Epson launches four wide-format printers; introduces violet colour

Epson has launched four new wide-format printers aimed at the professional photo, fine art and proofing markets.

The SureColor SC-P6000, SC-P7000, SC-P8000 and SC-P9000 inkjet printers are available in 61cm (24in) and 1.12m (44in) widths. The SC-P6000 and SC-P8000 are eight-colour machines, while the SC-P7000 and SC-P9000 are 10-colour.

Two of the printers can be supplied with a new violet colour the company said will allow printing of 99% of Pantone colours - the SC-P7000V and SC-P9000V.

A 10-colour SC-P7000V will cost from £2,395.

Meanwhile the SC P7000 STD and SC P9000 STD models come with a Light Light Black UltraChrome HDX ink configuration that replaces the violet ink and better suited to high-end photographic and fine art applications.

The new models incorporate Epson’s PrecisionCore printhead technology, giving, the company said, “outstanding performance and long-lasting quality with ultra-precise control of dot size, shape and placement”.

ProGraphics, Epson UK market development manager Martin Johns said: “With our PrecisionCore technology, customers can be assured that the results will be fantastic quality, accurate and consistent over time.”

The company said that the eight-colour UltraChrome HD pigment-based ink-set, gives the SC-P8000 and SC-P6000 a wide colour gamut and improved lightfastness. Epson said the machines produce print with “intense, vibrant colours” while an advanced black and white mode gives “neutral crisp and clear” black and white prints.

Meanwhile the SC-P9000 and SC-P7000 are ideal for proofing, Epson said, since they “ensure highly-accurate prints with colours that will remain consistent throughout the print run”.

All models are available bundled with Epson’s off carriage, inline SpectroProofer incorporating the ILS30 colorimeter, jointly developed with X-Rite, which conforms to new ISO lighting and measurement standards – including M1. The SpectroProofer also enables printer calibration to be performed with Epson’s new Color Calibration Utility.

The new models follow the release of two new dye-sublimation printers also aimed at the wide-format market, the SureColor SC-F7200 and SureColor SC-F6200, in July.

The ColorWorks C7500, a compact colour desktop label printer which is also based on the company's PrecisionCore Micro TFP printhead, was lauched in June.

In April 2014, the company revealed it planned to bring more than 10 new inkjet printers to market over the next 18 months, to become “number one player” in the commercial, signage, textile and label markets.

The 10-colour SC-P7000V with inline Epson ILS30 SpectroProofer will be shown for the first time in Europe at Labelexpo Europe in Brussells, from 29 September to 2 October. The range will be available from 1 November.

See Star Product in next week’s PrintWeek magazine for an in-depth look of the new machines.