemühle is the oldest German paper mill still producing papers for traditional and digital art. With such a reputation you can expect the best results when using their products.

The Hahnemühle papers provide an impressive and unique way to combine the precision of digital print media with the wonderful grace of genuine artist papers made in a traditional way. Take for instance the Canvas assortment for FineArt inkjet printing offers a wide choice of canvas made from cotton or poly-cotton. With its selection of colours and structures the assortment enables every artwork to have a unique character. Very popular among professionals are the Daguerre and Monet Canvas.

Hahnemuhle Daguerre Canvas

The Daguerre Canvas offers a fine structure which is particularly good for fine art photo printing. Its bright white point provides clear, fresh colors and contrasts for black and white reproductions. The A3 format, which is available in 20 sheet boxes, is ideal for stretching canvas of 8x10" with 400 gsm (grams per square meter), Poly-Cotton and bright white base.

The Monet Canvas is a heavy cotton canvas with a woven pattern. Its natural white color is perfect for art reproduction, but also works well for high quality photo printing. Monet Canvas is also available in A3 format in 20 sheet boxes, 410 gsm and 100% Cotton. This canvas papers can be assembled in a beautiful photo wrap specially designed for them. That’s right, the Hahnemuhle Gallerie Photo Wrap is a quick and easy way to give any picture a gallery wrapped look.

The Photo Wraps do not require positioning corners and they are packaged with two sheets of either Monet Canvas in 10x16” or 6x8” sizes, or Daguerre Canvas in 10x16” or 6x8” sizes. They are very easy to put together and you can have a professional wrap in minutes.

Hahnemuhle Gallerie Wrap Photo

Next in the family of digital printing products are the Matte FineArt papers. These genuine artist papers made of 100 % cotton or pure alpha cellulose present smooth and textured surfaces and are provided with a matt Premium-Inkjet coating. This special coating permits high quality printings. They are available in a wide range of thickness from 188gsm all the way to 500gsm.

Finally I will like to mention the Glossy FineArt line of artist papers similar to the Matte FineArt papers, they are made of 100% cotton or pure alpha cellulose are provided with a Premium-Inkjet coating. The gloss range extends from subtle gloss (satin) to mid lustre (pearl) through to high gloss (baryta).

As you can see, with Hahnemühle we can produce fantastic results in at a very convenient price. Contact us for more details and to find out which paper will be perfect for your next Fine Art printing.

Thank you very much for reading!

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Increase your business revenue

2010-08-25T15:19:00.000-04:00

Frederic

Hello friends and welcome to our newsletter. A few months ago, I was talking with an old friend of mine and he mentioned his worries about not finding a way of increasing his business’ profits in this slow economy. He owns a cute souvenir and candy shop in the downtown area that is visited by both tourists and locals alike and close to many foreign consulates and government offices.

I suggested him to include a photo-kiosk to take advantage of the location and all the features offered by the new technologies available. I remember that when I mentioned the word photography he looked at me in disbelief because he thought my proposal would require installing a huge laboratory and getting rid of the chocolates, caps and mugs from the inventory.

Mitsubishi Express Lab

Then I explained to him how small these kiosks are nowadays and that he could have one on top of a counter without altering the rest of his shop. The model I recommended him was the Mitsubishi DPS Express Lab which is a truly affordable entry into the highly profitable digital photo printing market. Together with the CP-9550 DW-U printer there is enough flexibility to print in different sizes: 4 x 6", 5 x 7", 6 x 8", 6 x 9" depending on the media installed.

This incredible mini-lab includes some of the most useful features that translate in extra value to the customers. For instance, anybody can connect a memory card to view the images on the touch-screen, select the ones to print, automatically remove red eyes and more. These self-serve features allow my friend to take care of the rest of the sales as he and his wife are the only ones working at the counter without additional employees. And it is so easy to transport that they sometimes take it with them to different events, like School Soccer games, weddings, etc.

Mitsubishi Click 5000

In my friend's case, he took the ID Photo capabilities of the kiosk to new levels: with so many people applying for tourist visas and passports at the surrounding offices he pretty soon found new customers lining up to have their ID pictures taken. The Express Lab’s software has an option to create an ID Photo too that automatically prints to the specifications of many ID and passport regulations.

There are other valuable options available to the customer that can make their trip to the Express Lab more fun: Calendars, Collage, Multi-print and Mosaic. They can even create a CD or DVD backup disk with the contents of their camera memory cards in minutes thanks to the systems CD/DVD drive. And if you like the idea of having a photo lab in your business and would like to go one notch up, the DPS Click 5000 from Mitsubishi Photo Imaging is the next step in advanced digital printing. The system is a fully integrated, digital photofinishing system that provides immediate profit potential to any retail storefront or on-site event printing.

Mitsubishi Kiosk 7000

Or still a bit further, the self service DPS Kiosk 7000 incorporates a wide range of versatile performance features including multiple printer hookups, Bluetooth® wireless technology compatibility; several print size options, index printing, and can accept prepaid photo cards. The DPS 7000 also offers additional high margin revenue opportunities by offering a variety of photo gifts including greeting cards, 'customer assembled' Photo Albums, Calendars, Photo Box Organizers and more. With these additional Photo Gift products, your photo business can really take off and grow.

I could keep on writing about these systems’ features and benefits but why don’t you better give us a call or, better still, come to our showroom any time and I will have the pleasure of showing you what I am talking about.

Thank you very much for reading!

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EPSON Signature Worthy Papers

2010-08-16T23:40:00.015-04:00

Frederic

Hello friends and welcome to our newsletter. This week I'm bringing important information about Epson Signature Worthy Papers and I hope it will help you choose the right paper for your next Fine Art project. These cotton-based photographic papers are the finest in the market and deserve serious consideration when searching for the right media.

The line's Signature Worthy, carries more meaning than just a brand name. When a professional photographer signs a print he is doing far more than writing his name at the bottom of the frame. With the signature the artist is declaring that the print was produced using the best available technology and that the printer, ink and media employed matched perfectly to create a piece of art that, in turn, becomes a tangible Value.

Don't miss these great artists sharing their experiences with you!

• Lois Greenfield:

Hot Press Bright

• David Lynch:

Hot Press Natural

• Matthew J. Smith:

Cold Press Bright

• Vincent Versace:

Cold Press Natural

When dealing with fine art we have to keep in mind that the print is what actually sells, shows the image, lasts decades and gets put on the wall. That's why the choice of paper becomes so important. Epson's Signature Worthy papers use cotton as their supporting base which confers that incredible texture that is recognized by the world's greatest artists. They come in five different types: Hot Press Bright, Hot Press Natural, Cold Press Bright, Cold Press Natural and Velvet Fine Art.

Hot Press Bright paper produces fantastic results both in B&W and Color. Photographers claim that for the first time they can have real blacks plus the whole range of grays. The colors are rich with smooth tonal transitions. The combination of texture and image creates prints with a unique “feel", depth and richness.

Hot Press Natural paper has the same characteristics of the Bright type with an off-white tone that makes it feel more organic and ideal for skin tones. Both papers are thick and feel different than other media when they are held, in fact most photographers agree that many customers are sold once the actually feel the print in their hands and realize the real value they are getting.

Cold Press Bright paper transmits a new energy to the prints with excellent variations of skin tones too. They help connect the viewer to the image in an almost magic way. Together with the Cold Press Natural they convert a print into a collectible piece of art. Images come alive showing textures, colors and shades that stand out.

Velvet Fine Art papers bring an almost tactile presence to the prints. Their inherent lack of surface reflection makes them the ideal choice for images that look like paintings and a new dimension of photography printing is available. Photos that actually look like xerography are possible with this great media.
The Signature Worthy Papers by Epson come in a wide variety of sizes and formats ranging from the classic 8.5"x11" Sheets all the way to 60" wide Rolls. Give us a call or visit our show room and we will be glad to give you more specific advice about these products.

Thank you very much for reading!

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Increase Your Event-Shooting Profits

2010-08-11T19:21:00.000-04:00

Dodge

Hello again! Today I would like to talk about a new approach to events photography and how to stand out from nowadays’ competition. We all know how fast technology advances and how hard it is to keep up with it. Our cameras and lenses have improved over the years and we have enough megapixels in our sensors to take care of almost every job and this is particularly true when dealing with events shooting where capturing the moment is more important that being able to produce a huge poster for a shopping center campaign.

HiTi P510Si Wireless
Photo Printer

So here we are, in the middle of a soccer game for first graders, equipped with our cameras, lenses, flash, batteries and the rest of the rig. The whole event will probably last two hours and we have to capture as many good shots as possible and, most important of all: engage the proud parents to purchase the photos before they head back home!

Of course there are many ways to operate under these circumstances. One way would be to shoot in location, print back at the office and then take the proofs to the school some other day for the parents to choose the ones they like. This obviously involves a lot of time and effort before the customer eventually commits to purchasing your work. We can also shoot then download the images to a Laptop connected to the photo printer and have the photos printed during the event. Not bad, but there’s still a better, faster way of doing it: using a wireless photo transmitter and a wireless printer.

Today more and more professional photographers benefit from the use of HiTi P510Si wireless enabled printer together with HiTi’s WFT510 transmitter. This combination really speeds up the process in a way that we could only dream a couple of years ago. You can be shooting in the middle of the game and simply by pressing a button, your selected images get transferred almost instantly over to the printer. The P510Si outputs a 6x4 print every 12 seconds and employs rolls of up to 330 pictures for uninterrupted, jams-free production. Besides the 6x4 rolls, the P510Si also accepts 5x7 and 6x9 in convenient Paper and Ribbon packages.

