Design Supply Blog

The 64” Stylus Pro 11880 is the world’s first large format printer to feature Epson’s latest printhead technology and UltraChrome K3 ink with Vivid Magenta. It is designed for professionals in the photography, fine art and proofing markets.

17 July 2007 – The Stylus Pro 11880 is the first 64” large format printer from Epson. It includes the latest Micro Piezo Thin Film Piezo™ (TFP) printhead for superior printing performance and is optimised for pigment ink technology. The eight-colour inkset features a new formulation of UltraChrome K3 with Vivid Magenta, widening the colour gamut and further strengthening Epson’s award winning UltraChrome K3 ink as the choice of professionals. The Stylus Pro 11880 incorporates nine 700ml high capacity individual ink cartridges, with automatic switching between Photo & Matte Black inks, and also ink status LED’s for each cartridge. The new Gigabit Ethernet interface delivers fast data transfer speeds, coupled with the on-board data processing module. Epson Super Halftone technology, a new screening algorithm, further improves image tone and definition. The combination of features and inkset make the Stylus Pro 11880 the most advanced digital large format printer on the market.

The new Micro Piezo TFP™ printhead fulfils all the requirements of a professional printer – quality, durability and speed. The nozzle density has increased from 180 to 360 dpi for each colour, the world's highest for an inkjet printhead using piezoelectric technology. Epson has doubled the number of nozzles on the printhead, while maintaining the same size of ink droplet and accelerated print speeds. Despite the microscopic size of its elements, this next-generation Micro Piezo head retains all the advantages of the current printhead, including Variable-sized Droplet Technology. Meniscus control helps to produce perfectly spherical dots and manages the degree of droplet impact. It also improves the speed of jetting, further enhancing the print speed.

UltraChrome K3 with Vivid Magenta further expands the already wide colour gamut of UltraChrome K3 and is a breakthrough in pigment chemistry. The full inkset includes nine ink cartridges: photo black, matte black, light black, light light black, cyan, light cyan, yellow, vivid magenta and vivid light magenta. The two magenta inks use new high-density pigments that create more vibrant colour, especially blues and magenta, for example those found in seascapes or landscapes. Both photo black and matte black cartridges are installed at the same time so there is no need to exchange. The most suitable black ink is automatically chosen depending on the media type used.

The UltraChrome K3 ink with Vivid Magenta, enables superb grey balance and precise colour without any colour cast. It also maintains the superior features of the UltraChrome K3 ink such as great colour accuracy of neutral and dark colours, excellent short-term colour stability and smooth tonal gradation from shadow to light. Metamerism is virtually eliminated with this new inkset. The permanent Epson Micro Piezo printhead also offers unrivalled consistency in each print. Every print will be the same as the first, even if the artwork is printed months apart, making it ideal for studios producing limited edition print runs.

The Stylus Pro 11880 is compatible with a wide range of Epson media up to 1.5mm in thickness, including glossy paper, matte paper, matte board, fine art paper and plain paper. It features an automatic take-up reel to support heavy-duty production for improved usability. It will also support flexible paper handling for cut sheet printing from A3 up to 64”. The optional paper basket stores prints cleanly and securely.

Epson is also launching MyEpsonprinter.eu. The new online portal allows Epson Stylus Pro owners to retrieve up-to-the-minute technical information and monitor the performance of each printer. The secure website allows users to view print job activity, hardware information and historical data, and tracks key performance indicators such as cost of ownership and cost per print. MyEpsonprinter.eu can also be accessed remotely by service contractors to quickly identify the cause and scope of any queries, which saves time and unnecessary call-out fees.

Martin Johns, Business Manager Pro Graphics, Epson UK, says, “Epson’s leading research and development into pigment chemistry has long set its professional printers apart, and along with its high-quality output, Epson has become widely known as the choice of professionals. The launch of our new 64” inch printer means that as well as going larger with Epson, quality and productivity is also further enhanced for truly vibrant, first-class output.”

Epson Stylus Pro 11880 key features summary:
• Professional paper handling up to 64” wide
• Consistent output with Epson Micro Piezo TFP™ Printhead Technology
• High-density Epson UltraChrome K3™ with Vivid Magenta Ink Technology
• Standard USB 2.0, and Gigabit Ethernet interface
• Flexible paper handling with roll or cut-sheet media from A3 / tabloid up to 64” wide. BorderFree™ roll printing from 10” up to 64” wide
• Accepts media up to 1.5 mm thick poster board
• Productive printing with built-in automatic media cutting system and take-up reel system
• Record information about paper with media bar code tracking and identification system
• Superior image processing with Epson Super Halftone Screening Technology
• Easy to use and maintain with Auto Ink Droplet Detection System
• High-quality printing with maximum resolution of 2880 x 1440 dpi
• Nine individual high-capacity ink cartridges – 700 ml
• Automatic change from photo black to matte black
• Pressurised ink cartridge technology
• High-performance print engine speeds
• Large 2.5” back lit LCD control panel
• Ink status LED system
• MyEpson Printer™ network compatible
• Stylus Pro 11880 RRP excluding VAT from £9995 – available September 2007

The Epson Stylus Pro 4880, 7880 and 9880 feature Epson’s breakthrough pigment ink technology, UltraChrome K3™ ink with Vivid Magenta and improved image processing. They provide an enhanced colour gamut and superior tonal gradation, ideal for the professional in the proofing, photography, fine art and graphics markets.

