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Author Topic: HP Designjet Z9 - HP has launched a new large format photo printer  (Read 33118 times)

HCHeyerdahl

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Panagiotis

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Stumbled accross this while searching for drivers to my Z3200:

https://press.ext.hp.com/us/en/press-releases/2018/hp-launches-state-of-the-art-large-format-photo-printers.html



Chris

Quickly adding interesting Z9 features from the press release:

9 inks instead of 12 (including RGB HP Vivid Photo Inks, featuring chromatic red, chromatic green, and chromatic blue).
vertical trimmer
dual roll support
internal Xrite spectro
gloss optimizer capability can be added later (Optional upgrade available second half 2018)

very interesting printers!

A youtube video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HznCR3WSk8A
« Last Edit: May 16, 2018, 06:08:03 am by Panagiotis »
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kers

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Quote
9 inks instead of 12 (including RGB HP Vivid Photo Inks, featuring chromatic red, chromatic green, and chromatic blue).

I guess indeed more vivid colours but fading harder than the vivera inks... ?

we will see.

I can imagine they are more competitive against the Epsons and the Canons.
Both have chosen the path of more vivid.

- I remember not wanting to use kodachrome slides for i did not like the colours...
Now, when i scan a kodachome slide it turns out to be the best type of slide i have ever used- the colours i can tweak...
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Pieter Kers
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Panagiotis

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I guess indeed more vivid colours but fading harder than the vivera inks... ?

we will see.

I can imagine they are more competitive against the Epsons and the Canons.
Both have chosen the path of more vivid.

- I remember not wanting to use kodachrome slides for i did not like the colours...
Now, when i scan a kodachome slide it turns out to be the best type of slide i have ever used- the colours i can tweak...

As I understand from the video I linked above, for example instead of using light magenta it drops a smaller magenta dot so the extra color isn't needed?
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mearussi

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I wish them well and hope it works, but reading the press release with all its hyperbolic wording leaves me a bit nauseous (the PR people had a field day with this). But until it's tested I won't believe anything. 
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Ernst Dinkla

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http://www8.hp.com/h20195/v2/GetPDF.aspx/4AA7-2600ENE.pdf
http://www8.hp.com/h20195/v2/GetPDF.aspx/4AA7-2603ENA.pdf

The Z9+ model is the interesting machine.  In general the same hues as in the Z3200 but without one grey dilution and one magenta, on the Z3200 the cyan was already reduced to a cyan light only. Dual droplet system to solve the absence of C/M light photo inks. The gloss enhancer is on this machine an optional extra print channel, which would make 10 channels in total. Wonder what the inks per head are in this case, 3 instead of 2 and the gloss one as an extra head? Not so I see in the PDFs. Vertical cutter next to the horizontal cutter (top version 44"model only) could save time and possibly no need for a long cutting machine. Wonder whether it could cut in the printed area too. Spectrometer still aboard. Pigment inks, faster heads, faster even than the Z5600. Adobe Postscript interpreter.  300ML cartridges.

Edit: Vivid inks were already used on the Z6200 printer. 8 ink model though, Chromatic Red included
Ink drop 7/3 pl dual-drop weight (M, C, PK, CB, G); 6 pl single-drop weight (Y, CR, MK, CG),
6pl and 4pl droplet was used on the Z3200 but fixed per ink channel.
The MK 6pl will get assistance of the PK 7/3pl and G 7/3pl  to create smoother output.
Matte Dmax will be the same given the same MK droplet size.
5 heads though so classical HP 2 inks per head formation, wonder how the GE part is solved then when not used.

Head price slightly less than 80 Euro excl. VAT each as already shown on some sites. I get the impression that the head is universal so not loaded with inks or then loaded with another fluid. If so it has a pro and a con. Less heads to keep in reserve, more ink lost when implanted. Explains a bit that the Gloss Enhancer channel can stay unused.

Comparable fading test, given no Light Cyan and Light Magenta is used in the Z9+, it may be even better;
http://www.wilhelm-research.com/hp/WIR_HP_Z6200_2017_03_08.pdf
As noted before papers are not really tested by Wilhelm and the tests are not as thorough as Aardenburg Imaging did/does.

All sounds like a worthy upgrade for the Z3200

Met vriendelijke groet, Ernst

http://www.pigment-print.com/spectralplots/spectrumviz_1.htm
March 2017 update, 750+ inkjet media white spectral plots
« Last Edit: May 16, 2018, 02:55:41 pm by Ernst Dinkla »
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John Nollendorfs

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It's about time that HP has decided to update their aqueous ink large format Z series printers! Be interesting to see the updated specs, including prices. From the video, it looks like they will be faster? But sticking to their light fast tested Vivera inks!!!


