Epson has updated their SureColor P-Series of printers with the massive $6,595, 44-inch P9570 and its smaller but otherwise identical twin, the $4,695, 24-inch P7570. The new flagships in their lines of P-Series printers for professional photographers are planned for availability this December, and can be purchased through Epson Professional Imaging resellers.

Both use a new 12-color Epson inkset that adds a color, Violet. With Violet, the UltraChrome PRO12 twelve-color pigment inkset will give 99-percent coverage of the Pantone Plus Formula Guide for color accuracy in printing.

Epson says that Wilhelm Imaging Research have been testing the UltraChrome PRO12 longevity results of up to 200 years for color prints and up to 400 with black-and-white, too. Results meet and even exceed the previous SureColor P-Series inkset, Epson UltraChrome HDX.

Starting off the SureColor P-Series nearly twenty years ago, Epson’s Stylus Pro 9000 was their first 44-inch wide-format printer. Since, they have worked to improve the technology. Printing speeds, for example, have been increased at up to 2.4x the turnaround over previous generation SureColor P-Series printers. A new top-loading cut-sheet feeder door and internal rotary cutter gives fast cutting for most photographic and fine art roll-media types.

A new print mode has been added to the offerings. The Black Enhanced Overcoat improves detail results in blacks to provide an enhanced contrast ratio in prints between the shadows and the highlights. Black Enhanced Overcoat also reduces unwanted gloss differential to reduce any uneven patches of reflectivity when using glossy and metallic printing substrates.

Clarity, sharpness and density have all been improved in the blacks, which also have dedicated nozzles for both Matte and Photo black inks to eliminate ink switching and improve print turnaround. Epson’s highly regarded Advanced Black and White Mode is available for monochromatic printing capabilities directly from the printer. It has a 4.3-inch color touchscreen control panel.

The P9570 and P7570 printers also have new user maintenance doors to do manual cleanings if needed. Automatic maintenance in the newer will check nozzle health without wasting inks. A sealed roll-media door improves dust control and supports both roll- and cut-sheet media from 8.5- x 11-inches and up to 44 inches, respectively. Epson has added an interior LED light to illuminate projects while they print.

Both printers include Epson’s Preferred Limited Warranty for one-year, which includes toll-free telephone access and on-site service within 48 hours in the event of any hardware failures. Epson says LED illumination and frames using UV-absorbing acrylics can extend the lifespans of prints even further.