Océ Arizona®

Series UVflatbed printers

You won’t believeyour eyes

Technology

backgrounder

2

“No compromise” printingThe Océ Arizona® Series printers—including the new Océ Arizona 550 XT,

Océ Arizona 550 GT, Océ Arizona 360 XT, Océ Arizona 360 GT, and Océ

Arizona 300 GT printer models—offer breakthrough performance to deliver

“no-compromise” printing for a variety of applications. Each model uses

UV curable inks and Océ VariaDotTM imaging technology to deliver near-

photographic image quality. Each is built on a true flatbed architecture to

print on almost any rigid media or object and features a Roll Media Option for

printing onto flexible materials. There are a number of significant technological

advances included in the Océ Arizona family of printers; this backgrounder

will explain their functionality and benefits.

Océ VariaDot imaging technology for superior print quality Years ago inkjet manufacturers adopted six-color (super-

CMYK) printing which added light cyan and light magenta

to the standard ink set, substituting the lighter colors for

their darker counterparts in the highlights and quarter tones.

This tonal substitution technique was implemented to help

overcome the problem of visual graininess inherent in fixed

dot, large droplet inkjet technology. The added colors helped

produce smoother quarter tones, mid tones, and smoother, less

grainy gradients.

Over time, this complicated and expensive method

became the defacto standard, and nearly all inkjet

printer manufacturers using fixed-dot technology

have since adopted six-color printing.

While the six-color printing technique has become

accepted with manufacturers, printers and their clients,

a new technology has emerged that renders six-color

printing obsolete. Océ VariaDot imaging technology is

the next evolution of piezoelectric inkjet technology that

enables a print head to produce dots of variable size versus

print heads using fixed-droplet technology.

Various Techniques of Quartertone Printing (most often found in skin tones)

4-color fixed droplet printer

Few, large magenta droplets 20% magenta as printed on a 4-color fixed droplet printer using 20% magenta ink. Characterized by low ink usage, excessive white space, and poor image quality.

6-color fixed droplet printer

More, large light magenta droplets 20% magenta as printed on a 6-color fixed droplet printer using 40% light magenta ink. Characterized by excessive ink usage, moderate white space, and good image quality.

4-color printer with Océ VariaDot imaging technology

Many, small, variable magenta

droplets 20% magenta as printed on a 4-color variable droplet printer using only 40% magenta ink. Characterized by low ink usage, low white space, and excellent image quality.

Grainy Better Best

3

Variable-Dot Printing Fixed-Dot Printing

Océ VariaDot imaging technology

Small dots exceptional detail

Medium dots smooth skin tones

Large dots greater density and uniformity

Océ VariaDot imaging technology creates these variable

dots by delivering ink droplets that vary in size from six to

42 picoliters. The ability to vary the drop size to as little as

six picoliters produces sharp images with smoother gradients

and quartertones by placing a small and varying amount of ink at every pixel location without completely filling the

space with color. The ability to jet larger droplets up to

42 picoliters enables the printer to saturate the entire pixel

space for the production of uniform, solid colors. The result

is near photographic image quality with sharpness only

before seen at resolutions of 1,440 dpi or higher.

The quality of images printed on Océ Arizona Series

printers exceed the quality of those printed on current

six-color printers using outmoded, fixed-droplet-sized print

head technology. Text as small as six pt. is perfectly legible,

photographic images are stunningly reproduced and solid

colors are fantastically uniform.

Up to 50% in ink savingsIn addition to superior image quality, printers equipped

with Océ VariaDot imaging technology rely on only four

colors of ink and use significantly less ink compared to

six-color printers with fixed-droplet inkjet technology.

The combination of using variable sized droplets to produce

quartertones and fine image details using only four colors,

results in ink consumption up to 50 percent lower than

fixed-droplet, six- color printers. Océ Arizona Series printers

use less than 0.74 ml / ft.2 of printing on average as measured

by our customers. This is a measured average over millions

of printed square meters, not a theoretical concept. It even

includes ink used for maintenance.

