Ink System - Canon imagePROGRAF iPF8000S Questions And Answers

Ink System

Q. Describe the ink system of the iPF8000S and iPF9000S.
This is a newly developed 8-color ink system that consists of BK, MBK, C, M, Y, PC, PM, and GY. It
incorporates LUCIA pigment inks.
Here, colors that greatly affect the quality of printed images—cyan, photo cyan, and photo
magenta—are symmetrically arranged on dual one-inch-wide print heads. Applying ink in the
same order in both passes of bidirectional printing eliminates subtle differences in color that might
otherwise occur from the sequence of ink layers. This allows more consistent print quality with
less banding by fewer printing passes. What's more, FINE high-density print head technology
involves a high-density arrangement of two lines of nozzles (1200 dpi) per color. This, combined
with fast processing by the L-COA high-speed image processor, enables the printers to produce
more of the extremely tiny ink droplets (as small as 4 picoliters) in a given period than in
single-line arrangements. The result is high-speed printing that does not compromise
high-precision, high-density print quality.
Additionally, the inclusion of gray ink enables smooth gradation from light gray to jet black, with
reduced graininess, for good monochrome image quality that accurately produces the range from
highlights to dark areas. Meanwhile, because color ink consumption is kept to a minimum in gray
areas, it supports consistent gray balance and enables accurate and faithful reproduction of
photographic art in fine print quality.
Q. Is LUCIA pigment ink as used in the iPF8000S and iPF9000S the same as that in current
products? Is it different from ink in the recently announced iPF5100 and iPF6100?
This is a different system from that in the iPF5100 and iPF6100, which is a 12-color pigment ink
system with an advanced 4-color monochromatic range.
Note that LUCIA is a brand of pigment ink for Canon ink jet printers. The following iPF printers all
use LUCIA ink.
- iPF5000, iPF5100, iPF6100, iPF8000, and iPF9000
Q. How is ink supplied?
Through a tubing system, with a sub-ink tank.
Q. Which lasts longer before use, dye or pigment inks?
There is no difference. Ink tank packages identify the date (month and year) that the ink should
be used by. We recommend placing the ink tank in the printer before that date.
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