Canon Brings imagePrograf W8400/W6400 To US Market

Canon is rolling out its imagePROGRAF
W8400 and W6400 printers on a global
basis. Initially introduced to the Japanese
market(March 2005, p. 20), the software
in the US versions of these printers has
been added to address the US and North
American markets.

The 44-in. W8400 and the 24-in. W6400
printers add features designed to hit several
types of end users. At the first level,
there are template-driven layouts designed
to give retail photo shops some easy-to-use
design capabilities. At the second level,
designed for more experienced print
providers, Canon offers Photoshop-like
functionality in its software. The last level is
an actual Photoshop plug-in for high-end
users, allowing images to be output in 16-
bit color, with many production issues controlled
directly from the plug-in.

Printing is bidirectional in these machines,
which aids in speed. Speeds for
the W8400 range from 307 sq ft/hr at
1200 x 1200 dpi in draft mode, to 26 sq
ft/hr at highest print mode and 2400 x
2400 dpi; speeds for the W6400 range
from 250 sq ft/hr at 1200 x 1200 dpi to 22
sq ft/hr at 2400 x 1200 dpi.

There are many upgrades when compared
to the imagePROGRAF 8200. The
8400 offers higher resolutions at 2400 x
1200 dpi, as compared to 1200 x 1200 in
the 8200. In addition, the W8400/W6400
feature a 4-picoliter droplet size as compared
to an 8-picoliter drop with the 8200.

The inks for the W8400/W6400 are
also different. The new machines offer 6 +
1 pigment-based inks”?CMYK + photo C,
photo M, and a matte black. The interchangeable
black inks”?regular black and
matte black”?enable users to print onto a
wide variety of media. In addition, these
printers come with Canon's new highintensity
yellow ink for a wide color gamut
and increased color vibrancy.

Bundled software includes PhotoPRINT
Select RIP, PosterArtist 2, Digital Photo-
Print Pro 3, and more. Approximate price:
$3495 (W6400) and $6000 (W8400). (Canon: www.usa.canon.com)