Printing Press: What’s Happening May 2018

Printing Press: What’s Happening May 2018

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The What’s Happening May 2018 edition of Printing Press includes firmware updates that give the DNP DS-RXH1S dye-sub printer new capabilities. It also debuts Canon’s Ivy mini photo printer. Moreover, we take a look at Mitsubishi’s just-announced CP-D80DW dye-sub photo booth/event printer as well as specialty papers from Monadnock Paper Mills.

Rounding out this month’s content is the low-down on a new study from Keypoint Intelligence-InfoTrends that focuses on the best practices driving print service providers’ growth.

DNP DS-RXH1S Now Prints 6×6-inch Square Prints

DNP Imagingcomm America Corporation released firmware version 2.06 for its DS-RX1HS printer. The update is available for Windows and Mac users. The firmware adds the ability to produce 6×6-inch square prints—a popular trend in photo printing.

The 6×6-inch photo format is especially in demand for photo booth applications, where it can be used to create retro-themed images. The square format is also popular for Instagram images and for a more modern approach to traditional prints.

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DNP DS-RXH1S

“We are committed to providing the broadest array of print options to accommodate any range of customer preferences,” said Shinichi Yamashita, president, DNP IAM. “This free software update is available for immediate download and provides the opportunity to create additional revenue generating options without any additional investment in media or hardware.”

The DS-RX1HS is engineered to combine inexpensive hardware and print media cost with high-end capabilities to provide a profitable solution for producing instant custom photo prints. It features increased print speeds that allow users to produce 4×6-inch prints in 12.4 seconds or 290 4×6 prints per hour. The printer also offers capacities of 700 4×6-inch prints and 350 6×8-inch prints from a single roll of media.

Moreover, it can produce two 2×6-inch photo strips on 4×6 paper and four 2×6-inch photo strips on 6×8 paper. Additionally, it features a high-speed mode (300×300 dpi) and a high-resolution mode (300×600 dpi). The updated features can be selected using the newly released version of the printer driver. The updates are available for free download from dnpphoto.com.

Canon USA’s Ivy Mini Photo Printer: #LiveIRL

Canon’s Ivy mini photo printer for phoneographers is available in rose gold, mint green and slate gray. The Ivy printer was developed to empower “the next generation of creators to tell and share their story in real life (IRL) through the power of print in the digital age,” Canon announced. It is the company’s first 2×3-inch photo printer.

“It’s our smallest and lightest printer yet. And the company is excited about giving customers more access to creatively connect and instantly share memories than ever before from the palm of their hand,” said Kazuto Ogawa, president and COO, Canon USA.

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Canon Ivy Mini Photo Printer

For smartphone photographers seeking to stay mobile, the portable printer is engineered with user-friendly features that are accessible through the Canon Mini Print app. The app includes creative filters, like photo frames and stickers, augmented reality (AR) face distortion and photo-editing tools.

The tools provide the ability to add text and frames as well as draw on images. Moreover, it is designed to encourage users to add fun enhancements and share their memories in real time with a smudge-free, water-resistant 2×3-inch print or sticker.

Additionally, the app offers the option to produce a custom tile print made up of four or nine prints. It also provides 10 collage templates that print on one 2×3 photo.

Furthermore, the printer utilizes ZINK Zero Ink technology to print in full color without ink cartridges. Each pack of photo paper comes with one blue ZINK Smart Sheet to calibrate the printer to the paper. The Canon Ivy mini photo printer has an SRP of $129.99 and comes with 10 sheets of photo paper; 20-sheet and 50-sheet packs of paper retail for $9.99 and $24.99, respectively.

Mitsubishi CP-D80DW Dye-Sub Photo Booth/Event Printer

The CP-D80DW is the latest addition to Mitsubishi Electric’s line of rewindable dye-sub printers. The photo booth and event printer produces photo sizes from 2×6 inches to 6×8 inches from a single type of media. As a result, event photographers can offer a wider selection of print sizes without having to swap paper rolls or keep stock of multiple media types.

