 Ixia,
the Greek word for Iris, is the improved upgrade
for the former IrisGiclee version of the Iris
3047 printer |
If you want to add an Iris giclee printer to your arsenal
just be aware that Iris division of CreoScitex itself
no longer manufacturers the giclee printer. The new
model, named Ixia, is made by ITNH. The Ixia is much
improved. Had to be, because the original Iris GPrint
(which is simply an Iris proofer retrofitted to handle
artist's paper) has a number of inherent structural
flaws. If you are in the $45,000 price range, then
order the FLAAR report on the Iris printer (part of
the Giclee Series). After reading this report (written
by a longtime Iris user in Europe) you will be glad
to learn about the alternatives, namely a Ixia. We
obtained an Ixia and the quality is impressive.
But what do you do if your budget won't cover an
Iris printer? Well, you can lease a Ixia wide format
color printer, and then use your profits to pay off
the printer. Or you can consider an Epson but some
models have metamerism and other models such as Roland
Hi-Fi? may have slight banding occasionally.
Some
giclée studios use one of the several Colorspan
printers, or the older Colorspan giclee printer.
Actually the Colorspan 12-ink wide format model can
also produce awesome fine art prints. The HP
5500ps is another attractive alternative because
it does not have the banding defects that may plague
some Roland printers. We have two Epson
7500 printers; one has severe metamerism color
changes; the other prints with banding defects. Probably
high humidity and clogged heads plus the cheap media
(that came with the printer). As soon as we lower
the humidity, use the nice new media that Epson now
provides, we look forward to improved quality, but
in the meantime we print everything on the Hewlett-Packard
or ColorSpan since that does not suffer metamerism.
If
you need someone to print your giclees for you, you can
contact Gary
Kerr.
 |
This
is the installation of the new IXIA printer,
in the FLAAR facilities at BGSU. Because Hertz
continuous inkjet technology means just that,
it squirts ink 24 hours a day, we occasionally
have to turn the printer off. So unless you
intend to print constantly, it is not an ideal
printer for occasional use. But if you clients
demand an Iris print, only a Ixia can produce
that quality
|
To
provide information for this growing market we opened a
new web site, www.FineArtGicleePrinters.org.
We soak up information from major trade shows and publish
an entire Series on giclee printers.
Iris
makes several different printers, in addition to giclee
printers. CreoScitex Iris will continue to market
their traditional proofers. It's only their giclee
printer that is no longer being manufactured. If you
need a printer for proofing, write and ask for the
FLAAR report on inkjet proofers. We also have an entire
series reports on RIPs. RIPs are necessary for color
management and color proofing
 |
The
giclee fine art market is booming. Artists themselves
can make a fortune. The printing companies have
to work around the clock to keep up with demand.
Thus more and more individual artists are thinking
about having a fine art printer in-house. The
Ixia updated version of the Iris 3047 giclee printer
is available from ITNH. You can reach them at
(603) 528-6714, e-mail mterlizzi@itnh.com |
| |
|
|
|
|
| All
reports by Dr. Nicholas Hellmuth
|
Last
updated Sept. 4, 2003, previously updated July 3,
2003, updated August 27, 2001
