Canon’s new imagePROGRAF GP Series offers high value-added output for graphics applications
Canon Europe is releasing a total of four new “imagePROGRAF” series large format printers. These new models include the imagePROGRAF GP-4000 (44 inch) and GP-2000 (24 inch) that use 10 colours including red, orange, green and violet ink plus fluorescent pink ink, and the imagePROGRAF GP-300 (36 inch) and GP-200 (24 inch) that use 5 colours plus fluorescent pink ink.
Junichi Wachi, Director of LFP EMEA, Canon Europe, comments: “As retail, hospitality and leisure businesses across EMEA focus on reopening and recovery, bright, vibrant promotional poster graphics have a critical role to play in grabbing consumers’ attention, driving footfall and stimulating sales. For graphics producers, creative agencies and in-house print departments serving these businesses, the new imagePROGRAF GP Series printers have been developed to make vivid colours pop, bringing campaign visuals to life, day after day, print after print.
“With a choice of four GP printer models offering 10 or 5 pigmented aqueous inks plus fluorescent pink ink and three different printing widths, businesses of all sizes can reproduce a wider colour gamut and add zing with fluorescent pink to make eye-catching posters that really pack a punch. And these new large format printers are just as productive, efficient and easy to use as the rest of the imagePROGRAF family, so customers can focus on the future and get ready to come back brighter.”
The world’s first large format printer with aqueous pigment fluorescent ink achieves high impact graphical output
A “Radiant Infusion” technology layers a newly developed fluorescent pink ink with other inks on the paper surface during printing, which enables bright and soft colour reproduction, while the bundled PC software “PosterArtist Lite” enables users to create high impact posters easily. In addition, the imagePROGRAF GP-4000/2000 features red, orange, green and violet inks that expand the range of colour reproduction to achieve the largest colour gamut for the imagePROGRAF series.
New printers receive a “PANTONE™-calibrated²” license for a wide range of applications
The new imagePROGRAF GP series has been awarded the world’s first “PANTONE-calibrated” license³ for “PANTONE PASTELS & NEONS GUIDE Coated”⁴, which includes fluorescent and pastel colours. In addition, the GP-4000/2000 models achieved 99% coverage⁵ of the “PANTONE FORMULA GUIDE Solid Coated” used in a wide range of applications, such as printing and design, and obtained a further “PANTONE-calibrate” license. As the choice of colour specification at the time of design expands, it becomes possible to express the colour intended by the designer.
Main features of the imagePROGRAF GP-4000 and 2000
1. The world’s first large format printer with newly developed red, orange, green and violet and aqueous pigment fluorescent inks that realise high value-added output
The world’s first aqueous pigment large format printer with 10 colours plus fluorescent pink ink
“Radiant Infusion” technology layers a newly developed fluorescent pink ink, used for the first time in the world in a large format inkjet printer, with other inks on the paper surface during printing. This achieves bright and soft colour reproduction and enables more vivid printing. The bundled PC software, “PosterArtist Lite”, enables users to create high impact posters easily
In addition to the fluorescent pink ink, 10 colours, including four newly developed red, orange, green and violet inks, expand the range of colour reproduction to achieve the largest colour gamut for the imagePROGRAF series
Fluorescent pink ink can also be used to print specific areas such as text and figures in pink and orange to enable fluorescent colour expression that makes those areas stand out
Printing with and without fluorescent ink can be selected
The newly developed inks enable production for applications that demand faithful colour reproduction, such as:
Corporate colours
Graphics that include fluorescent colours, which are difficult to reproduce with a conventional inkjet printer
Colour proofs with a wide colour gamut
The ability to produce large format outputs that create new value, supports the creation of new business opportunities
2. Obtained “PANTONE-calibrated” license used in a wide range of applications
Obtained the world’s first “PANTONE-calibrated” license from Pantone, for “PANTONE PASTELS & NEONS GUIDE Coated”, which includes fluorescent and pastel colours⁶
Achieved 99% coverage⁷ for the “PANTONE FORMULA GUIDE Solid Coated”, used in a wide range of applications such as printing and design. Obtained “PANTONE-calibrated” license from Pantone for the result of high colour reproduction rate
Obtaining “PANTONE-calibrated” license with two Pantone publications expands the choice of colour specification at the time of design and supports output of the colour intended by the designer
3. “PosterArtist Lite” software with enhanced functions that lets users easily create highly appealing posters
The bundled PC software “PosterArtist Lite” enables easy creation of high-grade posters with vivid colours
“PosterArtist Lite” supports Vivid mode that uses “Radiant Infusion” technology to achieve more vibrant printing with an expanded colour gamut, and Spot mode that prints fluorescent ink in specific areas such as text, figures and clip art in pink and orange to make those areas stand out
Printing with and without fluorescent ink can be selected
New templates have been added to make use of the fluorescent pink ink expression