17 July 2007 – Epson launches three new large format, eight-colour professional production printers. They are the 17” (A2+) Epson Stylus Pro 4880, 24” (A1+) Stylus Pro 7880 and 44” (B0+) Stylus Pro 9880. Each features Epson UltraChrome K3 ink with Vivid Magenta technology, the latest development in pigment chemistry, which offers a wide colour gamut and unrivalled image quality from an 8-colour inkset.

Epson’s new large format range provides the highest quality output that is required for the fine art, photography and proofing markets. A new Ethernet interface is included as standard and delivers fast, efficient connectivity and data transfer speeds. The improved printhead further enhances image quality and when combined with Epson’s Super Halftone Technology, a new screening algorithm, it delivers sharp detail and accurate colour reproduction.

The Epson large format printer range offers superior media flexibility and is compatible with a wide range of Epson paper up to 1.5mm in thickness. Glossy paper, matte paper, matte board, fine art paper and plain paper are all supported. The Epson Stylus Pro 4880, 7880 and Stylus Pro 9880 include a roll holder and cut sheet support, as standard. The Epson Stylus Pro 4880 also features a paper cassette feed mechanism for high-volume production on cut sheet paper from A4 (Letter) to 17” (A2+) wide. Also new is an enhanced cutting sequence delivering a faster and more productive printing workflow.
The UltraChrome K3 with Vivid Magenta further expands the already wide colour gamut of UltraChrome K3 and is a breakthrough in pigment chemistry. The full inkset includes nine ink cartridges: photo black, matte black, light black, light light black, cyan, light cyan, yellow, vivid magenta and vivid light magenta. The two magenta inks use new high-density pigments that create more vibrant colour, especially blues and magenta, for example those found in seascapes or landscapes.
The UltraChrome K3 ink with Vivid Magenta, enables superb grey balance and precise colour without any colour cast. It also maintains the superior features of the UltraChrome K3 ink such as great colour accuracy of neutral and dark colours, excellent short-term colour stability and smooth tonal gradation from shadow to light. The issue of metamerism is virtually eliminated with this new inkset. The permanent Epson Micro Piezo™ printhead also offers unrivalled consistency in each print. Every print will be the same as the first, even if the artwork is printed months apart, making it ideal for studios producing limited edition print runs.

Also included is the Epson Super Halftone technology, a new image processing engine for dot mapping. It enhances the image detail that may be lost in low resolution images. A new mapping algorithm reduces the graininess at both low and high resolution. The end result delivers smooth images with more accurate colour representation.

Epson is also launching MyEpsonprinter.eu. This new online portal allows Epson Stylus Pro owners to retrieve up-to-the-minute technical information and monitor the performance of each printer. The secure website allows users to view print job activity, hardware information and historical data, and tracks key performance indicators such as cost of ownership and cost per print. MyEpsonprinter.eu can also be accessed remotely by service contractors to quickly identify the cause and scope of any queries, which saves time in unnecessary call-out fees.

Martin Johns, Business Manager Pro Graphics Epson UK, says, “The Stylus Pro series incorporates Epson’s latest print production technologies, delivering output that surpasses any other large format inkjet printers on the market. These latest innovations are the result of significant research and development to refine and advance the print production process to provide professionals with the highest quality prints. Epson has established a strong reputation for providing superior products that professionals can rely on to continually perform. This is why we remain the choice of professionals in the proofing, fine art, photography and graphic design markets.”

Epson Stylus Pro series key features summary:
 Consistent output with Epson Micro Piezo printhead technology
 High-density Epson UltraChrome K3 with Vivid Magenta Ink Technology
 Image processing with Epson Super Halftone Screening Technology
 Maximum resolution of 2880 x 1440 dpi
 Individual high-capacity ink cartridges – 110ml or 220ml
 Professional media handling at a width of 44”, 24” or 17” in roll and cut sheet mode
 BorderFree™ roll printing from 8” up to 44” wide
 Print on media up to 1.5 mm thick poster board
 Built-in automatic media cutting system
 High-performance print engine speeds
 Standard USB 2.0 and 10/100 Ethernet interface
 User-friendly back lit LCD control panel
 MyEpson Printer™ network compatible
 Pressurised ink cartridge technology for Stylus Pro 7880 and Stylus Pro 9880
 Cassette feed mechanism for Stylus Pro 4880
 Optional take-up unit for Stylus Pro 9880
 Stylus Pro 9880 (B0+) RRP excluding VAT £4495 – available September 2007
 Stylus Pro 7880 (A1+) RRP excluding VAT £2395 – available September 2007
 Stylus Pro 4880 (A2+) RRP excluding VAT £1495 – available September 2007

