HP Embeds Spectrophotometer in Inkjet Proofer

Hewlett-Packard has just released a new line of wide-format inkjet printers, inks, papers and new color controls. What makes these very appealing is how capable they are for prepress proofing of impositioned forms up to 44´´ across prior to plate exposure in a CTP system.

Of even greater significance is that HP is among the first to embed a spectrophotometer—an electronic eye that can precisely measure and communicate color from the printing surface—that presents feedback to auto-calibrate the devices. HP has dubbed them the Designjet Z2100 and Z3100, and both are available in up to 24´´ or 44´´ width models.

The built-in automated feedback from the spectrophotometer delivers closed-loop online color calibration. While Kodak and X-Rite announced an embedded spectrophotometer for the smaller format Veris at Ipex, this is a first for larger-format applications. Embedded spectrophotometers in proofers offer the tantalizing opportunity for continuously controlled remote proofing over great distances. Let's look at some of the benefits that HP and its new proofer's spectrophotometer provider, GretagMacbeth, have developed.

Now you can have two exact press-sheet sized inkjet printers in different cities set with the same inks and papers—and achieve the same result. Since HP has embedded a spectrophotometer into what it calls a “Photo Printing Series” of inkjet printers, one can calibrate remotely with confidence.

For example, a printer's sales office in New York City could reliably receive color press imposition proofs for customer contract sign-off from a Philadelphia printing location. The printing plant in Philadelphia can remotely control the entire operation of the proofing device—the remote site would only have to use the specified inks and proofing media for the formula to work.

As a result, one has less cooks to spoil the broth. This is in the near-term future, say HP developers—real ink, on real paper imposition forms, for the customer to sign off.

GMG last month introduced a version of its ColorProof color-management software system that is compatible with the new HP Designjet Z2100. It automatically calibrates, monitors and recalibrates to ensure that every proof leaving the HP printer is a high-quality, GMG contract proof that can be repeated at any time—even on a different Z2100 at another location. The printer's internal spectrophotometer helps GMG ProofControl verify every proof. The bundled offering also works with GretagMacbeth's EyeOne and X-Rite's DTP 20 measuring devices.

The Z2100 has up to eight colors of ink with three blacks, and the Z3100 offers up to 12 colors of ink with four blacks, allowing you to print both matte and photo blacks at the same time. Until these Z2100/Z3100 Designjets hit the street, one has not been able to automatically calibrate to this new level of color accuracy. Why?

Long-term print-to-print repeatability averages 0.5 dE2000, a measurement that says this is the best we have seen to date in the industry. Judging from recently shown samples of photographs recorded in both black-and-white and color on the new plotters, it is readily evident that HP is entering into a new era of digital color reproduction that will satisfy the most demanding of customers, and this includes graphic arts proofing.

To assist the proof imaging process, HP offers two new Professional High-gloss Contract proofing papers, so you get the proper behavior in the proof to match coated printing stocks. HP assures customers of meeting industry standards and technical requirements for GRACoL, SWOP, Fogra/ECI and others. GretagMacbeth offers additional profiling options, and HP claims that customers very often get desired color on the first try.

If you want to file the physical proof, HP claims it will hold true for 200 years. Many other technical developments led to the new HP Z series. While space here is limited, we must mention the new pigmented inks, a resolution up to 2400×1200 optimized dpi, a new gloss enhancer—that combines with the other inks on the Z3100 to deliver perfect gloss uniformity and total absence of “bronzing”—and an additional 11 new HP media offerings too lengthy to list.

Competition brings out the best for our industry; HP is motivated to fend off competitors like Epson and Canon, to name a few. The printing industry is the winner with new capability and opportunity.

The HP Z Series of products have just been put on the table, are worth a good look and will show at Graph Expo, Booth Nos. 4281, 248 and 646, starting October 15 in Chicago.