Manila, Philippines – Epson, a world leader in digital imaging and printing solutions, has unveiled the Epson Stylus Pro WT7900 24-inch large-format printer, the world's first water-based inkjet printer that is able to print white color using Epson's proprietary Epson UltraChrome High Dynamic-Range (HDR) ink with white. This breakthrough product is an example of how Epson creates industry-leading and innovative products with significant reduction in environmental impacts.
Recently awarded by the prestigious European Digital Press (EDP) Association as the "Best Proofing Printer of the Year 2010," the 24-inch large-format printer is designed specifically for packaging proof printing applications. The Epson Stylus Pro WT7900 allows flexographic and gravure printing firms to simulate proofs on inkjet coated media efficiently and affordably.
The Epson Stylus Pro WT7900 uses a 9-color Epson UltraChrome HDR ink set to produce a wide color gamut, including water-based white ink, to deliver high density white tints and accurate overlays which are important for packaging proof applications. In addition, the printer also comes with orange and green inks to create rich and highly accurate spot colors.
The white color printing capability of the Epson Stylus Pro WT7900 is able to save users incredible time and costs compared to conventional methods, which require the creation of separate color plates or cylinders to produce the actual proof or mockup. The Epson Stylus Pro WT7900 is also more accurate, requires less maintenance, and is more cost-efficient than other printers with white ink that requires separate passes for printing of color and white sections.
The secrets of white
White plays a vital role in printing on transparent films, such as those used for labels on plastic bottles and bags for snack foods. A layer of white ink has to be laid down first on these films before other colors are added so that background colors are not visible and so that the printed colors look good. With the unique aqueous Epson UltraChrome HDR White Ink, Epson has enabled the proofing and packaging industry to conveniently and inexpensively create printing proofs on transparent films, significantly cutting down processing time, cost and manpower while sharply reducing environmental impacts associated with proofing. This new ink uses the all-new Organic Hollow Resin Particle technology, which forces light to scatter randomly, producing the illusion of seeing the color white. This innovative way of producing white color achieves superb print quality, excellent white ink density, and highly accurate overlays. It features custom white color toning that allows users to precisely control the variations of white color, achieving greater versatility for prints.
Unlike traditional solvent and UV inks, the Epson UltraChrome HDR ink with white is odorless, harmless to health, and is suitable to be used in office environments. Water-based ink on film dries as quickly after printing as ordinary ink on paper, without the need for heat. This type of proofing thus uses only slight more energy than an ordinary inkjet printer, so environmental impacts are further mitigated.
Shedding a new light on white ink
The white color of white solvent ink and white UV-cured ink comes from titanium dioxide. Titanium dioxide is a very heavy substance and quickly settles to the bottom of an ink cartridge. In practice, this has meant that cartridges containing white ink had to be taken out and shaken frequently.
That is, before Epson developed its white ink. Pigment is not used in Epson white ink. Its special water-based formulation contains particles that have a hollow center and diffuses light so that the ink looks white. Since these particles are lighter than particles of titanium dioxide, they don't sink and settle as easily. The resin particles in the ink solution remain suspended longer, which means it requires minimum shaking of only once a week. The user-friendly large-format printer even has a smart feature in which the LCD panel promptly alerts the user whenever agitation is required. Moreover, solvent ink and UV-cured ink required frequent nozzle checks and head cleanings, processes that generate a large volume of waste ink. With Epson's new white ink, however, the waste is negligible.
From the printing plant to the office – A new work flow
The printers in which the water-based white ink is used do not require ventilation and do not require a lot of space. Moreover, the printer hardware costs and running costs are so much smaller than those for traditional proofing systems. Epson's proofing printers also present significant overall cost of ownership for design shops, while enabling them to quickly and easily produce proofs. Proofing equipment, which was once found exclusively in printing plants, has evolved into an ordinary-looking printer that readily fits in any office.
The effect is a whole host of possibilities for changing the traditional work flow.
Other key features of the Epson Stylus Pro WT7900
- Micro Piezo Thin Film Piezo (TFP) Print Head – The Epson Stylus Pro WT7900 is equipped with Epson's proprietary Micro Piezo TFP print head, a cutting-edge technology that is highly optimized with the use of Epson UltraChrome HDR ink set with white. It is capable of delivering perfectly accurate dots with Epson's Variable-Sized Droplet Technology (VSDT) which fires ink droplets as small as 3.5 picoliters, with virtually no misting or "satellite" ink splashes. This allows users to achieve detailed print resolutions of up to 1,440 x 1,440 dots per inch and reproduces smooth color gradation, delivering perfect printouts every time.
- Print Modes – The Epson Stylus Pro WT7900 features two print modes – Surface and Reverse Print with Raster Image Processor (RIP) software, which fulfills a wide variety of proofing requirements. Surface print mode operates by printing white ink first before overlaying with other colors, making it ideal for printing on either transparent or opaque media. Reverse print mode on the other hand, works on the opposite by first printing other colors before overlaying with white colour. This produces rich and vivid proofs on transparent media that can be viewed from the non-printed side.
- Epson ClearProof Film – Epson's ClearProof Film is the media of choice for professional proofing applications, especially when used with Epson UltraChrome HDR ink with white. The media exhibits increased ink adherence capabilities and high absorbency, resulting in colour stability and excellent print quality even when printing vivid or deep colors that require high ink duty.
Key specifications of Epson Stylus Pro WT7900
- Model Type: 24-inch
- Ink Type Epson: UltraChrome HDR ink with white (White, Photo Black, Cyan, Light Cyan, Vivid Magenta, Vivid Light Magenta, Yellow, Green, Orange)
- Print Head Technology: Micro Piezo Thin Film Piezo (TFP), Variable-Sized Droplet Technology
- Print Resolution: 1440 X 1440 dpi
- Ink Capacity: 350/700ml (color), 150/350ml (white)
"Epson will, once again, change the landscape of both the proofing and commercial display markets with these innovative and award-winning printers. The Epson legacy of providing printing solutions that feature high-quality, speed, precision, cost and time-efficiency are, as always, expected to be delivered at a standard that is above what the current market offers," explained Epson Philippines senior general manager Ed Bonoan.
"These new offerings showcase Epson's legacy of providing efficient, cost and time-saving solutions that ensure the success of local industries. The new technologies also advance our commitment to change everyone's perspective in providing products that respond to our environmental responsibility, "concluded Epson Philippines country manager Hideto Nakamura.
The Epson Stylus Pro WT7900 is priced at P500,000 and will be available in the market starting June 2010.