TAP Fantasy Folder 5x7

An assistant can then place the prints in TAP’s Event Folders making the presentation much more professional as you increase the value added to your work and, at the same time, offer an almost irresistible product to the parents. A very nice option is the TAP Fantasy 7x5 Event Folder with room for two images or the classic TAP Marathon Ebony. Your customers will be able to buy the prints while being still under the emotion of the moment, not several days later. That alone can make a huge difference in sales.

Just think of all the new possibilities you could be exploiting with a HiTi P510Si and the WFT510 transmitter. Range is incredible too: over 300ft (100mts) which means freedom for you and your camera.
For your next event, may it be a school game or a wedding, consider going wireless. The results will speak for themselves.

Thank you very much for reading.

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Review of the Shinko Professional Printers

2010-07-26T14:31:00.000-04:00

Adriana Martinez

Today, I asked one of my clients their opinion on the printer they own, and if they would want to share their experiences. I can tell you that I think the Shinko S2145 is an excellent piece of hardware, but consumer reviews are one of the most important things I look for when purchasing items.

"It is very fast, and easy to reload the paper and film. Colors are very vivid, the clarity is excellent. It makes it very easy when producing a large volume of photos."

"I would like some software that allows photo sets to be printed. In the near future, I'd like to purchase the printer that would allow larger prints/sets to be printed. This would allow a broader clientele."

Shinko CHCS1245

"If I had to say anything for improvement, it would be that a catcher for the photos should be included with the purchase of the photo printer."

A couple months ago, I received an Email from a customer who was looking for a dye-sublimation printer that could print fast, had high resolution, wireless options, and would be able to print matte and glossy without having to change the media. Fortunately, this Shinko covered all of my client's needs and more; and it's very rewarding be able to recommend a printer that will suit these demands.

Why Shinko? Very simple, the S2145 balances high-speed, high quality, and low cost. A professional caliber 6"x9"photo is produced in as little as 15 seconds, with as many as 310 prints per roll, making it 2-3 times faster than most comparable cut-sheet printers. The roll media allows 700 4"x6" prints, which is over 20 times the capacity of most cut sheet printers. Ideal for use in kiosks and high productivity locations, multiple printers can also be networked for even higher productivity; and at full capacity it can operate unattended for over two hours without needing to be serviced - it can be used virtually anywhere!

Shinko S2145

But I don't want to talk to you about the technicalities or the specs of these printers, but to advise and guide you to the right printer for your business needs.

I was at the fair the other day with my family, and we watched a sea lion show. The show was great, and at the end they offered us to take a family picture with these beautiful creatures. We went ahead and took the photos, and when they showed us the pictures - everything was yellow and shoddy. Honestly, I took the picture home with me because they were free, but I wouldn't have paid for those images, they were terrible! Now that I'm working with digital printers and learning more about each of them, I can recognize the quality of a printer. Time and Presentation are keys to sell, but without Quality, you may not get the desired results.

I'd like to thank Mr. Cecil Daniel for the interview, and for all these reasons and more, I'm very pleased to have brought you Shinko again in my newsletter. Thank you so much for your valuable time, and I hope I was able to clear some doubts about these amazing machines. If you have any other questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me.

This has been Adriana from Image Pro, thanks for reading!

HiTi 510Si Wireless Printing Solution

2010-07-26T12:57:00.000-04:00

Frederic Friedmann

We recently tested the HiTi 510Si photo printer – a new device that allows instant wireless printing from your camera in conjunction with the HiTi WFT510 transmitter.

We were happily surprised by how easy it was to set up and how fast and unproblematic we were able to take the pictures, select the photo we wanted, and send to print while continuing to shoot.

HiTi’s Direct Wireless Printing solution allows users to transmit images from a PictBridge compatible digital camera to a photo printer wirelessly. This leaves the photographer free to move around while taking photos and sending selected photos to print, while the printer is working independently and not taking up the photographer’s valuable time. This solution includes the HiTi WFT510 Transmitter and the HiTi P510Si, a standalone roll-type photo printer with wireless functionality.

Hiti 510 Si Wireless Photo Printer

HiTi’s WFT510 is now the only wireless photo transmitter designed to work with PictBridge compatible digital cameras on the market, and it has proven itself by winning the DIMA 2009 Innovative Digital Product Award.
We’ve heard great things from many of our event photographers who purchased the combo HiTi510Si printer and WFT 510 transmitter to print on the fly their photos at events across the country. We have been discouraged by complicated systems in the past, like the Wi-Pics device, and we did not expect for this system to work so well, so easily, and best of all at such a bargain price (the Printer + the transmitter will cost you about $1500 right now at our imagepro.biz shop).

The possibility to create digital frames and logos and import it directly to the printer was a big hit with our customers, as well as the fact that it comes with a card reader and a mini 3.6” LCD touch screen to print directly from the printer itself, avoiding the need to drag a laptop along to the event. Best of all, the printer weighs in at only 30lbs, giving it excellent portability to go with it’s technology.

HiTi WFT510
Transmitter

The printer has different media sizes available to suit a wide range of needs - 4x6, 5x7, 6x8, or 6x9 images.
The printer also comes with 4 software bundles for FREE:

• eFrame Converter – Easily convert the digital frames or logos you’ve created as TIFF files into files the HiTi can read and use as it’s photo templates.

• EventDesiree Deluxe - For users who want to print a large quantity of photos under limited time constraints.

• ID creator - Multiple ID formats and templates in a few simple steps.

• IDQuickDesiree – Lets you print Passport or ID photos with ease.

By installing the WFT PC Kit bundled with the WFT510, users can also transmit image data directly to a computer, which further enhances the flexibility of the kit. The HiTi WFT510 comes at an affordable price, allowing consumers to enjoy wireless transmission function on their digital cameras just like the high-end DSLR camera users.
We believe that the HiTi P510Si, with it’s integrated wireless technology and direct wireless printing capability, light weight, and ample media range, provides the most convenient and cost efficient printing method for event photographers.

This has been Frederic from Image Pro, thanks for reading!

New Canon Large Format Printers

2010-07-26T10:46:00.000-04:00

Dodge

Hi guys, my name is Dodge, and I’ll be your inside source on the newest tech on the ImagePro showroom floor! In March, we announced the arrival of three new Canon printers, the 44-inch iPF8300 and 24-inch imagePROGRAF iPF6350 and iPF6300 large format printers.

We just got our hands on the iPF6350 (still sitting out in our showroom for demonstration if you’d like to pass by), and these new additions to the Graphic Arts line are designed for precise, high quality print performance and increased productivity.

Canon iPF 6350

Each model features Canon’s new 12-Color LUCIA EX pigment ink system and advanced printing technologies - specifically developed to produce prints with an enhanced color range and improved durability. These new imagePROGRAF models represent a good solution for the graphic, fine art, photography and proofing markets.
The major improvement in these 3 new printers is related to a major improvement in the color gamut over the previous generation.
To enhance its available color spectrum, the new imagePROGRAF models feature an all-new 12-Color LUCIA EX pigment ink set increasing the achievable color gamut by approximately 20 percent from the previous imagePROGRAF iPFx100 series and enabling over 90 percent coverage of PANTONE ® colors to produce rich expression. Additionally, to better meet the needs of the professional print market, the new models feature a reinforced mechanical structure to enable precise ink placement for improved text and line accuracy, making these new devices a powerful proofing solution.
The LUCIA EX inks have achieved enhanced black reproduction by improving the black tone and black density, which allows for the reproduction of the finest details in the shadow areas of photographs. Also, a polymer has been added to strengthen the bond in the ink layer, making the output much less susceptible to external scratches. With a built-in calibration feature, the printers are equipped with the ability to easily reset back to the original optimal factory settings; creating a stable, predictable printing platform on which superior results can be consistently achieved. Improvements to the ink, hardware and software make these printers an optimal choice for those in the Photography, Graphics, and Fine Art and Proofing environments.

Canon iPF 8300

To fully capitalize on the dynamic color range of the new LUCIA EX ink set, each new imagePROGRAF model employs two advanced one-inch print heads, each featuring 2,560 nozzles per color and outputting a super fine four picoliter droplet at a full 2400x1200 dots-per-inch resolution to reproduce details with extraordinary accuracy and clarity. Paired with enhanced plug-ins and new, High Precision Printing Modes, these new imagePROGRAF models provide an extremely high level of photographic and proofing quality prints.
Another major feature of this printer is that in order to support high-volume printing and streamline workflows the Canon iPF6350 come equipped with an 80 GB high-capacity hard disk drive (HDD) that allows for faster spooling of large files as well as the ability to reprint jobs directly from the printer. To ensure the highest level of productivity and reduce overall print time, all new models are also equipped with a standard gigabit Ethernet network interface and an automatic dual-blade cutter.
These new printers provide users with a wide array of media options ranging from glossy to fine art to canvas. The variety of media available for the new iPF8300 and iPF6350/6300 provides the versatility and flexibility to complete any number of industry applications. For a list of media types please visit: Canon Media Additional marketing, pricing and promotion information is located at Canon Promotions.

We liked what we’ve seen so far produced by our iPF6350, and the new imagePROGRAF printers show a clear improvement over the last generation, making these 3 machines very strong contenders even for the most exigent professional.

