FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 30, 2002
ColorSpan Announces the DisplayMaker X-12 Printer
MacDermid ColorSpan, Inc., an innovator and leader in the wide-
format color inkjet printer market, is setting a new industry
standard for quality, speed and performance with the introduction
of its DisplayMaker X-12 printer. Designed around twelve (12)
state-of-the-art, nearly one-inch wide, high frequency printheads,
the DisplayMaker X-12 can be configured with the broadest
combination of multi-density and gamut-extending inks to achieve
fastest print speeds, wider color gamut and better apparent
resolution. The DisplayMaker X-12 gives its users unprecedented
flexibility in meeting the output requirements of their customers.
The printer can be configured with one or more 4-, 6-, 8- or
12-color ink sets to balance the need for speed (draft speed is
in excess of 600 square feet per hour) and print quality (up to
1800 dpi apparent resolution). A newly designed heated forced
air drying system has been integrated into the printer to afford
the user unparalleled confidence in high-speed roll-to-roll
unattended printing using a wide range of inkjet media. The
DisplayMaker X-12 will be shown for the first time at SGIA show
in St. Louis, MO, October 30 through November 2, 2002, with
shipments to customers commencing in the December quarter.
Rinnie DiCenzo, Vice President of Sales and Marketing, stated,
"The DisplayMaker X-12 represents a new milestone in performance
leadership within the wide-format printing market. The increased
output speed, ease of use and lower cost of production of these
printers make them ideal not only for print-for-pay operations
but also for anyone who wants an improvement in price,
performance and profitability. No other company offers this
combination of precision image quality, speed, and reliability
at this value."
Product Features
12 Printheads - Offering the ultimate in flexibility, users have
the choice of printing with any combination 4, 6, 8 or even 12
colors. It is possible to use different sets of inks in either
a 4+8 or 6+6 configuration for indoor and outdoor applications,
or two sets of the same ink in a 2x4 or 2x6 configuration to
double the print speed.
ColorMark® inks - A large selection of both dye and pigment inks
are available for the DisplayMaker X-12. EnduraChrome® long-
lasting dye-based inks are available in full strength cyan,
magenta, yellow, and black; augmented with medium cyan and
magenta, or medium plus light cyan and magenta for smoother
gradients and higher apparent resolutions; extended with orange,
green, red, and blue process colors for maximum gamut.
PermaChrome® pigmented inks are available in CMYK, plus medium
densities of cyan and magenta. A four density black EnduraChrome
dye ink set (dark, medium, medium light and light) will also
available for producing highly detailed black and white prints.
Modular Ink Delivery System - Redesigned for higher productivity
and lower cost of operation, the DisplayMaker X-12 Modular Ink
Delivery System includes high-capacity ink supply reservoirs,
semi-permanent ink supply lines and state-of-the-art thermal
inkjet printheads. Sets of high capacity, 960 ml ink reservoirs
provide thousands of square feet of printing between ink changes,
yet are built to be "hot-swapped" while printing to prevent job
interruption. The semi-permanent ink supply lines, which normally
are not exchanged, are user replaceable to allow the printer to
be set up with a variety of ink configurations. At the heart of
the ink system are twelve high-density printheads, designed to
jet, two or more, 960 ml reservoirs, and replaced only as the
user determines is necessary based on their performance
requirements, not ours. Higher throughput per printhead yields
lower cost per print.
Fast Print Speeds without Sacrificing Quality - User selectable
ink configurations and print modes give the DisplayMaker X-12
owner the widest possible choice of quality, speed and economy.
Economy 2x4-color / 600 dpi
Draft 600 ft.2/hr. (55.7 m2/hr.)
High Speed 400 ft.2/hr. (37.2 m2/hr.)
Production 200 ft.2/hr. (18.6 m2/hr.)
Quality 150 ft.2/hr. (13.9 m2/hr.)
HiRes 2x6-color / 1200 dpi Apparent
Draft 600 ft.2/hr. (55.7 m2/hr.)
High Speed 400 ft.2/hr. (37.2 m2/hr.)
Production 200 ft.2/hr. (18.6 m2/hr.)
Quality 150 ft.2/hr. (13.9 m2/hr.)
Film Quality 1x8-color / 1800 dpi Apparent
Draft 300 ft.2/hr. (27.9 m2/hr.)
High Speed 200 ft.2/hr. (18.6 m2/hr.)
Production 100 ft.2/hr. (9.3 m2/hr.)
Quality 175 ft.2/hr. (7.0 m2/hr.)
Film Quality Plus 1x12-color / 1800 dpi Apparent
Draft 300 ft.2/hr. (27.9 m2/hr.)
High Speed 200 ft.2/hr. (18.6 m2/hr.)
Production 100 ft.2/hr. (9.3 m2/hr.)
Quality 175 ft.2/hr. (7.0 m2/hr.)
AutoInk (4/6 color Dye and 4/6 color Pigment
Draft 300 ft.2/hr. (27.9 m2/hr.)
High Speed 200 ft.2/hr. (18.6 m2/hr.)
Production 100 ft.2/hr. (9.3 m2/hr.)
Quality 175 ft.2/hr. (7.0 m2/hr.)
Advanced Automation Eye - This technology, pioneered by
ColorSpan, is taken to a new level to make the DisplayMaker
X-12 the most advanced yet easy-to-use printer available at
any price. The Automation Eye consists of two high-resolution
image sensors and highly sophisticated software to enable
on-line and automatic measurements and adjustments to
maintain accurate printing and predictable color, as well as
prolonging the useful life of the printhead.
AutoSet- Calibration - Using the on-board image sensor,
the DisplayMaker X-12 analyses dot placement of printed
patterns and automatically aligns all twelve printheads with
digital accuracy.
