Design Supply Blog

Borderless printing on Canon iPF series printers is a great feature for the photography & repro markets. Minimise labour by using the four sided borderless printing function.

Follow these easy steps to producing a full borderless print in minutes!!

Load your image into Adobe Photoshop and select the Canon Photoshop plug-in for your printer.
Once the plug-in page opens you are ready to make the relevant settings for borderless printing.
Next choose the media, resolution & print quality that you would like to use for borderless printing.

Please note that some materials that are not associated with photographic output, are removed from borderless printing. Next select the page set-up tab and tick borderless printing. You will be automatically prompted for the media roll size that is to be used with borderless printing.

The final output size will be displayed within the plug-in window for your information. Use the Landscape & Portrait options to rotate the borderless image, at the same time paying attention to the output size for information on the print dimensions. Select Roll Options to make the final required settings. Ensure the roll size matches the media loaded in the printer. Ensure cutting is available, and finally that the option ‘No Spaces at Top & Bottom’ is ticked.

Click PRINT for your Canon borderless print.

Quick note about the latest new machine from Canon and the imagePROGRAF range, now in stock more details on our web site!

iPF8100 & iPF9100 features:

12 Colours for a broader colour gamut
New ink formulation reduces bronzing & has better scratch resistance
New ink formulation gives superior black & white printing
Lower cost output, 12 inks means less individual ink usage
Automatic switching between black inks
4 sided edge to edge printing with roll media
80GB hard drive
Non firing detection and compensation function

Well here is some news !

Canon have dropped the prices a big drop on the Canon ipf imagePROGRAF 610 to just £995.00 plus VAT plus stand

(To see more on this new product on main site CLICK HERE)

The stand price is £199.00 plus VAT

Other offer on at the moment include:

FREE trial software and FREE media
with all Canon photo printers sold
Professional Photo Print Software
Mac & PC Compatible
Drag and Drop functionality
Best use page placement of images
Installed with Canon print profiles also linked to FTP site for immediate updates of any new Canon media Profiles
Auto size up or down to standard picture sizings
Multiple copies, Job Labels, Crop marks, rotations, mirror & centre on page
Software printer control: allows nozzle checks and print status from desk
Auto nest queue option for grouping jobs to save media wastage
Auto detect ink management, visual update on ink levels & maintenance tank level

Software is dongle protected & limited to 20 jobs
upgrade prices for dongle unlock code
17" - £295 24" - £395 44" - £495 60" - £595

All rolls to match purchased printer's width. Rolls supplied are 30m 240gsm Satin and 240gsm Gloss.

All prices exclude VAT and delivery and
offer is valid while stocks last.

All good news for you!

Alistair Wright

Available from Design Supply the new Canon imagePROGRAF iPF810 and imagePROGRAF iPF820

The Canon imagePROGRAF iPF810 and imagePROGRAF iPF820 are both five-colour dye and pigment printers that combine fast output production speeds with efficient ink usage and a low total cost of ownership, making them two of the most appealing printers in the sector.

The imagePROGRAF iPF810 and iPF820 are capable of reproducing A1 prints in 24 seconds and A0 prints in 47 seconds, significantly faster than some of their market leading rivals. In addition, they can reproduce fine line widths down to 0.02mm1, with a range accuracy of 0.1%1, a factor that is crucial in the CAD / GIS markets where precision in building plans, maps and technical designs is critical.

The iPF810 and iPF820 are both geared towards the CAD/GIS Production and Print-For-Pay environments where fast, cost effective printing is the requirement and an ideal solution for companies who are not equipped with their own LFP capability.

The other option is for large corporate CAD and GIS companies, and local governments with multiple users who need fast, high capacity printers for fast turnaround to produce large amounts of documents.

The major difference between the printers is the iPF820 is equipped with a dual roll capability with auto switching, enabling it to handle large print runs with different types and sizes of media. The iPF810, on the other hand, has an optional take-up unit for fast consecutive printing and enabling unmanned printing.

Both printers are capable of borderless printing – a feature unique to Canon – saving time in finishing by removing the need for edge trimming. “Hot swap” ink tanks in 330ml and 700ml capacity enables the user to switch ink cartridge units on the fly, without interrupting the print run.

An 80GB hard drive also provides the capacity to store repeat jobs to queue print jobs to the devices and dedicate up to 30 different mailboxes to individual clients, jobs or users. For security, files can be selected not to save, or safely deleted from the hard drive, for additional peace of mind.

Aqueous or water-based inkjet printing is the technology that the digital wide format industry initially started but is it old technology?

What solvent did was bring new buyers in and grow the market, specifically in the sign and screen industries, where the perception was that print needed to be highly robust, last for years, and had to be genuinely outdoor durable.

However, many of those solvent print buyers have since realised that for many applications, water-based inkjets actually do a better job. Lightboxes, pop-up and roll-up displays, exhibition graphics, all of these applications, and more, are still dominated by water-based printers. These buyers that were initially resistant to investing in large-format prior to solvent ink systems, have since realised that print doesn't always have to last forever, that for all but a few applications, long-term durability is not the critical factor.

When you also then consider the current drive towards green printing, and new ink developments, we are right in the middle of something of a resurgence in aqueous printing.
Worldwide, the inkjet print market across all print sizes covering domestic, office and commercial print, is dominated by three companies. Canon, Epson and HP. Between the three of them, they account for about 80 per cent of the total market share.

