The first Seiko Instruments large format printer I saw was presented at DRUPA 2000. Since Seiko is the parent of Epson, I was surprised to see a Seiko Instruments large format printer with Xaar printheads instead of Epson printheads.

The only other large format printer with oil-based inks was reportedly made by Olympus and sold worldwide by Xerox Engineering Systems (XES). Their XES Xpress also has splotchy output, soft of out of focus appearance. The combination of oil inks and Xaar printheads somehow misses photo-realistic quality. Seiko ads claimed "true 720 dpi" but then why is the output so imprecise?

Seiko claims to be the fastest printer on the planet in its category. Trouble is, they don't say what category it is! It would be tough to be faster than the ColorSpan DisplayMaker Mach 12, for example.

So many other new large format printers were presented at DRUPA printer trade show in Germany that we have prepared a special report. Just send in our Survey Form and the report comes back to you by return e-mail in PDF format, free.

Noticeable improvement now available in Seiko IP4500Mk-II and 4010Mk-II

During late 2002 Seiko came out with an improved printer. The image was not so unbearable, indeed the prints now look acceptable at a 10 foot viewing distance. The improvement is definitely a welcome change. The advertising hype, however, is still unrealistic. If a printer is really good, then it would seem they ought not to need to exaggerate the claims. The improved Seiko is better than the earlier model, so perhaps in the future the ad claims will return to reality at some point.

The only reason we mention the earlier year 2000-2002 model Seiko printers is because many of them could be for sale on e-Bay. It would be a poor investment to even consider the original model used. But the newer version is better, and deserves you at least check it out. Sorry, but we do not know a single dealer for Seiko printers.

Seiko oil base printer at ISA 2003 tradeshow

Oil-based inks are still rather unusual, so before you buy one you might wish to obtain the FLAAR Premium Report Series on Solvent Ink Printers (this is the report which includes oil based in printers such as the Seiko and the XES ColorgrafX X2). XES, Xerox Engineering Systems division, recently dropped out of wide format printers totally, abandoning their ColorgrafX X2 printer.

This means that for the rest of 2003 and into 2004, the Seiko IP-4500MK-II and 4010Mk-II are the only oil-based printers from a major manufacturer. There may be some oil-based printers from other Asian manufacturers, but not of the stature of Seiko, which is a Fortune 500 global business.

 

Outdoor signage without lamination

At present we do not have a separate Report Series on oil-based printer technology. However we are intrigued by the potential of oil-based printers for wallpaper. Frankly we think oil-based system is more ecologically friendly than rank solvent ink on stinky vinyl. Uuug, who wants that vile stuff on the walls of your office much less in your home. I am surprised that solvent ink wallpaper is allowed due to out-gassing.

So if we form a technology alliance, check back later this year to see if Professor Hellmuth has jumped into oil-based technology. This would result in an entire series of FLAAR publications on what oil-based inks are good for, compared with UV curable, compared with solvent, and compared with aqueous. University professors enjoy research challenges, especially when it has to do with developing applications for wide format inkjet printers. We did a urine, blood, and water test on media, for example. The military requires its maps be sturdy. Every branch of the US military, and intelligence agencies also, have contacted FLAAR to ask what printers we recommend. So do all the other departments, agencies, and branches of the Federal government.

Please indicate which kind of printers you are most interested in when you e-mail us for further information.

Seiko Color Painter 64S Large Format Printer