Konica Minolta bizhub PRESS C1100 - …ftp.buyerslab.com/6st-za3x/2015 Production PRO/Production Print...Minolta’s bizhub PRESS C7000. In addition, the unit’s halftone output was

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Production Print Test Report

The Konica Minolta bizhub PRESS C1100 is set to become the new flag-ship of Konica Minolta’s ever-increasing production print portfolio. In terms of speed, the device raises the company’s color production print capabili-ties by a further 20 ppm up to 100 ppm from the 80 ppm supported by the bizhub PRESS C8000. Notably, the 100-ppm capabilities of the bizhub PRESS C1100 extend across the entire media weight range of the device, whereas the speed of the bizhub PRESS C8000 dropped significantly on heavier grade media. In fact, the bizhub PRESS C1100 represents a very significant boost to Konica Minolta’s production print credentials, increas-

A B L I F I E L D A S S E S S M E N T

S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 4N O R T H A M E R I C A N E D I T I O N

Testing Method: The unit was evaluated at the manufacturer’s facility over an intensive three-day test period during which 42,991 impressions were printed spanning 10 different media types, including coated and uncoated stocks, with weights ranging from 70gsm to 350gsm and sizes ranging from letter to 12" x 19". All test files were submitted using a Windows 7 workstation.

Tested Configuration: Engine with latest firmware as of test date (Jan. 22, 2014) driven by the IC-602 Konica Minolta embedded controller and equipped with the PF-708 integrated ADF/paper feed unit, SD-506 bookletmaker, RU-511 relay unit and FS-531 staple finisher. Jobs were imported directly into the Konica Minolta IC-602 controller.

Ratings are based on a five-star system where five is the best. An overall rating for production devices is awarded only for devices that have undergone a full BLI lab test, during which, over the course of five weeks, with the device running a full eight hours every day, BLI evaluates reliability, image quality consistency over the course of the test, media registration drift and other media-handling issues.

More information on the Konica Minolta bizhub PRESS C1100 is available through bliQ (www.buyerslab.com/bliQ).

Konica Minolta bizhub PRESS C1100100-PPM COLOR PRODUCTION PRINTER

Media Handling

Productivity

Image Quality

Ease of Use

Job Management

Performance Summary

BuyersLab.com ©2014 Buyers Laboratory LLC. Reproduced with the written permission of Buyers Laboratory LLC. Duplication in any manner is illegal and strictly forbidden without written permission from BLI. Violators will be prosecuted. To purchase reprints of any BLI publication, contact Buyers Laboratory LLC • 20 Railroad Avenue • Hackensack, NJ 07601 • (201) 488-0404 • [email protected] report has been reproduced with the written permission of Buyers Laboratory LLC. Any duplication of this report without the written permission of Buyers Laboratory is unlawful and violators will be prosecuted. ©2014 Buyers Laboratory LLC. To purchase reprints, contact BLI at (201) 488-0404 (x17) or at [email protected]. • (091411)

BuyersLab.com2

ing the line’s previous highest speed with 350 gsm letter-size media, for example, 250%, from 40 ppm to a true mid-volume production print speed of 100 ppm.

As expected, the C1100 can be driven by EFI and CREO external controllers, but Konica Minolta’s own controller, the IC-602, which was configured on the tested unit, earned much praise for its functionality, intuitive design and ease of use.

Image quality overall was a standout feature of the bizhub PRESS C1100. Indeed, the device’s color consistency is the second best BLI has seen to date—even with-out the automatic linearization technology enabled—bested only marginally by Konica Minolta’s bizhub PRESS C7000. In addition, the unit’s halftone output was smooth with vivid, bright colors that made output appear very appealing and lifelike. Fine lines and text were also top class even in default mode delivering five star accolades. One potential weakness in image quality terms, at least versus some higher-end rivals, is the absence of a fifth imaging station which allows either spot color, white or gloss to be applied, enhancing output quality and increasing the creative range of output.

The unit’s media handling is also very good, with a high level of integration between the media catalog on the device and the controller enabling easy creation and use of custom media profiles, which, due to media naming mismatches, can be an issue on devices using third-party controllers. In addition to offering significantly higher paper capacity and media weight support than most rival devices, the bizhub PRESS C1100 offers significantly higher output stacking capacity. It should be noted that at the time of testing, Konica Minolta was unable to provide a full list of supported media types. Some competitive devices in the mid-volume production arena support media types as diverse as synthetics, polyesters, magnetics, window decals and so on, which, if not supported by the Konica Minolta device, would put it at a disadvantage versus some competitors. While the range of inline Konica Minolta-brand finishing options is exten-sive, it is not as comprehensive as offered by some competitors. Moreover, it lacks an open interface to allow integration with third-party finishing solutions.

