FIRST HP DESIGNJET Z6200 GOES INTO THE RIP


Although beta-test and demonstration models have been in circulation for a month or so, large format digital printer company The Rip, placed the first UK order for the brand new Designjet Z6200 printer recently. Delivery and installation of the new 60" model takes place this month. John Laidler, Managing Director of The Rip explains, "We were looking to replace some of our ageing printers and were already impressed with the quality, performance and durability of the HP Designjet range. Recommendations from our supplier on the Z6200 mean that we get the best we possibly can right from the outset." In production the new Z6200 will enable higher production at better quality, with lower ink consumption. The Z6200 claims not just to be an upgrade to the Z6100; new elements include higher production speeds, wider colour gamut and improved print quality, particularly on backlit film. New technologies include new print heads, new inks and updated third generation Omas media sensor; a powerful combination producing a throughput of up to 140sqm per hour and saleable output three and a half times faster than rival machines of comparable quality.


A NEWONE STOP SHOP FOR FRAMING


All About Framing has opened a large trade counter, showroom and training facility in High Wycombe. Founded just eight years ago in a garage, the company has grown at such a phenomenal rate that it has recently had to move to a new premises with more space. The business comprises three integrated parts: the showroom, DIYframing.com which is an online business and the UK School of framing - a training facility. Duncan McDonald, owner of All About Framing said “I’ve had a vision of how this would develop and the way it would grow for some time. What we have opened now is even better than I had imagined! It gives us the opportunity to engage better with our customers, whether they just want to buy a frame off the shelf, have one made to measure or if they are after supplies and training to make their own, we can now do that comfortably and in better, purpose built, surroundings.” All About Framing is staffed by a team who are able to assist in choosing mouldings and mountboards or to demonstrate how various framing tools should be used. Mounting and framing are great skills to develop, they enable you to maximise the margin you are able to make selling prints and to give you more control of how your work will be displayed.


NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY’S NEW PRINT-ON-DEMAND KIOSK


The National Portrait Gallery in London has revealed its new print on


Print on demand kiosk at the National PortraitGallery. (Credit: Photograph Liz Dewar. Copyright National PortraitGallery).


demand kiosk in the Gallery shop with its Epson Stylus Pro 4880 taking centre stage. This large format printer is used to produce high quality prints on satin paper and canvas with a choice of A4, A3 and A2 sizes for the customer to take away. With 70,000 images available, a visitor uses the touch screen to browse by artist, sitter or collection. Once they have chosen their image, they are asked to make a size selection, which also displays the price, and after confirming the choice, pays at the till. Once payment is taken, the staff member changes the paper tray accordingly and releases the relevant print queue to output the


print. The process from payment to production takes only a few minutes, and even if the customer has ordered multiple copies at different sizes, the maximum wait time is 30 minutes. The Gallery has another printer in its basement warehouse, which usually fulfils website orders, but can be called upon to assist should the demand become excessive. Retail Operations Manager, Rebecca Hossain says: “There is a huge surge in demand each summer when we have the BP Portrait Award Exhibition. All the entries are available as prints and they are very popular. One of the reasons we chose the Epson printer is its reliability. Even though we produce


well over 8,000 prints over the 363 days we are open each year, we never have a problem with it. It is extraordinary that it just keeps on going.” The machine is well looked after, however, with staff checking it and the stock of ink and media each morning. The touch screen in the kiosk is driven by Picture Cabinet, image management software that is supplied by Cabinet UK. When the image is chosen it is sent to a web application at the till for payment and then sent to the print queue using Java. The printer is driven by a Fuji RIP and the print, if not canvas, is produced on Epson’s satin paper.


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