Canon has developed an upgrade to the variable finish on its Colorado roll UV printers and introduced a faster addition to its Arizona flatbed line, as well as a large format workflow software suite.

The Colorado line of UV-gel roll-fed printers already offered a choice of matte and glossy finish, achieved by varying the curing process, but previously the same choice had to apply to the entire job. With the introduction of FLXfinish+, it is possible to mix both finishes within a job in a single pass, to achieve creative effects of some complexity and with an appearance not dissimilar to spot gloss UV, but without the extra process or consumable of digital embellishment systems.

The new capability will be included as standard on all Colorado 1650 models and offered as an option on the entry-level 1630. It will also be available as an upgrade on all existing 1650 and 1630 units. Canon suggested applications ranging from PoS and retail advertising, to labels and decals.

The new flatbed is the Arizona 6100 MkII, a 2.5 x 3m model intended for high volume production environments producing between 20,000 and 300,000sqm per annum. It runs at speeds up to 220sqm/hr and is offered in two variants: the XTS is aimed at a wide range of display media types and features independent control of vacuum zones, allowing simultaneous printing of multiple boards, on unusual shapes or staggered loading for continuous printing; the XTHF has 15 times greater vacuum suction  power and is designed to handle porous materials such as corrugated board or warped media such as plywood. Both machines are available in six- or seven-colour versions and support communications via API with MIS, production analysis tools or robot automation systems.

On the software side, the Prisma XL Suite is intended to automate production of complex jobs and to maximise printer uptime. The first component is PrismaGuide XL, the successor to Arizona Xpert but also available for the Colorado machines, a design and job automation application that automates and simplifies preparation of job files and settings, while storing them for future re-use. The Prisma remote app allows Colorado printers to be monitored from anywhere with an internet connection, while PrismaService is a cloud-based platform for managing customer or service partner support.