Another strength of the bizhub PRESS C1100 is its very good ease of use. Its control panel features the same menu structure as the vendor’s other production devices, aiding cross-device training. Media can be loaded quickly and efficiently during print runs, with the operator able to change media source settings on unused drawers while a print job is in progress. In addition, the unit’s scheduler function provides valuable operator assistance, ensuring that indicators of required or imminent user intervention events are clearly visible from afar. Despite its robust offering of features, the controller software was praised by BLI analysts as being very easy to navigate and intuitive to use. BLI was especially impressed by the Page Edit functionality, which—from either the desktop or the device touchscreen—allows the operator to open a rasterized job in the queue, edit media settings, change mixplex and subset programming, among other settings, and even move, add or delete pages or entire sections without having to resubmit the document for rasterization.

BLI’s evaluation shows that the C1100 looks set to be a very strong competitor in the mid-volume production color space and will reinforce Konica Minolta’s pedigree as a true production print player.

©2014 Buyers Laboratory LLC. Reproduced with the written permission of Buyers Laboratory LLC. Duplication in any manner is illegal and strictly forbidden without written permission from BLI. Violators will be prosecuted. To purchase reprints of any BLI publication, contact Buyers Laboratory LLC • 20 Railroad Avenue • Hackensack, NJ 07601 • (201) 488-0404 • [email protected] report has been reproduced with the written permission of Buyers Laboratory LLC. Any duplication of this report without the written permission of Buyers Laboratory is unlawful and violators will be prosecuted. ©2014 Buyers Laboratory LLC. To purchase reprints, contact BLI at (201) 488-0404 (x17) or at [email protected]. • (091411)

Konica Minolta bizhub PRESS C1100 Production Print Test Report

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Advantages

● Excellent consistency in BLI color drift test, with no drift above Delta E 2.9 on coated or uncoated media ● Smooth halftone curves across all four colors on both coated and uncoated media ● Text and fine lines were output to an excellent standard achieving BLI five-star status ● Excellent input media-handling capabilities, with higher capacity and media weight support than most rivals

● Significantly higher output stacking capacity compared to rival models, providing longer uninterrupted printing capabilities for high-volume environments

● Air suction-aided feeding in all paper sources for superior handling of coated stocks ● Wide range of controller options including Konica Minolta, EFI and external CREO controllers ● User-friendly job ticketing and document processing capability with Konica Minolta Job Centro suite ● Extensive color management capabilities with intuitive design offered by Konica Minolta Color Centro suite

● Ability to set up registration on a media-type basis with intuitive instructions ● Wide range of engine screen options including six dot screens, three line screens and three stochastic screen patterns

● Excellent integration between device media catalogs and Konica Minolta controller ● Inline CMYK and RGB density checking via the relay unit (but did not function on the device tested) by BLI

● Dehumidifier and pre-heat media features assist with handling of offset media ● Humidifier option helps to reduce rippling and paper curl ● Duplex printing supported for weights up to 350gsm ● Extensive finishing options including 30mm perfect bind, 50-sheet saddle-stitch booklet-making (200-page booklet), inline ring-binding and die-based hole punch

● Ability to modify and print RIPped documents without having to re-submit them for processing

Shortcomings

● Less productive than some tested competitors when switching between heavy and light media in a print job

● No open architecture interface to third-party finishers available ● No fifth imaging station preventing inline gloss, UV security, spot color or white printing as offered on some rival devices

● No full bleed booklet-making capability ● Combination of inline finishing and output options restricted to three (or four in some instances) which is more limiting than some competitors

● Lack of engine purge facility results in longer delays when removing misfeeds



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Media Handling

The media catalog, an integral capability of the system that enables the operator to define the library of media used with the device, is well designed, easy to use and well integrated with the printer driver, reducing the chances of media mismatches.

As with other Konica Minolta bizhub PRESS devices, the media catalog enables opera-tors to include a front-to-back and zoom-compensation registration profile (which is con-ducted at the device) for each media type.

Users can edit custom media profile settings easily using the Paper Set Reg/Del icon. This allows the operator to select the media from the custom profile list and edit any of the settings. Setting adjustment options include name, weight, colored paper, punch, both sides adjust (zoom and image shift), process adjust (offset image edge adjust), gap detection and curl adjustment.

Front-to-back registration for custom media is adjustable manually in 0.1mm steps.

Tray-level front-to-back image registration can be adjusted via two methods—the manual adjustment method described above or by using a chart adjustment utility. The latter prints a front side image and a reverse side image and asks the operator to enter eight measurements. Front-to-back adjustment is then handled automatically by the util-ity. While not the most user friendly registration process BLI has seen, it was intuitive to use.

All drawers support coated and uncoated media up to 350gsm, whereas some com-peting devices limit heavy media to specific trays and some do not support 300gsm or heavier media at all.

Duplexing is supported for media weights up to 350gsm, exceeding the 300gsm capabil-ity of several competitors tested by BLI.

The range of media types supported has not yet been confirmed by Konica Minolta. It should be noted that similar devices support printing on synthetic, polyester, magnetic and other specialty stocks, so if the bizhub PRESS C1100 does not support these media types, it will be at a disadvantage in terms of output versatility.

