Epson has added to its line of Stylus Pro wide-format printers with the 9-color Stylus Pro 11880, the company's first 64-in. printer. Designed for high-res photographic and fine-art printing, the 11880 features Epson's new MicroPiezo TFP (Thin Fiber Piezo) printhead, a new formulation of its UltraChrome K3 inks, automatic black-ink mode switching, a new media barcode tracking and ID system, and more.
The printer features the company's new 9-channel Epson MicroPiezo TFP print heads with 360 nozzles/in. producing a 3.5-pl drop. The benefits of the new printhead technology, reports Epson, are perfectly spherical dots resulting in better image quality, high-precision impact-point control for higher dot-placement accuracy, increased print speed, and extreme durability of the printhead itself. The printer's auto nozzle-verification and cleaning system provide for continuous and accurate throughput.
Also debuting on the 9-color 11880 (CMYcmk, light light black, photo black, matte black) is the new formulation of Epson's UltraChrome K3 inks. New Vivid magenta and Vivid light magenta inks have replaced the former magenta and light magenta inks, allowing for an increased color gamut, Epson reports, particularly more vibrant blues and purples. The inks also feature high-gloss Microcrystal Encapsulation Technology for reduced gloss differential, superior scratch resistance, and black-density improvements.
The 11880 also offers:
* Automatic switching between photo and matte black ink, depending on the media used.
* A maximum resolution of 2880 x 1440 dpi. Throughput ranges from a top speed of ??? to ??? in best mode.
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* Border-free roll printing on media from 8 x 10- to 64-in. wide; it can accommodate media up to 1.5-mm thick.
* Epson AccuPhoto HD Screening Technology, enabling the printer to produce a very fine photographic print with virtually no grain as well accurate photographic blends and transitions. The technology also compensates for various ink densities between print-mode resolutions.
* A media bar-code tracking and identification system, allowing for quick and easy switching of media rolls.
* A built-in automatic cutting system and take-up reel system.
* A USB 2.0 interface, and gigabit Ethernet support.
The 11880 will also be capable of printing native 16-bit images with Mac OS 10.5 (not yet released). A version of the printer including a ColorBurst RIP is expected to be available soon. Price: $14,995 (standard model).
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Epson also has updated three other printers in its Stylus Pro line: the 4880, 7880, and the 9880. The updates to the printers include the new UltraChrome K3 inks, 8-channel Epson MicroPiezo AMC print heads, and the AccuPhoto HD screening technology. The AMC (active meniscus control) print heads have 180 nozzles/channel and produce a droplet size of 3.5 pl. The new printers are equipped with a USB 2.0 interface and gigabit Ethernet support and will feature native 16-bit printer drivers for Mac OS 10.5.
EPSON
www.epson.com