Hp Latex Printing Technologies And The Hp Designjet L25500

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HP Latex Printing Technologies and the HP Designjet L25500 Printer This document addresses the questions most frequently asked about HP Latex Printing Technologies and the new HP Designjet L25500 Printer. Table of Contents: Latex Inks – Applications and Performance..................................................................................................................1 Latex Inks – Comparison with Other Ink Technologies...................................................................................................2 Latex Inks – Environmental Benefits............................................................................................................................2 Printhead Technology..............................................................................................................................................2 Media – Versatility, Finishing, Recycling.....................................................................................................................3 Intellectual Property, Competition..............................................................................................................................5 HP Designjet L25500 Printer.....................................................................................................................................5 Latex Inks – Applications and Performance Q1. What are HP Latex Inks? HP Latex Inks are pigmented, water-based inks designed for commercial and industrial printing applications. These new inks use HP’s innovative, aqueous-dispersed polymer (“Latex”) technology to provide print durability and display permanence comparable to eco-solvent inks.(1 The water-based formulation provides clear advantages over eco-solvent inks by reducing the impact of printing on the environment and facilitating an improved print production environment. Q2. What are the primary applications of this ink technology for the new HP Designjet L25500 Printer? HP Latex Printing Technologies can produce a broad range of high-quality, flexible, outdoor and indoor applications, including POP posters, exhibition/event graphics, light boxes, outdoor and event banners, vehicle wraps and fleet marketing, wall murals, and soft signage on non-stretchable polyester fabrics. Media compatibility includes: Self-adhesive vinyl • calendered • cast • perforated Banner • PVC banner frontlit • PVC banner backlit Film • polyester film Fabric • polyester fabric Paper • blue back paper • POP paper Mesh • PVC mesh with liner Specialty • canvas • photo Q3. What are the key benefits of HP Latex Ink technology? HP Latex Inks achieve sharp, vivid image quality and durability comparable to eco-solvent ink technology with the added benefit of an improved work environment. And these inks deliver great image quality, display permanence, and durability across a wide range of Original HP and other commercially available media, including most low-cost, eco-solvent compatible media, in addition to a variety of uncoated media. Q4. What level of image quality is produced by the new HP Designjet L25500 Printer? HP Latex Inks deliver long-lasting, durable prints that withstand the elements while also providing sharp, vivid image quality that stands up to close inspection. These inks produce great results across a wide range of media—including most eco-solvent compatible media—and eye-catching, consistent results with Original HP large-format printing materials designed together with HP Latex Inks. HP Latex Inks together with our innovative, large printhead design produce a wide color gamut—comparable to eco-solvent ink technology(2 —for sharp, vivid image quality. Q5. What is the display permanence and durability of prints produced with HP Latex Inks on the new HP Designjet L25500 Printer? Outdoor prints produced with the HP Designjet L25500 printing system and HP Latex Inks achieve outdoor display permanence up to three years unlaminated and up to five years laminated.(1 Indoor prints achieve in-window display permanence up to five years unlaminated and up to ten years laminated on a range of media.(3 In addition, HP Latex Inks are designed to produce prints with durability comparable to eco-solvent inks. HP has conducted testing relative to leading eco-solvent competitors and found that HP Latex Inks provide comparable scratch, smudge, and water resistance.(1 Q6. Are HP Latex Inks compatible with any existing HP printers? HP Latex Printing Technologies bring a new category of wide-format printing technology that complements the existing HP aqueous, low-solvent, solvent, and UV-curable portfolio to better meet Graphic Arts’ customer needs. HP Latex Ink technology is also used in the HP Designjet L65500 Printer, optimized for high-quality, high-speed printing. Latex Inks – Comparison with Other Ink Technologies Q7. How do HP Latex Inks compare to eco-solvent inks? HP Latex Inks are water based and provide many of the benefits of eco-solvent ink technology—such as outdoor durability and the ability to print on eco-solvent compatible media in addition to a variety of uncoated media—without imposing the environmental, health, and safety considerations. EHS considerations, compared to eco-solvent inks: • Prints are odorless (except for any inherent odor of the substrate itself) • Prints emit extremely low levels of VOCs (volatile organic compounds) • No special ventilation is required to meet occupational exposure limits(4 • The inks are non-flammable and non-combustible(5 • There are no ozone emissions, no HAPs, and no sensitizers(6 Workflow Efficiency: Additionally, HP Latex Inks are cured inside the printer—prints come out dry and ready-to-use. This is particularly useful for applications requiring