Image Alchemy's DIPS consists of a reservoir of special fade resistant inks situated outside of the inkjet printer. The ink is siphoned from the reservoir through micro-tubing into specially modified cartridges within the printer.
The system is designed to work with most recent Epson Photo Stylus inkjet printers, although systems for other manufacturer's printers are in development and will be announced soon. The press release reads:
THE COST SAVINGS
The cost savings associated with DIPS are spectacular. At 135ml per colour, Image Alchemy's DIPS contains ten times as much as the Epson's cartridges that have approximately 13.5 ml of usable ink. For example, to get an equivalent amount of ink as Image Alchemy's DIPS for the Epson 2100 printer you would have to buy ten sets of cartridges, costing approximately 900 - our professional specification DIPS costs a fraction of that.
Additionally, using Image Alchemy's DIPS with 135 ml refills works out at 450% cheaper than buying the equivalent amount of usable ink in OEM cartridges.
THE HARDWARE
All Image Alchemy DIPS are installed in a precision-made and drip-proof aesthetically designed acrylic case which will contain any spillage of ink.
The quality of Image Alchemy's DIPS is of a very high standard and has been produced with the assistance of the University of Manchester's Institute of Science and Technology (UMIST).
All Image Alchemy's DIPS come pre-filled with ink and can be installed and be up and running in minutes. There is no need for messy, time consuming pumping and clamping of tubes - simply click the cartridges in; attach the support arm and print!
THE INKS
Image Alchemy's rapidly drying TEMPUS ARCHIVAL DYE INKS have a wider colour gamut, are extremely glossy, less prone to surface abrasion and do not suffer from bronzing. Additionally, these dye inks are less likely to clog the print head and will not settle over time.
Image Alchemy's inks use state-of-the-art dyes and advanced formulation. All TEMPUS dye inks have been independently certified across the range to a minimum of ISO 105 - B02 standard of Blue Wool Scalei (BWS) 6 and as such meet the requirements of the Fine Art Trade Guild as an archival ink.
Image Alchemy's CHRONOS ARCHIVAL PIGMENT INKS are made from the latest micro-pigments. These micro-fine pigment particles offer the benefit of extended colour life up to ISO 105 - B02 standard of BWS 7. Having a smaller colour range and a less glossy finish than dye inks, they are ideal for fine-art printing on matt papers where maximum image life is a priority.
THE STRINGENT TESTING
Image Alchemy has made a considerable investment in testing inks and papers for fading characteristics.
Apart from pollution and humidity, UV light and ozone are the two principal causes of image fading.
Image Alchemy's inks that have been independently tested using the robust International ISO 105 - B02 Standard meet BWS 6 and BWS 7 and are independently certified by the Printing Industry Research Association International (PIRAi).
Somewhat uniquely, we carry out in-house testing of both our own and competitor's paper and inks using a state-of-the-art acceleration colour-fade testing chamber from Light Science(r). Additionally, we test our inks and paper for ozone gas stability using our own ozone generator.
We have made an investment in Raster Image Processor software that enables us to print individual inks without cross-contamination. Unlike the majority of our competitors, we do not use smear swatches as the ink thickness can be extremely variable and not representative of what is produced on the printer.
Only when completely satisfied with the quality of our products, we submit them for independent certification to PIRAi which makes our range of inks and papers truly class-leading products!
THE INK REFILL SYSTEM
Image Alchemy's refill system is quick, clean and simple to use. There is no need to clamp the ink tubing or pour ink from one container to another. Simply remove the protective cover, insert the refill into the ink tank, gently squeeze and viola it's done!
THE FREE COLOUR PROFILING
Image Alchemy is an appointed Gretag Macbeth/X-rite dealer and with over forty years experience in the field of colour correction and profiling you can be assured that we are experts.
With every Image Alchemy DIPS, we offer a 30 colour profile FREE OF CHARGE. This profile is custom made for your printer, Image Alchemy inks and your choice of paper. The customer simply prints off the colour charts on the supplied CD, returns them to us, we will profile them and e-mail or post a CD with the customer's colour profile.
Prices will be competitive and will be announced at Photokina.
For more information come and see us at Photokina in Cologne 24th of September to 1st of October 2006 Hall 4.1 stand H16.
All examples are less VAT
* Epson online price in the UK as of July 2006
We acknowledge the Epson's trade marks and assert that Image Alchemy Ltd is not connected in any way with Epson.
i The "Blue Wool Scale" (BWS) consists of eight strips of wool fabric; each dyed using a different dye with different lightfastness properties. The samples are placed in a special testing chamber and subjected to high intensity xenon light which has a similar spectral distribution to sunlight.
Part of the test strips and the ink samples are exposed to the light, and part are covered to be used as a reference later. This test is run until the inks being tested start to show a change. The ink samples are then compared to the level of change in the Blue Wool Scale test strips and are given a light fastness rating which corresponds to the level of change in the Blue Wool samples.