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The latest printers from HP and Canon utilize a matte black ink channel, which means you need to use the proper generic profile to ensure media compatibility and a stable, water-fast print.
If you’re considering upgrading to the HP Z6100 or Canon’s S series of printers (the 8000S and 9000S, which are 44 in. and 60 in. respectively), consider no more. Reports from the field have shown that these next-generation models print twice as fast and use less ink than their predecessors.
Both printers use additional ink channels in the printing process, which increases the color gamut.
As part of the expanded ink set, both the Canon and HP printers now include a Matte Black and Photo Black ink set.
Matte Black provides a definite advantage as it yields much better density, which works extremely well on backlits.
However, the matte black ink in both printers is not compatible with all media.
Because of this expanded ink set, it’s necessary to pay close attention to the profile being used, and to use a matte material profile with matte materials, and a satin/luster or gloss material profile with gloss materials. While this may seem obvious, it can be overlooked in the heat of producing a large job.
If you choose the wrong profile, the matte black ink will wipe right off, even after the print is completely dry. This is especially true with media that has a microporous inkjet coating, such as LexJet 8 Mil ImagePro Gloss.
On large production runs, a lot of print shops use a standard generic profile like Heavy Weight Coated, which is a bond paper profile that lays down less ink. If this profile is used on gloss materials with the new HP and Canon printers, it will activate the Matte Black channel, which is largely incompatible with gloss materials and will not absorb into these types of coatings.
A good generic profile for matte materials is Heavy Weight Coated. A good one for gloss materials is Glossy Photo, which, like Heavy Weight Coated, uses less ink. If you have any questions about the right profile to use for the material, contact a LexJet account specialist at 800-453-9538.