lamination, such as vehicle wraps. Prints are ready to laminate directly off the printer. Cost Per Copy: HP Latex Inks for the HP Designjet L25500 Printer provide comparable cost-per-copy (including all ink cartridge, printhead, cleaning kit, and cleaning container supplies) to eco-solvent ink technology. Q8. Are the HP Latex Inks used in the HP Designjet L25500 Printer the same inks used in the HP Designjet L65500 Printer? The inks in the HP 789 Ink Cartridges for the HP Designjet L25500 Printer and the inks in the HP 786 Ink Cartridges for the HP Designjet L65500 Printer are all based on HP’s innovative, aqueous-dispersed polymer (“Latex”) technology and are optimized for the specific requirements of each printing system. Latex Inks – Environmental Benefits Q9. What are the environmental, health, and safety benefits of HP Latex Inks? HP Latex Inks contain no Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPs).(6 No special ventilation is required to meet occupational exposure limits.(4 These inks do not require hazard warning labels and are non-flammable and non-combustible.(5 No ozone is generated during printing.(6 This helps to create an improved working environment for printer operators. Furthermore, odorless prints(7 produced with HP Latex Inks emit extremely low levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Q10. Can any of the new HP 789 printing supplies be recycled or disposed? Are any of these supplies part of the HP Partners Program return and recycling program? Yes. HP 789 Ink Cartridges and HP 789 Printheads may be returned through the HP Planet Partners program for free and convenient recycling.(8 HP Planet Partners program return and recycling is currently available in more than 45 countries and territories around the world (note: program availability and details vary). Boxes in which the ink cartridges and printheads can be returned for free recycling can be ordered at www.hp.com/recycle. The HP 789 Designjet Printhead Cleaning Kit and Printhead Cleaning Container are not included in the HP Planet Partners program at the time this document has been closed. Q11. Where do I find the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for HP Latex Inks for the HP Designjet L25500 Printer? The Material Safety Data Sheets for all HP 789 Ink Cartridges are available at www.hp.com/go/ecodata. Printhead Technology Q12. How long will the HP 789 Designjet Printheads last in the HP Designjet L25500 Printer? It is difficult to predict how long the printheads will last as this is highly dependent on the type and volume of printing done by any particular customer. To ensure high-productivity and high-quality, intelligence built into HP 789 Designjet Printheads, Ink Cartridges, and the printer makes automatic and continuous adjustments to maximize printhead usage life. The user can replace a used HP 789 Designjet Printhead in minutes without the expense, printer down-time, and inconvenience of a service call. See the question on “warranty” below for more information on the HP 789 Designjet Printheads warranty as well as information on the warranties for the HP 789 Designjet Printhead Cleaning Kit and Printhead Cleaning Container. Q13. What is the warranty for the HP 789 Latex Designjet Ink Cartridges and HP 789 Designjet Printheads, Printhead Cleaning Kit, and Printhead Cleaning Container? HP 789 Latex Designjet Ink Cartridges Limited Warranty (for the full warranty terms see www.hp.com/support/inkjet_warranty). Warranty highlights—the product is covered under warranty as long as all of the following are true: • The HP ink is not depleted. • The product has not been refilled, remanufactured, refurbished, misused, or tampered with. • The “end of warranty” date has not been reached. The “end of warranty” date, in YYYY/MM/DD format, may be found on the ink cartridge label. 2 HP 789 Designjet Printheads Limited Warranty (for the full warranty terms see www.hp.com/support/inkjet_warranty). Warranty highlights—the product is covered under warranty as long as all of the following are true: • The product has not been refilled, remanufactured, refurbished, misused, or tampered with. • It has not used more than 800 milliliters of ink. • Replacement printheads are covered under warranty until the end of warranty date. The end of warranty date, in YYYY/MM/DD format, may be found on the printhead label. HP 789 Designjet Printhead Cleaning Kit Limited Warranty (for the full warranty terms see www.hp.com/support/inkjet_warranty). Warranty highlights—this product is covered under warranty as long as all of the following are true: • The “end of warranty” date has not been reached. The “end of warranty” date, in YYYY/MM/DD format, may be found on the printhead cleaning kit label. HP 789 Designjet Printhead Cleaning Container Limited Warranty (for the full warranty terms see www.hp.com/support/inkjet_warranty). Warranty highlights—this product is covered under warranty as long as all of the following are true: • The “end of warranty” date has not been reached. The “end of warranty” date, in YYYY/MM/DD format, may be found on the printhead cleaning container label. Media – Versatility, Finishing, Recycling Q14. What types of print media can be used with HP Latex Inks? HP Latex Printing Technologies can produce a broad range of high-quality, flexible, outdoor and indoor applications, including POP posters, exhibition/event graphics, light boxes, event banners, vehicle wraps and fleet marketing, wall murals, and non-stretchable polyester fabrics. HP Latex Inks achieve the optimum in high-quality, consistent performance on HP large-format printing materials— designed together to work better together with HP Latex Inks. With the introduction of the HP Designjet L25500 Printer, HP is adding 6 new large-format media to bring the portfolio to 19 printing materials. The