Oce Arizona 550 GT User Manual page 18

Printer Specifications
Océ VariaDot™ Variable Droplet Imaging Technology
The Océ Océ Arizona 550 GT offers superior print quality and ink economy through
the use of Océ VariaDot imaging technology, the next evolution in piezoelectric inkjet
technology that enables a print head to produce droplets of varying volume. This differs
from the current piezoelectric print head technology that is restricted to the use of fixed
droplets. The use of variable sized droplets results in dots on the media of varying size
(area) and density which in turn allows the use of four-color (CMYK) printing for all
image features. Using Océ VariaDot imaging technology results in excellent print quality
and a superior ink economy over 6-color printing systems.
Océ VariaDot imaging technology allows piezoelectric print heads to produce droplets
of varying volume on demand. This allows the ONYX™ ProductionHouse software to
specify the appropriate droplet size for each specific image feature. When imaging fine
detail such as small type or fine lines, very small droplets can be used, when imaging areas
of tonal transition or quarter-tone values such as skin tones drops of medium volume can
be used and when printing areas of high density such as solid colors, large droplets can
be used.
Océ VariaDot™ for Improved Image Quality
Océ VariaDot imaging technology can be compared to painting a room in your house.
You use a large brush size for quick coverage over large areas and a much smaller, finer
brush for detailed areas. Trying to paint a large wall with a tiny brush would result in
many artefacts and trying to paint a fine fresco trim with a large brush would be very
frustrating. In the same way, Océ VariaDot uses the appropriate size droplet for each
specific image feature resulting in the best possible image quality in every part of the
printed image.
Océ VariaDot™ for Reduced Ink Consumption
A significant benefit of Océ VariaDot imaging technology is that it allows the use of only
four inks (CMYK) for all areas of the printed image. This is very significant to the user
in terms of ink consumption per square meter because the current "de facto standard" in
the industry is six-color piezoelectric printing. This older technology uses lighter versions
of Cyan and Magenta inks, often referred to commercially as "Light Cyan" and "Light
Magenta" to overcome the image quality problem previously associated with four-color
(CMYK only) printing.
18 Chapter 2 - Product Overview