AutoJet- Calibration - The DisplayMaker X-12 uses data
from the image sensor to substitute jets that are not up to
performance requirements with known good jets. This eliminates
banding in prints even with clogged jets, thereby greatly
prolonging the useful printhead life, which translates into
lower cost of operation.
Linearization - Using a built-in colormetric photo diode
image sensor, the DisplayMaker X-12 can print and automatically
measure the density of color density swatches. The result is
available to the external RIP and color management software to
automatically linearize the color curves and to compensate for
variations that affect color, without the need to purchase an
external densitometer.
Color Profiling - The photo diode image sensor is also used
to read hundreds of color swatches. The external RIP and color
management software uses these color values to create ICC and
ColorMark color profiles for custom ink and media combinations,
thus eliminating the requirement to purchase a costly
colorimeter device.
FrontPage Electronic Touch Pad - A simple user interface via
the graphical LCD touch screen presents all frequently used
functions on a single screen. Detailed menus are available to
allow for full control of all functions, plus on-line
documentation and help.
Tilt-Up Carriage - For easy access, the carriage assembly can
be tilted up to expose the bottom sides of the printheads and
Automation Eye image sensors for periodic cleaning without
affecting printhead alignment or calibration.
Adjustable Printhead Height - Motor-drive carriage assembly
adjusts the printhead height to accommodate a wide variety of
media up to 1/8" (3.18mm) thick while maintaining maximum
print quality.
Media Wizard - Establishes and stores optimum printhead height,
media feed calibration and platen vacuum settings for various
media types. This productivity tool allows efficient switching
between media types without the need for adjustments or
recalibration.
Unattended Printing - The DisplayMaker X-12 comes fully
equipped to support unattended lengthy print runs. Users
benefit by eliminating damaged prints and wasted time with
these features:
- Motorized Take-Up Spool - rolls prints under controlled
very low tension, image-side in or image-side out, onto 2"
or 3" cores for convenient handling and finishing. A closed
loop drive system provides accurate advancement and media
movement fault detection.
- High Output Heated Forced-Air Dryer -dries prints for
roll-to-roll unattended printing using a wide range of inkjet
media, even at higher print speeds.
- Humidity & Temperature Sensors - automatically paces dry-
time in higher humidity conditions and avoids faulty operation
in high temperature environments.
- AutoTune Scheduler - allows AutoJet calibration to be
scheduled to run between a determined number of print jobs.
Jets found to be absent, misfiring or misdirected are mapped
out and replaced with adjacent spares. To further extend
printhead life, if adjacent spares have been mapped into
service, AutoTune will sequentially increase the number of
passes to ensure consistent, band-free output through long
print runs.
AutoInk Swapping - The twelve-printhead design allows users to
have two different sets of inks loaded simultaneously to allow
job-to-job switching from one to the other without changing ink.
Possible configurations are 6 + 6, 6 + 4 or 8 + 4 using
EnduraChrome dye, PermaChrome pigment or MultiDensity Black dye
ink sets.
RIP Options
The DisplayMaker X-12 can be driven by a variety of raster image
processor (RIP) options: turnkey hardware, software only or 3rd
party software.
- ColorMark Pro 2G Print Server - a key component in
ColorSpan's turnkey approach to wide-format printing solutions
that include printers, RIP/print server, inks, a wide variety
of media and hundreds of color profiles to provide accurate color
reproduction across a variety of output applications. The print
server comes complete with RIP hardware and PS level 3 software,
ColorMark+ advanced color management software, Mac and PC
printing tools and applications, 17" high-resolution display,
keyboard and mouse.
- ColorMark Professional Software RIP - a full-featured software
RIP complete with a PostScript level 3 interpreter, ColorMark
color management software and a 100 Mbit VideoNet- interface card.
It can be installed either as a client or a server running on
Windows NT, 2000, or XP operating systems.
- Third-party software RIPs -from Ergosoft, Onyx Graphics,
Praxisoft, SCP Software, and Wasatch.
Markets
The high speed, high resolution, and low cost of operation of the
DisplayMaker X-12 make it ideal for photo labs, sign makers, and
other print-for-pay service providers that produce signs, banners,
tradeshow and point-of-sale displays, and digital fine art
reproductions. Advertising and design agencies, exhibit, and
display houses, and in-house graphic design and marketing departments
will also benefit from the high performance and automation which is
designed into the DisplayMaker X-12.
Pricing and Availability
The DisplayMaker X-12 is positioned as the "best in class" of the
industry's wide-format printers and at the top-of-the-line in
ColorSpan's product line. One size doesn't fit all, however, so
along with the X-12, ColorSpan also has its award-winning
DisplayMaker Esprit, DisplayMaker Series XII and DisplayMaker
Mach 12 models, to form a complete lineup tailored to fit each
customer's price and performance requirements.
About MacDermid ColorSpan, Inc.
MacDermid ColorSpan, the recognized creator of the Big
Color® graphics market and designs, manufactures and
markets large-format digital color printing systems,
supplies, software and services. The Company's line of
wide-format digital color printers includes the fastest,
highest-quality printers available on the market today.
ColorSpan distinguishes its products through patented
Big Ink® Delivery System and ColorMark® 8 and 12 color
printer designs, and an Automated Eye for easy setup a
nd unattended printing. ColorSpan products are available
through a worldwide network of distributors and value-
added resellers.
MacDermid ColorSpan
7090 Shady Oak Road
Eden Prairie, MN 55344
Phone: (800) 477-7714 and (952) 944-9330
Fax: (952) 944-0522
Website URL: www.colorspan.com