portfolio includes both outdoor and indoor substrates, and ranges from low-cost, uncoated media to a selection of banner, self-adhesive, fabric, paper, mesh, and specialty options. In addition, HP large-format printing materials designed specifically for new HP Latex Printing Technologies include a range of recyclable substrates,(9 including several PVC-free alternatives. Banners Papers • HP Durable Frontlit Scrim Banner • HP Blue Back Billboard Paper • HP Outdoor Frontlit Scrim Banner • HP Photo-realistic Poster Paper—recyclable • HP Backlit Scrim Banner • HP White Satin Poster Paper—new, recyclable • HP HDPE Reinforced Banner—recyclable • HP PVC-free Wall Paper—new Self-adhesives Mesh • HP Permanent Gloss Adhesive Vinyl • HP Mesh Banner with Liner • HP Permanent Matte Adhesive Vinyl Specialty • HP One-view Perforated Adhesive Window Vinyl—new • HP Air Release Adhesive Gloss Cast Vinyl—new • HP PVC-free Gloss Adhesive Film—new • HP Satin Canvas • HP DuPont™ Tyvek® Banner—recyclable Fabrics • HP Wrinkle-free Flag with Liner—recyclable • HP Heavy Textile Banner—recyclable • HP Light Textile Display Banner—new, recyclable Many third-party media companies, including 3M, Avery Dennison, Neschen, Ultraflex, Verseidag, and others are working with HP to validate their range of products with HP Latex Inks and the HP Designjet L25500 Printer. Full details of media types tested and the suppliers that are participating in the associated Register Latex Developer program can be found on the relevant HP Designjet L25500 Solution web pages at www.hp.com/go/L25500/solutions. These other commercially available substrates are designed to complement the range of media options available from HP. The Registered Latex Developer program is open to third-party companies who wish to validate their products—typically commercially available print media—on the HP Designjet L25500 Printer and hence demonstrate compatibility with HP Latex Printing Technologies and the suitability of this printer for a wide range of applications. Q15. Is HP introducing any new substrates, including recyclable printing materials, for use with the HP Designjet L25500 Printer? Yes. With the introduction of the HP Designjet L25500 Printer, HP is adding 6 new large-format media to bring the portfolio of substrates compatible with HP Latex Inks to 19 printing materials. The portfolio includes 7 HP recyclable substrates(9 including new HP Light Textile Display Banner and HP White Satin Poster Paper. With the HP Large-format Media take-back program,(9 customers simply pack up the used media. HP picks up the shipping expense and handles sorting and recycling. For details see www.hp.com/recycle. Q16. Can prints made with HP Latex Inks on vinyl be laminated? What types of lamination can be used? Yes, prints made with HP Latex Inks on vinyl can be laminated including cold, hot, or liquid lamination. Vinyl lamination is comparable to eco-solvent inks. Lamination compatibility is highly dependent on the substrate. HP recommends testing lamination performance prior to any important job. Q17. How long do I have to wait before laminating a print made with HP Latex Inks on the HP Designjet L25500 Printer? Prints are fully cured inside the printer and are dry and ready to use immediately so prints come out of the HP Designjet L25500 Printer ready to laminate. 3 Q18. Can prints made with HP Latex Inks on vinyl be welded? Yes, prints made with HP Latex Inks on vinyl banner substrates can be welded, even in printed areas. Please refer to the media manufacturer for recommendations on the best welding technology for their substrate. Q19. Can media be recycled that have been printed with HP Latex Inks? Is the media-ink combination recyclable? Printing with HP Latex Inks does not prevent recycling of printed material. However, in order for signs or graphics printed with HP Latex Inks to be recyclable, the substrate used must be of a recyclable type and a mechanism for recycling must be identified. HP offers several recyclable(9 substrates for the HP Designjet L25500 Printer. In some countries, including in the U.S. and Europe, HP also offers the HP Large-format Media take-back program(9 through which most of these substrates may be returned for free and convenient recycling. In areas where this media takeback program is not available, customers should consult local recycling operators to determine recycling options. Q20. What are the alternatives to recycling HDPE media? In many countries, the curbside recycling programs are only set up to collect plastic containers and bottles, not plastic films or textiles. HP asked the Sustainable Systems Research Center (SSRC) at the Rochester Institute of Technology to create an environmental assessment of the HDPE-based products, HP HDPE Reinforced Banner and HP DuPont™ Tyvek® Banner. The SSRC came to the conclusion that recycling is the preferred end-of-life option, but if recycling is not available, these products can be disposed of via incineration or landfill with a reduced environmental impact. Incineration of HDPE does not produce toxic emissions like PVC. Burning HDPE creates more energy per ton than coal and oil, making HDPE incineration preferred to landfill. Q21. Is there any HP program to dispose of printing waste? Yes. HP 789 Ink Cartridges and HP 789 Printheads may be returned through the HP Planet Partners program for free and convenient recycling.(8 HP Planet Partners program return and recycling is currently available in more than 45 countries and territories around the world (note: program availability and details vary). Boxes in which the ink cartridges and printheads can be returned for free recycling can be ordered at www.hp.com/recycle. The HP 789 Designjet Printhead Cleaning Kit and Printhead Cleaning Container are not included in the HP Planet Partners program. HP also currently offers the HP Large-format Media take-back program in the U.S and Europe.