ENCAD’s NovaJet

fIt's easy to use such words as "pioneer" and "trail blazer" when discussing a wide-format, color-printing company. The large-format, color-inkjet market is barely 10 years old. |2127|, an industry pioneer, helped transform the large-format inkjet printer from a pen-plotter replacement to a graphic-arts centerpiece.

Over the years, Encad has created products especially for the graphics industry. Furthermore, because the company knows that streamlined production garners profit, it has developed improved print speeds and unattended-printing capabilities.

One of Encad's recent innovations, the NovaJet 1000i printer, features all of its predecessors' characteristics, as well as some competitive and radical design changes.

If you're familiar with older NovaJet versions, you'll be surprised by the newest family member. The NovaJet 1000i has a familiar feel, and it comprises such features as an ample LCD control panel and take-up system. However, under the hood, you'll discover some-thing new.

Weights and measures

Because we've worked on Encad printers for many years, we can recognize a NovaJet from miles away. The extra-wide body, flat front and deep carriage are initial giveaways. Furthermore, the ink tanks line up like ducks in a row.

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The NovaJet 1000i, however, has a few differences. The properly proportioned printer features a modern look. Instead of a flat front, the system contains a rounded area that resembles a boat bow.

The NovaJet 1000i is available in two sizes, 42 and 60 in., and comes with two ink configurations, dye-based and pigmented. For this review, we'll focus on the 60-in. model.

Sizewise, the printer's overall dimensions are virtually the same as the NovaJet 880's. The 60-in. NovaJet 1000i measures 112 in. wide x 28 in. deep x 48 in. tall — it's 1 in. wider and 4 in. higher than the 880. The machine's additional height makes its proportions more appealing.

Assembled, the printer weighs 270 lbs. Its power and environmental requirements are fairly typical. It uses 110 to 120 or 200 to 240VAC at 50 to 60Hz. It operates from 59 to 85°F in a humidity range of 20 to 70% relative humidity, non-condensing.

Printheads and ink system

Like its predecessors, the NovaJet 1000i incorporates thermal printheads. However, the 1000i's heads contain 640 nozzles — three times as many nozzles as previous NovaJet printheads. The higher number of jets means more ink can be laid down in a pass, thus increasing print speed. The NovaJet 880's highest speed is 132 sq. ft./hr.; the 1000i's top speed is 220 sq. ft./hr.

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The printer offers a resolution up to 1,200 x 600 dpi, which, when run in the new 12- or 16-pass mode, can produce an ultra-fine, photographic-image quality at approximately 30 sq. ft./hr. Most of the other print modes offer photo-like quality at 600 x 600 dpi.

The new intelligent cartridges help prevent mistakes during maintenance. For example, the printer can detect when a wrong-colored head is placed in an incorrect carriage position. In addition, ink usage is monitored, and the printer can warn you when it's time to replace a head. You can also compensate for nozzles that go out or become too clogged to clear.

In addition, Encad has redesigned the six-color NovaJet's ink system (Fig. 1). On older units, the ink-storage tanks were filled via bottles, which could be rather messy if you didn't use a steady hand. However, the NovaJet 1000i uses new replaceable bottles, which hold 700ml of ink, in lieu of the permanent tanks. When the printer is initially set up, an intermediate reservoir, which holds enough ink for up to 20 minutes of operation, becomes full. Thus, you can replace bottles while an image is printing, without interrupting operation.

In addition, Encad has redesigned the ubiquitous service station. For most printers, the service station has two major functions: It wipes excess ink off the nozzle plates during printing, and, when the printer is idle, it will cap the heads to prevent them from drying out.

The new, active service station also assists in ink-line filling when the printer is set up, as well as removes expelled ink during regular, cartridge-cleaning intervals. These regular cleaning intervals ensure the cartridges are always ready for printing. Unlike other Encad printers that require cartridge priming, with the NovaJet 1000i, you simply pop in the cartridges, and run the appropriate tests and alignments. The service station also diverts waste ink to the waste bottle. Although this isn't a new function, the bottle is now enclosed in the auto-clean unit located under the printer, and warnings announce when the bottle needs to be changed.

Furthermore, to ensure quality, Encad has incorporated the Intelligent Mask Technology (IMT), a method of examining each color plane in the data and determining the optimum placement of each dot as it's printed onto the media. The screening, optimized for each speed and resolution mode, ensures that the best quality and largest color gamut will be attained.

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Carriage design is one reason Encad machines produce such stunning image quality. The carriage holds the ink cartridges and travels back and forth during printing. Encad discovered that, by staggering each head a specific amount, it could substantially reduce such unwanted printing artifacts as banding. For its printers that handle more than four colors, Encad made the carriage wider.

