Press Release

Epson America has announced the Epson Stylus Pro 7890 (24-inch) and 9890 (44-inch) for photographers and proofing professionals, offering Epson’s latest technology achievements in the sub-$3,000 and $5,000 price categories. These new printers combine eight-color Epson UltraChrome K3 Vivid Magenta ink technology with auto-sharing Matte and Photo Black inks, and Epson’s MicroPiezo TFP print head to produce high quality prints at speeds about twice as fast as their renowned predecessors – the Epson Stylus Pro 7880 and 9880.

“With every new generation of printers, we continuously strive to reach new levels of performance,” said Reed Hecht, product manager, Professional Imaging, Epson America, Inc. “For years, the Epson Stylus Pro 880-series has been the industry benchmark for which all other printers were compared, and with the introduction of the 890-series, we have once again raised the bar, redefining the future of wide-format printing.”

The Epson Stylus Pro 7890 and 9890 offer the same leading technology found in the Epson Stylus Pro 900-series, including ePlaten automatic media loading, spindle-free roll media loading, a roll media tracking system, front control panel with 2.5-inch color LCD, rotary cutter, fabric catch bin, and robust printer stand. The printers also feature Epson’s latest ink-repelling coating and auto nozzle verification technologies to virtually eliminate clogged nozzles, and use nine individual high-capacity ink cartridges up to 700 ml. In addition, these new models are capable of handling virtually any media type, in roll or cut-sheet. Both models are available with an optional SpectroProofer spectrophotometer.

More about the Epson Stylus Pro 890-Series
The Epson Stylus Pro 7890 and 9890 provide advanced features, including:

- Epson MicroPiezo TFP Print Head: High precision eight-channel print head with auto sharing black ink channel produces variable-sized droplets as small as 3.5 picoliters to greatly decrease print times while optimizing photographic quality; latest ink repelling coating dramatically reduces nozzle clogging
- AccuPhoto HD Screening: Advanced screening algorithm produces extremely fine blends and photographic transitions with accurate highlight-to-shadow details and ensures consistent color balance, resulting in prints with superior color and clarity and incredibly sharp text and line art
- Epson UltraChrome K3 with Vivid Magenta Ink: High density eight-color pigments with unique formulation of Magenta provides extremely vibrant blues and purples for an expanded color gamut; three-level black ink technology significantly improves gray balance while eliminating color casts and provides outstanding highlight-to-shadow grayscale accuracy for smoother tonal range
- PreciseColor Manufacturing: Evaluates and adjusts each printer’s performance at the manufacturing stage, ensuring consistent color output from printer to printer and print to print, eliminating the need for internal calibration devices
- ePlaten Media-Loading: Simplifies the roll and cut-sheet media loading process with automatic media loading, movement, skew adjustment, and tracking, including electronically controlled roll back tension and automatic roll media rewind upon release
- SpectroProofer: Developed in partnership with X-Rite, the optional SpectroProofer is a high-performance, in-line spectrophotometer that, when driven by the latest front-end RIPs, can automate virtually any color management process in commercial or flexographic proofing workflows

Pricing and Availability
The Epson Stylus Pro 7890 and 9890 will be available in December 2010 through Epson Authorized Professional Imaging Resellers for an MSRP of $2,995 and $4,995 respectively. They are supported by a standard Epson PreferredSM Limited Warranty, a one-year program that includes toll-free advanced telephone access Monday through Friday and usually next-business-day on-site service in the unlikely event of any hardware failure. For additional information, visit www.proimaging.epson.com.

HP announced the HP Designjet Z6200 Photo Printer series with HP Vivid Photo Inks, delivering high-quality output and the highest speeds of large-format printers in its price class.
Designed for photo labs, digital print shops, advertising agencies, design firms and commercial printers, the HP Designjet Z6200 Photo Printer series delivers photo-quality prints with a resolution of 2,400 dots per image (dpi) and versatility for indoor applications from line drawings to photographic output to signage. It is also 50 percent faster than its predecessor, the HP Designjet Z6100 Printer, with speeds up to 1,500 square feet per hour.

The new HP Vivid Photo Inks offer improved scratch resistance, gloss levels and gloss uniformity and a wider color gamut with deeper blacks than previous HP inks. The printer’s 8-ink printing system also features HP Chromatic Red ink, which enables up to 88 percent PANTONE® coverage, and greater ink efficiency with the ability to print the same output using up to 44 percent less ink than preceding HP technologies.

“HP’s next-generation printing technology allows our customers to quickly evolve their businesses with new product and service offerings that scale alongside their clients’ changing needs,” said Santiago Morera, vice president and general manager, Designjet Large-format Printing Solutions, Imaging and Printing Group, HP. “To meet those needs, the HP Designjet Z6200 Photo Printer is a true workhorse, delivering high speed and productivity on every application, including those that demand the best quality.”

Pricing and Availability
The HP Designjet Z6200 Photo Printer series is expected to be available worldwide on Nov. 1. The price for the 42-inch model is $8,995 and for the 60-inch model is $15,995.

More information on the new HP Designjet Z6200 Photo Printer series is available at www.hp.com/go/designjet.

Imagic uses HP Designjet Z6200 Photo Printer for high-quality Earhart exhibit
Imagic, a beta customer for the HP Designjet Z6200 Photo Printer, is a leader in the design, production and installation of fleet and transit graphics with headquarters in Burbank, Calif. Using the new device, Imagic recently produced a high-visibility exhibition of 65 unpublished photographs of aviator Amelia Earhart. The photos, which were recently discovered by an archivist at Matson Navigation Co., were taken of Earhart during a two-week vacation to Hawaii in 1934, after which she became the first person to fly solo back to California, and during her last trip to Hawaii in March 1937.

“The HP Designjet Z6200 Photo Printer was the perfect choice for the production of the Amelia Earhart exhibit because it allowed us to produce high-quality, neutral black-and-white and sepia prints with an exceptional grayscale and high speeds,” said Paul Elmi, owner, Imagic. “We were pleased with the noticeable increase in productivity provided by the HP Designjet Z6200 Photo Printer as well as the increased control over ink limiting and saturation, which is extremely useful when producing backlit displays or prints with skin tones and shadows, like the Earhart project.”

The black-and-white and sepia-toned exhibition of prints up to 60 x 80 inches is currently on display at the historic Royal Hawaiian hotel in Waikiki Beach, Hawaii. In addition to the large-format canvas prints, Imagic also produced eight 30 x 40-inch boards on photo gloss paper to create a timeline of Earhart’s accomplishments.

Related articles

• HP introduces large format photo negative application for fine-art photo quality (whattheythink.com)
• HP’s Designjet L25500 printer helps MTex win new customers (whattheythink.com)
• HP Indigo 7500 Purchase Bolsters GlobalSoft Digital Solutions (whattheythink.com)
• HP overhauls printer lineup (v3.co.uk)

He’s back… Watch the Print Fanatic and his team passionately express the power of printing. Printing’s alive! Printing saves lives! We can’t live without printing!

Safety Tip: STOP THE PRESS before trying to remove a jammed sheet…

Giveaway Prize:

100 4×6 Postcards
14pt Cardstock Gloss
4 Color Both Sides Printing
*Limited to US residents; 18 years old and above

Postcard Printing: http://www.digitalroom.com/postcard-mailing-regulations.html

How to win:

Ok, the rules have changed slightly. This one is easy. First person to leave a comment below wins the giveaway. Hurry up and take this prize!