(9 The following Original HP printing materials can be returned through the program: • HP HDPE Reinforced Banner • HP DuPont™ Tyvek® Banner • HP Heavy Textile Banner • HP Wrinkle-free Flag with Liner • HP Light Textile Display Banner—new HP Photo-realistic Poster Paper and HP White Satin Poster Paper (new) can be recycled through commonly available recycling programs. Customers can ship these products back to HP after usage. The shipping costs are picked up by HP. Q22. What is the temperature used for curing? Is this incompatible with any substrate? HP Latex Inks are completely cured within the printer. Depending upon the media, curing temperatures between 60°C and 120°C or 140°F and 248°F are required. For example, banners and vinyl materials use higher temperatures (100°C to 110°C or 212°F to 230°F) and some papers require lower temperatures (70°C or 158°F). In the HP Designjet L25500 Printer, the length of time that the media is subjected to this temperature is optimized for compatibility with a wide range of substrates. In addition to the range of Original HP printing materials available, the performance of HP Latex Ink has already been validated by over 15 different vendors on a vast range of commercially available media in conjunction with the HP Designjet L65500 Printer. For the most up-to-date information on media compatibility for the HP Designjet L25500 Printer, see the relevant HP Designjet L25500 Solution web pages at www.hp.com/go/L25500/solutions. Q23. Do prints need to dry after printing? No. Prints are fully cured inside the printer and are dry and ready-to-use immediately. Q24. Can users print on backlit films? Is the printer capable of double-sided printing? The HP Designjet L25500 Printer can print on polyester, eco-solvent compatible backlit films, as well as on PVC-based backlit media on one side of the media only. On backlit films, or other materials intended for backlit applications, HP Latex Inks produce excellent color saturation and opacity for backlit applications. The HP Designjet L25500 Printer cannot do double-sided prints on backlit films, or any other substrates. Q25. Can the HP Designjet L25500 Printer be used for soft-signage applications? How does the performance of HP Latex Inks compare to eco-solvent or dye-sublimation technologies for these types of applications? Yes. The HP Designjet L25500 Printer with HP Latex Ink technology is designed for polyester, nonstretchable polyester fabrics for softsignage applications. Light and thin materials, where ink can trespass and reach the printing zone, will require a liner. In comparing HP Latex Inks to eco-solvent ink technology, results will depend upon the particular media. In general, HP Latex Inks produce similar or better color saturation and much better sharpness than eco-solvent inks. Water resistance is heavily dependent upon the media. Dye-sublimation technology provides excellent water resistance and good color saturation relative to HP Latex Inks, but HP Latex Inks produce better sharpness. The key advantage of HP Latex Inks is media flexibility. HP Latex Inks can print on most eco-solvent compatible medias (as long as those materials can resist the high temperatures). In addition, HP Latex Inks can print on some uncoated medias that are not compatible with eco-solvent inks. Dye-sublimation technology is better suited to printing on polyester textiles only. 4 Q26. How does the performance of the HP Designjet L25500 Printer with HP Latex Inks compare to eco-solvent technology when printing on a cast vinyl? There are several advantages to HP Latex Inks on cast vinyl in comparison to eco-solvent inks: 1) Better elasticity—HP Latex Inks soften a thin layer of the print medium. Pigments are absorbed into and are encapsulated by this layer. This process integrates the colorant into the print medium to produce a print with scratch, smudge, and water resistance comparable to eco-solvent inks.(1 Because the surface of the print medium has been softened, rather than dissolved, cast vinyl prints produced with HP Latex Inks have better elasticity. 2) Efficient production workflow and faster print completion—Because HP Latex Ink prints come off the printer completely cured, finishing (including lamination) can be done immediately after printing and prints are ready for shipment and display. 3) Better long-term adhesion—Because the surface of the print medium has been softened, rather than dissolved, HP Latex Inks provide better long-term adhesion. Eco-solvent inks can continue to dissolve the vinyl, even compromising the paint under a vehicle wrap. Q27. Are there any substrates users cannot print on with HP Latex Inks? HP is still in the process of testing the performance of HP Latex Inks on numerous different substrates. The HP Designjet L25500 Printer with HP Latex Inks has a limited performance when printing on certain materials, and therefore it is not recommended to use the following substrates: • Stretchable textiles • Natural textiles (cotton, silk) • Uncoated polyethylene • Uncoated polypropylenes • Mesh without liner or thin textiles without liner • Synthetic media Also, although most substrates can tolerate the temperature generated by the heater in the curing zone without performance problems, some substrates may not perform well when exposed to the temperatures of between 60°C and 120°C or 140°F and 248°F required for latex particles to coalesce (such as thin polyethylenes, or any other material not recommended for these types of temperatures according to the manufacturer’s specifications). Q28. Have any other commercially available media manufacturers endorsed the performance of HP Latex Inks on their substrates? The HP Designjet L25500 Printer is compatible with a wide variety of other commercially