All trays are universal, providing a maximum ledger/12" x 19" capacity of 13,890 sheets, which is much higher than the cut-sheet capacity offered by most competing devices.

All trays are aided by air-suction pickup, ensuring superior handling of coated and heavy media.

The trays do not have any indicator of paper levels remaining, with users limited to a small icon per tray on the touch screen. Some competing devices include LED lamps on each tray which can be seen from a distance.

The scheduler function partially compensates for the lack of a tray paper level indicator by giving the operator an approximate indication of the remaining amount of each type of media, enabling the operator to see at a glance when paper will need to be replaced.

MEDIA HANDLING



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Scheduler utility

A dehumidifier/heating option is available for use with the PF-707 and PF-708 high-capacity air-suction paper feeders, allowing for improved handling of offset media.

A relay unit (RU-511) with mechanical de-curl functionality and an additional humidifica-tion (HM-102) de-curl option is available, helping to ensure flat output to aid with offline finishing workflow.

Up to two high-capacity stackers (LS-506) can be installed on the device, providing an uninterrupted stacking capacity of 10,000 sheets, which is competitive with that of most competing units, facilitating long uninterrupted print runs in high-volume offline finishing environments.

LS-506 stacker being unloaded

—The stacker option does not support offset stacking of documents, including tab media.

A perfect binder finishing option (PB-503) available for the bizhub PRESS C1100 allows inline production of perfect bound books with up to 30mm spine thickness (up to 300 sheets). A separate cover inserter supporting up to 500 sheets (based on 216gsm media thickness) is included.



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Konica Minolta bizhub PRESS C1100 equipped with stacker, perfect binder, saddle-stitch finisher and relay unit.

The dedicated saddle-stitch finisher (SD-506) offers booklet creation for up to 50 sheets (200-page booklets), along with half-fold, tri-fold in and out folding of up to five sheets.

Also available for the bizhub PRESS C1100 are a dual 500-sheet capacity post-process inserter capability and an optional folding unit (FD-503) that provides half-fold, Z-fold, double-parallel, gatefold, tri-fold in and out folding and 2-/4-hole punch.

An inline ring bindery option (GP-502) available for the unit allows for up to 100 sheets and a cover to be bound together at rated engine speed.

The optional GBC StreamPunch (GP-501) available for the device is specified as sup-porting operation at the unit’s full rated engine speed.

An integrated end-of-line dual-tray staple finisher option (FS-532) is also available, pro-viding cover and side stapling and an optional 25 sheet saddle-stitch and folding func-tion, 2-/4-hole punch and a dual 200-sheet capacity cover inserter.

A paper tray cannot be opened while actively feeding the paper path, avoiding the potential for jams that can occur on rival devices. Any tray not actively feeding the paper path can be opened and refilled during device operation, allowing for uninter-rupted print workflow.



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Productivity

The C1100 can be set to be optimized for speed or maximum consistency using a setting called Stabilization Adjustment. With the setting set to ‘None’ the device is optimized for speed. The options also include intervals of +2, +1, 0, -1, and -2. With the device set to the lowest active correction interval of’ ‘-2,’ the device ran at 82.60 ppm with periodic stops for adjustment checking alternating at intervals of 318 and 618 impressions. BLI observed, however, that when the correction interval was set to ‘None,’ the device still carried out occasional stoppages for internal calibration checks (three over the course of a one-hour letter simplex print run) but the overall productivity rate of the engine rose to a very impressive 98.68 ppm.

Stabilization Adjustment Setting Options

Note: During BLI’s productivity and image quality tests the correction interval was set to ‘None’. All comments related to the productivity performance of the device refer to performance using this setting.

The device is capable of running 24-hour shifts with virtually no downtime thanks to its uninterrupted paper and toner refill and dual stacker unload options.

Routine adjustments, recalibrations and cleaning routines were kept to a minimum during BLI’s hour-long productivity tests, with the device delivering a very good 98.67% and 99.60% of its rated letter engine throughput speed in simplex and duplex modes, respectively, which is a higher efficiency rate than that delivered by two of its closest mid-volume competitors.

As expected of devices in this market sector, the device maintains full rated engine speed for its entire supported media range (up to 350gsm) on coated and uncoated media.

—The device does not support flushing of sheets from the engine after a paper jam occurs in the input or output feed path areas. Consequently, the operator must access the engine assembly during jam removal, increasing time-to-ready due to fuser cooling. One leading competitor flushes its engine assembly, thus limiting the need for operators to access the engine during misfeed removal.

PRODUCTIVITY



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— There was a marked difference when BLI’s cover tests were conducted with the device in Mixed Media Speed versus Quality settings, with the Speed preference setting deliv-ering close to double the speed advantage. In this mode, fusing temperatures for light and heavy media are set closer to each other; while optimal fusing is not achieved, it’s close enough to deliver quality of a high standard with shorter delays for fuser adjust-ments. The speed difference will be dependent upon the frequency of media changes in the print job.