This has been Dodge from ImagePro, and thanks for your time!

Hahnemühle Professional Media

2010-07-22T19:12:00.002-04:00

Lahcen

I am happy today to discuss the Hahnemühle line, since we are now an Official distributor! The Hahnemühle product line is made up of the highest quality digital papers, as well as eco-friendly media, and even a do-it-yourself canvas wrap system.

I’ve had clients asking me for their line for months now, and if you weren’t one of them before, you’ll surely be one now! First and foremost – Hahnemühle is Fine Art, High-Quality digital media.

In being a higher-end media, the quality of their media is consistently awarded for excellent color range, rendering, and gradation. Their Digital FineArt Collection is divided into three product lines: Glossy FineArt, Matte FineArt, and Canvas FineArt; each delivering their superior quality on a variety of textures and gsm’s.

FineArt Pearl

After our first test prints using Hahnemühle’s media on our Epson Stylus Pro 9900 and Canon iPF6350 in the showroom, I was astonished by the side-by-side comparisons with the same print by other paper manufacturers coming off the same printer! The differences were stark; the colors on the Hahnemühle media looked more vibrant and distinct, and looked like they were printed by a completely different machine. If you are currently in the business of high-quality printing, whether for art or photography reproduction, you need media such as Hahnemühle’s FineArt Pearl; with an ISO brightness of 105%, 320 gsm, and triple coated to provide flawless reproductions. Hahnemühle also provides its own ICC profiles, free of charge, for a myriad of printer/media combinations to increase color accuracy and repeatability.

Bamboo 290

Another interesting aspect of Hahnemühle is their Green Rooster movement; an environmental initiative to reduce carbon footprint of professional digital printers by creating eco-friendly, but still high-quality, media. A portion of revenue collected by Hahnemühle on products with the Green Rooster label is donated to selected environmental protection projects, and even though the media is made up of highly renewable materials, it still ranks better in color reproduction and quality than many others.

My favorite from the lineup is Bamboo - particularly suitable for warm-toned color and monochrome prints, and it is the world’s first digital fine art inkjet paper made from bamboo fibers!

At the last WPPI show in Vegas, I attended Hahnemühle’s showing and was impressed by their new Gallerie Wrap system. It allows artists and non-artists alike to create professional quality gallery wraps in mere minutes. It is a complete system of easy-to-use fastening components and stretching frames to accommodate most popular imaging formats.

You make the canvas print on your Hahnemühle media and printer, then take the print and stretch, fasten, and secure it to the frame in less than 5 minutes! See how easy it is in this video:

Feel free to contact me or come visit our showroom and look at some of the prints we have made using this media; I know once you see it in person, you’ll be sold!

Answering your questions about the Epson Stylus Pro 7900/9900

2010-07-13T12:02:00.000-04:00

Frederic

Hello again! Many of you are asking about the wide format Epson Stylus Pro 7900/9900 series of professional printers and this week I'm answering some of your questions. Both printers share the same technical specifications the only difference being the maximum widths they can handle: 24" and 44" respectively. Epson introduced a range of innovations on this series that make the printers top of the line.

The image quality together with the wide range of media makes them highly versatile. From fine art and photography to signage and color proofing, you can benefit with the new technologies put into the 7900/9900 printers. They are simply amazing. Take the 11-color inks for instance. With the introduction of UltraChrome® HDR ink you have one of the widest color gamut ever at your disposition. There are three different ink container sizes to choose from depending on your printing requirements. The UltraChrome® HDR T642 have 150ml of ink per color, while the UltraChrome® HDR T596 have 350ml and the UltraChrome® HDR T636 offer 700ml, ideal for intensive overnight printing.

Epson Stylus Pro 7900

There's also the right media for your application, no compromises here. The Fine Art papers and canvas bring you the possibilities of choosing between Gloss, Matte, Velvet, Satin, Textured and more. Same for Photographic and Coated papers and media. The signage industry can obtain great results with the transparent backlight, clear film or adhesive synthetic paper. And when it comes to color proofing, Epson offers you more than 40 different types of media like, Standard Proofing Paper, CrystalClear Film and Publication.

Even if you need to print black and white images you can select from Normal, Cool and Warm tones to suit your project as it simultaneously uses Black, Light Black, and Light Light Black inks which significantly improves the gray balance while eliminating color casts. The results of this new smooth contrast range are just impressive. Together with the new inks comes a new print head, the MicroPiezo TFP™ with its automatic nozzle checking and cleaning making clogged nozzles part of the past. No more wasting ink and media before realizing that the printer is not performing at its peak.

I deal with professional photographers daily and they share their experiences about working with these printers with me. They love the idea of being able to print their work themselves and get astonishing results print after print. Rich, accurate color, high quality output and the variety of certified media available both in cut sheets and rolls are some of the reasons of their higher productivity and shorter turnaround times.

Epson Stylus Pro 9900

And if you are in the commercial proofing business I have good news for you too. Developed in partnership with X-Rite, Epson has incorporated an optional, high performance, in-line spectrophotometer. When driven by the latest front-end RIPs, Epson SpectroProofer™ can automate any color management process in your commercial proofing workflow. This invaluable tool can be installed in minutes to increase the color accuracy of the printer. But that’s not the only advantage for your proofing needs, just consider the fact that Epson achieves 98% PANTONE color coverage, quite possibly the best proofing system available today!

This is just a brief description of all the resources of these two printers. If you are a professional photographer wishing to have an in-house printing solution or if you are in the photo printing and/or color proofing business you’ll love the Epson 7900/9900 series. And your customers too…

This is all for today folks, thank you very much for reading.

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PhotoFusion Store

2010-06-24T14:44:00.002-04:00

Dodge

Hello again! This week’s newsletter does not cover all the technological details of a new professional printer or other piece of equipment. Today, I would like to talk about an online service that will help you create fantastic photo products easily and at a very competitive price: PhotoFusionStore.com.

As you already know, digital photography is more than pointing and clicking and this is true for both the casual amateur and the professional photographer. With PhotoFusion you now have the opportunity of creating amazing Memory Books, Journals, Photo Prints, Calendars and more. It is my favorite tool for printing weddings and other events.

Leather Book

Kathy and George got married last spring and they hired me as a photographer for their wedding. They decided to have the pictures bound on a leather book and also wanted to have some Memory Books to give to their parents and friends plus a bunch of photo prints in a variety of sizes: 4x6, 8x10 and even 20x30. I knew right from the beginning that PhotoFusionStore was going to be the right solution for my project once again. To begin with, registering to the website is as simple as choosing your user name and password, that’s it- within two minutes you’ll be navigating and viewing the different options available.

Let me describe the normal workflow of creating a Memory Book. The first thing you would probably do when starting a project is to upload the images. You can upload as many as you need and even group them into different folders that can be named in a useful way (Usually I upload all the pictures and print a Proof Book for the customer to review). Then you select the Product you want to create from a pull-down menu, in this example it will be Memory Books, the very first option at the top. In the next steps you choose the cover type, color and size. There is variety of sizes available ranging from small 3.5x3.5in. up to 12x12in Square, Portrait and Landscape. My favorite for weddings is 12x8 as it renders a very well balanced format and the photos look terrific.

Wall Calendar

You can choose from several templates or create your own design. The background image for instance, may be one of the images uploaded by you or you can select one from stock. I like to use a rich pattern image and then change its opacity to around 20%. Monochrome or sepia backgrounds are very interesting too and make the main images stand out. You can select the font style, size and color too. The next step assembles the book automatically and renders a preview that can be browsed and even lets you edit any page. Yes, you can resize, crop and rotate the photos as required before sending the project to print. The price of the project is always visible at the lower right corner so there will be no surprises at checkout time.

Needless to say, Kathy and George were delighted about the books and they ordered a couple of Day Planners to show the images of their honeymoon in Europe. Now it’s your turn: go to PhotoFusionStore.com, register and create several projects, there won’t be any charges until you place an order so have some fun! For best results I use the browser Firefox, from Mozilla.

Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoy using PhotoFusion as much as I do.

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Caldera's SnapRIP+

2010-06-15T17:44:00.005-04:00

Caldera SnapRIP+

Lahcen

Hello! This is Lahcen bringing you news about a fantastic printing software for photo professionals who look for a productive raster printing solution for their Epson, Canon and HP wide format printers. I’m talking about SnapRIP+ by Caldera. It packs the same power and features as Caldera’s RIP solutions for printing wide format jobs with eye catching colors and contrast.

Many of you may be wondering what RIP software does to improve your printing jobs. RIP stands for Raster Image Processor, which is the way of converting your images into a format that the printer understands. The RIP software executes many operations in the process: it converts the RGB images into CMYK, it applies color profiles, scales the image to the desired size and resolution, etc. As a matter of fact, the RIP software replaces your printer’s driver by taking full control of the print engine for a more accurate, high quality output.

Caldera's SnapRIP+

SnapRIP is very simple to use so you don’t have to spend time with trial and error (wasting valuable paper and ink!) before you can produce really astonishing results. SnapRIP includes tools that let you create your image from different files and view it in High Quality Preview before printing. The Compose tool enables you to assemble and layout multiple images from your Image Bar to make a unique document. As you gather all the images to the work area you can move, resize, rotate, align, manage depths and add text as needed.