However, for the NovaJet 1000i, the manufacturer implemented a new design. Instead of staggering each color consistently, the new design staggers the heads back and forth, which facilitates access to the cartridges. Plus, the print quality isn't compromised.

Media handling and media

A radical speed increase means altering the media-handling system, which must match the increased print speed. Also noteworthy is the new system's improved, take-up system.

A take-up system must ensure the ink has dried before rolling it onto the other images. Encad's former system relied on a series of fans, and it allowed the image to dip, almost to the floor, before rolling it slowly onto the take-up reel. However, this procedure wouldn't work for the new system.

The new rapid-evaporation system — via dual heating components — ensures the prints are dry before they're wound on the take-up roll (Fig. 2). First, the nose area of the platen is heated. Second, an ambient air plenum carries moisture away from the print.

The take-up reel is located directly below the media roll (Fig. 3). The media is loaded from the back, curls over the platen and is taped to the take-up reel. Sensors monitor the media slack and roll the printed images onto the take-up roll.

Furthermore, the take-up reel can be used as a second media roll if the take-up system isn't used. This is helpful if you typically use two different types of media in a day. Rather than remove one roll of media and load the other, you can have both of them mounted in the machine. Simply unload one, feed the media through and hit "load." From the front panel, you can address the second roll of media as "roll2."

The NovaJet 1000i can handle both cut-sheet and roll media. The 60-in. printer will accept media rolls from 24 to 60 in. wide. Normal printing margins will produce a printable width of 58.8 in. If the expanded margin option is selected, the printed image width becomes 59.6 in. The printer can handle roll cores of 2 or 3 in. and a maximum media-roll weight of 60 lbs.

Encad offers various media types for the printer. Its current list displays 27 different substrates compatible with the dye inks. Fifteen are compatible with the pigment inks.

Quantum inks

The NovaJet 1000i uses dye- and pigment-based Quantum inks. Encad has always produced its own inks, which distinguishes the company. Encad initially offered its GA ink with a wide color gamut. Next, it produced its GS ink, which was more tuned for printing houses. The company's GO inks were one of the first pigmented inks that offered outdoor UV stability.

Encad's Quantum inks continue the standard of offering excellent color gamut. A wide gamut wasn't so difficult to produce with dye inks, but it's very difficult to produce using pigment inks. However, the new Quantum pigment ink's gamut resembles the dye ink's. While not as vivid, it will produce true photographic images onto various substrates. Pigment ink's major advantage is longevity. Indoor images can last up to 50 years, and outdoor images can last up to six months unlaminated and up to three years laminated (depending upon conditions and media).

So why even consider dye inks? Well, they can be used on various media types, and they produce slightly more vivid colors. Dye-based images are only rated for indoor use, but even their longevity can be as long as 20 years (depending upon the media). Notice the vivid colors and detailing in Fig. 4.

Interfaces and operation

The NovaJet 1000i has only one interface connection — a built-in 10/100 Ethernet connection, which allows users to connect to their local area network, or directly to a system via a crossover cable. Network configuration can be performed from the printer's LCD control panel.

The printer's large, backlit LCD panel can display up to eight functions or options, which can be set from the panel's eight buttons. Everything from print-quality setup to diagnostics and adjustments can be established via the menu. Because the LCD is so large, it can display legible messages, as opposed to error codes and unclear abbreviations.

Furthermore, the printer comes with a software suite that allows you to use the system without a RIP (however, the company recommends using a RIP). Plus, it features a file-print utility, a Windows driver, additional software for managing the network connection, and job-tracking, job-accounting and media-management tools.

Feature wise, the 1000i is fairly standard. However, Encad has redesigned the printer's underlying system. The 1000i is the fastest NovaJet ever made, and it produces the best quality. Encad has also improved the machine's ink system and produced a new set of inks that offers a wide color gamut and extended image life. The NovaJet 1000i is at the head of its class.

Key Information

Company: ENCAD Inc., a Kodak Co. 6059 Cornerstone Ct. West San Diego, CA 92121 (800) 453-6223 www.encad.com Company Background: Established in 1981, ENCAD Inc. began as a CAD pen-plotter manufacturer. Today, the company produces wide-format inkjet printers for the CAD, CAS and textile industries. ENCAD and Kodak joined forces in 2001. Contact: Phillip Cullimore, vice president of printers and ink pcullimore@encad.com Minimum System Requirements: Windows 98/ME/NT/2000/XP; 100base-T interface. List Price: 42-in. model: $11,995; 60-in. model: $16,995.