The bizhub PRESS C1100 did not experience any drop in productivity when switching between trays feeding the same media type.

On ledger and 12" x 19" simplex hour-long workflows, the device output 3,158 (52.64 ppm) and 2,932 (48.87 ppm) clicks, respectively, which equates to 105.27 ppm and 97.73 ppm, respectively, when printing letter-size images 2-up—outperforming the clos-est mid-volume color production engine rivals tested by BLI to date.

On ledger and 12" x 19" duplex hour-long workflows, the device output 3,156 (52.60 ppm) and 2,926 (48.77 ppm) clicks, respectively, which equates to 105.20 ppm and 97.54 ppm, respec-tively, when printing letter-size images 2-up—outperforming the closest mid-volume color pro-duction engine rivals tested by BLI to date.

The Konica Minolta controller handles documents in a post-RIPped format, allowing the opera-tor to reorder, add/delete pages and amend job tickets quickly without a need to reRIP the file before resubmission. This can be a valuable time-saving feature in a busy print shop.

Maximum Throughput Speeds

Number of Clicks Achieved in an Hour

Letter Impressions per Minute

Number of Operator Intervention Steps

Number of Forced Device Stoppages

Letter Simplex 5,920 98.67 0 0

Letter Duplex 2,988 99.60 0 0

Ledger Simplex 3,158 105.27 0 0

Ledger Duplex 3,156 105.20 0 0

12" x 19" Simplex 2,932 97.73 0 0

12" x 19" Duplex 2,926 97.53 0 0

Maximum throughput speed over the course of an hour is tested using single-page test documents. The test device is fully loaded with the media and toner supplies prior to job commencement and the stacker(s) emptied. Timing starts after the first page has been output to remove processing and initiation time. Operator intervention times are classified as paper and toner changes and stacker emptying based on a fully loaded cut-sheet device. Forced device stoppages are classified as events that stop the device pending operator intervention such as a stacker unload. In the event that a forced stoppage is required, BLI opera-tors wait until the “stacker full” message appears, then unload the stacker immediately to minimize the delay period.



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In BLI’s media impact on productivity test, five sets of a 48-letter-image job are sent to the device, with throughput time assessed between sets two and five. Images are reduced in the print file to compensate for inserts and oversized images in certain jobs, as specified below.(1) p1, p10, p20, p30, p40, p48 printed from the same paper deck, both trays loaded with 80gsm paper(2) p1, p10, p20, p30, p40, p48 printed on 200gsm media (3) p 1 and p 48 printed on 200gsm uncoated media set to mixed media speed preference(4) p 1 and p 48 printed on 300gsm uncoated media set to mixed media best quality preference(5) p 1 and p 48 printed on 300gsm uncoated media set to mixed media speed preference(6) p 1 and p 48 printed on 350gsm uncoated media set to mixed media best quality preference(7) p 1 and p 48 printed on 350gsm uncoated media set to mixed media speed preference(8) p 1 and p 48 printed on 350gsm uncoated media set to mixed media best quality preference

Maximum Throughput Speed Across Multiple Workflows

Simplex letter 80gsm uncoated (75-80gsm) 100.52

Simplex letter uncoated (150-216gsm) 100.31

Simplex letter uncoated (216-256gsm) 100.56



Simplex letter (127-150gsm) coated 101.34





Duplex letter 80gsm 99.28

Simplex letter Multiple Tray feeding (same Paper Modules) (1) 100.73

Simplex letter Mixed 200gsm uncoated and 80gsm uncoated (2) 5.85

Simplex letter with 200gsm printed covers (3) Mixed media speed 75.42

Simplex letter with 200gsm printed covers (4) Mixed media best quality 38.18





2-up simplex on ledger 80gsm 106.38

2-up simplex on SRledger 80gsm 99.44

2-up duplex on ledger 80gsm 106.64

2-up duplex on SRledger 80gsm 99.52

Single corner staple 100.30

Dual side staple 100.67

Saddle-Stitch Booklet on ledger 105.22

Saddle Stitch Booklet on ledger with front edge trim 105.14

Subset Stapling 100.61

Saddle Stitch Booklet on SRledger 98.23

0 80 12040



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RIP Efficiency Analysis - Simplex 1,600-Page NASA Test File

Time to Release From PC (in secs.)

RIP Time (in secs.)

Time to First Page Out (in secs.)

Time for Job Completion

(in secs.)

