Ahead of FESPA Berlin opening on May 6th, Canon has announced some timely hardware and software enhancements for its Colorado and Arizona platforms, supported by PRISMA workflows.
Colorado M-series customers can now print on roll-to-roll media up to 1.6mm thick – double the previous thickness
Colorado M-series customers will now be able to print on roll-to-roll media up to 1.6mm thick – double the thickness previously printable, significantly expanding the range of materials that can be used for interior décor and wall covering applications, An updated Magnetic Media Kit also enables the Colorado M-series to print on stronger magnetic media (for car magnets).
The process of loading rolls of textiles into the Colorado has also been made easier, reducing loading time from 10-15 minutes down to approximately 3 minutes. New software guides operators through the media loading, ensuring textiles are perfectly flat and properly positioned, preventing damage to either the printer or the media and improving the quality of the final output.
Two new print modes – Matte Density (two layers) and Backlit High Density (three layers) – specifically designed for soft signage applications enable printing in multiple ink layers, delivering superior results for backlit applications such as silicon edge graphics widely used in retail environments.
These new print modes ensure precise light control and blocking, creating higher density images without unsightly light bleed, adding to the other benefits of UVgel - high-quality, stretchable, scratch-resistant, and odourless output - with a matte, gloss or even mixed matte and gloss finish, thanks to FLXfinish+.
The Colorado M-series also now has a wake-up temperature setting that preheats the printer, eliminating the need for the operator to wait for the printer to be ready. Other new enhancements are specific to the Colorado’s highly productive UVgel Factory configurations: an Input/Output interface, which links the printer with inline finishing equipment, enables unattended printing by automatically stopping production if an issue arises with either the printer or the finishing equipment. An additional improvement for UVgel Factory configurations is a light tension bar that ensures perfect tension during the rewinding of printed output (this is especially important when using jumbo rolls, which can be up to 2,000 metres long).
Meanwhile, Canon’s Arizona platform now comes with a standard two-year manufacturer's warranty, bringing it into line with the Colorado warranty.
Software updates
Complementing these hardware updates are the latest releases of PRISMAguide XL 3.5 and PRISMAelevate XL 2.2, which are both part of the PRISMA XL Suite and further enhance the productivity and creative versatility of the Colorado and Arizona platforms respectively.
Canon Arizona 1300 FLXflow
PRISMAguide XL 3.5
The new PRISMAguide XL 3.5 offers more intuitive and efficient usability enhancements for daily production environments. These include a ‘sample files deployment’ function, which provides direct access to sample files to enable users to practice creating various effects with applications like FLXture (a five-ink-layer printing technology that adds micro-texture to large format prints, copying the sensory feel of materials like wood and leather).
Canon's graphiPLAZA site houses a range of ‘how-to’ videos and product informationThere is also more support for Mac OS environments, acknowledging that a number of graphics professionals use Macs, and the new software also enables direct links to Canon's graphiPLAZA website, without leaving the application (the graphiPLAZA site houses a range of ‘how-to’ videos and product information).
Similarly, for Arizona customers, PRISMAelevate XL is already an integral part of the Arizona ecosystem, and its 2.2 update now introduces new functionality, including ink-only applications that allow for the creation of unique, media-free printed items, such as distinctive business cards, keychains and customised promotional items that stand out from traditional printed products.
The new release also enhances elevation printing with the addition of a braille-effect feature. Allowing transparent ink to be printed on top of layers of coloured ink, braille dots up to 1mm in height can be created for braille and ADA signage as well as for materials for the visually impaired, combining both tactile elements and visual information in the same print. PRISMAelevate XL 2.2 also incorporates advanced quality features that further reduce tension in multi-layer prints, ensuring flat output even when creating high elevation structures. This prevents bending or warping often associated with thick ink applications, resulting in more consistent and professional finished products. 
Steven Badger, Head of Sales & Professional Services at Canon Production Printing Australia
Steven Badger, Head of Sales & Professional Services at Canon Production Printing Australia says: “These latest enhancements to both the Colorado and Arizona systems and software, build directly on customer feedback and market insights, making it easier for them to enter the high-growth soft signage market while improving overall productivity and uptime.”
“These innovations provide our customers with competitive advantages by expanding their capabilities and helping them to tap into new profitable creative applications and markets."
The Colorado enhancements are available as a remote software update for all Colorado M-series printers without requiring hardware changes or service visits. PRISMAguide XL 3.5 and PRISMAelevate XL 2.2 are available as separate software updates.
