Go big or go home: Epson debuts new 64-inch SureColor P20000 printer
posted Tuesday, January 26, 2016 at 9:57 AM EDT
Epson has rounded out their SureColor printer lineup by unveiling their all-new successor to the popular large-format Stylus Pro 11880, the 64" SureColor P20000.
Designed to deliver high-quality, high-production output, the P20000 incorporates numerous new technologies, including the enhanced PrecisionCore MicroTFP print head, a newly developed media feeding system, and a reformulated Epson UltraChrome PRO nine-color pigment ink system, which utilizes four-level gray technology.
Larry Kaufman, product manager for Epson Professional Imaging at Epson America had this to say about the new SureColor P20000: "Epson is focused on creating printing solutions that provide the quality, performance, and reliability that our customers have grown to expect. The SureColor P20000 is designed to do just that and pushes the boundaries of previous fine art and photographic printing capabilities with advanced print head technology and all-new ink technology designed to output exceptional image quality at incredibly fast speeds, while keeping operation costs and overhead at a minimum."
Speed is an area of particular focus for the P20000, as its all-new 10-channel PrecisionCore MicroTFP print head can deliver prints up to 2.8-times faster than previous models. The 2.64-inch print head can print at resolutions up to 2,400 x 1,200 dpi. The print head supports variable ink droplet size and can lay down droplets as small as 3.5 picoliters. Nozzle cleaning has also been enhanced with the improved Nozzle Verification Technology that automatically cleans nozzles without needing to use additional media. With a 10-channel print head and 9 inks in use at any given time, the P20000 is able to provide real-time, automatic black ink switching.
Ink is another area where you'll find particularly impressive improvements. The UltraChrome PRO nine-color pigment ink system is the first Epson inkset to feature four levels of gray ink, including Gray, Light Gray, Dark Gray, and Black. Epson states that this will lead to seamless transitions, less visible noise, and reduced bronzing for "superior grayscale output." The Resin Encapsulation Technology has also been improved, leading to prints with better gloss uniformity, contrast ratio, and clarity.
The new Advanced Media Feeding System features all-new CMOS sensors that takes real-time photos of the back side of media and a pattern recognition algorithm to automatically ensure precise, accurate media placement. There are also new inductive rollers that protect cut sheet media and load it without skew. In addition, cut sheet media handling has been improved, allowing accurate loading of cut sheet media from 13" x 19" sheets up to 64" wide sheets. You can also print straight-through 17-64" wide poster board media as thick as 1.5mm.
To help improve speed and productivity, the P20000 includes a 320GB internal print server to allow for quick transferring of jobs to the printer, which will free up individual workstations. For further improvements to efficiency and speed, there are two new optional features. First, the True Adobe Postscript 3 Hardware Engine ($1199.95) that enables direct and hot-folder batch printing, secure PDF print support, and full Adobe Creative Cloud compatibility. Secondly, for $1,295, there is an available Auto Take-up Reel System. This user-installable system allows for unsupervised production of large print runs that have roll-to-roll requirements.
The Epson SureColor P20000 will be available in March for an estimated $11,995 and comes with a standard Epson Preferred two-year warranty and support program, which provides toll-free telephone access from Monday through Friday and usually next business-day on-site service in the event of a hardware failure. Additional warranties are also available. If you'd like to see the P20000 in person, it will be on display in Las Vegas today and tomorrow at West Coast Art and Frame, at the Paris Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas at Epson's booth (#115).
For more information on the new P20000 printer, see here.