HP has added a new FM screening mode to its Indigo 12000HD press. The Indigo HDFM mode places ink dots in random-like distribution, increasing the accuracy of ink dot placement, and eliminating the appearance of rosette patterns and moiré. This leads to sharpness in highly detailed images and halftone text applications. This is unlikely to be rolled out to other Indigo presses because it requires the higher resolution of the 12000HD.
There’s also an option that photo printers can license, called Pixel Intelligence, to create online services. This is a set of machine learning algorithms that make it easy to add digital image analysis to products and services. This could include locating, analyzing, and grouping faces or objects and analyzing quality. Customers log on daily and find the best photos grouped according to their favourite subjects, which can then be turned into a photobook.
HP has also updated the press software. Thus the 12000HD is now on v3.5, which is said to be more efficient, with more control over colour, and an enhanced Automatic Alert Agent with automatic reprint and recovery. Meanwhile, the 7900 moves to v15.2 software, which gives it the ability to print duplex in one pass on synthetic media with perfect registration. There’s also enhanced screening for the EPM mode, which uses just the CMY inks for faster print speeds at lower costs. Other features include improvements to the User Interface, the use of Automatic Alert Agents and 3D colour calibration for better colour consistency.
HP has also introduced SmartStream Collage, a new variable data image printing technology that builds on the existing SmartStream Mosaic. Essentially, this works by manipulating design elements randomly for things like logos and symbols. Hopefully this will be one of those things that looks better than it sounds.
There are also improvements to the Indigo 20000 B2 roll press for flexible media. This now supports extra stretchable substrates and paper substrates up to 350 microns and there’s also a new ILP 030 primer for use with pressure sensitive labels. The electroink formulation is now more concentrated to reduce oily waste from the press by up to 50 percent.
HP has also added a number of extra features to its cloud-based PrintOS platform, including Marketplace, which offers access to apps, licenses and ideas from HP and other vendors. HP says it aims to have 80-100 offerings on the PrintOS Marketplace by Drupa 2020, including AutoFlow, a smart, rule-based, scalable pre-press automation solution from OneFlow Systems that automates repetitive actions including artwork fetching, checking, fixups and page manipulations.
There’s also PrintOS OEE for PSPs that want to use the industry standard Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) methodology to gain insights into the operation of their press. Other options include EPM Preflight, which checks files to see if they are compatible with the CMY Enhanced Productivity Mode, and Color Beat, which automates color conformance processes for the HP Indigo 10000 and 12000 digital press
Leave a Reply