And you don’t have to worry about positioning the files on the final image because SnapRIP packs one of Caldera’s key features: Nest-O-Matic. It automatically positions the files across your roll or sheet for media and ink optimization. This helps you save media because the program takes care of the fine details for you.

Sometimes I have to print several copies of an image that is smaller than the media loaded on the printer, so what I do is repeat the image many times across the media. Before installing SnapRIP in my computer I was tired of having to RIP the file many times and then positioning it properly on the layout, watching the gap between the images and so on. SnapRIP includes a sophisticated automatic feature to do that job efficiently called Step & Repeat, with it you RIP the file just once and the program does the rest saving a lot of time.

SnapRIP+'s main interface

But there is something else about ripping files with SnapRIP and it is that you can RIP a second file while you RIP and print another job at the same time. That’s right: while other RIP programs have to follow the RIP-then-print sequence, SnapRIP lets you RIP your second file WHILE still printing the first one thus increasing the productivity of your printer dramatically.

Remember the High Quality Preview Display I’ve mentioned earlier? Well, I have to tell you it’s much more sophisticated than a preview, it shows you how the files are going to look on your media while enabling you to zoom in and out, rotate, reverse, expand to full page, set 100% size, resize, move and recenter. And the best part is that there is no need for RIPing the file at every change.

Believe me, there are so many features included in SnapRIP that make this product unique.

It includes one Wide Format Printer driver and is upgradable to the next productive printing solution VisualRIP+, with a Postscript/PDF engine for producing posters, kakemonos, advertisements, POS, etc.

Contact me for more information about SnapRIP or visit us for a demo, I’m sure you’ll love it.

Thank you for reading!

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Mitsubishi Express Lab MT1U

2010-06-08T15:10:00.002-04:00

Mitsubishi Express Lab

Frederic

Hello friends, it’s Frederic again bringing news about the Mitsubishi Express Lab MT1U, a fantastic solution that can help your business enter the highly profitable Photo Lab market. This system offers a wide variety of options and you’ll be surprised to know how easy it is to install and operate.

To begin with, the MT1U is very compact and won’t take much real estate from you so you can have it installed in your business and also take it to different events due to its portability.

It really took us few minutes to setup the MT1U at the office. It consists of two modules: the Console with a 10" touch screen display and the Dye Sublimation Printer, a Mitsubishi CP-9550DW-U. Installing is really amazing because everything is Plug-and-Play, once we connected the power cords and the data cable between the console and the printer the rest was just a matter of loading the paper and the ribbon. I had my camera with me so I plugged its SD card to the MT1U Console and uploaded a couple of images. In less than 5 minutes I could print a new calendar for my desk with a great picture of my kids in it!

Mitsubishi Express Lab

The touch screen shows all the options in a very friendly graphic interface and here’s where you realize how versatile the MT1U is. You can choose from Compositions, Photo IDs, Calendars, Collages, Frames and Greetings, Mosaic Posters and more. You can even change the language of the whole display with one touch! This is of great value when your customers are visitors from other countries.

The MT1U offers several tools for image enhancement too, just to mention a few: One-touch image adjustment to correct brightness and contrast, Red-Eye removal, Crop, Zoom, Rotation, Sepia and B/W. The Photo ID engine is very powerful and allows you to compose an ID photo from an existing image. Thanks to the different layouts available for each country and Biometric Masks to position the picture correctly, you’ll be able to create professional Photo IDs in minutes.

The MT1U accepts most of the digital media formats in use today: Compact flash type I, II and DMA, MicroDrive, SD (incl. miniSD, microSD and HC types),

Mitsubishi

CP-9550DW-U

MMC (incl. RS-MMC), MemoryStick (incl. PRO, Pro Duo and MS Micro), xD card (type m and h), CD/DVD and USB flash drive. The CD/DVD drive is actually a burner so writing backup disks from memory cards is another interesting option available.

The printer on this lab is a CP9550DW-U based on Dye Sublimation Thermal Transfer with a resolution of 346dpi and includes two modes – Fine and Super Fine.

It can print a 4x6" in as little as 15 seconds! Due to the fact that it employs media rolls, paper jams are things of the past. It can print different sizes depending on the media installed 4x6"s on the CK954R rolls, 5x7" on CK955R, 6x8" and 6x9" on CK956R.

The system includes tools to help you control its operation. Price Management allows you to have 3 different price ranges. There’s also an optional Ticket Printer that lets you charge exactly what was printed, Statistics and more.

Contact me for more details or come to our show room for a demo of this fantastic new product from Mitsubishi.

Thank you very much for reading!

Adding value to your images

2010-04-23T16:47:00.003-04:00

Adding value to your images

Adriana Martinez

Building a business is tough, maintaining and keeping old and new clients coming back is even tougher; but having imagination and creativity with your products will not only impress your customers, but you will earn respect and recognition for your originality and hard work. From my experiences in life, and here at ImagePro, I have learned that presentation is critical in selling your images. Trust me; there is a big difference between trying to sell a photograph in a plain white envelope, and putting the same image into a nice framed layout.

Crayon

You want to add value to your client’s photos, and increase profit margin, so why not present your prints in nice looking TAP mounts, frames, or albums. There is a mount for any occasion. For instance, TAP’s Crayon for school events, or MyClass with space on the back for autographs from friends. They also make budget mounts, certificate holders, proofing, customized folders, photo galleries, top flight, deluxe preview, wallet packaging… You name it, TAP does it!

I am a mother of two young children, and I am a fanatic when it comes to taking pictures of them. I take my babies to photo studios for any occasion to catch the special moments in their lives. I remember one occasion when we had a family portrait that I was not convinced on purchasing. While I was deciding, the photographer showed me the print in a nice wooden frame, giving a completely different look to the photo. Even though I knew it was the same exact photo, at that instant, I was sold. A frame for a picture is like make-up for a woman, or ornaments and lights on a Christmas tree - they give it life.

Premira

TAP also makes affordable, gorgeous looking albums. The Premira album, with optional windowed cover, includes the Slip-Lock™ page system allows you to mount your photographs outside the album and insert the pages in any order. The Bella and Allure albums are also provided in multiple styles, and perfect for any event.

Our most common TAP mounts double as our most economical - the PF-16’s, the PF-20’s, the Buckeyes, and the Whitehouse designs. TAP also makes mounts for seasonal events, such as the Santa or Holiday mount, so be sure to check in for upcoming holidays!

I have many clients that are event photographers using a Sony SnapLab printer, moving from place to place as a mobile studio. I have helped them increase their revenue greatly using these inexpensive mounts. For example, a case of PF-16’s in 4x6 will get you 500 mount frames for about $120. As an easy baseline or upsell, imagine the opportunities to increase profit margin. A .30c mount and a .49c photo can easily turn your operation into a more attractive and lucrative business.

Buckeye

I had a client who was printing for his customers without any packaging; they would just leave the store with them in a bag or their hands. I shared with him a story on how I used to purchase yearly school photos for my children, until my daughter brought home her $80 package of photos, ruined by scuffs and scratches that could have been prevented by better packaging. He now buys cases of TAP mounts monthly, not only to increase value by presentation, but to also protect his clients’ investments.

It has always my pleasure to help and serve you guys. I hope that with this article, I have helped you realize how important adding presentation and protection to your prints, especially at the affordability TAP provides.

This has been Adriana from Image Pro, thanks for reading!

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Kodak Printers Review

2010-01-19T17:53:00.001-05:00

Today I'll be reviewing the Kodak 6850 and Kodak 9810 - two of the most popular dye sublimation printers made by Kodak. Both providing the quality and speed expected from a Kodak, they excel in serving both mobile event photographers and studios with beautiful dye-sub prints. I have suggested these printers to several customers based on their individual needs, and judging by their responses, I'm sure that either would be a welcome addition to any photographer's arsenal.

The Kodak Professional 6850 Digital Photo Printer meets event photographers' on-demand printing needs by providing customers with immediate results on the 4x6, 5x7, and 6x8 formats.

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Seal Laminators

2009-11-30T16:37:00.000-05:00

If you are working with a good ink-jet or plotter printer, and you produce high quality images with vibrant colors and definition, you might have already noticed that your prints are not the finished product. Your clients, surely satisfied with your work, return for more prints; but have to travel to another business to get the post-production work done – mounting and lamination. Only once these processes have been worked will the final product be available to the public’s eyes.

Why haven’t you started to offer these services in your own business? You’ve probably heard the phrase, "The frame is worth more than the photo." This sums up the post-production process. Why send your clients elsewhere, when you could provide these services and increase clientele and profits.

Seal 44 Ultra PlusWith the versatility of these Seal Laminators, their ease of use and adaptability to material sensitivity, you’ll see how easy it is to increase revenue from clients you already have, and provide extra services in a steady, supportive field.

What services could you offer with a laminator, you ask?

Basically, there are three:

Face Lamination: The process of applying a sealing, permanent film over the print. Utilizing several different options to bring out true colors and desired finish (matte, glossy, etc.) Lamination is also used to protect the prints, and extend their durability.

Mounting: The process of fixing a print onto a rigid material using an adhesive film. The laminator activates the adhesive with either pressure or heat, and fixes the image on without faults or air bubbles. There are various techniques of mounting, be it wood, metal, cardboard, or even a transparent laminate known as Face Mounting. Some of these types of mounting can cost multiple times the amount of the print itself, and the laminating machine is essential for this application.