4

Optimized workflowTrue flatbedEach Océ Arizona Series printer is a true flatbed device

that uses a vacuum system to hold media stationary on a

flat surface, ensuring accurate registration even on multiple

imaging passes. It incorporates precise linear position encoders

and constant feedback serves to ensure consistent image

quality and repeatability. The flatbed table architecture is

perfectly repeatable and is so geometrically accurate that a

diagonal line measured across an XT-sized table (98.4" ›

120.1" / 2.5" › 3.05 m) will vary from theoretical length by

no more than 0.039" / 1 mm.

Real-world system orientationUnlike all other flatbed or rigid-capable printers, Océ Arizona

Series models print along the long axis of rigid media to

optimize throughput—the fewer the number of printing

passes over the media, the higher the average productivity.

This becomes most evident when printing a 49.2 › 96.4 inch

(125 › 250 cm) rigid board during which the printer is

only required to print 49.2 linear inches (125 linear cm),

when most competitive systems would be forced to print

96.4 linear inches.

A precision height adjustment feature is included for

“no-guessing” height control of rigid media up to 1.89"

(48 mm) thick (2.0"/50.8 mm on the Océ Arizona 550 XT

and Océ Arizona 550 GT printer models). Edge-to-edge

(full bleed) prints are easily produced by the pallet-load,

saving time and labor costs in finishing. Unlike pinch roller

or belt-drive systems, there is no need to clean the drive system

of excess ink between prints.

Custom vacuum systemA custom vacuum system is included that enables users to

optimize workflow for large or often-repeated jobs. The

tabletop features a patent-pending vacuum overlay made

from anodized aluminum. The resulting assembly is

lightweight and durable, yet can easily be removed from

the table. The overlay includes the holes and channels for

the vacuum system. On the underside are removable gaskets

that seal select areas of the overlay. New overlays can be

applied in any configuration, enabling the user to tailor

the vacuum area for a specific job. This is most beneficial

when users are printing long runs with irregularly shaped

rigid media or objects. However, for most jobs it is sufficient

merely to open or close the various vacuum zones in the table

to print on various sizes of rigid media. Users can purchase

and configure multiple vacuum overlays that can be easily

swapped out when needed (Océ Arizona GT printer

models only).

5

In addition to the custom vacuum overlays, Océ Arizona Series

printers include a vacuum bleed system that enables printing

on very thin media that would otherwise distort by being

drawn into the vacuum holes. A convenient vacuum pump foot

switch enables hands-free activation of the vacuum, following

a practice found in screen printing. This enables the operator

to precisely place substrates on the table and hold them in

place while activating the vacuum system. The vacuum pump

system is fully enclosed in a sound dampening cabinet to keep

noise emissions below 65 db for use in retail or other “people-

friendly” environments.

Print zone enhancementsThe print head assembly includes a shuttered lamp area that

protects the operator and the print heads from excessive UV

exposure. This design also eliminates the by-product of static

discharge caused by brush-style shields used in competitive

products resulting in less static build up on the media and

fewer resulting printing artifacts. In the higher powered

models, the UV curing lamps are automatically powered

off when a user opens the maintenance tray drawer, to

prevent accidental UV exposure (Océ Arizona 550 printer

models only).

The open carriage design of Océ Arizona Series printers

enables users to see the print as it develops. Surrounding the

carriage is a sensored, aluminum carriage guard designed

to protect the printer from media collisions by immediately

stopping motion if disrupted. This also protects the user from

injury should he or she inadvertently do the same.

Bulk ink system designed for productivityThe UV curable ink is packaged in bulk ink bags, minimizing

change-out. A quick-change ink system reduces waste, mess,

and operator intervention and ensures that uncured UV ink

never comes into contact with an operator’s skin, which is a

health and safety concern. Intelligent ink bag sensing alerts

the operator to an ink change requirement before running

out of ink and ensures the correct ink color is installed.

The temperature-regulated ink system maintains consistent

ink temperature (116˚ F / 47˚ C) and results in predictable,

consistent viscosity for optimal printing, making ambient

temperature control less critical and much less expensive.

CMYK inks are available in two liter packages. White ink

for use in models equipped with the White Ink option is

available in a one liter package only.

