HP Releases Two Designjet Photo Printers

October 12, 2006: HP has release two new large-format inkjet printers that feature the first embedded spectrophotometer for easier workflow colour management.
The new Designjet Z Series Photo Printers are equipped with Eye-One Colour Technology from GretagMacbeth/X-rite to provide simple and intuitive colour management for users. Mounted on the printer carriage with completely self-contained optics and electronics, the embedded spectrophotometer allows users to create colour profiles in minutes rather than hours and expect exact colour matches throughout the printing process. This makes accurate colour-matching much easier and enables automated ICC profiling and HP Advanced Closed-Loop Colour Calibration.
Companies like Adobe, Colorbyte, EFI, GMG and GretagMacbeth/X-rite, have worked closely with HP to develop solutions specifically for the HP Designjet Z Series to streamline workflow. Significant partner tools include:
– The embedded spectrophotometer, built on GretagMacbeth/X-rite’s Eye-One colour technology.
– HP’s Advanced Profiling Solution, co-developed with GretagMacbeth, which includes a monitor calibrator and profiler with editing capabilities to offer an end-to-end colour-managed workflow.
– EFI’s RIP Designer Edition 5.1, developed with HP-specific inputs, which adds new photo features and an improved user interface give graphic designers full control over digital proofing needs and saving users time and money.
– Imageprint v.6 photo RIP from Colorbyte and ColorProof v.4 prepress RIP from GMG, have also been also developed with HP-specific inputs. The Imageprint v.6 is optimsed for use by pro-sumers and professional photographers. The ColorProof v.4 works directly with the embedded spectrophotometer for print verification, reducing workflow times.
– The HP ProPrint Plug-in and the “Calibrate Printer” button in Adobe Lightroom have been co-developed with Adobe to allow users to print expected colours on the first try from Adobe Photoshop with the free HP ProPrint Plug-in, and use the Adobe Lightroom “Calibrate Printer” button to launch the colour management tools directly from within the application.
HP has also announced a strategic alliance with Hahnemø¼hle FineArt to co-develop three fine art papers, HP Hahnemø¼hle Smooth Fine Art Paper, HP Hahnemø¼hle Textured Fine Art Paper and HP Hahnemø¼hle Watercolour Paper. Hahnemø¼hle’s entire portfolio of digital fine art media can be used with the new Designjet Z Series Photo Printers. Profiles are available at www.hahnemuehle.com.
Both printers are available in 24 inch (60.96 cm) and 44 inch (111.76cm) versions. The HP Designjet Z2100 features an eight-colour HP Vivera pigment ink system, including both matte black and photo black inks. With a lightfastness rating of 200 years, these inks provide a broad colour gamut on matte fine art papers and glossy photo papers for photographic and creative design applications. The HP Designjet Z3100 uses a 12-ink HP Vivera pigment ink system, including the HP 70 Gloss Enhancer and HP Quad-Black Inks. It can be used to create beautiful black and white prints and achieve truly neutral grays under different lighting conditions. This makes the HP Designjet Z3100 ideal for high-quality art reproduction, photography and proofing applications.

The HP Designjet Z3100 in 24 inch (60.96 cm) and 44 inch (111.76cm) versions.
The HP Designjet Z2100 Photo Printer series with an estimated price starting from AUD$6,200 ex GST (varies according to countries) is available now. The HP Designjet Z3100 Photo Printer series with an estimated price starting from AUD $11,850 ex GST will be available in early 2007. For more information, visit www.hp.com.au.