Canon adds two new 6-colour large format imagePROGRAF models to line-up

Canon Europe has announced the launch of two 6-colour, large format imagePROGRAF models for the easy in-house production of posters and PoS collateral, especially in the retail and hospitality markets. The two 6-colour models complement Canon’s existing imagePROGRAF range and are positioned between the 5-colour dye ink CAD models and the 8- and 12-colour photo quality and production print models.

The new 24” imagePROGRAF iPF6400SE and 44” iPF8400SE â€" the ‘SE’ signifying speed and economy â€" have been designed by focusing on the features that are essential for the in-house production of posters and POS collateral. The machines can produce an A1-sized poster on coated paper in only one minute in ‘Fast Mode’, and offer a low cost of investment and ownership as they’ve been developed specifically for entry level users.

A key feature of the new models is the 6-colour LUCIA-EX ink-set, which, using pigment rather than dye inks, ensures the longevity of the printed images on display and is compatible with a wide range of media. The composition of the ink-set can offer lower ink usage by reducing the amount of ink required to produce certain colours. By including red as one of the six ink colours (magenta, cyan, yellow, black, matte black, and red), the printers can produce eye-catching graphics through the vibrant reproduction of reds and oranges, colours that frequently appear in posters and POS collateral.

Both the iPF6400SE and the iPF8400SE also feature a larger optional ink tank (300ml and 700ml respectively, in addition to the standard, respective 130ml and 330ml tanks) and deliver low downtime thanks to a sub-ink tank that allows for non-stop printing â€" or ‘Hot Swap’ â€" during ink tank replacement.

The available space in many retail and corporate environments has also been taken into account in the compact design of the machines, so that the footprint of the iPF6400SE is almost 20 per cent smaller than that of the imagePROGRAF iPF6400 or iPF6400S.

To make the machines as easy as possible to use for those with little or no experience of printing, Canon bundles with the printers added value software including PosterArtist Lite, which allows users to create posters in four easy steps, and a plug-in for Microsoft Office software.  Also included as standard is Direct Print & Share software, which streamlines print workflows by simplifying the printing process and offering cloud-based sharing.

“In the corporate, retail and hospitality markets, in particular, there is a growing demand for large format printers to enable users to produce good quality posters at low cost in-house, reducing their reliance on outsourcing print and allowing them to maintain total control over when and what they print,” said Yuichi Miyano, Director of Large Format Solutions, Canon Europe. “The easy-to-use imagePROGRAF iPF6400SE and iPF8400SE clearly address these specific needs by allowing in-house users to economically print attention-grabbing materials the instant they’re needed for new promotions.”