No special electrical or compressed air requirementsOcé Arizona printers use single-phase power for lower facility

costs and ease in placement and installation. Even the most

power-hungry Océ Arizona printer model requires only 3300

watts of power at 220/240 vac, 50 hz, putting them amongst

the most efficient UV printers on the market. The vacuum

pump is included and compressed air is not required.

The efficient footprint of Océ Arizona printers takes less

room than competitive rigid-capable, roll-based units that

require space on each side of the printer for media handling.

6

Roll Media OptionThe Roll Media Option expands the functionality of any

Océ Arizona Series printer and increases opportunities for

users by enabling roll-based printing of flexible media to

create banners, point-of-sale displays, backlit graphics, paper-

based posters, and fabric panels. The ability to exactly match

print quality across a wide range of media gives users an edge

in the competitive pay-for-print market when bidding on

complex print campaigns. The Roll Media Option can be

shipped with new orders or it can be added in the field—all

existing Océ Arizona Series units can be upgraded without

hardware modification. There are two models, one for use

on Océ Arizona 200/300 Series printers and the other for

use on Océ Arizona 550 Series printers.

“No compromise” roll printingUnlike most systems, the rigid and the roll printing areas do

not interfere with each other. The two printing surfaces can

be used sequentially: while one is printing, the other can be

handled without disrupting the printing process.

Once a rigid print is finished, the print head assembly is

positioned over the Roll Media Option and begins printing

on flexible media. Meanwhile, the rigid material is swapped

out and a new board is placed on the vacuum table and

prepared for printing. Once the flexible media printing is

completed, the print head assembly moves back to the table

to resume printing on the rigid media. There is absolutely

no down time to reconfigure the system to change from

one print mode to the other.

As an added benefit of this architectural approach, the

Océ Arizona Series printers employ a patented technology

in which the gantry assembly is actively moved forward or

backward after each flexible media advance, making micro-

corrections to compensate for media position. The printer

precisely measures flexible media advance and then actively

corrects for positional errors before printing each and every

swath to ensure flexible media imaging of the highest possible

quality. This technique is so effective that most Océ Arizona

customers leave their printers running overnight, completely

unattended.

7

Patented and unique to Océ Arizona printers, this technology

results in the highest quality roll media printing yet seen in

a UV curable inkjet system. It greatly reduces the amount of

wasted prints caused by media advance errors.

The Roll Media Option is a touch-free system—at no point

does any part of the printer or the transport contact the

printing surface of the media. Unlike roll-based systems that

use pinch rollers, this feature enables customers to print on

media sensitive to mechanical marking without marring the

printing surface.

The Roll Media Option can support roll-based stock from

35.4" to 86.6" (0.9 to 2.2 meters) wide. Maximum print

width is 86.2" (2.19 meters). A cutting guide slot is included

to enable the user to cut media in a perfectly straight manner

while viewing the finished print.

A wind/rewind foot panel to control roll-to-roll movement is

included. This feature is used to advance and rewind media

during loading and unloading and also enables the operator

to view any part of the roll before cutting and dismounting.

8

White Ink OptionThe Océ Arizona 550 XT, Océ Arizona 550 GT, Océ Arizona

360 XT, and Océ Arizona 360 GT printers offer a White Ink

Option that can be added at the factory or in the field. The

White Ink Option enables under-printing for non-white

media or objects, over-printing for backlit applications on

transparent media, and/or printing white as a spot color.

Under-printing white ink provides a base for non-white

surfaces upon which color can be added, giving users the

ability to expand their range of offerings to include specialty

applications.

Over-printing white ink provides a diffusion layer for backlit

applications that will be viewed from the unprinted side,

enabling users to produce high quality backlit images for

point-of-purchase applications. The ability to also print

white ink as a spot color enables white features of images

to be highlighted for greater effect.

For all models so equipped, the white ink implementation

in the Océ Arizona printers enables users to specify how

white ink is applied: below (printed first), above (printed last)

or in-between colors. Users can also decide to use white as

a spot color or as a flood layer. Most importantly users can

decide to print multiple layers of white/color simultaneously,

on the flatbed or on the Roll Media Option, using one, two

or three layers of ink in total. This gives users the flexibility

to create a wide range of applications on any rigid or flexible

material. Here are some specific examples of the ways that

white ink workflow can be applied.

