Challenged by customers worldwide, the Océ Colorado 1640 printer demonstrates color consistency and geometric stability

Melville, N.Y. – Canon Solutions America, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Canon U.S.A., Inc., today announced that it will reveal the results of its recently launched World of Wallcovering Challenge during the Specialty Graphic Imaging Association's 2018 (SGIA) Expo (October 18 – 20, 2018) at booth #2037. The World of Wallcovering Challenge was an experience that allowed Canon customers around the world to test the color-matching capabilities and color consistency when printing wallcoverings on the Océ Colorado 1640 wide format printer.

Canon Solutions America sought to shift the way large format print providers view color in the graphic arts market. This was achieved by allowing customers to drive an experiment that would determine how precisely the Océ Colorado 1640 printer could match color consistently across multiple print devices around the world. Five Canon customers participated in the World of Wallcovering Challenge representing Australia, Japan, the U.K., the U.S., and Canada. The challenge showcased the capabilities of the Océ Colorado 1640 printer, specifically its ability to handle common issues encountered when digitally printing wallcoverings. The final results, to be presented at the 2018 SGIA Expo, demonstrated that the Océ Colorado 1640 printer is capable of true, real-world color matching with close to perfect geometric alignment from panel to panel.

"The World of Wallcoverings experience has allowed us to feel confident in our ability to provide reprints for our customers," said Jeff Burris, CEO of Group Imaging. "We now know that it is possible to produce prints that will match even if printed at different times, which allows us to reprint wallcoverings that have been damaged after installation without a problem. Our printing process has, without a doubt, become superior since acquiring the Océ Colorado 1640 printer."

The "WOW" Challenge
To address the challenge of dimensional stability, each participant was given a real-world file consisting of a solid, deep rich orange color and a pattern of small logos and graphics that generally would be challenging to print precisely and accurately. Participants received rolls of the same vinyl wallcovering material and were given simple instructions to ensure the color management settings were consistent. The images were printed with the supplied ONYX12 media profile in High Quality mode running at 430 sq. ft. /hr. on an Océ Colorado 1640 printer at each location. Each participant was asked to record the experience, sign their panels, and ship them back to the U.S. to be compared.

During the 2018 SGIA Expo, Canon Solutions America will host six World of Wallcovering sessions, where guests can view the challenge wall and discover:

• Real-life case studies and customer examples, including the World of Wallcovering Challenge stories.
• How to print multipanel wallcoverings while avoiding the common issues of color shifting and panel misalignments.
• The latest ink technology for the Océ Colorado 1640 printer addressing the challenges found not only in wallcovering, but other applications, such as fleet graphics, window perf, banners, Point-Of-Purchase displays, floor graphics, and conventional store or outside signage.

"We are eager to share the incredible results of our World of Wallcovering Challenge that are sure to reset customers' expectations on what accurate color can be," said Robert Reddy, senior vice president, Large Format Solutions, Operations, Canon Solutions America. "We are dedicated to working one-on-one with our customers to address challenges in the graphic arts market, so we invited Canon customers to put the Océ Colorado 1640 printer to the test. We appreciate all of the Canon customers who joined the challenge and look forward to sharing their experiences at this year's SGIA Expo."

For more information on the UVgel powered Océ Colorado 1640 printer and other wide format solutions, visit Canon Solutions America at booth #2037 during the 2018 SGIA Expo or click here.