available medias. Many third-party media companies, including 3M, Avery Dennison, Neschen, Ultraflex, Verseidag, and others are working with HP to validate their range of products with HP Latex Inks and the HP Designjet L25500 Printer. Full details of media types tested and the suppliers that are participating in the associated Register Latex Developer program can be found on the relevant HP Designjet L25500 Solution web pages at www.hp.com/go/L25500/solutions. Intellectual Property, Competition Q29. Did HP OEM or invent HP Latex Inks? Are HP Latex Inks HP-proprietary technologies? Does HP have intellectual property? The HP Latex Ink formulations were developed internally. HP Latex Ink technology is proprietary and has been carefully engineered for optimized performance on HP printers. HP Designjet L25500 Printer Q30. Who are the ideal customers and what are the ideal applications for the HP Designjet L25500 Printer? The HP Designjet L25500 Printer is ideal for small and medium digital print service providers such as sign shops, digital print shops, copy/ shops/quickprinters, and photolabs who want to expand their application versatility. • Customers with aqueous and/or eco-solvent/solvent printers who produce indoor and outdoor signage and want to increase their possibilities with less expensive medias (i.e., include paper-based medias and some untreated polyester fabrics) and/or improve the current performance on vehicle wraps. • Customers with aqueous and/or eco-solvent/solvent printers who produce indoor and outdoor signage and want to improve their printing experience to come closer to the experiece with HP Designjet water-based printers. • Customers who produce indoor and outdoor signage and want to differentiate their business and improve their work environment using a technology designed with the environment in mind. • Customers new to large-format signage applications who want to diversify their core business and begin offering signage applications. The printer is also ideal for a wide range of applications including event banners, transit signage, and other outdoor applications as well as high-quality indoor signage. Q31. How does Latex Ink technology work? What is the purpose of the heaters? HP Latex Inks are cured in the printer with heat and forced air. The writing system in the HP Designjet L25500 Printer includes independent Print Zone and Curing Zone(10 heating systems to cure HP Latex Inks. While dots are being printed in the Print Zone, radiant heat and forced air evaporate water from the ink. This process causes an increase in viscosity that controls dot gain and color-to-color interactions, and it concentrates the co-solvents so that they can effectively soften the surface of uncoated vinyl to bond with latex polymers in the colorant layer. As the printed substrate passes through the Curing Zone heater, the co-solvents evaporate and latex particles coalesce to form a continuous polymer layer that bonds to the substrate and encapsulates the pigment to form a durable colorant film. The print is completely dry and ready to use, finish, and prepare for shipment. Since curing takes place in the printer, no external drying process is required. Q32. What is the technology used in the heaters? Are both the print-zone heater and curing-zone heater the same? The print-zone and curing-zone heaters are both radiant heaters with forced air to remove evaporated components of HP Latex Inks. They are designed for different purposes and operate at different temperatures. In the print zone, the water in the ink vehicle is evaporated to quickly fix the dot size and prevent feathering, color bleed, and dot-to-dot interactions. In the curing zone, the heater evaporates the co-solvents and causes the latex polymers to coalesce into a continuous, dry, and durable film. Unlike UV-curable lamps, these heating elements are designed to last the life of the printer. 5 Q33. What is the color gamut of the HP Designjet L25500 Printer compare to eco-solvent printers? When used in a 6-color printing system including cyan, light cyan, magenta, light magenta, yellow, and black inks, HP Latex Inks in the HP Designjet L25500 Printer produce a color gamut on Avery MPI 3000 vinyl as seen by the colored line in Figure 1.(11 The gamut from a Roland SolJet Pro III printer using eco-solvent (ECO-SOL MAX) inks is shown in gray for comparison. The gamuts are projected onto the a-b plane of the CIELab color space. The gamut volume for the HP Designjet L25500 Printer using HP Latex Inks on Avery MPI 3000 vinyl was computed to be 608,514 cubic CIELab units, about 1% larger than the gamut for the Roland SolJet Pro III printer using ECO-SOL MAX inks. Figure 1: Color gamut comparison between the HP Designjet L25500 Printer and the Roland SolJet Pro III printer. Q34. How does the image quality of the HP Designjet L25500 Printer compare to the HP Designjet Z6100 Printer? The six-color HP Designjet L25500 printing system with HP Latex Ink produces a wide color gamut for rich hues and vibrant tones for durable prints used in outdoor applications including event banners, transit signage, as well as high-quality indoor signage. The HP Designjet Z6100 Printer is designed for photographic-quality prints in applications including display graphics, photos, maps, and digital fine art reproduction. The HP Designjet Z6100 Printer has advantages in sharpness and grain, primarily due to the printheads’ lower drop weight and an 8-color writing system. The HP Designjet L25500 printing system delivers high-resolution, indoor prints at up to 1200 dpi and can print sharp, readable text as small a 6 points. In addition, the HP Designjet L25500 printing system uses a built-in spectrophotometer under the control of the external RIP to automatically scan color patches and measure their properties. This