The newly added function makes it easy for users to search photo images provided for free by three stock service providers (Pixabay, Unsplash, Pexels). From the extensive stock of millions of photos, users can select their favourite images and combine them to easily create a high quality design for their poster
4. Superior printer functions that reduce the load on users handling various types of paper
A “Smart Roll Paper Set” function is provided that automatically performs paper supply and feeding, detects the paper type and width, estimates the remaining amount of paper, and adjusts the condition to enable printing, simply by placing the roll paper in the feed section of the printer. Automation of high-workload paper supply tasks reduces the workload on the operator. In addition, there is no need to manually insert the paper into the paper feed slot, so there is no need to touch the media surface during paper supply, which prevents the adherence of fingerprints and dirt
The “Multifunction Roll System”, which achieves the two functions of dual roll feed and rewinding printouts on roll (a media take-up unit), is supported. By mounting the “Roll Unit” (Option) in the lower stage, it enables high-volume continuous printing, using either two rolls of the same media type or two different sizes and types of roll paper and switching during printing. In addition, the lower unit can also be used as a take-up unit for the large format output from the upper unit. This contributes to increased work efficiency and productivity
5. RIP⁸ support to assist a variety of output workflows
Leading RIP vendors in designing, proofing output, print services for large format printers, such as Caldera, Ergosoft, CGS, DEVStudio, DINAX, Shiraz, EFI, Eisfeld, ONYX, and SAi are preparing RIP that support the imagePROGRAF GP-4000/2000. Users can use software RIP for various purpose without changing their familiar output workflow
Main features of the imagePROGRAF GP-300 and 200
1. The world’s first large format printer with aqueous pigment fluorescent ink achieves more eye-catching poster output
The world’s first aqueous pigment large format inkjet printer using fluorescent pink ink with 5 colour pigment ink
“Radiant Infusion” technology that layers a newly developed fluorescent pink ink with other inks on the paper surface during printing, which enables bright and soft colour reproduction, and the bundled PC software, “PosterArtist Lite”, enables users to create colourful posters easily
Fluorescent pink ink can also be used to print specific areas such as text and figures to enable fluorescent colour expression that makes those areas stand out
Printing with and without fluorescent ink can be selected
With the ability to create compelling advertisements and posters, enhanced with fluorescent colours, the imagePROGRAF GP-300/200 support in-house production of large format outputs with increased appeal and visibility for various industries, such as retail stores, restaurants, government offices, schools and general companies
2. Obtained “PANTONE-calibrated” license
Obtained the world's first “PANTONE-calibrated” license from Pantone, for “PANTONE PASTELS & NEONS GUIDE Coated”, which includes fluorescent and pastel colours⁹
Impactful fluorescent colours and pastel colours with gentle tones can be reproduced, which supports in-house production of posters by retail stores, restaurants, government offices and schools , which previously relied on outsourcing
3. “PosterArtist Lite” software with enhanced functions that let users easily create highly appealing posters
The bundled PC software “PosterArtist Lite” enables easy creation of high-grade posters with vivid colours
“PosterArtist Lite” supports Vivid mode that uses “Radiant Infusion” technology to achieve more vibrant printing with an expanded colour gamut, and Spot mode that prints with aqueous pigment fluorescent ink in specific areas such as text, figures and clip art in pink and orange to make those areas stand out
Printing with and without aqueous pigment fluorescent ink can be selected
New templates have been added to make use of the aqueous pigment fluorescent pink ink expression
This helps users create highly appealing and attractive posters with vivid colours by using templates that make effective use of fluorescent and pastel colours
The newly added function makes it easy for users to search photo images provided for free by three stock service providers (Pixabay, Unsplash, Pexels). From the extensive stock of millions of photos, users can select their favourite images and combine them to easily create a high design poster
4. Achieved space-saving installation by full front operation
All operations related to printing, such as setting and replacing roll paper and ink tanks and removing printouts, can be performed from the front of the printer. Since the printer can be installed flush against the wall, effective use of space is achieved, which means even retail stores, offices and other locations with limited space, can produce large format outputs
5. Direct Printing without PC and Secure Printing are supported
Print job data saved to the HDD can be printed directly from the printer without using a PC. This enables users to easily reprint without using a PC when additional printing is needed
Secure Print is supported. When users set a PIN code (passcode) on the printer driver during printing, the print job is saved to the HDD and users start printing by entering the same PIN code on the operation panel of the printer. This helps prevent information leakage due to misidentification, loss, or neglect after printing
