Canon Middle East this week targeted the retail and hospitality markets, with the launch of two 6-colour, large format imagePROGRAF models for in-house production of posters and POS (point of sale) collateral.

The two 6-colour models form part of Canon’s existing imagePROGRAF range and are positioned between the 5-colour dye ink CAD models and the 8- and 12-colour photo quality and production print models.

According to Canon, the 24-inch imagePROGRAF iPF6400SE and 44-inch iPF8400SE – the “SE” standing for “speed and economy” – can produce an A1-sized poster on coated paper in one minute in Fast Mode.

A key feature of the new models is the 6-colour LUCIA-EX ink-set, which, using pigment rather than dye inks, is meant to ensure the longevity of the printed images on display and is compatible with a wide range of media.

The composition of the ink-set is designed to lower ink usage by reducing the amount of ink required to produce certain colours. By including red as one of the six ink colours (magenta, cyan, yellow, black, matte black, and red), the printers can produce more vibrant reproduction of reds and oranges, colours that frequently appear in posters and POS collateral.

Both the iPF6400SE and the iPF8400SE also feature a larger optional ink tank (300ml and 700ml respectively, in addition to the standard, respective 130ml and 330ml tanks) and deliver low downtime through use of a sub-ink tank that allows for non-stop printing (“hot swap”) during ink tank replacement.