information is used by the RIP for closed-loop color calibration to give consistent color from print to print and job to job. Q35. What is the recommended printing capacity of the HP Designjet L25500 Printer? The recommended average print volume for the HP Designjet L25500 Printer is about 500 m2/month (about 5000 ft2/month). Customers who need a printer with an average print volume of 1000 m2/month (about 10000 ft2/month) or more may find a solution with an additional HP Designjet L25500 Printer, or they may find a solution better suited to their needs among the HP Designjet L65500 Printer or the HP Scitex portfolio of printers. See the “Help me choose guide” for further guidance. Q36. Will the printer have registration ability to enable dual-sided printing? No. The HP Designjet L25500 Printer supports only single-sided printing. No registration method is provided with the printer to ensure the accurate registration. Q37. Will users be able to integrate the HP Designjet L25500 Printer into their existing workflows? Users of the HP Designjet L25500 Printer should have no difficulty in adopting this new printer, as a number of third-party RIP companies have created drivers for the HP Designjet L25500 Printer. HP has certified the compatibility of many of these RIPs with this new printer. For details see www.hp.com/go/L25500/solutions. Q38. What is the printer warm-up time? The warm-up time depends on the environmental conditions, the print mode used and the media type. As an average, the printer requires around 4-5 minutes to heat up the media from 25°C (77°F) to the working temperature, and around 2 minutes from the stand-by condition. Q39. Can the HP Designjet L25500 Printer be switched off and left for several days, or does it require daily cleaning? The HP Designjet L25500 Printer is designed with the assumption that it would be properly turned off overnight, over weekends, and over vacations. These procedures are described in the User’s Guide. Tests were performed during development to ensure that the printer can be idle for periods up to 4 weeks. However, environmental conditions and printhead wear may have an influence, so it’s possible that in a given case, the automatic routines are not sufficient. To deal with this, the Front Panel provides a menu for the user to trigger a hard clean, which is part of the standard image quality troubleshooting process. Q40. How is the Embedded Spectrophotometer used in the HP Designjet L25500 Printer? Can it be used to create ICC profiles? The HP Designjet L25500 Printer has a built-in spectrophotometer, and it is used by the RIP to perform a closed-loop color calibration (“CLC”) for the printer, media, printheads, and inks. The CLC process delivers consistent colors from print to print and over a wide range of printing environment temperatures and humidity conditions. For best color accuracy on the HP Designjet L25500 Printer, the user should create color ICC media profiles using an external spectrophotometer and software (not supplied). Q41. Can the HP Designjet L25500 Printer operate unattended overnight? What are the safety concerns with the heaters used to cure HP Latex Inks left unattended? The HP Designjet L25500 Printer offers users the option of unattended, overnight printing. HP’s reliable media transport system and thermal inkjet writing system with automatic printhead servicing, printhead nozzle health checking, and large ink capacity allow the HP Designjet L25500 Printer to deliver reliable print quality during unattended operation. RIPs with remote monitoring features can provide information on current print queue and printer status. The HP Designjet L25500 Printer uses internal radiant heaters and forced air to cure HP Latex Inks. The HP Designjet L25500 Printer is certified under the UL60950-1 safety standard by the CSA, a U.S.-approved and nationally-recognized product testing laboratory, and will be certified to meet or exceed applicable safety regulations worldwide. Q42. Why is the HP Designjet L25500 Printer used only with a third-party RIP and not a driver? Many print service providers (PSPs) already use RIPs to operate their print production equipment and employing a familiar workflow for the HP Designjet L25500 Printer facilitates the integration of this printer into their production environment. With the HP Designjet L25500 Printer, PSPs can use the RIP they are familiar with. At introduction, solutions will be available from many of the most-popular RIP vendors (e.g., Onxy, Colorgate, …) that have been developed with HP and tested and certified by HP. 6 A RIP-based architecture provides extensive control over printer settings, with a graphical user interface similar to a printer driver, as well as the capability to build ICC profiles and extend the RIP’s color processing pipeline used in a PSP’s current workflow to the HP Designjet L25500 Printer. Q43. What third-party RIPs are available for use with the HP Designjet L25500 Printer? When will they be available? HP has offered many of the leading RIP vendors the opportunity to participate in the RIP Certification Program for the HP Designjet L25500 Printer. At the time of the introduction of the HP Designjet L25500 Printer, about eight (8) leading RIP vendors will have HP Certified RIPs. These are: • Onyx • Wasatch • ColorGATE • Ergosoft • Caldera • Shiraz • SAi • CADlink Q44. What are the capabilities of the third-party RIPs for printer profiling with the embedded spectrophotometer? The embedded spectrophotometer is used only for closed-loop color calibration, and this process is controlled by the third-party RIP. The embedded spectrophotometer is not used for generating ICC profiles—these must be produced by printing a set of color patches under control of the RIP, scanning the patches with an external spectrophotometer, and using the RIP to generate