News

Epson America Inc. has introduced a new digital workflow system that is tailor-made
for portrait photographers who are looking for an immediate and simple way to
increase their productivity, image quality and profitability. The Epson Gemini
K3 Portrait Printing System combines the benefits of Epson's UltraChrome
K3 photographic printing technology with new image management and enhancement
programs that are designed to dramatically improve the way portrait photographers
do business.



Epson Gemini K3 is designed to give portrait photographers a simple way to control
and speed up the entire print production process while eliminating their dependence
on printing labs, and lab-related issues such as delays, peak season cut-off
dates and unpredictable results. Whether a photographer captures all of their
images from a digital camera or with the combination of film and a scanner,
the Epson Gemini K3 Portrait System is engineered to help manage all their photographic
files in an organized method that enables them to quickly and easily select
the images they want to print. By having this system on site, photos can be
viewed by clients immediately and selecting images is simply a matter of mouse-clicking
their favorites.



Once images are selected, the photographer can quickly crop and retouch images
prior to creating proofs using either the system's built-in photo enhancement
software or with other programs such as Adobe Photoshop. When clients place
their orders, the photographer simply drags and drops the selected images into
built-in or custom-designed photo templates that enable them to print in a variety
of common or custom sizes, on different types of media and into a wide array
of custom packages. The system can save additional time by applying automatic
color corrections that are pre-determined by the photographer.



Epson UltraChrome K3 ink technology uses eight high-density pigments designed
to increase image quality for both professional color and black and white prints.
In addition to cyan, magenta, yellow, light cyan and light magenta, Epson UltraChrome
K3 features a unique three-level black ink system that simultaneously uses black,
light black and light light black inks. These new inks combined with Epson's
proprietary driver and screening technology are designed to create professional
neutral and toned black and white prints without color crossover or color casts.




The Epson Gemini K3 Portrait Printing system incorporates the Epson Stylus Pro
4800 printer (see review in Shutterbug at http://shutterbug.com/equipmentreviews/scanners_printers/1105epson)
which is capable of printing a wide selection of images up to 17 inches wide
with unprecedented image quality. In addition to printing on traditional E-surface
luster papers, Epson



Gemini K3 offers a wider range of media types such as photographic matte, fine
art and canvas. The printer also features a built-in, high-capacity paper tray
that can handle up to 100 cut-sheets of 8.3" x 11" photographic
media or up to 50 cut-sheets of photographic media up to 17" x 22".
As the photographer's business grows, or if they require printing in sizes
beyond 17 inches wide, he/she can print up to 24 inches or 44 inches wide (respectively)
by adding an Epson Stylus Pro 7800 or Stylus Pro 9800 printer to their existing
system.

...

Epson has partnered with ExpressDigital to introduce a new workflow and printing
solution called the Epson Portrait Edition Series, available for both the Epson
Stylus Pro 3800 and 4800 printers. The new Series represents a complete hardware
and software solution that gives wedding, portrait and event photographers virtually
everything they need to create customized print packages that can be sold in-house
or online via a customized Web store front. Featuring Epson's award-winning
UltraChrome K3 printing technology and full-featured workflow management functionality,
the Epson Portrait Edition Series enables photographers to sell, fulfill and
print orders right in their studio, producing prints that surpass the quality
of traditional lab prints and generate increased profits.



The Epson Portrait Edition Series is the one-stop photo business answer for
busy photographers, from weekend warriors to principals of medium-size studios,
providing the creative and business management functionality needed to maximize
profitability. It includes a customized version of ExpressDigital Darkroom Core
Edition software that integrates crucial workflow components, including importing,
cataloging and archiving photos, enhancing and editing photos and projects,
creating new photo products with easy-to-use tools, and comprehensive selling
and marketing features. Easy set-up and configuration enables photographers
to create a Web storefront within a few hours and sell prints the same day.
In addition, Epson's printer drivers and advanced color management technologies
are seamlessly integrated into the customized software.



Designed to give professional photographers a simple way to control and speed
up the entire print production process while eliminating their dependence on
traditional printing labs, the Series provides virtually limitless on-demand
printing capabilities, including batch or rush printing, and a wider range of
media choices for photo products ranging from wallet to 16"x 20"
portraits and even customized 17"x 22" prints. The ability to print
in-house provides extreme convenience and flexibility, eliminating traditional
photo lab fees and giving photographers more control over shooting and delivery
times.

...

At the PhotoPlus Expo show in New York City this past week, Epson introduced its most advanced line of photographic papers—Epson Legacy Papers.

Epson has introduced the new WorkForce WF-100, which the company is calling "the world's smallest and lightest wireless mobile printer."

Epson is still thinking big. The company just unveiled the 44-inch SureColor P10000 printer, which is designed for “large photographic and fine art fulfillment needs.” The 44-inch P10000 comes on the heels of the Epson SureColor P20000, a 64-inch photo printer, launched in January 2016. 

Claims about inkjet print permanence have been bandied about for years and while there have not been (and certainly cannot be) “real world” tests without the use of a time machine, it’s generally accepted that “accelerated” aging tests are a good indication of when a paper/ink combination will start to lose color fidelity/density, or even when the paper base and coating itself will cause problems. Indeed, this discussion can be as contentious as it is competitive, such as what happened six years ago when Epson properly threw down the gauntlet to Kodak, whose in-house test methodology and claims for their papers were subject to dispute.

I have been using Epson’s Advanced B&W Photo printing mode for many years in a series of the company’s desktop printers but always wished the print software offered a way to see my image adjustments in real time. So, when Epson announced their new Print Layout software, which offers a “live preview” (among other controls) in Advanced B&W Photo mode, I contacted them to give it a whirl.