User Manual

Epson’s PrecisionCore printheads and printing systems can hold their own in the
speed wars, but let’s take a closer look at the resolution, dot precision, durability and
exibility that PrecisionCore brings to the print marketplace.
Professional Quality
Image quality depends on a variety of factors. PrecisionCore has up to triple the
nozzle density of conventional piezo printheads with native output at either 600 or
720 dpi per print chip. This level of performance is already sufcient for many print
applications, but adding consistently precise drop control and the variable drop sizes
possible with piezo technology means that perceived resolution of output from a Pre
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cisionCore system can be much greater than the standard dpi resolution measure-
ment.
The ability to control dot sizes by controlling the voltage passing through the piezo
element was one of the reasons Epson originally chose this technology. The Preci
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sionCore print chip’s MEMS nozzles accentuate this core attribute. The illustration on
the left shows these perfectly formed nozzles, roughly 20 microns in diameter.
Below that is an actual photo of the small, round, repeatable dots that these nozzles
produce. For reference, these dots are about 40 microns across.
If Epson’s PrecisionCore puts that much quality in a single dot, consider for a mo
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ment the quality that it puts into an entire image. It’s no surprise Epson leads in
categories that demand the highest print quality standards, such as the professional
graphic arts and digital proong industries. Dot precision is also particularly important
for creating sharp text and ne lines in documents. And, accurate control of the dot
form and placement contribute to output quality by enabling minute adjustments to
compensate for different media, ink types, and print speeds across a range of com
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mercial and industrial printing applications.
PrecisionCore uses its nozzles efciently. Its “on the y” variable drop architecture
enables it to select from several different dot sizes with each pulse of the nozzle for
superior results. The design allows PrecisionCore to deliver high-speed media cover
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age by selecting a large drop size at an impressively fast ring rate. PrecisionCore
nozzles can also recongure themselves in around 1/10,000 of a second to deliver
small and beautifully round drops, allowing for sharp text and smooth edges and
gradations, as well as fast area lls.
PrecisionCore printhead technology gives Epson immense exibility in the uids it jets
(see Tech Focus for details). For printing systems, this translates to the widest variety
of inks, allowing Epson printers to produce the widest range of color (gamut) without
having to resort to papers with specialized coatings. The use of plain media, which
looks anything but plain when printed on by Epson printers, presents an opportunity
for signicant cost savings over costly coated papers.
The gamut chart here shows how the color range of the next-generation Epson pig
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ment inks for business inkjet printing is comparable to a laser printer of the same
class. This is due to the high pigment ratio and quick-drying nature of the Epson ink
that enables more of the critical colorant to remain on or near the surface of the pa
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per.
5. Professional Output Quality and Durability
PrecisionCore nozzle plate
PrecisionCore

s round dots
B
A
Gamut comparison of Epson laser printer (A) and
next-generation pigment ink for business inkjet
printers (B)
PrecisionCore white paper
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