PMA 2006: The HP Photosmart Pro B9180 Photo Printer is announced today. The HP B9180 is an 8 colour, A3+ printer that uses Vivera pigment inks for waterproof photos that resist fading for more than 200 years. The HP B9180 has an estimated street price of $699 (US).

HP Press Release

The HP Photosmart Pro B9180 Photo Printer delivers exceptional image quality and the best photo permanence on the market. HP Vivera pigment ink technology, combined with the printer’s professional colors, enables accurate and consistent color reproduction. HP’s third-generation gray ink is more neutral than ever before, allowing for exceptionally smooth transitions and detail. Eight individual high-capacity ink cartridges enable high-volume printing with efficient printing speeds – producing 4 x 6-inch photos in as fast as 10 seconds and 13 x 19-inch photos as fast as 1.5 minutes – ideal for professional photographers and advanced amateurs. Users can print exceptional photos on digital fine art media including canvas, photo rag, watercolor, stiff pre-matte and film up to 1.5-mm thick, as well as improved HP Advanced Photo Paper.

Key Features and Benefits
• Eight-color HP Vivera pigment inks produce gallery-quality photos and offer the user excellent image quality, durability and performance on a broad array of media
• Exceptional durability – waterproof photos(1) that resist fading for more than 200 years(2)
• HP Photosmart plug-in for Adobe Photoshop® automatically synchronizes Photoshop and printer driver for single user interface and color management
• Efficiently designed individual ink cartridges allow users to replace only the ink colors used – ideal for high-volume printing
• Fast printing speeds – print 13 x 19-inch photos as fast as 1.5 minutes and 4 x 6-inch photos as fast as 10 seconds
• Closed loop calibration system keeps photo color consistent, print after print
• Electrostatic drop weight detection system automatically compensates for a nozzle not working, alerting you when the printhead needs cleaning or in the unlikely event of it needing to be replaced

Additional Features
• RIP software option provides access to enhanced color management tools for professional printing
• Plug the printer into network using Ethernet port

Technical Specifications
• Photo Pigment 8-color IIT
• 4,800-optimized dpi(3)
• 3.5 x 5-inch up to 13 x 19-inch prints with or without borders
• Supports Adobe RGB and sRGB

Supported Supplies
• Vivera Inks: HP 38 Matte Black Ink Cartridge, HP 38 Photo Black Ink Cartridge, HP
38 Light Gray Black Ink Cartridge, HP 38 Cyan Black Ink Cartridge, HP 38
Magenta Ink Cartridge, HP 38 Yellow Ink Cartridge, HP 38 Light Cyan Ink
Cartridge, HP 38 Light Magenta Ink Cartridge
• Printhead: HP 70 Matte Black & Cyan Printhead, HP 70 Light Cyan/Light Magenta
Printhead, HP 70 Magenta/Yellow Printhead, HP 70 Photo Black/Light Gray
Printhead
• Media: HP Advanced Photo Paper Glossy (B+/A3+, B/A3, 8.5x11/A4, 5x7,
4x6), HP Advanced Photo Paper Soft-gloss (B+/A3+, 8.5x11/A4), HP Photo Paper
Matte (B+/A3+), HP Hahnemühle Smooth Fine Art Paper, 265gsm (B+/A3+), HP
Hahnemühle Watercolor Paper, 210gsm, (B+/A3+), HP Aquarella Art Paper,
240gsm, (B+/A3+), HP Artist Canvas Matte, 350gsm, (B+/A3+)
• Dimensions/Weight
o 26.6-inches (w) x 16.9-inches (d) x 9.2-inches (h)
o 37.7 Lbs.
o Support/Connectivity
o USB 2.0 and Ethernet to PC or Mac
o Microsoft Windows® 2000 Professional, XP Home, XP Professional, XP64; Mac OS X v 10.2 and higher
o HP offers a comprehensive support package for the HP Photosmart Pro B9180 Photo Printer that includes one-year limited hardware warranty backed by HP Customer Care, service and support; one-year technical phone support

Pricing and Availability
Estimated U.S. street price of $699(4)
Expected to be available for purchase May/June 2006 in North America.

(1) Based on HP internal waterproof and water resistance testing with HP Advanced Photo Paper and with other HP-recommended papers. Waterproof feature requires HP Advanced Photo Paper.
(2) Fade results based on preliminary display permanence testing under glass by Wilhelm Imaging Research using HP Advanced Photo Paper, HP Matte Photo Paper, HP Hahnemühle Smooth Fine Art Paper and HP Hahnemühle Watercolor Paper; similar display permanence with and additional HP-recommended papers. Preliminary results, to be updated as test progresses – see wilhelm-research.com.
(3) Up to 4,800 x 1,200-optimized dpi color when printing from a computer and 1,200 dpi input.
(4) Actual price may vary