Canon has introduced several new dye-based wide-format printers, including its first 60-in. model-the imageProGraf iPF9000, which is aimed squarely at professional photographers, digital artists, and print providers looking to serve those clients.
Expanding on the company’s iPF5000 model, launched at this spring’s PMA show, the iPF9000 “will be a major step for Canon as we will be entering a new segment of the large-format market with a truly innovative device,” says Tod Pike, senior vice president, Canon USA’s Imaging Systems Group.
The new printer features a 12-color inkset of Canon’s Lucia pigment inks including CMYKRGB, photo cyan, photo magenta, and matte black, plus two shades of gray inks to help smooth color gradations and reduce metamerism when printing neutral and monochrome images. The iPF9000 also features dual printheads with Canon’s FINE (Full-photolithography Inkjet Nozzle Engineering) printhead technology, boasting 30,720 individual ink nozzles (2560 per color). The nozzles produce 4-picoliter ink droplets with dedicated nozzles for each of the 12 colors, and can hit resolutions up to 2400 x 1200 dpi.
Other features of the iPF9000:
* The company’s new L-COA (for Large format printer Common Architecture) high-speed controller; intelligently processes the print data to implement high-speed processing in order to accurately lay ink down for optimal image quality.
* A productivity-enhancing high-capacity ink-tank system of either 700 ml or 330 ml, with a subtank that allows users to change ink cartridges without stopping the carriage while printing.
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* A built-in 40-GB hard-disk drive for faster job processing and spooling print jobs.
* The ability to automatically switch between Regular Black and Matte Black at the time of printing. Once the paper type is chosen, the iPF9000 will use the appropriate black to optimize print quality. The Regular Black ink produces high-quality prints on photo glossy type media; the Matte Black ink produces high-contrast prints with deep black on media such as fine-art paper.
* An automatic take-up reel.
The iPF9000 comes standard with Canon PosterArtist 2006 (template-driven software for poster creation) and Digital Photo Print Pro (image-editing and layout software), as well as plug-ins for Adobe Photoshop. An EFI Colorproof XF RIP, developed for Canon by EFI, is an option.
MSRP on the imageProGraf iPF9000: $14,995.
Canon also has introduced the iPF700, iPF600, and iPF500 models, which are aimed more at CAD and GIS applications. They can accommodate media up to 34, 24, and 17 in. respectively, and feature Canon’s new 5-color dye-and-pigment reactive ink system that features fade resistance-colors are CMYK plus matte black.
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All three printers feature 15,360 ink nozzles to achieve up to 1200 dpi resolution, and all three use 130-ml high-capacity ink tanks, with the iPF600 and iPF500 featuring a four-way paper feed system. SAi PhotoPrint Select comes standard for the iPF700 and is optional for both the iPF600 and 500.
MSRPs: iPF700: $3995; iPF600: $2995; iPF500: $1495.
CANON USA
www.usa.canon.com