In the large format market, to date Canon had been more noticeable by its absence.
A good few years back HP came crashing into a large market that was then dominated by Encad, and through an aggressive policy of trade-ins and upgrades, bought up a huge chunk of the market. It's fair to say they are currently the biggest player in water-based large format printing.

Why consider a Canon?

"Fundamentally, the Canon differentiator is speed with quality. Other manufacturers offer high quality output at low speed, and high-speed output at lower quality. In our experience, Canon is the only manufacturer to merge the two offering super quality output at production speeds. With users output demands increasing, wide format printers need to meet these demands."
"Canon's large format printer range also has another major benefit - low running costs. As independently tested, Canon printers use up to 34 per cent less ink than its competitors. Users can print faster and cheaper with Canon - ideal for today's demanding market place where more and more printers are competing for the same work, and margins on sales of large-format output are getting ever tighter."

Independent Lab Testing

In a series of benchmark tests through the world renowned Buyers' Laboratory Inc (BLI) arranged by Canon, the imagePROGRAF iPF8000S and imagePROGRAF iPF8100 both scored highly against its two market leading competitors, namely the HP DesignJet Z6100 and the Epson Stylus PRO 9880.

The independent report found the imagePROGRAF iPF8000S used 34.5 per cent less ink than its competitors' product running under identical test conditions. Figures for Canon's imagePROGRAF iPF8100 were similarly good, with the Canon using 31.6 per cent less ink. In addition, the Canon iPF8000S can save an additional 8 per cent of ink usage if switched into economy running mode.

The final tests from BLI, covering colour gamut volume, showed the iPF8000S had a larger colour volume when compared to HP DesignJet Z6100 whilst the Canon iPF8100, when measured against the Epson Stylus PRO 9880, had a comparable colour gamut volume.

Not only did Canon's LFP range do well with BLI, the strength of the imagePROGRAF printers has led to a range of BERTL'S BEST Awards 2008 in a number of categories. The Canon iPF8000S / 9000S series has been awarded the BERTL'S BEST 2008 award for Best Wide Format in the Print-for-Pay and Production Market range. The five-colour dye / pigment Canon imagePROGRAF iPF710 printer was also presented with the Best Wide Format System for the Low Volume Colour Printer AEC market.

Furthermore, Canon has recently been awarded prestigious accolades for the abilities of its leading large format printers, the imagePROGRAF iPF5100 and the imagePROGRAF iPF6100. Both printers, running with an EFI Colorproof XF RIP, were awarded FOGRA certification for their print qualities, whilst the iPF5100 was also presented with the European Digital Press Association award for its proofing abilities.

With publications from 15 European countries, a combined circulation of more than 120,000 copies and a readership exceeding 250,000 graphic arts professionals, the EDP award in particular is a prestigious recognition of the ability of Canon printers to meet the most accurate of proofing standards.

Of most relevance to the display printer is the 44" wide iPF8000S and the 60" wide iPF9000S. These Sseries printers are tailored for all-out print performance, with a maximum speed, which produces saleable print, of 37.5 square metres an hour.

Canon and EFI win plaudits for the imagePROGRAF iPF5100 and iPF6100 LFPs

Canon has announced that it has been awarded prestigious accolades for the abilities of its leading large format printers, the imagePROGRAF iPF5100 and the imagePROGRAF iPF6100. Both printers, running with an EFI Colorproof XF RIP, were awarded FOGRA certification for their print qualities, whilst the iPF5100 was also presented with the European Digital Press Association award for its proofing abilities.

Other great news.

In an in dependant lab test conducted by BLI the iPF8100 was proven to be substantially faster than the competition.

* Epson Pro 9800 Series - 21 min 53 sec
* Canon iPF8100 - 6 min 29 sec

Both printers used Glossy A0 paper, printing in standard mode.
Ink usage was also impressive with the iPF8100 using 31.6% less ink than the Epson Pro 9800 series.

This test was conducted independently by BLI

Canon has announced it has been awarded prestigious accolades for the abilities of its leading large format printers, the imagePROGRAF iPF5100 and the imagePROGRAF iPF6100. Both printers, running with an EFI Colorproof XF RIP, were awarded FOGRA certification for their print qualities, whilst the iPF5100 was also presented with the European Digital Press Association award for its proofing abilities.

In an independant lab test conducted by BLI the iPF8100 was proven to be substantially faster than the competition.

* Epson Pro 9800 Series - 21 min 53 sec
* Canon iPF8100 - 6 min 29 sec

Both printers used Glossy A0 paper, printing in standard mode.
Ink usage was also impressive with the iPF8100 using 31.6% less ink than the Epson Pro 9800 series.

This test was conducted independently by BLI. A full copy of the report is available from them on request.

Canon iPF10 has won BEST Low Volume AEC Market Color Wide Format System at the prestigious BERTL awards 2008!

For 15 years Bertl have been the primary source of independent product evaluation, reports and analyses on digital imaging devices. BERTLS BEST recognises just that, winners are selected after rigorous analysis of the hundreds of digital imaging devices, software and utilities in the world wide marketplace.

Tested by an independent lab BLI based in Wokingham UK, the Canon iPF8000s utilises 34.5% less ink than its competition the HPDesignJet Z6100.
Testing speed on 60 inch glossy paper the iPF8000s was 2min 17 sec faster than the HP DeisgnJet in normal mode.
The colour gamut was also tested resulting in the iPF8000 having a 25.3% greater colour gamut than the HP.

The imagePROGRAF iPF8000s and iPF9000s received the Bertls Best Award in the Best Print-for-Pay/Production Market Color Wide Format System category.