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Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Pro-Level Output

The current lineup of professional-quality 17- and 24-inch printers delivers gallery-ready images

This Article Features Photo Zoom

2) HP Designjet 130

Canon
PIXMA Pro9000 Mark II. Featuring an 8-color ink system and Canon’s advanced software, the PIXMA Pro9000 Mark II renders sharp prints and solid color rendition. Canon’s FINE technology takes advantage of a 6,144-nozzle print head, 2-picoliter ink droplets and 4800x2400 dpi capability to generate prints that are up to the standards of a professional. FINE, or Full-photolithography Inkjet Nozzle Engineering, is Canon’s signature technology for both the PIXMA Pro9000 and Pro9500. The ChromaLife 100 dye-based ink system works in combination with the print head and Canon papers to produce prints that will last. Maximum print size is 13x19 inches.

PIXMA Pro9500 Mark II. Building on the technology in the PIXMA Pro9000 Mark II, the PIXMA Pro9500 Mark II adds two ink cartridges for a total of 10 LUCIA dye-based inks for vibrant color, as well as rich black-and-white prints. The print head lays down ink droplets as small as 3 picoliters at 4800x1200 dpi. The printer can make a borderless print up to 13x19 inches, and Canon’s ambient light-correction technology optimizes color output for the ambient lighting conditions of the room in which you’re planning to display the image. You select the type of light and the printer makes adjustments automatically. This is a particularly interesting feature if you know that a client is planning on hanging a print in a windowless room, for example. The PIXMA Pro9500 Mark II also prints in 16 bits per channel, opening up a huge color space for your photographs.

3) Canon PIXMA Pro9000 Mark II

imagePROGRAF iPF6100 and iPF5100. In the 24-inch printer market, the Canon imagePROGRAF iPF6100 makes use of a 12-color LUCIA pigment-based inkset for archival print longevity, vivid colors and stunning black-and-white prints. You can make full-bleed prints on paper up to the maximum 24-inch width, and with roll paper, you can print full-bleed panoramas. The iPF6100 uses the Canon PF-03 print head, which can lay down a 4-picoliter droplet at 2400x1200 dpi. The printer monitors itself with built-in calibration sensors. When these sensors detect a variation in print head performance or ink drop density, the printer automatically recalibrates itself. This feature helps to ensure absolute consistency in prints no matter when you make them. If you want the performance and features of the iPF6100, but you don’t have the need or the space for a 24-inch printer, the iPF5100 offers essentially the same inks, print head and feature set in a smaller model, which is capable of full-bleed prints up to 17 inches wide.

4) Canon PIXMA Pro9500 Mark II

imagePROGRAF iPF6200. If you have a need for a printer that’s optimized for proofing applications, the Canon imagePROGRAF iPF6200 is a 24-inch model that comes with an EFI Colorproof eXpress RIP and an 80 GB hard drive. Under the hood, it uses the 12-color, pigment-based LUCIA inkset and the PF-03 dual print head. Maximum resolution is 1200x2400 dpi, and the print head lays down ink droplets as small as 4 picoliters. The Colorproof eXpress system is what sets this printer apart. It has a set-up wizard and an interface that are designed to get you up to speed quickly, and it includes predefined modes for a variety of final output.

imagePROGRAF iPF6300 and iPF6350. With a new pigment-based LUCIA EX inkset, the Canon imagePROGRAF iPF6300 is a 24-inch model that pro photographers will want to consider. The new inkset promises improved color and black-and-white imagery, as well as improved longevity. You can process images in 16-bit for an exceptionally wide color gamut. The printer has a built in calibration monitoring system, and it can automatically recalibrate itself when it detects a decrease in performance. The iPF6300 driver has two new options, including a high-precision mode for photographs that was specifically designed for photographers seeking to generate prints with reduced graininess, sharper blacks and deeper dark tones. The high-precision mode also increases glossiness in the final print. The print head lays down a 4-picoliter droplet at resolutions up to 1200x2400 dpi. If you have a need to print large-volume jobs, the iPF6350 adds an 80 GB hard drive that helps to streamline the workflow and speed of big jobs.