You won t believe your eyes

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1 Océ Arizona Series UV flatbed printers You won t believe your eyes Technology backgrounder

2 No compromise printing Océ Arizona Series printers offer breakthrough performance to deliver nocompromise printing for a variety of applications. Each model uses UV curable inks and Océ VariaDot imaging technology to deliver near-photographic image quality. Each is built on a true flatbed architecture to print on almost any rigid media or object, and features a Roll Media Option for printing onto flexible materials. There are a number of significant technological advances included in the Océ Arizona family of printers, and this backgrounder will explain their functionality and benefits. Océ VariaDot imaging technology for superior print quality Years ago, inkjet manufacturers adopted six color (super- CMYK) printing which added light cyan and light magenta to the standard ink set, substituting the lighter colors for their darker counterparts in the highlights and quarter-tones. This tonal substitution technique was implemented to help overcome the problem of visual graininess inherent in fixed dot, large droplet inkjet technology. The added colors helped produce smoother quarter- and mid-tones and smoother, lessgrainy gradients. Over time, this complicated and expensive method became the defacto standard, and nearly all inkjet printer manufacturers using fixed dot technology have since adopted six-color printing. While the six color printing technique has become accepted with manufacturers, printers and their clients, a new technology has emerged that renders six-color printing obsolete. Océ VariaDot imaging technology is the next evolution of piezoelectric inkjet technology that enables a printhead to produce dots of variable size versus printheads using fixed-droplet technology. Various Techniques of Quartertone Printing (most often found in skin tones) Grainy Better Best 4-color Fixed 6-color Fixed 4-color Printer with Droplet Printer Droplet Printer Océ VariaDot Technology 2 Few, Large Magenta Droplets More, Large Light Magenta Droplets Many, Small, Variable Magenta Droplets 20% magenta as printed on a 4-color 20% magenta as printed on a 6-color fixed droplet 20% magenta as printed on a 4-color fixed droplet printer using 20% Magenta ink. printer using 40% Light Magenta ink. variable droplet printer using only 40% Magenta Characterized by low ink usage, excessive Characterized by excessive ink usage, ink. Characterized by low ink usage, low white white space and poor image quality. moderate white space and good image quality. space and excellent image quality.

3 Océ VariaDot Imaging Technology Small dots g exceptional detail Medium dots g smooth skintones Large dots g greater density and uniformity Variable Dot Printing Fixed Dot Printing Océ VariaDot technology creates these variable dots by delivering ink droplets that vary in size from six to 42 picoliters. The ability to vary the drop size to as little as six picoliters produces sharp images with smoother gradients and quartertones by placing a small and varying amount of ink at every pixel location without completely filling the space with color. The ability to jet larger droplets up to 42 picoliters enables the printer to saturate the entire pixel space for the production of uniform, solid colors. The result is nearphotographic image quality with sharpness only before seen at resolutions of 1,440 dpi or higher. The quality of images printed on Océ Arizona Series printers exceed the quality of those printed on current six-color printers using outmoded, fixed-droplet-sized printhead technology. Text as small as 6 pt. is perfectly legible, photographic images are stunningly reproduced and solid colors are fantastically uniform. Models equipped with High Definition print mode are capable of reproducing very fine features and perfect two-point text, which is ideal for technical or industrial printing applications. Up to 50% in ink savings In addition to superior image quality, printers equipped with Océ VariaDot imaging technology rely on only fourcolors of ink, and use significantly less ink compared to six color printers with fixed-droplet inkjet technology. The combination of using variable sized droplets to produce quartertones and fine image details using only four colors, results in ink consumption up to 50 percent lower than fixed-droplet, six color printers. Océ Arizona Series printers use less than 8 ml of ink for every square meter (0.74 ml per square foot) of printing on average as measured by our customers. This is a measured average over millions of printed square meters, not a theoretical concept. It even includes ink used for maintenance. 3