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About the Epson Group
Epson is a global leader in imaging products including printers, 3LCD projectors and small- and medium-sized LCDs. With an innovative and creative culture, Epson is dedicated to exceeding the vision and expectations of customers worldwide with products known for their superior quality, functionality, compactness and energy efficiency.
Epson is a network of 87,626 employees in 117 companies around the world, and is proud of its ongoing contributions to the global environment and to the communities in which it is located. Led by the Japan-based Seiko Epson Corp., the Group had consolidated sales of 1416 billion yen in fiscal 2006.
Epson Europe B.V., based in Amsterdam, is the Group’s regional headquarters for Europe, Middle-East, Russia and Africa. With a workforce of 2,400 employees, Epson Europe’s sales for fiscal year 2006 were 2,104 million Euros.

Epson’s latest four-colour large format printers feature Epson’s leading print production technologies and key productivity enhancements, proving Epson’s strength in meeting the needs of the graphics market.

17 July 2007 – Epson launches three new four-colour large format printers with UltraChrome™ Ink Technology - the 17” (A2+) Stylus Pro 4450, the 24” (A1+) Stylus Pro 7450 and the 44” (B0+) Stylus Pro 9450. These reliable in-house high production printers deliver high-quality and consistent output. They also offer faster print and cutting speeds for a productive print workflow and are ideal for professionals in the Proofing, Point of Sale (POS), Computer Aided Design (CAD), Geographic Information System (GIS) and corporate markets.

For POS displays, posters, exhibition graphics and signage, the range of large format printers ensures a quick turnaround, vibrant and accurate output and ease of use. The Epson Micro Piezo printhead ensures consistent output across a range of printers, ideal for remote printing. For CAD and GIS applications the printers offer high-speed, reliability, colour consistency and high-colour quality. Precise lines and crisp characters also make them the optimum choice for designers, architects and engineers. For design and corporate professionals the range of printers will give reliable, high-quality results. An intuitive control panel and user-friendly interface allow non-technical personnel to easily use the printers, which in turn, allow design professionals to focus on their core work.

The printers will reliably handle a high volume of print jobs, without supervision, with the large-capacity, four-colour UltraChrome ink cartridges. The Epson Intellidge cartridge system monitors and displays ink levels, so users know how much ink remains before starting a print run. The Stylus Pro 7450 and Stylus Pro 9450 feature dual CMYK high-capacity ink cartridges, providing a capacity of up to 440ml per colour.

Epson’s UltraChrome ink provides advanced colour quality comprising intensely vibrant colour, smooth gradations and colour stability. Epson’s Micro Piezo™ technology precisely controls the amount of ink delivered to the media, resulting in finely detailed images. Each colour has a double nozzle to give faster throughput and print speed. Epson’s Variable-sized Droplet Technology automatically adjusts the size of the ink droplet depending on the image content and enables users to reproduce a high volume of prints.

Compatible with a wide range of Epson matte media including roll and cut sheets, image quality will not be compromised as the printers can even be used with plain paper without ink bleeding through.

The Stylus Pro 4450, 7450 and 9450 are also available with Photo Black ink, designed to be used for printing high density black on film substrate, when coupled with supported RIP software, making this the ideal solution for applications such as in-house pre-press separation production

Martin Johns, Business Manager at Epson UK says, “The new range of Epson large format printers are designed as professional in-house printing solutions and offer flexibility, consistency, quality, and high productivity. With Epson’s leading Micro Piezo technology and renowned UltraChrome Ink Technology, they will provide everything a professional in the POS, CAD or GIS market needs to produce vibrant colourful prints, quickly and easily.”

Epson Stylus Pro 4450, 7450 and 9450 key features summary:
• Professional media handling of roll or cut-sheet media
• UltraChrome CMYK ink featuring independent large-capacity cartridges to give lower running costs
• Built-in automatic media cutting system
• Special units made available for screen print application
• Epson Micro Piezo printhead technology

Stylus Pro 9450 additional features
• Handles roll and cut sheet media to a width of up to 44”
• Fast printing speed of up to 34.3m²/Hr (max. 1440x720dpi resolution)
• Dual CMYK high-capacity ink cartridges
• Pressurized ink cartridge technology
• Stylus Pro 9450 RRP excluding taxes £4095 – available September 2007

Stylus Pro 7450 additional features
• Handles roll and cut sheet media to a width of up to 24”
• Fast printing speed of up to 23.3m²/Hr (max. 1440x720dpi resolution)
• Dual CMYK high-capacity ink cartridges
• Pressurized ink cartridge technology
• Stylus Pro 7450 RRP excluding taxes £2195 – available September 2007

Stylus Pro 4450 additional features
• Handles roll and cut sheet media to a width of up to 17”
• Standard cassette feed from A4/letter up to 17”(A2)
• Fast printing speed of up to 24.3m²/Hr (max. 1440x720dpi resolution)
• CMYK high-capacity ink cartridges
• Stylus Pro 4450 RRP excluding taxes £1395 – available September 2007