the ICC profile from the scanned color data. Q45. What printer settings can the operator control through the RIP? RIP Certification tests will validate that the RIP is capable of performing closed-loop color calibration, adding new media types, correctly showing printer status and alerts including media loaded, ink levels, media type mismatch, and media advance status. Correct job cancel operation will also be validated. For example, the RIP allows control of various operational parameters of the printer to set it up for different media including number of passes, media tension, media advance calibration, vacuum level, heater temperatures, ink restrictions, and others. Q46. How do I make proofs of prints I’ll produce on the HP Designjet L65500 Printer? How accurate are those proofs? For all their apparent similarities, there are important differences between these printers that can affect the image giving different results from the same data file. For example, the choice of RIP affects how the ICC profiles are generated and how color data is processed. The HP Designjet L25500 Printer uses a halftone C lc M lm Y K pipeline in the RIP while the RIP for the HP Designjet L65500 Printer produces contone CMYK. The number and type of print modes differ significantly between the printers, and the writing systems lay down ink differently as well. By matching test prints produced by the HP Designjet L25500 Printer against a reference print from the HP Designjet L65500 Printer, the HP Designjet L25500 Printer can be calibrated by adjustments in its RIP color profile to produce an acceptable match. This process will vary depending on the RIP used. Q47. Can I load single sheets into the HP Designjet L25500 Printer? Yes. However HP does not recommend loading single sheets as this does not take advantage of the media input rewinder, and can result in media skew, irregular media advance, and wrinkling. If single sheets must be loaded, refer to the process described in the User’s Guide. Q48. How often do I need to replace the printhead cleaning kit and printhead cleaning container? Are these supplies part of the HP Planet Partners program? It is difficult to predict how long the HP 789 Designjet Printhead Cleaning Kit and Printhead Cleaning Container will last as this is highly dependent on the type and volume of printing done by any particular customer (width, print modes, power cycling, working environment, nesting). Environments with very high temperature/humidity and a heavy duty cycle at a high number of passes are a worst case. The HP 789 Designjet Printhead Cleaning Kit and Printhead Cleaning Container are not included in the Planet Partners program at the time this document has been closed. Q49. Does the HP Designjet L25500 printer have hot swap capability (i.e., the ability to change ink cartridges while the printer is running)? No, you cannot replace the ink cartridges while the HP Designjet L25500 Printer is printing. If a cartridge must be replaced in the middle of a job, the printer will pause while the replacement operation is completed. The job is not cancelled. Once the replacement operation is finished, the printer continues at the same point it stopped. The operation takes only takes a few minutes. Q50. Does the HP Designjet L25500 Printer require special ventilation? The HP Designjet L25500 Printer does not require special ventilation(4 and prints made with HP Latex Inks emit extremely low levels of VOCs. In particular, the emission levels do not exceed the occupational exposure limits, according to US OSHA requirements, that require special ventilation. In addition, printing with HP Latex Inks produces no ozone emissions and the inks contain no hazardous air pollutants (HAPs).(6 And no special ventilation requirement(4 helps to keep energy costs down. Prints produced with HP Latex Inks emit extremely low levels of VOCs (any noticeable odor is due to the inherent odor of the substrate), making them ideal for producing signs and banners that can be displayed in supermarkets, restaurants, and other indoor areas where odor is a concern. Q51. What is the purpose of the fans on the front of the HP Designjet L25500 Printer? The array of small fans on the front of the HP Designjet L25500 printer provide airflow to cool the print as it comes out of the printer and to mix ink vapor from the Print Zone and Curing Zone heaters with fresh air to reduce condensation. Q52. How is the HP Designjet L25500 Printer easier to use than competitive eco-solvent printers? The HP Designjet L25500 Printer helps simplify workflows and reduce the complexity of day-to-day operations with water-based HP Latex Inks and proven HP Thermal Inkjet Technology. The printing experience is comparable to HP Designjet water-based printers. 7 The HP Designjet L25500 Printer delivers higher mean plots between user interventions and, in some cases, eliminates intervention completely because of automatic maintenance—including automatic nozzle-out detection and compensation algorithms. With water-based HP Latex Inks and Original HP printheads, there’s no need to spend time on daily, time-consuming printhead maintenance.