4 Optimized workflow True flatbed Each Océ Arizona Series printer is a true flatbed device that uses a vacuum system to hold media stationary on a flat surface, ensuring accurate registration even on multiple imaging passes. It incorporates precise linear position encoders and constant feedback servos to ensure consistent image quality and repeatability. The flatbed table architecture is perfectly repeatable and is so geometrically accurate that a diagonal line measured corner-to-corner across an XT-sized table (2.5 x 3.05 m / 98.4 x inches) will vary from theoretical length by no more than 1 mm / inches. Real-world system orientation Unlike all other flatbed or rigid-capable printers, Océ Arizona Series models print along the long axis of rigid media to optimize throughput the fewer the number of printing passes over the media, the higher the average productivity. This becomes most evident when printing a 125 x 250 cm (49.2 x 96.4 inch) rigid board during which the printer is only required to print 125 linear cm (49.2 linear inches), when most competitive systems would be forced to print 96.4 linear inches. A precision height adjustment feature is included for no-guessing height control of rigid media up to 48 mm (1.89 ) thick (50.8 mm / 2.0 on Océ Arizona 550 models). Edge-to-edge (full bleed) prints are easily produced by the pallet-load, saving time and labor costs in finishing. Unlike pinch roller or belt-drive systems, there is no need to clean the drive system of excess ink between prints. Custom vacuum system A custom vacuum system is included that enables users to optimize workflow for large or often-repeated jobs. The tabletop features a patent-pending vacuum overlay made from anodized aluminum. The resulting assembly is lightweight and durable, yet can easily be removed from the table. The overlay includes the holes and channels for the vacuum system. On the underside are removable gaskets or self-adhesive magnets that seal select areas of the overlay. For most jobs it is sufficient merely to open or close the various vacuum zones in the table to print on various sizes of rigid media. Océ Arizona Series printers include a vacuum bleed system for operator control of the vacuum system. A convenient vacuum pump foot switch enables hands-free activation of the vacuum, following a practice found in screen printing. This enables the operator to precisely place substrates on the table and hold them in place while activating the vacuum system. The vacuum pump system is fully enclosed in a sound-dampening cabinet to keep noise emissions below 65 db for use in retail or other people friendly environments. 4

5 Bulk Ink System designed for productivity The UV curable ink is packaged in bulk ink bags, minimizing change-out. A quick-change ink system reduces waste, mess, and operator intervention. Intelligent ink bag sensing alerts the operator to an ink change requirement before running out of ink and ensures the correct ink color is installed. The temperature-regulated ink system maintains consistent ink temperature and results in predictable, consistent viscosity for optimal printing, and making ambient temperature control less critical and much less expensive. Print zone enhancements The printhead assembly includes an Océ-designed UV lamp system in which the lamp reflectors also act as active shutters. When in the open position, they accurately focus UV energy on the media surface to cure the ink. When in the closed position, they protect the operator and the printheads from excessive UV exposure. This design also eliminates the by-product of static discharge caused by brush-style shields used in competitive products resulting in less static build up on the media and fewer resulting printing artifacts. The open carriage design of Océ Arizona Series printers enables users to see the print as it develops. Surrounding the carriage is a sensored, aluminum carriage guard designed to protect the printer from media collisions by immediately stopping motion if disrupted. This also protects the user from injury should he or she inadvertently do the same. CMYK inks are available in two-liter packages. White ink for use in models equipped with the White Ink Option is available in a one-liter package. No special electrical or compressed air requirements Océ Arizona printers use single-phase power for lower facility costs and ease in placement and installation. Even the most power-hungry Océ Arizona model requires only 3300 Watts of power at 220/240 VAC, 50 Hz, putting them amongst the most efficient UV printers on the market. The vacuum pump is included and compressed air is not required. The efficient footprint of Océ Arizona printers takes less room than competitive rigid-capable, roll-based units that require space on each side of the printer for media handling. 5

