Seiko ColorPainter H-74s

Seiko Infotech introduced a new ColorPainter solvent printer-the ColorPainter H-74s-a smaller version of the ColorPainter H-104s, which made its world debut at Drupa earlier this year.

Just as with the H-104s, this 74-in. machine uses mild-solvent inks and is aimed at high-production shops producing professional-quality outdoor graphics at high resolutions. Typical applications include indoor and outdoor signs on a variety of media-especially adhesive vinyl and banners.

The H-74s offers true 720 x 720-dpi resolution and its eight Seiko high-frequency drop on-demand piezo printheads produce variable-size drops-14 to 28 pl-to enhance image smoothness and maximize ink density. Further, the ColorPainter incorporates Seiko’s Smart Pass technology, an interlacing technology used to optimize dot placement and prevent pass-to-pass banding. Speed specs for the H-74s are not yet confirmed, but Seiko reports that it expects the machine “to come close to H-104s speed,” which is a max of 1000 sq ft/hr at 720 dpi.

Users can choose an 8- or 2 x 4-color inkset: CMYKcm gray, light gray (one color per head), or CMYK x 2 (two heads per color). The 8-color is recommended for maximum image quality, while the 2 x 4 inkset is designed for maximum productivity, with almost double the speed of the 8-color set.

Other features of the ColorPainter H-74s include a built-in heater/drying system for pre/print/post heating, and auto head-height adjustment. Ink is sold in 1.5-liter bags, and sub-tanks allow users to add ink on-the-fly.

Options include a Mesh Printing kit, with an ink tray to catch ink that prints through the mesh, and a Double-Sided Printing option, to print alignment lines on the print for easy alignment of reverse side of print (works with take-up roll).

MSRP: $59,999.95, to ship in January 2009. The H-104s, priced at $79,999.95, is now shipping, the company reports.

SEIKO I INFOTECH
www.seiko-i.com