Backlit applicationThe backlit application involves printing onto a transparent

or translucent material and mounting the finished piece

into a light box or a location where illumination from

behind is possible. In the backlit application, white ink is

intended to provide a light-diffusing layer. This application

is possible using either two or three layers of ink; one layer

of white ink printed above a layer of colored inks (viewed

from the unprinted side) or one layer of white ink printed

above two layers of colored inks for extra density (viewed

from the unprinted side). It is rarely necessary to print two

layers of white ink as a light diffusing layer but some backlit

applications demand extra color density, so the ability to

print multiple color layers combined with the white diffusing

layer is important.

White ink layer options

Application Bottom Middle Top Notes

Backlit first surface (printing on the front side of the media)

White CMYK CMYK CMYK layers contain same data

Backlit second surface (printing on the back side of clear media)

Reverse printedCMYK

Reverse printedCMYK

White

Day-Night (first or second surface)

CMYK White CMYKCMYK data is printed reverse or right-reading

Opaque White White CMYK 3 layers

Opaque White CMYK 2 layers

9

Day-Night applicationSimilar to backlit, the day-night application also involves

printing onto a transparent material. A day-night print

can be viewed either front lit or backlit. This is achieved

by printing color data on two separate layers with a white

flood fill printed as a diffusing layer between them. The

ability of the Océ Arizona printer to lay down all three layers

simultaneously during printing means that this application

can be created using the flatbed table or Roll Media Option.

This type of image can be backlit or front lit, and enables

users to turn light boxes off during daylight hours for

reduced energy consumption—a great ecological benefit

for our customers’ clients.

Opaque applicationThe opaque application involves printing CMYK data onto

non-white media or objects. For this application, white ink is

required both to enable the printer to produce images where

white forms part of the image content, as well as to act as a

base for the CMYK color set.

For all models so equipped, the printers include tools in the

Job Control module of the software to enable users to activate

a graphical representation of the print layers, in order to

verify the layer order. The sample screen shot above shows

that the printer will apply one CMYK layer, followed by a

flood layer of white ink, then another CMYK layer of ink

to create a Day-Night image.

10

Printer basicsThe new Océ Arizona 550 XT printer is the largest and

fastest Océ Arizona printer yet. It can print on rigid media up

to 98.4" wide › 120" long › 2" thick (2.5 m wide › 3.05 m long

› 50 mm thick) at production print speeds (sellable prints) of

up to 462 square feet (42.9 square meters) per hour. An Express

mode is also available with print speeds of up to 709 square

feet (65.9 square meters) per hour. Express mode features the

same color density as other print modes and can be used for

many applications. It is decidedly not a useless “draft” mode.

All Océ Arizona XT model printers can accept rigid media

up to 98.4" wide › 120" long (2.5 m wide › 3.05 m long).

All Océ Arizona GT model printers can accept rigid media

up to 49" wide › 98.4" long (1.25 m wide › 2.5 m long).

Media thickness varies from 1.89" (48 mm) for Océ Arizona

200/300 Series printer models to 2.0" (50 mm) for Océ

Arizona 550 Series printers models. Edge-to-edge (full bleed)

printing is possible for all media printed on the flatbed (all

models). The Roll Media Option enables printing onto flexible

media up to 86.6" (2.2 m) wide on all Océ Arizona printers.

All models use four-color (CMYK) UV curable inks and Océ

VariaDot imaging technology with near-photographic image

reproduction. A White Ink Option is also available for

the Océ Arizona 550 XT, Océ Arizona 550 GT, Océ

Arizona 360 XT, and Océ Arizona 360 GT printer models.

The Océ Arizona 300 GT printer is designed for light

production environments and includes an upgrade path to

accommodate production growth. It can be field-upgraded

to an Océ Arizona 360 GT printer model for higher

production print speeds. Upgrading to the Océ Arizona

360 GT printer model also gives users the ability to add

the White Ink Option.

