The Red Arrows install Epson Stylus Pro 3880 for 'Color Confidence'

The Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, famously known as The Red Arrows, has installed a 17-inch Epson Stylus Pro 3880 digital inkjet printer, supplied by Color Confidence. The printer is used to produce high quality A3 and A4 lustre, matte and gloss photographs, taken by The Red Arrows’ RAF photographers, primarily for public relations and corporate events. With its small footprint, the printer is ideally suited to go on tour with the team.

The Red Arrows is the public face of the Royal Air Force and renowned across the globe as one of the world’s premier aerobatic teams â€" most easily recognised by the bright red Hawk aircraft used which gives the team its name. Based at RAF Scampton in Lincolnshire, The Red Arrows, which comprises nine display pilots and about 100 engineers and support staff, tour in the UK and internationally during the summer and train at RAF Akrotiri, Cyprus, during the winter.

Color Confidence has supplied the Ministry of Defence for several years and installed an Epson Stylus Pro 4880 printer at The Red Arrows’ base in 2009. Based in Birmingham, Color Confidence has developed into one of Europe's leading distributors of colour management solutions, photographic accessories and consumables and large format printing equipment. “We’ve built up a good relationship with The Red Arrows over the years”, says Pete Holland, Business Manager Imaging and Printing Division, Color Confidence.  “They value our experience and know they can rely on our expert advice and technical support.”

When The Red Arrows were looking to replace their old printer, Color Confidence was happy to recommend the Stylus Pro 3880.  “We receive exceptional support from Epson which makes our job a lot easier as we know we can rely on their specialised knowledge and back-up if needed,” says Pete.

“The Stylus Pro 4880 had set the standard for colour output for The Red Arrows’ photographs and the Stylus Pro 3880 was perfect for their needs. It offered the high quality prints that they wanted with accurate colour reproduction â€" of utmost importance when printing bright reds â€" and is flexible and easily transportable for when they need to take it on tour.”

Offering flexibility across a broad range of media, the Epson Stylus Pro 3880 can be used by professional and aspiring photographers alike. Using Epson’s advanced, fourth generation UltraChrome K3 Vivid Magenta pigment inks to deliver long lasting, high quality large format A2+ prints in both black and white and full colour â€" one of its great strengths is the very wide colour gamut and exceptional light fastness â€" the Epson Stylus Pro 3880 offers fast, flexible printing. Larger 80ml individual ink cartridges offer greater ink savings and increased productivity, whilst Epson’s patented Micro PiezoTM print head ensures accurate ink placement. With excellent colour stability, light fastness and colour gradation users can be assured that each print will be the same as the first, even if printed months apart.

Neil Mackenzie, Pro Graphics Account Manager at Epson UK, says, “It’s great to hear that such a prestigious team as The Red Arrows are using Epson technology. The combination of Epson’s latest hardware innovations, industry-leading ink technology and exceptionally small footprint makes the Stylus Pro 3880 a perfect match for printing photographs. The printer’s accuracy makes it ideal for creating long-lasting prints to sell and exhibit.”

For further information on The Red Arrows, please visit www.raf.mod.uk/reds/

For more information on Color Confidence, please visit www.colourconfidence.com