6 Roll Media Option The Roll Media Option expands the functionality of any Océ Arizona Series printer and increases opportunities for users by enabling roll-based printing of flexible media to create banners, point-of-sale displays, backlit graphics, paperbased posters and fabric panels. The ability to exactly match print quality across a wide range of media gives users an edge in the competitive pay-for-print market when bidding on complex print campaigns. The Roll Media Option can be shipped with new orders or it can be added in the field all existing Océ Arizona Series units can be upgraded without hardware modification. There are two models, one for use on Océ Arizona 200/300 Series printers and the other for use on Océ Arizona 550 Series printers. No compromise roll printing Unlike most systems, the rigid and the roll printing areas do not interfere with each other. The two printing surfaces can be used sequentially. 6 Once a rigid print is finished, the printhead assembly is positioned over the Roll Media Option and begins printing on flexible media. Meanwhile, the rigid material is swapped out and a new board is placed on the vacuum table and prepared for printing. Once the flexible media printing is completed, the printhead assembly moves back to the table to resume printing on the rigid media. There is absolutely no down time to reconfigure the system to change from one print mode to the other. As an added benefit of this architectural approach, the Océ Arizona Series employs a patented technology in which the gantry assembly is actively moved forward or backward after each flexible media advance, making micro-corrections to compensate for media position. The printer precisely measures flexible media advance and then actively corrects for positional errors before printing each and every swath to ensure flexible media imaging of the highest possible quality. This technique is so effective that most Océ Arizona customers leave their printers running overnight, completely unattended.

7 Patented and unique to Océ Arizona printers, this technology results in the highest quality roll media printing yet seen in a UV curable inkjet system. It greatly reduces the amount of wasted prints caused by media advance errors. The Roll Media Option is a touch-free system at no point does any part of the printer or the transport contact the printing surface of the media. Unlike roll-based systems that use pinch rollers, this feature enables customers to print on media sensitive to mechanical marking without marring the printing surface. The Roll Media Option can support roll-based stock from 0.9 to 2.2 meters (35.4 to 86.6 ) wide. Maximum print width is 2.19 meters (86.2 ). A cutting guide slot is included to enable the user to cut media in a perfectly straight manner while viewing the finished print. A wind/rewind foot panel to control roll-to-roll movement is included. This feature is used to advance and rewind media during loading and unloading and also enables the operator to view any part of the roll before cutting and dismounting. 7

8 White Ink Option The Océ Arizona 360 and 550 models offer a White Ink Option that can be added at the factory or in the field. The White Ink Option enables under-printing for non-white media or objects, over-printing for backlit applications on transparent media and/or printing white as a spot color. Under-printing white ink provides a base for non-white surfaces upon which color can be added, giving users the ability to expand their range of offerings to include specialty applications. Over-printing white ink provides a diffusion layer for backlit applications that will be viewed from the unprinted side, enabling users to produce high quality backlit images for point-of-purchase applications. The ability to also print white ink as a spot color enables white features of images to be highlighted for greater effect. For all models so equipped, the white ink implementation in the Océ Arizona enables users to specify how white ink is applied: below (printed first), above (printed last) or in-between colors. Users can also decide to use white as a spot color or as a flood layer. Most importantly users can decide to print multiple layers of white/color simultaneously, on the flatbed or on the Roll Media Option, using one, two or three layers of ink in total. This gives users the flexibility to create a wide range of applications on any rigid or flexible material. Here are some specific examples of the ways that white ink workflow can be applied. Backlit Application The backlit application involves printing onto a transparent or translucent material and mounting the finished piece into a light box or a location where illumination from behind is possible. In the backlit application, white ink is intended to provide a light-diffusing layer. This application is possible using either two or three layers of ink; one layer of white ink printed above a layer of colored inks (viewed from the unprinted side) or one layer of white ink printed above two layers of colored inks for extra density (viewed from the unprinted side). It is rarely necessary to print two layers of white ink as a light diffusing layer but some backlit applications demand extra color density, so the ability to print multiple color layers combined with the white diffusing layer is important. White Ink Layer Options Application Bottom Middle Top Notes Backlit First Surface (printing on the front side of the media) Backlit Second Surface (printing on the back side of clear media) White CMYK CMYK CMYK layers contain same data Reverseprinted CMYK Reverseprinted CMYK White Day-Night (first or second surface) CMYK White CMYK CMYK data is printed reverse or right-reading Opaque White White CMYK 3 layers Opaque <empty> White CMYK 2 layers 8

