Agfa's
wide format inkjet printers (Sherpa and Grand Sherpa)
 |
| The
Grand Agfa Sherpa at testing |
Agfa's
older wide format printers are the 720 dpi version of the
Mutoh Falcon. Agfa's former larger wide format printer is
their OEM version of a ColorSpan
with an Agfa-tuned Onyx
PosterShop. Ilford provides a comparable package, an
OEM ColorSpan with RIPStar, Ilford's version of Onyx's
PosterShop.
Today Agfa no longer offers the ColorSpan
and has added their version of the Mutoh Falcon II, rebranded
as the Grand Sherpa.
Whereas
the original Mutoh is capable of 1440 dpi that is only in
one direction and mainly multiples the time it takes to
do a print, as in about two hours to do a banner. Perhaps
Agfa opted for 720 dpi in order to make their printers a
tad faster. Agfa is thus one of the few honest spec writers
since they (originally) accepted only the 720 dpi. 1440
is primarily software enabled (Epson printers do not do
true 1440, actually the Epson printheads used in all Agfa,
Mutoh and other piezo printers of 2000-2001 are probably
true 180 dpi). It's multiple passes which raises the dpi
count to produce the fine quality which piezo is known for
(and slows down the printer which piezo is also known for).
The
FLAAR network of hardware and software reviews does not
picture or discuss much Agfa equipment simply because due
to the huge size and international nature of such a large
company it is a challenge to find the right person who is
in charge of supplying equipment for testing. The other
reason is that Encad
simply sent a NovaJetPro outright, then Hewlett-Packard
sent several large format printers as well. Next ColorSpan
sent a DisplayMaker
XII and last week a 72" Mach 12. Epson sent several
printers following that. This way we get to know the printers
quite well. When a company sends a demo unit only for 30
days we hardly have time to find out all the good things
the printer can do before the company asks for its printer
back. In such a case we have no way to use our drum-scanned
images to reveal the full quality that the printer is capable
of.
 |
| Ink
system of the Grand Sherpa |
Until
it is possible to have a GrandSherpa or Falcon II in our
own facility to work with we show this snapshot of an Agfa
Sherpa at DRUPA. We have also checked out the IT version
of the Mutoh, the I-Jet; the Kodak versions of the Mutoh,
their Kodak 4742 and Kodak 4760 and are looking at other
Mutoh printers as well.
Don't judge the potential of this Agfa printer by this awful
snapshot. If you saw a photo from the FLAAR Photo Archive
on this same printer you would probably recognize the quality
and want to buy the improved version of a Mutoh. If you
would like more information on Mutoh printers, and how they
compare with their piezoelectric printhead brethren the
Epson, Mimaki,
and Roland,
then ask the review editor
Now
Agfa has the Falcon II OEMed as the Agfa GrandSherpa.
We saw a prototype at Print '01. Downside of showing
an
unfinished printer is the unsightly banding. Usually it
takes six months to get the printers improved to the
point
the banding can be avoided. Minor downside of the Mutoh
Falcon II is that it reportedly uses the older Epson
printheads
(probably the ones used by Roland). Only printer to utilize
the newest faster Epson printheads (of the Epson 10000)
is the Mimaki JV-4.
As
soon as the Agfa GrandSherpa is improved and has gotten
rid of the banding we will report back.
If you really want technical details on inkjet media, inks,
and/or inkjet printhead technology, and especially if you
wish to meet the movers and shakers in this industry, be
sure to sign up for the next conference organized by IMI.
Their contact is imi@tdstelme.net.
These seminars are outstanding; the senior review editor
of FLAAR usually attends because he can get so much fresh
information for the readers of the FLAAR Reports in PDF
format and the FLAAR Information Network of web sites.