Seal 62 BaseEncapsulation: By applying the laminating film over a print, using a heat-conducting laminator, you can seal the complete image leaving a small border around the print. By using this process, you can manipulate the print much easier, without worrying about losing image quality or damaging the print. This use is ideal for use in education, restaurants and hospitality, conferences and meetings, and many others where the same print can be reused many times.

These are some points to consider when choosing a laminator:

Maximum Width of the Laminator: The laminators always come a little wider than the normal printing sizes. Typically, they are in the ranges of 24", 43", 61" and 80". The Seal laminators, for example, come in 44" and 62".

Seal 62 Ultra PlusWhat you want to produce: Posters, presentation panels, frames, light boxes, etc. Each application utilizes a specific material, each for the item’s sensitivities of heat or pressure. By choosing the Seal 62 Ultra C Plus, your prints will be laminating using a Cold process that may be suitable for more jobs. The Seal 62 Base also comes with Heat Assist for high volume production.

For use with materials sensitive to heat, we also have the Seal 44 Ultra Plus (44") and the Seal 62 Ultra plus (61").

The acquisition of a lamination machine will convert your business from a basic printing processor to having the capabilities to offer a finished product, not losing out on possible revenue from the same client; and bringing in new clients that wish to have this post-production work, and in turn choose your business for their printing needs as well.

For more information on the Seal Laminators or the lamination process, feel free to contact me at anytime.
This is has been Carlos from Image Pro, and it’s been a pleasure.

FujiFilm Photo Printers

2009-11-30T16:31:00.000-05:00

Hi guys! Adriana here, bringing you info on Fujifilm’s current lineup of mobile and versatile printers.

I enjoy writing these newsletters because I get to share this time with you readers, each with your own stories and opportunities, and I hope to provide you with useful information that could help you learn about products that could possibly make your work in the media industry a little easier.

Fine Pix IP-10 Digital Photo ID System

Fine Pix ID PrinterThe FinePix IP-10 is a Dye-Sublimation thermal printer made by Fuji for ID and Passport Photos. Equipped with Fujifilm’s Image Intelligence technology for automatic facial recognition and color optimization, it provides consistent, quality results every time.

With a resolution of 300x300dpi, this can make vibrant 4x6 prints in approx. 70 seconds. You can select from up to 6 different ID Layouts including US passport, regulation photo ID size, or the full 4x6 Images – and you can also display these images on a TV/Monitor screen to show clients a quick preview, or on its own 2.4in color LCD screen.

Not without mentioning it weighs only 3 pounds, and if you would prefer a standalone system, you can connect a USB cable directly to the printer from the camera; or you also have the option of a computer middleman to further process images. The IP-10’s versatility and image quality is a veritable mobile profit booster for any sized workspace.

ASK 2000 Digital Photo Printer System

ASK 2000 Digital Photo PrinterGeared towards professional event photographers for on-site printing, the ASK 2000 is an updated version of the ASK1500 model with printing times up to 1.5x faster. Easy operation and maintenance, its front loading capabilities let you replace media in no time flat.

The new ASK 2000 can print up to 600 images from one single roll and has the versatility of printing in 5 different sizes; 4x6, 6x4, 5x7, 6x8 and 6x9, all at a stunning resolution of 300x600dpi.

It not only delivers outstanding outputs but it’s also a space conserving machine that delivers lab-quality prints consistently and economically. Being a dye-sublimation printer, these images are ready to handle as soon as they’re printed - its dry-print method allows your business to run more efficiently resulting in an increase in sales. The Ask 2000 is perfect for event photographers; just pick, click, and go!

ASK 4000 Digital Photo Printer System

ASK 4000 Digital Photo PrinterFrom the same vein as the ASK 2000, the ASK 4000 is a compact dye-sublimation printer for professional event photographers that want continuous lab-quality Images at a fraction of the cost.

The Ask 4000 produces 2 different sizes lab work in seconds, 8x10 and 8x12. With only 40 seconds per 8x10, 300x600dpi resolution and the affordability and reliability of a Fujifilm printer; the ASK 4000 gives lab-quality prints from a mobile, desktop-friendly device. In the leisure and wedding photography business, where onsite instant image processing is vital for sales, the ASK 4000 delivers with stunning prints at lightning fast speeds.

By simply connecting the printers to a laptop via USB, professional photographers can use both the ASK 2000 and 4000 in conjunction to provide a variety of print sizes in near-perfect lab-quality, at almost instant print times. Also, they both come with a 1-year parts and labor guarantee provided by Fujifilm, to give you the reliability you need for any job.

Thank you for the opportunity to come to you through this product line. I really appreciate your valuable time and I hope this information was as informative and educational for you as it was for me.

This has been Adriana from ImagePro, and I’ll see you on my next newsletter!

Epson Stylus Pro 3880

2009-11-10T12:47:00.000-05:00

Carlos OchoaHello again, Carlos here, and I’m very grateful to be once again writing about the exciting, new technologies that Epson has to offer. Today, it’s the new Epson Stylus Pro 3880.

After a few years of helping my clients choose the best printer, and later best media and materials, for their needs – I have almost always been able to compare Epson’s Stylus Pro line as the top choice. Epson has always placed reproduction quality as #1, without worrying if it is on a small or large format printer.

Epson Stylus Pro 3880Surely after the appearance of the new Epson printers, the Stylus Pro 7900 (24") and the 9900 (44"), many thought that a model like the Stylus Pro 3800 would be eliminated from the market. Contrary to this, Epson has surprised us with a new version: the Stylus Pro 3880 K3, and the Stylus Pro 3880 Graphic Arts edition. With its wide color spectrum from its 8 UltraChrome K3 inks, the new 3880 also utilizes the new Vivid Magenta to increase the intensity of blues and violets, further widening the color gamut – characteristics only before seen in the larger models.

That way, with this model, you can experiment with the ultimate in professional printing quality in color, as you would normally in black and white.

UltraChrome K3 inksThe quality of the UltraChrome K3 inks are recognized market-wide for their permanence, quick drying speeds, and minimal metamerism – constants for the Stylus Pro line, and still maintained from the large format to the Stylus Pro 3880, the smallest of the line but with the same features.

Another important addition to this printer is the AccuPhoto HD2, combining complex mathematic architecture and advanced screening technology, the AccuPhoto HD2 technology is designed to ensure exact placement of each drop of ink, resulting in smooth and grain-free prints. The system itself selects the best combination of inks for each color and reduction of metamerism.

The Graphic Arts edition of the Stylus Pro 3880 includes a PANTONE Raster Image Processor from ColorBurst to deliver reliable color accuracy and ensure complete color control. It also has an easy-to-use managing interface that makes overseeing your prints a breeze, with no more manual adjustments. For the most possibilities in color matching and additional proofing needs, the Stylus Pro 3880 Graphic Arts is perfect.

MicroPiezo Printer HeadAs in their other printers, Epson retains the characteristics that make up their amazing printers. Technology like the MicroPiezo printer heads that give stunning image detail. Their extensive gamut of blacks and grays - assisted by automatic changing in between Photo and Matte Black inks, to give you the richest blacks regardless of paper. It’s compact design to accommodate any workplace and do up to A2+ prints; and can utilize a wide variety of award winning media offered by Epson, when used in conjunction with incorporated settings in the printer, can give you excellent image quality alongside versatility and near limitless project flexibility.

For all these reasons, and without forgetting the excellent support services Epson has to offer, the 3880 is a great addition to the Stylus Pro line, and is sure to usher in greater projects for the year to come.

The Epson Stylus Pro 3880 will be available at the beginning of November, but we are already accepting pre-orders for those who would like to be among the first to receive one. Please contact us so that we can help you if you have any questions.

This has been Carlos Ochoa from Image Pro, thanks for reading!

Sony Photo Event Printers Review

2009-11-10T12:42:00.000-05:00

Lahcen BoufedjiHello again, Lahcen here, and today I’ll be sharing some information on the Sony Dye-Sublimation printers. We’ll be taking a look at the SnapLab UPDR80, UPCR10L, UPCR20L and UPDR200 – great for traveling event photographers, event planners, and even stationary revenue generators for retail settings. We’ll also be looking at the UPXC300, Sony’s digital passport and ID photo printing system.

I do a lot of events in Miami, and I have always been on the lookout for a fast and portable printer that I could just put in the trunk of my Accord with the rest of my equipment and go, and I think I found it in the Sony UP-DR80.

Sony UP-DR80It’s half the size and weight of my previous printer, weighing only 25 lbs, making it one of the smallest dye-sublimation printers available today.

It can print from 4x8, up to gorgeous 8x12 prints; all with your choice of ProMatte, Luster, or Glossy print surfaces with the same media. For an example on speed, it knocks out 8x10 prints in 63 seconds; and as opposed to inkjet printers, the prints are ready to be handled as soon as they are finished with no risk of smudging inks – perfect for grab and go situations like malls or parks. It has a superb print quality and my clients are always impressed with the results and the amount of the prints produced in such a short time.

Sony SnapLab UPCR10L The Sony SnapLab UPCR-10L is made primarily for events or retail stores, and it’s today’s highest selling dye-sublimation printer in the world. At only 24 lbs, I love its minimalist design and along with its portability, ease of use, and quality of prints; I believe the UPCR10L will be a great additional revenue-generating tool for event photographers and planners. With the help of a Bluetooth USB Adapter, you can transfer the images wirelessly from your camera to the SnapLab, further cutting down on production time. It used to be the case that guests would have to wait for weeks, even months, for the professional photographer’s photos to be ready to order; and by that time many have lost interest in the purchase. With the advent of these new portable lab-quality printers, the wait time is over.

