Superwide dye sublimation printing...

The HP Stitch S1000 an incredibly versatile and economical 3.2m wide solution that epitomises the pinnacle of dye sublimation technology.

The world of 3.2m wide printing is undoubtedly a fascinating one. Those who are part of the superwide club can produce spectacular prints for some of the biggest events in the world, whilst intrigued spectators one the outside have a tangible goal to aspire to.

Over the years there have been many manufacturers competing for the top spot amid their flagship machines, with mixed levels of success. There has, however, been only one company that has achieved the seemingly impossible…

For a long time, it was thought that piezo head technology was the only option to successfully run sublimation inks. Sure, thermal head technology would work well for latex but the high temperatures would cause the dye-sub ink to react before it had chance to reach the substrate – right?

Step in the largest printer manufacturer in the world – HP. Through extensive R&D they were able to formulate an ink able to withstand the heat of thermal head technology whilst maintaining its ability to sublimate afterwards. This revolutionary discovery led to the inception of the world’s first thermal head dye sublimation printer – the HP Stitch.

Now large format print service providers have the option to print up to 3.2m wide with a native head resolution of 1,200dpi – up to 4 x more than previously. Plus, they don’t have to rely on engineers and expensive service visits to change heads. Operators can quickly & easily replace print heads, maximising their print potential.

As well as reduced downtime, HP Stitch users also benefit from highly consistent results thanks to another world first, a dye sublimation printer with a built-in colour spectrophotometer. The printer can accurately measure its own colour gamut in order to ensure reliable output every time, coupled with a smart nozzle compensation system and optical media advance sensor for even greater image quality.

But that’s not all, if the hybrid ink technology and dual roll capabilities weren’t enough, the HP can be loaded up to 40% quicker than competitor machines and 10-litre ink supplies, that can be changed on the fly, let operators run big jobs without any interference. This makes the HP Stitch S1000 an incredibly versatile and economical 3.2m wide solution that epitomises the pinnacle of dye sublimation technology.