(12 Individual printheads are user replaceable, eliminating the down-time and the expense of a service call when printhead replacement is needed. Original HP 775-ml ink cartridges enable printing with fewer interruptions. Together, Original HP printheads and HP Latex Inks enable low-maintenance, productive printing. Q53. Are there site preparation requirements that the customer should be aware of before the delivery and installation of the HP Designjet L25500 Printer? Detailed information is available in the site preparation guide available at www.hp.com/go/L25500/manuals. The guide assists in the following planning considerations: • Modifications to the installation area • Site accessibility • Emergency exits • Planning the print production area • Mechanical, electrical, and environmental specifications • Computer and network connectivity • Contracting a specialist mover with a forklift and/or suitable moving equipment • Contracting an electrician All information in the guide is provided on the assumption that installation planners and personnel are familiar with: • Architectural and planning requirements • Applicable laws, regulations, and standards The site installation guide contains the following detailed information: Introduction System configuration Documentation Site preparation overview Customer responsibility Planning the site and printer environment RIP installation Networking Printing supplies Return the site preparation checklist Site preparation Planning for an HP Designjet L25500 installation Installation time schedule System operation requirements Electrical configuration Powerline disturbances Grounding Air supply requirements (pneumatic spindle) Air pressure supply Pneumatic connector Room and spacial requirements Temperature and humidity 1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8) 9) 10) 11) 12) Ventilation and air conditioning Load bearing Floor surface Lighting Designing the print production area Safety installations Optimal room layout Storage area for materials Storage conditions for substrate rolls Computer and networking requirements LAN and switch requirements RIP requirements External color profiling Shipment arrival preparation Unloading area Route from unloading site to installation site Shipment items Tools and manpower required for installation Moving equipment Ground floor installation Above ground floor installation Waste disposal HP image permanence and scratch, smudge, and water resistance estimates by HP Image Permanence Lab. Outdoor display permanence tested according to SAE J2527 using HP Latex and eco-solvent ink on a range of media, including HP media; in a vertical display orientation in simulated nominal outdoor display conditions for select high and low climates, including exposure to direct sunlight and water; performance may vary as environmental conditions change. Scratch, smudge, and water resistance tested using HP Latex and eco-solvent inks on a wide range of media, including HP media; water resistance is comparable when printed on water-resistant substrates. Laminated display permanence using GBC clear gloss 1.7 mil hot laminate. Results may vary based on specific media performance and scratch testing methodology. For more information, see www.hp.com/go/supplies/printpermanence. Results are comparable across ink technologies in similar system configurations. Interior in-window display ratings by HP Image Permanence Lab on a range of media including HP media. HP in-window predictions based on test data under Xenon-Arc illuminant. Calculation assumes 6000 Lux/12 hr day. Laminated display permanence using GBC clear gloss 1.7 mil hot laminate. For more information, see www.hp.com/go/supplies/printpermanence. Special ventilation is not required to meet US OSHA requirements on occupational exposure to VOCs from HP Latex Inks. Special ventilation equipment installation is at the discretion of the customer—no specific HP recommendation is intended. Customers should consult state and local requirements and regulations. HP water-based Latex Inks are not classified as flammable or combustible liquids under the USDOT or international transportation regulations. These materials have been tested per the Pensky-Martins Closed Cup method and the flash point is greater than 110 deg C. No ozone products expected based on ink composition and printing technology. The inks were tested for Hazardous Air Pollutants per U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Method 311 (testing conducted in 2008) and none were detected. HAPs are air pollutants which are not covered by ambient air quality standards but which, as defined in the Clean Air Act, may present a threat of adverse human health effects or adverse environmental effects. Printers using HP Latex Inks use internal heaters to dry and cure the latex polymer film. Some substrates may have inherent odor. In the circa 45 countries and territories in which the HP Planet Partners program operates. Program features and availability varies. Where this program is not available, and for other consumables not included in the program, consult the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) available at www.hp.com/go/ecodata to determine appropriate disposal. HP offers the HP Large-format Media take-back program in the U.S. and Europe, through which most HP recyclable signage media can be returned, availability varies. Some recyclable papers can be recycled through commonly available recycling programs. For details visit www.hp.com/recycle. Aside from this program, recycling opportunities for these products are currently only available in limited areas. Customers should consult local recycling resources for recycling these products. Printheads scan in the Print Zone to apply ink to the print medium. The print medium is then moved (advanced) into the Curing Zone. Based on HP Imaging and Color Lab color gamut measurements. The Designjet L25500 Printer used a Colorgate RIP. The printer employs fully automatic printhead testing and maintenance systems. © 2009 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. The information contained herein is subject to change without notice. The only warranties for HP products and services are set forth in the express warranty statements accompanying such products and services. Nothing herein should be construed as constituting an additional warranty. HP shall not be liable for technical or editorial errors or omissions contained herein. This is an HP Indigo digital print. 4AA2-8852ENW, September 2009