Sony SnapLab UPCR20LNext, we have the Snap Lab UPCR-20L - the new generation of the kiosk by Sony, with a 10.4 inch LCD screen, it offers small to medium retail environments a sleek, high-speed option for revenue expansion. In terms of speed, a 4x6 takes approx. 8 seconds, while a 5x7 can be printed in 13 seconds; twice as fast as previous models. The UP-CR20L produces gorgeous, rocket fast prints in the 3x5 to 6x8 range, with software selectable Glossy or ProMatte finishes. Just like the UPCR-10L, it takes all ranges of digital media, plus CDs and DVDs. The LCD menu of the SnapLab supports 12 languages, and customers will be attracted to its simple-to-use interface, and astonished by its great looking prints; you can easily profit from another source of income without compromising on space. I’d recommend the UPCR20L for retail stores, event photographers, and shopping malls.

Sony UPDR200 Closing out the line we have the UP-DR200, with exceptional performance from 3x5 to 6x8 sizes, and the ability to print either Glossy or ProMatte finish with the same media. The printer also offers up to 30% more paper capacity than its predecessor, holding 700 4x6’s or 800 5x7’s. Blazing fast prints clocking in at 8sec for 4x6 and 12sec for 5x7 also makes it one of the fastest printers at the moment. The front and auto-loading mechanisms of the system make replacing media a snap; open the front door, insert the roll and ribbon, and you’re done. I strongly recommend this printer for Professionals and Event photographers.

Sony UPX-C300Finally, we have the Sony UPX-C300 – Sony’s answer for strict regulations on ID and Passport photos, and subpar photo systems that develop prints that are constantly rejected. This system comes with an 8 megapixel camera and 400 dpi printer, perfect for high quality prints. Also equipped with Bluetooth wireless functionality, one button press on the camera sends the selected shot to the printer’s queue; I personally love being able to shoot different photos and print seamlessly, without having to walk back and forth between the printer.

The camera also automatically adjusts certain properties in the picture, such as facial and frame position, along with many other new features that help ensure fewer rejections by government agencies. That’s been my take on Sony’s line of SnapLabs, printers and their new Bluetooth Digital Passport System, the UPX-C300.

From my experience with all those printers, I’ve loved its speed, portability, and print quality – as have my clients. I can easily recommend any of them, and would be more than willing to help you in choosing one for yourself or your business’s needs.

This has been Lahcen from Image Pro, and thanks for reading.

HiTi Printers Review

2009-10-26T15:37:00.003-04:00

Image Pro fans, I’m back and here with some new information on another product line that I have been very impressed with. First, I’d like to thank you for taking your valuable time to read what I want to share with you.This company was founded in January of 2001, and in that short time has broken through the market and won multiple awards for speed, efficiency, and higher capacity acceptance. The line which I am very glad to talk about this time is the HiTi family. The HiTi family may consist of few printers, but although they don’t have a huge line as other well known brands, their high production efficiency at a low cost has garnered them multiple DIMA Shoot Out, DIMA Innovative Digital Product awards, and Taiwan Excellence awards. By these standards, they can also be winners without having an extended product line.I have prepared a quick overview of the different lines offered by HiTi, but regardless of the job, I can wholeheartedly recommend any of these to one seeking a low-cost machine with high efficiency rates. Photo Kiosk 510K
Photo Kiosk 510KHere is the smallest, but nevertheless, the hardest working and most efficient dye sublimation Kiosk using Mini 6-inch rolls. It is very compact and has everything you would need in a printer. With a 10.2-inch touch screen interface, it’s has a very presentable and modern look; and it accepts almost all types of input media. As for methods of print – you can choose between index prints, greeting cards, ID photos, and now variety collage formats. It’s fast, efficient, and mobile enough to carry to events or sports games, install and service shopping malls or cafes, or even for grandparents to print images in the comfort of their own homes.Wireless Printing Excellence – 510SI and WFT510
HiTi P510Si If you’re a professional or amateur photographer who needs a wireless printer that is fast, efficient, and inexpensive – look no further, because I’ve found the perfect printer that mixes connectivity with mobility and doesn’t skimp on the quality.
HiTi WTF510 compatible cameras, and process their incoming photos simultaneously at click-and-print speed. If you don’t have a Wi-Fi compatible camera, the HiTi WFT510 links to your PictBridge compatible camera (usually most cameras that have a USB port, check HiTi’s list to be sure), and with the push of a button can transmit the photos to the printer. The printer also has an option of incorporating your company’s logo into the photos as a small watermark, perfect for reminding your clients who they get the best results from.The introduction of the new P710L 7-series high-volume printer
HiTi P710L This is HiTi’s new combination of high printing speed, consistent cost per print, high capacity, and marvelous print quality – the P710L has been hailed as an excellent first roll-type photo printer. It prints a standard 4x6 in just 6.8sec, and can print as cheaply as $0.13 a print, and along with its jam-free front-loading system of over 1,400 4x6 prints and ribbon; the P710L is the printer that the photographic world has been waiting for: lightning fast printing, low operational cost, and high image quality and reliability.Thank you very much for having accompanied me through this overview of the HiTi family; it’s been a pleasure sharing this information with you. This has been Adriana from Image Pro, until next time!

Serious Graphic Technology

2009-10-13T12:50:00.002-04:00

MACtac's slogan is "Graphics that Rock", and it expresses well the creativity and innovation that this brand is developing in each of their products. Here is a general look into some of its lines and the reason why it has been getting the best recognition for the quality and performance of their graphic products: PermaGard: Lamination for High-performance, intermediate and economy choices including the RAYZor, Enhancers, PrintCover and innovative ColorGard for UV inks.Permaflex: High performance rigid overlaminates for all of your trade show needs.PermaPrint: Intermediate adhesives for face and back mounting, same quality standards but at a better value.PermaTrans: Still the industry standard for optically clear mounting adhesives.Thermacolor: A full range of thermal protection films for image protection and encapsulation.IMAGin: The complete product family of digital media for graphics production, including MACtac's B-free air egress technology.MACscreen: Screen print media, cast and calenderer, for economy, intermediate and high performance applications.MACmark: Ten product lines ranging from economy to high-performance and specialty needs – over 250 color choices in high-performance intermediate, translucent, fluorescent, sparkle metallic reflective and luster.
IMAGin Wide FormatAs you can see, MACtac is capable of covering the full line of digital imaging, mounting and laminating, screen printing, and signage material for all your application needs. The IMAGin Wide Format digital media for example, was designed for water, solvent, and UV based ink jet printing. Producing state-of-the-art manufacturing equipment which allows MACtac to offer high-performance acrylic adhesives that perform like no others, in applications like wall graphics, vehicle wraps, floor graphics, tradeshow displays and signage.
MACtac Permacolor The Permacolor overlaminates are designed to protect graphics images while enhancing their appearance. Permacolor provides superior UV protection without distorting image quality and protects graphics from moisture and abrasions. On the other hand, the Permacolor mounting films allow for distortion-free mounting of digital, photographic, and screen printed images for a variety of substrates. Permacolor mounting films are also pH-neutral, making them compatible with sensitive paper substrates. MACscreen films are designed to produce quality graphics for the long run and in a short amount of time. Available in roll or sheet form with excellent lay flat and outdoor durability from two to seven years.
MACscreen The Typical applications of this material are vending, banners, signage, bumper stickers, billboards and much more. MACtac performance is guaranteed by the "Open-Image Warranty", where if your combination of printer, ink and media are approved by MACtac, and the results are unsatisfactory, MACtac will replace it; providing you and your business with the peace of mind MACtac strives for. If the combination is not under the pre-approved list, you can send them a sample and MACtac will test it – if it works, it will be covered under the warranty, if it doesn't, they will provide you with an alternative recommendation.
This has been Carlos from ImagePro, thanks for reading; and if you have any comments or questions, don't hesitate to contact us.

Epson Professional Printers

2009-10-06T15:58:00.002-04:00

It has always been my personal preference in printing to go with Epson. The Epson line of printers has time and again given me the results I've needed, so there is no doubt that I recommend these to my clients. Today I'll be reviewing the 2009 Stylus Pro lineup, the printers mostly used by professionals and prosumers, and the ones I'm most familiar with and recommend for corporate use. We'll be taking a look at the 3800, 4880, 7880, 7900, 9880,9900, and the 11880. For most products, the jump from medium to high-end may go unnoticed unless you dig a bit deeper into your pockets for the second or third series.

Epson 3800 ProEquipped with the same print engine and ink set as the other Pro models, tabletop friendly, handles media as big as 17X22" and as thick as 1.5mm; the Pro 3800spearheads the Stylus Pro line. Also, to keep a small profile, the roll-feed has been removed; and the Matte Black and Photo Black each have an ink slot and share a printhead, saving you time and lost ink in switching cartridges.

Epson SP 4880Next, we have the Stylus Pro 4880 – significantly larger than the 3800, and rising above its predecessor Pro 4800 with faster, more durable printheads, and increased printer gamut. The Pro 4880 is also equipped with a roll-paper feed along with the standard paper tray, and switches between easily. Unfortunately, the 4800 only has 8 ink slots, so you have to manually switch between Matte Black and Photo Black, although Epson is still the most efficient at using ink between comparable printers, and the quality of prints you'll be receiving will more than compensate. All things considered, the 4880's speed and color accuracy beats the 3800, hands down.