IPM from Job Release to Final Page

(ipm)

IPM from First Page Out to Final Page

(ipm)*

Simplex 1,600-page NASA test file printed on letter 80gsm

816 * 16.19 1006.19 95.41 96.97 124.94

RIP Efficiency Analysis - Simplex 1,600 page NASA test file sent twice as single set jobs printed on to letter 80gsm N/A* N/A*

* At the time of testing no print driver was available, with jobs being imported directly to the Konica Minolta DFE. Imported jobs are rasterized first, before job ticket instructions are added and jobs are submitted to the engine for printing. The 816-second timing relates to the time taken to import and rasterize the job at the DFE. The first-page-out and final-page-out times are timed from the release of the RIPped job, not from the submission of the pre-RIPped job as has been reported in other BLI production test reports.

Image Quality

Halftones

Fine Lines

Text

Solid Darkness

Color Consistency

Mixed-Page-Element Handling

Overall Visual Assessment

Mean and peak color drift across BLI’s corporate Pantone logo color test document on uncoated media was measured at Delta E 1.2 and 2.4, respectively, which are the lowest figures measured by BLI to date across all production color devices tested.

Mean and peak color drift across BLI’s corporate Pantone logo color test document on coated media was measured at Delta E 1.5 and 2.9, respectively, which are both among the best in class based on BLI tests.

The device can be equipped with an optional relay unit, which has a built-in densitometer that enables linearization quality control.

Text was reproduced to a very high standard delivering crisp serif and sans serif output even at very small font sizes in italic, with no break up.

IMAGE QUALITY



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Fine lines were reproduced to a very high standard even in default mode with consistent line thickness across all of BLI’s tests, no stair-stepping in curves and clear definition in reverse block targets.

The device offers a clean cycle, which prompts the operator to flush the system with blank sheets after removal of a jam to ensure that no dust or paper remnants remain in the paper path.

Halftone curves were reproduced to a high standard on both coated and uncoated paper, with smooth gradation from light to dark across all four primary colors.

There was a slight separation of cyan and black halftone curves between coated and uncoated media at high fill concentrations, with coated stock showing higher optical densities for the highest fill percentage solids, which is common on competitor devices.

Black output on BLI’s high-coverage 100-set run on coated paper showed higher vari-ances from p1 to p100 with a drop in optical density as the print run progressed. How-ever, the consistency of coverage on each page was very good with no more than 0.18 optical density drift across the 9 target areas, which is lower than some rival devices tested. Cyan, magenta and yellow output on coated media were all competitive with rival devices.

Black and magenta output in BLI’s high-coverage 100-set run on uncoated paper showed lower variances from p1 to p100, with cyan and magenta being on a par with rivals.

The general appearance of grayscale output in default mode produced by the Konica Minolta bizhub PRESS C1100 was excellent on both coated and uncoated media, with smooth transitions from light to dark, rich blacks and excellent contrast in fine detail areas.

— Surprisingly, the one area of weakness in grayscale output was seen when BLI switched to using the Stochastic FM1 screening, whereupon output was grainier than that pro-duced with the dot and line screen alternatives.

The halftone output produced by the Konica Minolta bizhub PRESS C1100 was to a very high standard, with rich, realistic colors; smooth skin tones and high levels of detail in light and dark contrast areas.

100% Black Coverage Density Measurements

190gsm Uncoated Media 200gsm Coated Media

Min. Optical Density 1.56 1.66

Max. Optical Density 1.65 2.10

Average Optical Density 1.60 1.88

Variance 0.09 0.44

BLI assessed solid black reproduction using the default device and driver conditions over the course of a 100-sheet print run, using a 100% coverage document. The BLI test target was sent to print on 190gsm UPM DIGI Color Laser ledger uncoated media and 200gsm UPM DIGI Finesse ledger coated media (when supported), with density readings taken at nine different locations on the printed output on the 1st, 50th and 100th page using an X-Rite 508 densitometer.



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Front-to-Back Solid Black Density Measurements


Front-Page Average 1.66 1.95

Back-Page Average 1.72 2.10

Deviation 0.16 0.23

Measurements are taken on test prints produced using default settings on both uncoated and coated paper using an X-Rite 508 den-sitometer. Measurements are based on 15 readings spaced across the long edge of a ledger-size test chart. The higher the density measurements, the darker the image. Density measurements are taken on both the front and back of printed samples, with the front sample being a single-page file and the back printed sample being a duplex print of a two-page test chart with page one blank. An average across the 15 results for each test chart is recorded, along with the mean deviation from the average. The larger the deviation, the greater the difference in density across the page.

100% Cyan Coverage Density Measurements





Variance 0.14 0.23

BLI assessed solid cyan reproduction of a 100% coverage document using the default device and driver conditions over the course of a 100-sheet print run. The BLI test target was sent to print on 190gsm UPM DIGI Color Laser ledger-size uncoated media and 200gsm UPM DIGI Finesse ledger coated media, with density readings taken at nine different locations on the printed output on the 1st, 50th and 100th page using an X-Rite 508 densitometer.

