BIOS: Technology Means Business

HP has announced the launch of its new Photosmart Pro B9180 A3+ Photo Printer, designed specifically for professional photographers.

With eight, high capacity individual pigment-based HP Vivera Inks and enhanced media compatibility, this high-tech printing system allows photographers to be up to 30 per cent more productive (based on December 2005 competitive landscape and similarly priced printers), helping them succeed in the increasingly competitive professional photography market.

Drawing on HP’s heritage in the graphics and commercial printing market this relatively powerful new printer should produce high quality, instant dry, durable, waterproof prints that resist fading for up to 200 years, a new benchmark in photography.

The newly designed printing system features HP’s proprietary scalable printing technology for increased productivity, versatility and affordable cost per page, along with eight individual pigment ink cartridges, four two-colour printheads and a range of professional photo and fine art papers. The high-capacity ink cartridges allow professional photographers to print up to approximately 80 A3+ prints or 840 10x15cm photos.

In addition, HP Pro print plug-in for Adobe’s Photoshop, and a host of ICC profiles in the printer software, should deliver precise, predictable colour quality, print after print. For photographers without large format printing facilities, producing A3+ prints that meet professional requirements is a challenge.

Industry leading HP Advanced Photo Paper solves this problem. Featuring retail quality finishes, in glossy and satin-matt, you should appreciate the durability of the thick, heavy paper. The paper’s instant dry porous coating allows immediate handling without smudging, helping to create a more productive and efficient studio.

Additionally, new A3+ HP digital fine art papers, based on HP’s professional large format media range, provide photographers with the materials needed to display their work in a gallery. Four types of papers - Watercolour, Aquarella Art, Smooth Fine Art and Artist Matte Canvas - provide professionals with greater choice when printing work for display.

The eight high-capacity HP 38 Pigment Ink Cartridges, with new patented waterproof 5 HP Vivera inks, deliver durable ‘life-like’ colour for professional portraits, landscapes, proofing and fine art prints. The new ink cartridges have been engineered to deliver consistent results with the HP Photosmart Pro B9180 A3+ Photo Printer.

In addition, the four HP 70 dual-colour printheads feature 8448 nozzles for precise, consistent drop placement, enhanced colour accuracy and prints that will more closely represent the image seen through the lens and on the PC.

HP’s third generation grey ink creates colour as well as black and white prints with smooth transitions from one shade to the next, and subtle neutral tones that are consistent and controlled, says HP. Photographers can select from the two types of black inks: photo black for high contrast black and white photos with deep, rich blacks, or matte black for printing onto HP’s range of fine art papers.

For enhanced productivity, photographers can individually replace the printheads and single ink cartridges, which are available in 27ml sizes as required. This will help small studios keep costs in line with usage. For convenience, ink and media supplies can be ordered online.

The HP Photosmart Pro B9180 A3+ Photo Printer delivers ICC profiling options for perfect colour reproduction on a variety of standard and specialised media. Professional photos should look just as they did through the lens or on the calibrated monitor, with precision colour consistency for the highest quality prints, colour control and accurate photo proofs available for a variety of HP and non-HP media as well as digital fine art paper.

Photographers can immediately print their photos and proofs with HP’s fast, professional printing technology without having to rely on a photo lab. Proofs can be printed in less than 2 minutes for A3+ prints and less than ten seconds for 10x15cm prints, a new speed benchmark. The printer is perfectly suited to master the most challenging photo printing tasks as well as the everyday printing of documents.

PC, Mac or mixed environments requiring multiple connectivity options can utilise the USB-high speed and Ethernet networking capabilities. Software tools include Adobe Photoshop plug-in and optional raster image processor (RIP) software for professional colour management.

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