The CP-D80DW is designed with space in mind. This is both regarding its footprint and the user’s perspective of having to stock less media. Moreover, it prints high-resolution 4×6 photographs in 11.3 seconds. Specs also state it provides a 96% reduction in energy consumption in standby mode.

Mitsubishi-CP-D80DW-front
Mitsubishi CP-D80DW

The compact dye-sub printer produces four print sizes from the same roll: 2×6-, 4×6-, 6×6- and 6×8-inch prints. The printer employs “rewind” technology. When only one 4×6 photo is printed, the donor ink ribbon is rolled back to the last unused 4×6 half of the ribbon to avoid wasting it. And photos can be printed with glossy or matte finishes.

The printer measures 10.8×6.7×17.6 inches and weighs 26.5 pounds. Mitsubishi says it is easy to set up, integrate and transport. As a result, it is marketing as an ideal tool for photo booth and event photography.

Moreover, its front-loading mechanism is engineered for quick front access for consumables. Mitsubishi also claims that the printer’s image-processing circuits enable “smooth, natural images for sharp, high-quality printed images with little or no color bleeding.”

Other features include a jam-free, roll-type media transport mechanism and a USB 2.0 interface. The CP-D80DW is compatible with most operating systems in Windows/Mac computers. Pricing and availability TBA.

Monadnock Adds Archival Specialty Products

Monadnock Paper Mills (MPM), a family-owned manufacturer that delivers high-performance specialty papers for the printing, packaging and technical markets, introduced the Monadnock Archival line of cotton and high alpha fiber papers and boards. The products were developed for the printing, presentation and preservation of photographs, fine artworks and important documents.

The new Monadnock line includes: Archival Facing and Backing Papers; Archival Mat and Mounting Boards; Archival Liner Board an Media; Coated Fine Art Inkjet/Giclée Papers; Archival File Folders; and also Fine Printing and Envelope Papers. Monadnock-Archival-graphic“We are dedicated to creating uncompromisingly beautiful and functional museum-quality papers for art and conservation,” said Paul Ciccone, vice president of Research and Development for Monadnock.

Monadnock’s mission is to combine “its fine printing and technical/specialty expertise to create high-performance papers that meet ANSI longevity standards. These superior quality papers are groundwood-free, alkaline pH and lightfast (per standard and color photo activity tests),” Ciccone added. Moreover, its archival art and conservation papers and boards/solids meet ISO 9706 and ANSI Z 39.48-1992 (Permanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials) standards.

Also noteworthy, Monadnock had the honor of custom engineering museum-quality cotton printing papers for the renowned Heritage Edition of the Saint John’s Bible and the limited edition Prince of Wales High Grove Florilegium.

Keypoint Intelligence-InfoTrends: Best Practices Driving Print Service Providers’ Growth

Keypoint Intelligence–InfoTrends launched a new research study titled Winning in an Evolving Print Services Market. The study is designed to identify the best practices driving and supporting print service providers’ performance and business growth.

Print service providers (PSPs) are faced with complex obstacles that can hinder the growth and success of their operations. Competition from other providers and digital media are compelling printing organizations to rethink their marketing, sales and operational strategies. The challenge is determining the strategies and investments that will maximize results. KeyPoint-InfoTrends-Logo“The goal of this study is to uncover the key actions that high-growth print for pay and in-plant printing operations are taking to grow, develop, improve and market their businesses/operations,” said Lisa Cross, associate director of Keypoint Intelligence–InfoTrends. “Results of this research will provide subscribers with valuable insight on the strategies and actions that are delivering success.”

Subscribers to the study will gain an understanding on the best practices of high-performance printing organizations. They will also be given insights surrounding key metrics and benchmarks. The study also covers services that are driving growth as well as business models that are delivering success.

In addition, it presents insights for supporting customer success, including priorities, challenges and training. Marketing, management and sales factors that contribute to volume growth and business success are also covered in the study.

Companies subscribing by May 15, 2018 have the option to review and influence the study’s questionnaire. In addition, early subscribers are eligible for a discount. Those interested in the Winning in an Evolving Print Services Market study may contact sales@keypointintelligence.com.

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