Front-to-Back Solid Cyan Density Measurements




Deviation 0.11 0.11

Measurements are taken on test prints produced using default settings on both uncoated and coated paper using an X-Rite 508 den-sitometer. Measurements are based on 15 readings spaced across the long edge of a ledger-size test chart. The higher the density measurements, the darker the image. Density measurements are taken on both the front and back printed samples, with the front sample being a single-page file and the back printed sample being a duplex print of a two-page test chart with page one blank. An average across the 15 results for each test chart is recorded, along with the mean deviation from the average. The larger the deviation, the greater the difference in density across the page.



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100% Magenta Coverage Density Measurements





Variance 0.08 0.14

BLI assessed solid magenta reproduction using the default device and driver conditions over the course of a 100-sheet print run, using a 100% coverage document. The BLI test target was sent to print on 190gsm UPM DIGI Color Laser ledger uncoated media and 200gsm UPM DIGI Finesse ledger coated media, with density readings taken at nine different locations on the printed output on the 1st, 50th and 100th page using an X-Rite 508 densitometer.

Front-to-Back Solid Magenta Density Measurements




Deviation 0.14 0.12

Measurements are taken on test prints produced using default settings on both uncoated and coated paper using an X-Rite 508 den-sitometer. Measurements are based on 15 readings spaced across the long edge of a ledger-size test chart. The higher the density measurements, the darker the image. Density measurements are taken on both the front and back printed samples, with the front sample being a single-page file and the back printed sample being a duplex print of a two-page test chart with page one blank. An average across the 15 results for each test chart is recorded, along with the mean deviation from the average. The larger the deviation, the greater the difference in density across the page.

100% Yellow Coverage Density Measurements





Variance 0.05 0.11

BLI assessed solid yellow reproduction using a 100% coverage document and the default device and driver conditions over the course of a 100-sheet print run The BLI test target was sent to print on 190gsm UPM DIGI Color Laser ledger-size uncoated media and 200gsm UPM DIGI Finesse ledger-coated media, with density readings taken at nine different locations on the printed output on the 1st, 50th and 100th page using an X-Rite 508 densitometer.



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Front-to-Back Solid Yellow Density Measurements




Deviation 0.07 0.06

Measurements are taken on test prints produced using default settings on both uncoated and coated paper using an X-Rite 508 den-sitometer. Measurements are based on 15 readings spaced across the long edge of a ledger-size test chart. The higher the density measurements, the darker the image. Density measurements are taken on both the front and back of printed samples, with the front sample being a single-page file and the back printed sample being a duplex print of a two-page test chart with page one blank. An aver-age across the 15 results for each test chart is recorded, along with the mean deviation from the average. The larger the deviation, the greater the difference in density across the page.

Halftone Charts

Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black respectively

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Electronic True Cyan Fill Percentage

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Electronic True Black Fill Percentage




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Overview of Color Drift Analysis