Epson SP7900Weighing in at about 110 lbs, the Stylus Pro 7880 makes the jump from 17" on the 3800 and 4800 to 24" for crisp, vibrant, large prints. This printer comes with a wider gamut and resolution than the previous installations, along with greater longevity and accuracy; you'll be working alongside industry level equipment. Epson has since revised the 7880 into the new 7900, introducing the new UltraChrome HDR inks which raise color gamut and accuracy (Interestingly enough, Epson has for the first time utilized Green and Orange inks in the reproduction of Skin tone – providing a significant improvement!), independent Photo Black and Matte Black ink wells, and increased the printer speed. As for ease of use and print quality, the Epson 7880 and 7900 are the best printers I've seen in the 24" range.

Epson SP9900Working up to 44" rolls is the Stylus Pro 9880, also taking advantage of Epson's UltraChrome K3 inks to deliver a wider gamut; this printer also boasts cleaner, more efficient heads, and quicker production times on large prints. The revised version of the 9880, the Pro 9900comes with all the updates that the 7900 received as well; plus new dithering technology able to produce even smoother tonal transitions in both B&W and color. If you need a reliable workhorse for multiple productions of beautiful prints, check out these two Pros.

Epson SP11880Rounding out the Stylus Pro line, the 11880 is the leading authority in commercial printing. With a roll acceptance of up to 64", automatic nozzle checking and printhead alignment, separate Matte Black and Photo Black ink slots, 9 MicoPiezo TFP channel heads that produce a gorgeous, much sharper print than comparable printers, and have since been featured in the 7900 and 9900. I believe that the 11880 more than makes up for its hefty price tag in its utility and speed. It's been a blast reviewing these printers, and if you have any questions feel free to contact me at Lahcen@ImagePro.Biz . This has been Lahcen from ImagePro, thanks for reading.

Mitsubishi Photo Kiosk Review

2009-09-14T18:29:00.004-04:00

Hi guys!Adriana here, reporting in with cutting edge info on photo tech for your everyday needs. Today, I got a chance to check out a couple of Mitsubishi Kiosks, the DPS Click 5000, and the DPS Kiosk 7000; perfect for small retail stores and onsite event photographers. These two come with a simple, do-it-yourself touch screen user interface, and the reliability and quality of the Mitsubishi printer. They each accept a wide variety of media sources including memory cards from digital cameras, USB drives, and DVD’s and CD’s; along with support for 18 different languages, their versatility is staggering, and opportunities abound for attracting and maintaining clients that may not have access to a computer with digital photo editing or printing capabilities.
If you fancy purchasing your Mitsubishi printers separately, customizing to your own needs, I’d say to go with the Click. If you want a one-stop editing and printing station, go with the Kiosk 7000. Either way, you’re getting top quality prints at economical prices. For retailers, prices can be as low as $0.13 a 4x6, and $0.37 a 5x7; cheap enough to attract passersby to try out a few shots, and they will likely return due to the ease and quality of your service. As for the photo editing software, you can eliminate red eye, crop, zoom, change filters between color, black and white, or sepia, and even add borders, text, or date stamps. All using its user-friendly touch screen, making even the least techno-savvy client feel not overwhelmed, but in control, and helping them create prints that look like they’ve been edited by a pro. These customizations aren’t limited to just prints either, there are also built-in wizards to help make personalized gifts, from greeting cards to calendars, using your own photos. Once your customers are finished with their order and ready to print, it is saved and placed in queue until an administrator releases them to be printed, usually after payment. Kiosks also have the option of integrated payment capabilities, through credit or prepaid cards, and it’ll print instantly at your client’s reach. Not only do I recommend Mitsubishi for their printing quality, but also for top-tier customer service – namely their Express Replacement Assistance service (ERA). Through the ERA, Mitsubishi will replace your printer within the first 30 days at no cost with a new device, and after the 30th day, you will be provided with a refurbished machine within 48 hours until yours is fixed. In today’s economy, and in a business where downtime is unacceptable, this service keeps your business operationally smooth, keeping you out of the red.To conclude, I’m more than happy to report that Mitsubishi’s forays into low operational cost, high quality photo processing units have exceeded my standards in revenue generators for retailers and onsite photographers. Whether the tabletop DPS Click 5000, with it’s printer customizability and space efficiency, or the DPS Kiosk 7000, with it’s one-stop editing and printing source and optional built-in payment capabilities; Mitsubishi has the versatility needed in this fast-paced venture, and I’m glad our suppliers have this much care in their work. Adriana here from Image Pro, thanks for reading!

Art Everywhere

2009-09-04T11:10:00.003-04:00

As a sales consultant in the photo and pro-graphic area, I have the opportunity to talk with many painters and visual artists. Each artist's style and unique vision, developed through years of practice and discipline, manages to be distinctive and unique in his or her field. Also unique are their art pieces, which, once sold to a collector or individual, practically loses all other possibility of benefit or exhibition to the public.

In response, some artists are creating high quality reproductions of their works, which they sign and sell at a lower cost. An artist once commented that his average number of sales is two to three pieces a year!: “Many people expressed that they liked my work,” the artist affirms, “but almost no one had the means to buy it.” All those weeks, and sometimes months of work that an artist puts in his work, will be accessible only to a small elite.

With the low cost of the printing machines on medium and great format, the power to offer high quality reproductions has become a new alternative for this market. These unique works can now reach more people than ever. Printers of 44 inches that used to cost 12 thousand dollars or more can now be found at 5 thousand dollars and below, and that includes printers like the Epson Stylus 9900 and the Canon IPF 8100.

The great technological development in ink production assures today, a permanence of more than 100 years for a reproduction or impression exhibited indoors. The printing materials also allow diverse surfaces like canvas, paper watercolor, textures and some synthetic and translucent materials for more avant-garde projects.

Thanks to this, a wide spectrum of unconventional spaces is now available for artists. Walls in hotels, resorts, airports, universities, offices, and by all means, in each home with the need of fill that aesthetic necessity of the human being.

If the technology is the vehicle to achieve this, Image Pro is the source to reach these technologies. We can help you find the printer and media that match your expectations. We are official distributors of brands like: Epson, Canon, HP and others, and we've been assisting professionals for many years.

If you are an artist or someone who wants to open a print shop to serve the art and graphic market, please contact us for samples, demonstrations and more information at info@imagepro.biz or call us at: +1 305-969-8863

Canon Ipf8000S 44" Wide Format Photo Printer Review by Lee Alvarez

2009-05-24T14:14:00.007-04:00

Lee Alvarez
Image Pro International

Well It’s my first editorial so I have picked a workhorse of a printer. The new Canon Ipf8000S 44” printer. First off you need to know why I picked this specific printer, so a little personal information is in order.

My name is Lee, I work for Image Pro international. I love fast cars and even faster women. The sport of choice is NFL football (Steelers fan), hard nose ,tough hard working defense. Which is why I bring you this bad boy printer. Not only will it work hard for you and get things done fast. Your getting the best print quality available.

I challenge you ,any of you out there, to match or beat this Canon. Now that I think of it “Canon” as in cannon. Will fire away your prints at super high speed for its’ size.

The Ipf8000S is ideal for mass production in limited time, in other words crunch time is when this machine is at its’ best. Without compromising quality. Its’ industry leading innovative 8 color lucia ink configuration increases print efficiency and creates vibrant colors.

The 8000S Canon printer is built to deliver superior results without sacrificing speed. Ideal for the workhorses of the large format printing services industry.

Now for all you specs buffs, The Canon Ipf8000 has increased hard drive storage space. Which means it increases productivity by taking some of the workload from the host PC, while giving you more room for print job data storage and retrieval. With its’ 80GB hard drive your job data can be stored in protected mail boxes for easy access and printing.

This Canon printer is equipped with the ability to easily reset back to the original factory settings and apply any adjustments across all the printer's media types in minutes. At the same time this creates a stable, predictable printing platform and fantastic results, that you are sure to be amazed with.

Now unlike conventional printers with a single print head, the Ipf-8000S uses two high-precision, high density print heads with a total of 30,720 nozzles. In other words “ more bang for your buck ”At the same time it’s new Economy Print Mode produces 1200 x 1200 dpi output at 211ft2/hr on coated and uncoated paper, it reduces ink consumption by 10% to 30%.

Again this means more money in your pocket with this new feature that regulates the use of Photo Cyan and Photo Magenta inks to produce high quality output at a lower total cost. So in closing what else could you ask for, amazing quality and cost effective.

Testing the new Ultra Fast Mitsubishi CP-9800DW Digital Photo Printer

2007-09-20T16:37:00.002-04:00

We put to the New Mitsubishi Ultra-Fast CP-9800DW Digital Photo Printer to the test

We have finally received Mitsubishi Digital Electronics America’s new long awaited CP-9800DW digital photo printer. We couldn’t wait to put it to the test and see if indeed it is as impressive and as fast as the manufacturer claims. The CP-9800 release was announced at the PMA 2007 in Las Vegas.

The CP9800DW features a high-speed USB 2.0 interface and a new high grade media identified by the letter HG at the end of the product code. This new media offers deeper black tones, improved color depth and smear-free gradation with every print.

