Hewlett-Packard (HP) chose a crystal-clear day to launch the Photosmart Pro B1980 printer and newly formulated pigment inks aboard a cruise around Sydney Harbour yesterday.
HP in partnership with renowned Australian Magnum photographer, Trent Parke, displayed the new photo printer, which is specifically designed for professional and advanced amateur photographers. Parke had a selection of photographs and photographic books on display around the boat, brought to life with the new HP printing technology.
HP’s Photosmart Pro B1980 features advanced print speeds and a new portfolio of exclusively formulated HP Vivera pigment inks and digital fine art media.
The new print solutions expand HP’s portfolio of photography products focusing specifically on superior print quality, longevity and reliability. Complimenting HP’s breadth of graphic arts solutions are also the recently launched HP Designjet z2100 and z3100 Photo Printer Series.
Based on HP’s scalable printing technology (SPT) and designed in response to professional photography needs, the HP Photosmart Pro B9180 Photo Printer, together with HP Vivera pigment inks and select HP fine art papers, delivers professional gallery-quality images and increased fade resistance for prints that last more than 200 years.
For ease of use, the HP Photosmart Pro B1980 Photo Printer also includes the HP Photosmart Pro print plug-in for Adobe Photoshop, which automatically synchronises Photoshop and the printer driver for a single user interface and colour management.
Australian member of the esteemed photographers’ cooperative Magnum Photos, Trent Parke commented on the print quality, outstanding colour representation and ease-of-use of the HP Photosmart Pro B9180 Photo Printer.
"HP’s Photosmart Pro B9180 Photo Printer is the first photo printer I have experienced that allows me to print accurate black and white photographs. It allows me to quickly and easily make extremely high quality prints of both my colour and black-and-white images, with subtle tones and cutting sharpness, without the hassle of working in a darkroom. I have complete control of my own work and can translate what I see through the camera lens into a fine archival photographic print.” says Parke.
Ben Vivoda, market development manager, Personal Printing, HP South Pacific says, “Further complimenting HP’s line of photo printers, the HP Photosmart Pro B9180 Photo Printer is an ideal solution for professional and advanced amateur photographers who want accurate colour consistency, exceptional durability and finished, professional gallery-quality photos out of their own home or studio.”
Long-lasting pictures with pigment inks
HP expanded its Vivera product portfolio to include pigment inks, offering greater flexibility for printing on a broad array of media. HP says its Vivera pigment inks provide professional image quality and long-lasting photo permanence, accurate and consistent colour reproduction, and smooth transitions and detail. Additionally, HP says its Vivera pigment inks are smudge, water and humidity resistant. The first HP printer to use Vivera pigment inks is the newly introduced HP Photosmart Pro B9180 Photo Printer, which features eight Vivera pigment individual ink cartridges, allowing photographers to have low intervention due to their high-capacity cartridges.
New media offers choice for photographers
The HP Photosmart Pro B9180 Photo Printer allows photographers to print on an extensive assortment of media including canvas, watercolour, stiff pre-matte and film up to 1.5-mm thick, as well HP Advanced Photo Paper. This paper is thicker and provides customers with lab-quality, vibrant colour photo prints that dry instantly and is waterproof. With this new assortment of media, consumers can create prints in varying sizes from 3.5 x 5-inch up to 13 x 19-inch, with or without borders.
HP has also introduced four new digital fine art papers designed to work with the HP Photosmart Pro B9180. HP says the HP Hahnemühle Smooth Fine Art Paper, HP Hahnemühle Watercolour Paper, HP Aquarella Art Paper and HP Artist Matte Canvas offer artists and photographers professional colour-accurate prints with exceptional image quality and outstanding durability, meaning that prints maintain colour integrity and resist fading for generations.
HP partners with Magnum Photos
Continuing its commitment to professional photography, HP has partnered with Magnum Photos – the world famous cooperative of professional photographers. This partnership sees HP working with Magnum as the official printing and technology supplier to the cooperative, providing digital print solutions to help transform its workflow and in-house digital printing enabling the photographers to conveniently and professionally print portfolios and produce gallery-quality prints. In turn Magnum photographers are working closely with HP providing feedback contributing to the design of future HP photo printers.
The HP Photosmart Pro B9180 Photo Printer and HP Designjet Z2100 Photo Printer series are available now, and the HP Designjet Z3100 Photo Printer series will be available from the beginning of 2007.