CORPORATE PANTONE LOGO Color PATCHES Color DRIFT TEST 190gsm – Uncoated Paper

Page 250 Page 500 Page 750 Page 1,000 Maximum Drift

McDonald’s Gold Pantone 123EC 0.6 0.8 0.8 1.3 1.3

Coca-Cola Red Pantone 485EC 1.4 1.1 1.7 2.1 2.1

FedEx Purple Pantone 268EC 0.5 1.5 0.9 1.3 1.5

FedEx Green Pantone 361EC 1.5 2.1 0.9 1.4 2.1

Microsoft Blue Pantone 279EC 1.0 0.6 0.6 1.3 1.3

Sun Microsystems Blue Pantone 7455EC 1.6 1.0 1.8 1.8 1.8

IKEA Blue Pantone 293EC 1.5 1.3 0.7 1.0 1.5

IKEA Gold Pantone 109EC 1.5 2.1 1.7 0.6 2.1

Time Fortune 500 Red Pantone 186EC 0.9 1.2 1.3 1.1 1.3

Quark Green Pantone 368EC 1.0 1.2 1.3 1.7 1.7

Viewsonic Red Pantone 207EC 0.9 0.3 0.3 0.6 0.9

T-Mobile Pink Pantone Rhod. Red 1.9 2.1 2.4 1.5 2.4

AVERAGE 1.2 1.3 1.2 1.3

CORPORATE PANTONE LOGO Color PATCHES Color DRIFT TEST 200gsm – Coated Paper

Page 250 Page 500 Page 750 Page 1,000 Maximum Drift

McDonald’s Gold: Pantone 123EC 1.4 0.9 1.2 1.1 1.4

Coca-Cola Red: Pantone 485EC 1.4 1.0 0.9 1.1 1.4

FedEx Purple: Pantone 268EC 1.8 1.6 1.1 1.3 1.8

FedEx Green: Pantone 361EC 1.0 2.2 2.0 2.5 2.5

Microsoft Blue: Pantone 279EC 2.2 2.6 2.0 2.9 2.9

Sun Microsystems Blue: Pantone 7455EC 0.7 1.4 1.2 1.1 1.4

IKEA Blue: Pantone 293EC 1.1 0.7 0.9 1.1 1.1

IKEA Gold: Pantone 109EC 0.8 0.2 1.4 0.9 1.4

Time Fortune 500 Red: Pantone 186EC 1.7 1.1 0.8 1.1 1.7

Quark Green: Pantone 368EC 1.9 2.9 2.7 2.9 2.9

Viewsonic Red: Pantone 207EC 0.8 1.2 1.4 1.1 1.4

T-Mobile Pink: Pantone Rhod. Red 1.0 2.5 2.1 1.5 2.5

AVERAGE 1.3 1.5 1.5 1.6

Uncoated Paper Coated Paper

Mean Delta E across all 12 Colors 1.2 1.5

Peak Delta E across all 12 Colors 2.4 2.9



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Overview of Image Quality Test Procedures

Halftone Analysis: BLI uses proprietary test files and the European Color Initiative Altona test file to assess half-tone output and qualitative appeal of output. The test files are printed on both coated and uncoated media across a selection of image quality driver settings.

Fine Line and Text Analysis: BLI uses proprietary test files created in Adobe Illustrator and converted into PDF at press-quality settings. Files take into consideration both black and color conversion elements in both foreground and background.

Assessments of fine lines and text are conducted using both default and maximum resolution settings. Fine lines are assessed at 0.1, and 0.25-point thickness at 90-degree and 45-degree angles and concentric circles; fonts are reviewed in Arial (sans serif font) and Times New Roman (serif font) in standard and italic formats down to 3 points. Pixel patterns down to 2 x 2 and 1 x 1 in each of the four primary colors are also checked.

Color Drift Analysis: BLI conducts a color drift test on a single short-run (1,000 quantity) of a single-page job, assessing drift run of 12 corporate brand Pantone process colors printed on UPM DigiColor Laser 90gsm uncoated paper at 250-sheet intervals. Each color drift result repre-sents the drift from the color generated on the first printed page, measured using an EFI ES1000 spectrophotometer and analysed using Gretag MacBeth EyeOne Share soft-ware.

BLI Halftone, Hue and Density Test Chart

BLI Fine Line and Text Test File 1

BLI Fine Line and Text Test File 2



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Solid Darkness: BLI uses a four-page proprietary test file for each of the four primary colors with 15 patches of solid black distributed evenly across the long edge of a ledger image, with the image repeated on pages one and four, with pages two and three left blank. The docu-ment is printed in duplex, and the solid density of the 15 patches on both sides is measured using using an XRite 508 densitometer; the minimum, maximum and average, along with the deviation from the average, are reported.

Solid Black High Coverage Consistency: BLI assesses solid fill reproduction for each of the four primary colors using the default device and driver conditions over the course of a 100-sheet print run, using a 100% cover-age document with nine locations specified for density measurement. The BLI test target was sent to print on 80gsm UPM DIGI Color Laser ledger uncoated media and 200gsm UPM DIGI Finesse ledger coated media, with density readings taken at nine different locations on the printed output on the 1st, 50th, and 100th page using an X-Rite 508 densitometer.

Mixed-Page-Element Handling: BLI assesses mixed-page-element handling using proprietary and industry-standard test files. Test files are sent using both default settings and with different image quality adjustment options selected. Quality of fine lines, fonts, solids and light/mid and dark contrast halftone images is assessed to determine the best settings to deliver high-quality output across all elements. The test is repeated on both coated and uncoated media.

Note: Additional image quality analysis is conducted as part of a full in-house BLI produc-tion lab test, including registration accuracy and consistency over a range of media types, weights and sizes throughput the durability test, color drift over time using FOGRledger9 42 media wedge and EFI Color Verifier software, full-color curve analysis across multiple line screen settings on both coated and uncoated media, and solid density consistency over the durability test period.

BLI 100% Coverage Solid Black Test File

BLI Solid black/grayscale Test File

ECI Altona Test File

BLI Mixed-Page-Element Test File



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Ease of Use

The touchscreen control panel is common to all bizhub PRESS production devices, with easy to master navigation and menus that allow for intuitive programming.

BLI technicians found the touchscreen control panel easy to navigate.

BLI found replacing toners to be an easy, mess-free process.

The toner bottle and waste toner container are easy to access at the front of the device.

The waste toner bottle is located at the front of the device and is easy to access and replace.

All end user replacement tasks have an accompanying visual walk-through on the touch-screen that makes the processes straightforward.

EASE OF USE



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Visual guidance on end user maintenance tasks

Loading paper into the unit’s trays is easy, as the trays feature sturdy, lockable sliding guides for both length and width. The trays can be fixed in the raised position to enable more accurate guide locking.

— While the bizhub PRESS C1100 offers a wide array of dot, line and stochastic FM screen options—12 in total—the operator is unable to switch among more than three at any given time. To access other screen options, operators have to access the administra-tor settings and select the desired setting from one of the choices made accessible to the user from the driver. Some competing devices make all screening options available directly from the printer driver or DFE, saving time.

