Digital Prints

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Mastering Digital Printing
Mimaki: Another relatively unknown commodity for most photographer-artists, Mimaki
makes excellent wide-formats, particularly their JV4 line with its three models: JV4-130
(54 inches wide), JV4-160 (64 inches), and JV4-180 (75 inches). Used mostly for commercial
signage applications, they are perfectly capable of producing fine-art prints (1440
× 1440 max resolution). Interestingly, Harvest Productions has started making fine-art
prints with the JV3 solvent-based inkjet printer. Mimakis include some innovative features
like being able to combine two separate inksets of three different types into 10 printing
variations. Wide-format only.
Mutoh: Like Mimaki, Mutoh is primarily known for its wide-format printers used in the
point-of-purchase and poster industry. However, they’re now also targeting the photo/fineart
market with their Falcon II piezo printer (see Dot Krause’s use of this printer for her
mural project elsewhere in the book). Featuring 8-color (CMYKLcLmOG), variable-dot
printing, the Falcon II comes in 50-, 64-, and 87-inch widths with 2880 × 1440 dpi maximum
resolution, the same printheads that are in the Epson 10000, and the ability to run
both dye and pigment inks. Wide-format only.
Roland: Roland has staked out a strong position in the high-quality, wide-format inkjet
category. As a favorite brand with many serious photographer-artists, Roland has no current
plans to enter the desktop market, but intends, instead, to keep improving their wideformat
pigment-based printers, solvent printers, and related products. Wide-format only.
We’ve been talking a lot about inks and media for inkjet printing. Let’s now get more
details on choosing your consumables.
HP’s Photosmart 7960 printer is just
one of many examples of the company’s
focus on photo market.
Courtesy of Hewlett-Packard Company