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Mark Lindquist

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No embedded spectrophotometer.

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Mark Lindquist
http://z3200.com, http://MarkLindquistPhotography.com
Lindquist Studios.com

MHMG

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No embedded spectrophotometer.

Except here's a screenshot from the Z9 data sheet I found at www.HP.com/go/designjetZ9

Embedded spectro appears to be listed, but the promotional stuff is sure downplaying it...hmm, wonder why?
Pricing info at that link as well.
« Last Edit: May 16, 2018, 01:52:08 pm by MHMG »
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Ernst Dinkla

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No embedded spectrophotometer.

First linked PDF note 13 says otherwise.

Ernst, op de lei getypt.
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stevenfr

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And much faster

Based on internal HP testing. Up to 2.5 times faster printing compared to the HP DesignJet Z3200 Photo Printer series. May vary depending on print mode and media type.

aaronchan

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As a previous Z3200 user, I was amazed by their B&W print quality with Quad K ink set.
Since they have dropped out one of the diluted K ink, wondering how does the B&W print compare to it's predecessor.


ps.1 - On the leaflet, it does said it has an embedded spectrophotometer

ps.2 - Seriously, I really don't like the design of the loading system. You have to go the the back of the printer and load paper? So, I either have to make some space behind the printer or I will have to move the printer everytime when I need to load a new roll into it......... What were they thinking! (This is what I didn't like my Z3200 as well, plus some other things. But still, the quality is still the best even compare to today's machines from Epson or Canon)

aaron
« Last Edit: May 16, 2018, 02:51:05 pm by aaronchan »
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Ernst Dinkla

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As a previous Z3200 user, I was amazed by their B&W print quality with Quad K ink set.
Since they have dropped out one of the diluted K ink, wondering how does the B&W print compare to it's predecessor.


ps.1 - On the leaflet, it does said it has an embedded spectrophotometer

ps.2 - Seriously, I really don't like the design of the loading system. You have to go the the back of the printer and load paper? So, I either have to make some space behind the printer or I will have to move the printer everytime when I need to load a new roll into it......... What were they thinking! (This is what I didn't like my Z3200 as well, plus some other things. But still, the quality is still the best even compare to today's machines from Epson or Canon)

aaron

As I understand it sheet loading from above for thinner media. Thicker media and rolls from the rear. 500 gsm max weight but still the 0.8mm media thickness.


Met vriendelijke groet, Ernst

http://www.pigment-print.com/spectralplots/spectrumviz_1.htm
March 2017 update, 750+ inkjet media white spectral plots
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Ernst Dinkla

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gtf-A3-Bvfk

HP Pixel Control; Let me imagine; other algorithms that have a straighter path between pixels to dots than the "CMYK separation > N-color hue angle saturation substitution + heavy UCR" route used so far.  What the Z3200 must have had to fill in the absence of the Cyan ink and probably did with the Light Cyan + Blue and Green inks. In the Z9 used with all hues available.

I wonder whether the Optical Media Advance Sensor as used on the Z6100/Z6200 etc found its way into this machine too. Should improve the droplet addressing compared to the servo system om the media transport of the Z3200 etc models. Think of it as an optical mouse but that one stationary and the media running underneath it.

Met vriendelijke groet, Ernst

http://www.pigment-print.com/spectralplots/spectrumviz_1.htm
March 2017 update, 750+ inkjet media white spectral plots
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BernardLanguillier

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Just at a time where I was wondering whether to stick to Epson or go another route... ;)

What about pricing and availability?

Cheers,
Bernard

stevenfr

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arobinson7547

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Surely, I can't be the ONLY one that wants to see a 60" version. In my eyes, that would make this printer, 'as close to perfect' as I need

BIG fan of CMYKRGB
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stevenfr

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I would like to see a 64” version.

Ernst Dinkla

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Surely, I can't be the ONLY one that wants to see a 60" version. In my eyes, that would make this printer, 'as close to perfect' as I need

BIG fan of CMYKRGB

Yes, I expected that it would be included in the range too given the competition. HP has Designjets that wide but not with 10 or 12 inks.

Met vriendelijke groet, Ernst

http://www.pigment-print.com/spectralplots/spectrumviz_1.htm
March 2017 update, 750+ inkjet media white spectral plots

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