Changing engine screen options is a simple task with guidance.

Jam recovery instructions on the touchscreen are easy to follow and dynamically update as jams are resolved. The finisher modules include an illustration of the main finisher regions with LEDs indicating where jams were located, which BLI found to be useful.



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The Konica Minolta IC-602 controller has a feature-rich, easy-to -navigate printer driver, divided into 14 tabs, with intuitive menu options throughout.



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The graphical printer driver is well laid out and provides a high level of functionality and job programming capabilities.

While the menus are intuitive, there is no ability to customize tabs with commonly used functions—as can be found on EFI controllers—which means that building complex jobs could involve more menu navigation.

— On a few occasions, BLI found that the driver could have been more user friendly when conflicting job ticket selections are made. Corrections to conflicts have to be made in a specific order, which is in contrast to some systems that allow for changes to be made in any order and provide instructions to guide the operator to other necessary steps to take in order to facilitate the change.

Konica Minolta’s Job Centro Page Edit feature proved to be intuitive and easy to use, providing both desktop and device touchscreen control over post-RIPped jobs residing in the queue and allowing the operator to change job ticket settings, amend media selec-tions, add and remove pages, insert tabs, chapters and other document programing tasks, all within a visual page-by-page display.

Konica Minolta’s Color Centro color management software, which provides a wealth of tools to aid all levels of color management control, also proved to be intuitive to use.

The Scheduler tool provides an easy to use aid to job timelines, allowing the operator to see at a glance when jobs are to complete, and when user interventions, such as media refills, are going to be required.

Paper loading is face up for all the large-capacity trays, which avoids the confusion and errors that can occur with competing systems that use a mix of face up and face down media loading.

Setting up new media in the device’s media catalog is easy, with a large QWERTY keypad on the touchscreen making data entry quick and accurate.

O The utility for setting up front-to-back registration for trays was intuitive and worked well. Users can either set image shift settings manually or choose to print a Konica Minolta target sheet, which is printed single-sided from the selected tray. The user is prompted



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to measure a selection of distances between markers on the sheet and enter the details into the utility. The user then prints a second test target which on this occasion is a double-sided image. The user is prompted to measure the shift between front and back crosshairs, enter the measurements into the utility and the final registration shift details are updated to the tray automatically.

Integration between the engine’s media catalog and the Konica Minolta controller is very good, with any new registered custom media created by the operator on the device being saved to the controller media catalog.

Job Management

Job-building capabilities are extensive and intuitive, with advanced page-level program-ming capabilities including mixplex, subset finishing and mixed-media selection options available directly from the driver.

In addition to the driver functionality, operators can also make changes to job tickets and document properties post-RIP by using the controller’s PageEdit tool. This allows the operator to open a document in the queue, make changes to media selections, change mixplex and subset stapling settings to a page or group of pages, move, add and delete pages or a range of pages and add chapter positions. This page editing function can be carried out at the desktop or at the touchscreen of the device.

Page layout control from the desktop

JOB AND QUEUE



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Page layout control from the device touchscreen

Image quality and color management adjustments are extensive, both from directly within the printer driver and using the Color Centro software.

Color Centro includes both Pantone spot color adjustment and color correction func-tionality, allowing users to program automatic CMYK conversions of specific Pantone or RGB colors in a print file. The Pantone spot color utility worked in a very similar way to EFI’s Spot-On function—the operator is able to manually program the CMYK mix or print a target with adjusted color mix settings and also choose the color patch that best represents the desired output color.

Color controls are extensive using Color Centro



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As with the Konica Minolta monochrome production devices BLI has tested in the past, the bizhub PRESS C1100 takes advantage of the company’s ToneCurve tool, allowing operators to create custom tone curves for each of the four primary colors. The opera-tor can choose to change CMYK curves independently, or have a combined CMY curve adjustment and separate K curve. As with the monochrome devices, the operator can import an image that is updated dynamically as the curve adjustments are made, to pro-vide a visual aid to the process.

— There is no ability to create a job ticket or enter free-text notes from the printer driver to provide specific instructions regarding a job.

O Users can directly route PDF, PS, TIFF, JPEG, PPML and TXT files to the engine using either the device’s embedded web server or the drag-and-drop hot folders created using the PageScope Direct Print utility.

A rich feature set of print attributes can be associated with hot folder print submission, including tray assignment (not media type) for main and cover pages, imposition layout options, finishing features, basic image quality features and set quantity.

The device has a remote control capability via a web utility which allows operators to see the current status of the device, have full control over the queue and make changes to system settings if required. This can reduce the chances of device downtime when the device is not within the operator’s line of sight and enables better management of office workflow when the key operator is out of the office.



Documents

Konica Minolta bizhub PRESS C1100 - …ftp.buyerslab.com/6st-za3x/2015 Production PRO/Production Print...Minolta’s bizhub PRESS C7000. In addition, the unit’s halftone output was