One important point is that even if the new media is truly new and improved you can still use the media from your previous 9000 series printer (CP-9000DW, CP-9500DW or CP-9550DW) which will allow the end user to decide whether or not they choose to carry both medias (the old media is also less expensive than the newer improved HG media).

One of the most important new features of the new printer of course is speed. Thanks to its new and improved engine you can print a 4” x 6” (10x15 cm) photo in as little as 8 seconds and batch printing enables output of 400 prints per hour. This ultra fast speed puts the 9800 up there next to the Sony UPDR-150, Shinko CHC-S2145, ICI-Olmec OP1000 and Kodak 6850 as one of the fastest printers on the market. That high-speed output allows the printer to compete against any photo lab, just imagine that with 3 printers you can produce over 1200 prints per hour.

The unit also offers more vivid images, subtle color gradations and realistic skin tone reproduction; this is the result of the 9800DW color management engine technology. Based on Mitsubishi’s adaptive thermal-head management engine, the unit’s color management engine technology features a 300 dpi high-density thermal head for clean, defined and consistent picture production. A protective film applied to the head should enhance durability, while back-layer ink sheet diminishes wear.

The CP-9800DW also offer versatility by offering four print sizes (3.5” x 5”, 4” x 6”, 5” x 7”, and 6” x 9”) with edge-to-edge printing, all of which print at speeds faster than ever before. Features also include a jam-free, roll-type mechanism, and easy-to-use front access for loading the media and ink sheet.

The CP-9800DW, with an MSLP price of $2,595, is indubitably a great improvement making this new machine even better than the very successful CP-9550DW. All Mitsubishi digital photo printers are backed by Mitsubishi’s Express Replacement Assistance program, which guarantees replacement product to be shipped within 24 hours of a claim (in the continental USA).

If you are in the market to buy a new printer and both speed and quality are decisive factors, then yes we definitely recommend you to consider this new technology wonder.

Epson launches the world’s first 64 inches (162.50 cm) the Stylus Pro 11880 to feature Epson’s latest print head technology and ink

2007-08-14T21:42:00.001-04:00

Following the recent release of 60 inches (152 cm) wide format inkjet printers from Canon and Hewlett-Packard, Epson has now released a 64" model the Epson Stylus Pro 11880 printer. The Epson 11880 is the first time Epson is releasing a printer wider than their very successful 44" (112 cm) size, the Epson 9800, (and previously Epson 9600, Epson 10000, and Epson 10600). This is a benefit to those who prefer the quality and track record of the Epson brand name, but need the extra width. The Canon and HP printers are only 60" wide, the Epson 11880 offers an additional four inches (10 cm) in width which could prove to be a deciding factor in consumer decision making. It makes sense is that if you can choose between two relatively similar printers at the same price; why not invest your money into a printer that offers larger capability.The truth is that none of these wide format printers from Canon, HP, and Epson are similar at all. Granted, the purpose of them and the market they serve is similar, but the technical makeup and capabilities of the printers vary quite drastically. The Epson 11880 was specifically developed to address a few key technological voids when compared to earlier printer model releases.
First of all The Stylus Pro 11880 includes the latest Micro print head for higher printing performance and is optimized for pigment ink technology call: the Piezo Thin Film Piezo (TFP). The new Micro Piezo TFP™ print head fulfils all the requirements of a professional printer – quality, durability and speed. The nozzle density has increased from 180 to 360 dpi for each color; the world’s highest for an inkjet print head using piezoelectric technology. Epson has doubled the number of nozzles on the print head, while maintaining the same size of ink droplet and accelerated print speeds. Despite the microscopic size of its elements, this new generation Micro Piezo head retains all the advantages of the current print head, including Variable-sized Droplet Technology. Meniscus control helps to produce perfectly spherical dots and manages the degree of droplet impact. It also improves the speed of jetting, further enhancing the print speed.
The Stylus Pro 11880 incorporates nine 700ml high capacity individual ink cartridges, with automatic switching between Photo & Matte Black inks, and also ink status LED’s for each cartridge. First, it prints both matte black ink and photo black ink at the same time, without needing to swap out Epson 11880 ink cartridges. A new Vivid Magenta ink cartridge expands the color gamut and is a real improvement in pigment chemistry. The full inkset includes: photo black, matte black, light black, light light black, cyan, light cyan, yellow, vivid magenta and vivid light magenta. The two magenta inks use new high-density pigments that create more vibrant color, especially blues and magenta, for example those found in seascapes or landscapes. Both photo black and matte black cartridges are installed at the same time so there is no need to exchange. The most suitable black ink is automatically chosen depending on the media type used. The UltraChrome K3 ink with Vivid Magenta enables superb grey balance and precise color without any color cast. It also maintains the best features of the UltraChrome K3 ink such as great color accuracy of neutral and dark colors, excellent short-term color stability and smooth tonal gradation from shadow to light. Metamerism is virtually eliminated with this new inkset (Metamerism is when two color samples with different spectral power distributions appears to be the same color when viewed side by side). The permanent Epson Micro Piezo print head also offers unrivalled consistency in each print. Every print will be the same as the first, even if the artwork is printed months apart, making it ideal for studios producing limited edition print runs.
The Epson 11880, as well as its smaller width siblings which will be released shortly after, the Epson 9880 (44"), Epson 7880 (24"), Epson 4880 (17"), will allow for a technician fitted internal spectrophotometer installation which should cost around $1,500 USD. The Stylus Pro 11880 is compatible with a wide range of Epson media up to 1.5mm in thickness, including glossy paper, matte paper, matte board, fine art paper and plain paper. It features an automatic take-up reel to support heavy-duty production for improved usability. It will also support flexible paper handling for cut sheet printing from A3 up to 64”. The optional paper basket stores prints cleanly and securely.
Next, the printing speed is drastically improved. The Epson Stylus Pro 11880 is expected to more than double the speed of the Epson 9800, therefore making it a powerhouse within production environments. Given the high speed of the Canon and HP printers, the Epson 11880 will now attract the high volume printing. The new Gigabit Ethernet interface delivers fast data transfer speeds, up to 10 times faster than the previous 100 mps card, coupled with the on-board data processing module. Epson also introduce a new screening algorithm to further improve image tone and definition call: Super Halftone technology. This combination of features and inkset make the Stylus Pro 11880 the most advanced digital large format printer on the market.
Epson is banking on features like these to propel the Epson 11880 far past the recent wide format printer releases from HP and Canon. Given the existing market share and general adoration for the Epson brand due to its blatant first-mover advantage into the giclee printing segment, most expect the Epson Stylus Pro 11880 to dominate the 60" printer segment.

Epson Stylus Pro 11880 key features and schedule summary:
Professional paper handling up to 64” wide 162.50 centimeters.
Consistent output with Epson Micro Piezo TFP™ Print head Technology
High-density Epson UltraChrome K3™ with Vivid Magenta Ink Technology
Standard USB 2.0, and Gigabit Ethernet interface
Flexible paper handling with roll or cut-sheet media from A3 / tabloid up to 64”/162.5 cm wide. BorderFree™ roll printing from 10” up to 64” wide
Accepts media up to 1.5 mm thick poster board
Productive printing with built-in automatic media cutting system and take-up reel system
Record information about paper with media bar code tracking and identification system
Superior image processing with Epson Super Halftone Screening Technology
Easy to use and maintain with Auto Ink Droplet Detection System
High-quality printing with maximum resolution of 2880 x 1440 dpi
Nine individual high-capacity ink cartridges – 700 ml
Automatic change from photo black to matte black
Pressurized ink cartridge technology
High-performance print engine speeds
Large 2.5” back lit LCD control panel
Ink status LED system
The following dates apply to the Stylus Pro 4880, 7880, 9880 and 11880: Scheduled Ship: October 2007

Ink Cartridge Information:
With the introduction of the Stylus Pro 4880, 7880, 9880 and 11880, Epson will consolidate product codes for efficiency. Other than the ink formulation differences between Vivid Magenta/Vivid Light Magenta and Magenta/Light Magenta, the other inks formulations are not changed in any way, just the consolidation of product codes.
All current ink product codes for the Stylus Pro 4880, 7880 and 9880 will transition to the new codes during the month of August as current ink product inventory is depleted.
The new Stylus Pro 4880, 7880 and 9880 will only be compatible with the newly introduced ink product codes.
Magenta and Light Magenta ink product codes will only be compatible with the Stylus Pro 4880/7880/9880.
Vivid Magenta and Vivid Light Magenta ink product codes are only compatible with the Stylus Pro 4880/7880/9880/11880.
For more information, see the Ink Product Code Transition Matrix
Service Plan and Accessory Information: Service Plans and some accessories for the Stylus Pro 4880, 7880 and 9880 are compatible with the existing Stylus Pro 4800, 7800 and 9800 printer product codes, please see product setup sheets for a complete list of service plans, accessories, ink and media for these products.
For more information, see the 4880 Setup Sheet, 7880 Setup Sheet, 9880 Setup Sheet and 11880 Setup Sheet

2007-05-12T20:25:00.001-04:00

We tested 17 Professional Dye Sub Photo Printers, starting at $150 to $2890. Some are very similar; some are indeed very different and unique. Of course, depending on what you are planning to do, you should look at different aspects of those professional photo printers. If you are a professional photographer with substantial profit margins you might be looking more at quality and functionality, where as if you are a retail outlet you might be more interested in cost per print, speed and multiple image sizes. In order to be objective and impartial, we focused in characteristics that could be measured: Cost per Print and Speed.