Ideal for print-and-cut applicationsBecause of the stationary vacuum table and generous media

thickness allowance of all Océ Arizona Series printers, print-

and-cut jobs have become key applications for our customers.

Paired with an Océ ProCut TM digital cutting system, the two

can be used to produce point-of-sale structural displays, exhibit

furniture, packaging prototypes, and more.

Applications expertise includedWith every Océ Arizona printer comes a worldwide knowledge

base of printing applications: flatbed, roll-based, white ink,

banners, backlits, etc. Océ’s team of Applications Specialists

are printing experts with intensive training and years of

real-world experience to assist our customers before and after

the equipment is installed. They are available for training and

applications support, so our customers can invest their energy

in exploring new business opportunities. They are committed

to advancing customer innovation everywhere Océ sells.

Océ Arizona 550 XT printer Océ Arizona 360 XT printer

Océ Arizona XT printer models

11

Océ Arizona 550 GT printer Océ Arizona 360 GT printer

Océ Arizona GT printer models

Océ Arizona 300 GT printer

ModelsMax. RigidPrint Area

Max. RigidThickness

ProductionPrint

Speed

Roll MediaOption

White InkOption

ConfigurationUpgrades Available

Post-Installation

Océ Arizona 550 XT printer

98.4" x 120" (2.5 m x 3.05 m)

2.0" (50.8 mm)

462 ft.2 (42.9 m2)

� �White Ink Option;Roll Media Option

Océ Arizona 550 GT printer

49" x 98.4" (1.25 m x 2.5 m)

2.0" (50.8 mm)

433 ft.2 (40.2 m2)

� �White Ink Option;Roll Media Option

Océ Arizona 360 XT printer

98.4" x 120" (2.5 m x 3.05 m)

1.89" (48 mm)248 ft.2

(23.0 m2) � �White Ink Option;Roll Media Option

Océ Arizona 360 GT printer

49" x 98.4" (1.25 m x 2.5 m) 1.89" (48 mm)

239 ft.2 (22.2 m2)

� �White Ink Option;Roll Media Option

Océ Arizona 300 GT printer

49" x 98.4" 1.25 m x 2.5 m

1.89" (48 mm)133 ft.2

(12.3 m2)� N/A

Roll Media Option; Upgrade to Océ Arizona

360 GT printer

© 2011 Océ. Illustrations and specifications do not necessarily apply to products and

services offered in each local market. Technical specifications are subject to change

without prior notice. The Océ logo and “Océ” are registered trademarks of Océ-

Technologies B.V. “Océ VariaDot” and “Océ ProCut” is a trademark of Océ-Technologies

B.V. “Océ Arizona” is a registered trademark of Océ Display Graphics Systems, Inc. All

other product and company names are trademarks or registered trademarks and are the

property of their owners and are respectfully acknowledged.

Océ Partners

Océ Arizona Series Awards

Creating global leadership in printing Canon and Océ join forces to create the global leader in the

printing industry. For our customers this combines Canon

and Océ technology with the support of the Océ direct sales

and service organizations. Look to the new Canon-Océ

combination for:

signage and display graphics

and graphic arts

Océ North AmericaWide Format Printing Systems

5450 North Cumberland Avenue

Chicago, Illinois 60656

1-800-714-4427

1-773-714-4076

Fax 1-773-714-4056

email: us.info@oce.com

Océ-Canada Inc.

4711 Yonge Street, Suite 1100

Toronto, Ontario, M2N 6K8

Canada

1-800-668-1945

Fax 1-416-224-5778

email: info.ca@oce.com

Océ Mexico, S.A. de C.V.

Ave. Pol. Paseo de la

Reforma No. 1236 Piso 4

Mexico City, DF 05348

52-55-5089-8700

email: mex.info@oce.com

To request a price quote, visit:

www.oceusa.com/WFPSquote

Have a question? Visit:

www.oceusa.com/WFPSquestion

For information and services, visit us at:

www.oceusa.com

Printing forProfessionals

Beyond the Ordinary

ODGS-1295 DS 04/11 SLS/PDF