9 Day-Night Application Similar to backlit, the day-night application also involves printing onto a transparent material. A day-night print can be viewed either front-lit or backlit. This is achieved by printing color data on two separate layers with a white flood fill printed as a diffusing layer between them. The ability of the Océ Arizona printer to lay down all three layers simultaneously during printing means that this application can be created using the flatbed table or Roll Media Option. This type of image can be backlit or front lit, and enables users to turn light boxes off during daylight hours for reduced energy consumption a great ecological benefit for our customers clients. Opaque Application The opaque application involves printing CMYK data onto non-white media or objects. For this application, white ink is required both to enable the printer to produce images where white forms part of the image content, as well as to act as a base for the CMYK color set. For all models so equipped, the printers include tools in the Job Control module of the software to enable users to activate a graphical representation of the print layers, in order to verify the layer order. The sample screen shot above shows that the printer will apply one CMYK layer, followed by a flood layer of white ink, then another CMYK layer of ink to create a Day-Night image. 9

10 Printer basics The Océ Arizona Series includes five models: Océ Arizona 550 XT Océ Arizona 550 GT Océ Arizona 360 XT Océ Arizona 360 GT Océ Arizona 300 GT The table on the facing page reflects the main features and specifications of each model. An Express print mode is available on all models except the Océ Arizona 300 GT. Express mode features the same color density as other print modes and can be used for many applications. It is decidedly not a useless draft mode. On Océ Arizona 360 models, a High Definition print mode is available that delivers fine feature reproduction. Using this print mode, customers can offer higher-profit technical and industrial applications such as printing on lenticular panels and producing membrane switch panels. Ideal for print-and-cut applications Because of the stationary vacuum table and generous media thickness allowance of all Océ Arizona Series printers, printand-cut jobs have become key applications for our customers. Paired with an Océ ProCut TM digital cutting system, the two can be used to produce point-of-sale structural displays, exhibit furniture, packaging prototypes and more. Applications expertise included With every Océ Arizona printer comes a worldwide knowledge base of printing applications: flatbed, roll-based, white ink, banners, backlits, etc. Océ s team of Applications Specialists are printing experts with intensive training and years of real-world experience to assist our customers before and after the equipment is installed. They are available for training and applications support, so our customers can invest their energy in exploring new business opportunities. They are committed to advancing customer innovation everywhere Océ sells. Océ Arizona XT models Océ Arizona 550 XT Océ Arizona 360 XT 10

11 Models Max. Rigid Print Area Max. Rigid Thickness Production Print Speed* Roll Media Option White Ink Option Configuration Upgrades Available Post-Installation Océ Arizona 550 XT 2.5 m x 3.05 m (98.4 x 120 ) 50.8 mm (2.0 ) 42.9 m 2 (462 ft 2 ) White Ink Option; Roll Media Option Océ Arizona 550 GT 1.25 m x 2.5 m (49 x 98.4 ) 50.8 mm (2.0 ) 40.2 m 2 (433 ft 2 ) White Ink Option; Roll Media Option Océ Arizona 360 XT 2.5 m x 3.05 m (98.4 x 120 ) 48 mm (1.89 ) 22.9 m 2 (249 ft 2 ) White Ink Option; Roll Media Option Océ Arizona 360 GT 1.25 m x 2.5 m (49 x 98.4 ) 48 mm (1.89 ) 22.2 m 2 (239ft 2 ) White Ink Option; Roll Media Option Océ Arizona 300 GT 1.25 m x 2.5 m (49 x 98.4 ) 48 mm (1.89 ) 12.5 m 2 (135 ft 2 ) n/a Roll Media Option; Upgrade to Océ Arizona 360 GT *Additional print speeds available for each model; refer to product specification sheet for more information. Océ Arizona GT models Océ Arizona 550 GT Océ Arizona 360 GT Océ Arizona 300 GT 11

12 Business Beyond the Ordinary Océ Arizona Series Awards Printing for Professionals Creating global leadership in printing Canon and Océ have joined forces to create the global leader in the printing industry. For our customers this combines Canon and Océ technology with the support of the Océ direct sales and service organizations. Look to the new Canon-Océ combination for: Enterprise printing in the office and corporate printroom Large format printing of technical documentation, signage and display graphics Production printing for marketing service bureaus and graphic arts Business Services for document process outsourcing Océ Partners 2011 Océ. Illustrations and specifications do not necessarily apply to products and services offered in each local market. Technical specifications are subject to change without prior notice. Océ and Océ VariaDot are registered trademarks of Océ-Technologies B.V. Océ Arizona is a registered trademark of Océ Display Graphics Systems. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Océ Display Graphics Systems For information and services, visit us at: