STATE OFTHE ART

EPSON CASE STUDY

18333 Epson V&A Case Study Final:Layout 1 9/4/10 11:11 Page 1

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The Epson Stylus Pro GS6000 takes its place in history at the Victoria and Albert Museum

For more information on Epson’s range of large format printers visit www.epson.co.uk

Museums offer unique challenges todesigners and signmakers. “There’s nosuch thing as a standard graphic in amuseum,” says Jane Scherbaum,Deputy Head of Design at the Victoriaand Albert Museum (V&A). “Each exhibithas its own specific demands formaterials, mounting and purpose – and these change on a weekly or evendaily basis! Our job in the museum’sDesign Studio is to meet theserequirements quickly and accurately,while controlling costs.”

The V&A is the world’s greatest museum of art anddesign. Its objective is to enable everyone to enjoy itscollections and explore the cultures that created them.All efforts are focused upon a central purpose, theincreased use of its displays, collections and expertiseas resources for learning, creativity and enjoyment byaudiences within and beyond the United Kingdom.

Labelling of museum objects is a crucial component inthis education process, as well as providing wayfindersignage, directories, maps and general display signagearound the Museum. Most of these graphics areproduced in house by the Print and Production team; PhilCollett, Keith Hartnell and Dave Potter. “For many yearswe supported the museum with an HP inkjet printer andby outsourcing work to local graphics suppliers,” saysScherbaum, adding, “We were quite limited in terms ofthe materials and substrates we could print on – and hadissues with fading – and were still having to outsource anumber of projects. Taking more control of our ownsignage was very important to the V&A. We have noroom for excuses and we didn’t want to be relying onexternal suppliers when V&A staff are relying on us.”

The V&A design team has worked for several years withColyer London who supply business solutions and officeproducts aimed at London-based creative departments.It was Colyer who recommended the odourless, eco-friendly solvent-type Epson Stylus Pro GS6000. “Weliked the recommendation, particularly because ofEpson’s reputation in the art reproduction market, but wewanted to make sure we selected the right machine forus. We carried out a comprehensive search of differentproducts and the Epson Stylus Pro GS6000 really didhave an advantage in terms of print quality, durability andcolour gamut. Colourgen demonstrated the printer’scapabilities very well and the fact that we could locate theprinter in our cosy typesetting room, which has no facilityfor air extraction, was an important factor,” she says.

Developed exclusively by Epson, the Epson StylusPro GS6000 features Epson UltraChrome® GS ink, anew odourless, eco solvent-type based inktechnology with eight individual colours, includingorange and green. The Epson Stylus Pro GS6000produces the industry’s widest colour gamut forunparalleled output quality on nearly any solvent-based media. As well as delivering very high quality,the printer’s new Dual-Array MicroPiezo® AMC™ printhead has been uniquely engineered for the demandsof high-production eco solvent-type printing. It offersproduction speeds of up to 25sqm/hour to deliver fastdrying, scratch resistant prints that are water and UVresistant for up to 5 years outdoors.

Colourgen and Colyer installed the Epson Stylus ProGS6000 in April 2009 and the team were quick to putit through its paces. Phil Collett was suitablyimpressed with the new machine, “Once we got theprinter into the room, it was up and running veryquickly. We were all very pleased with the lack ofodour from the printer.”

He continues, “Our main day-to-day task is printinggallery graphics, posters and temporary signage,which previously all had to be laminated. A big issuewas how quickly the images tended to fade. With theEpson Stylus Pro GS6000 we can now print directlyto self-adhesive vinyl then mount on to a wide rangeof substrates and so far we have seen no fade at all.The machine’s print capability on vinyl is excellent andwe can now produce label strips quickly with no needto laminate, this saves us a lot of time and expense”.

Exhibitions change on a regular basis at the V&A andeach time something is moved or a new exhibitioncomes in, there is a massive need for new signage. “Wehave to work very closely with museum management

so that we can deliver the signage they need, whenthey need it. Because it is an eco solvent-type printer,we have a lot more flexibility in terms of substrates andcombined with the speed, the Epson Stylus ProGS6000 has put us in a much better position to meetthese requirements and respond to last minutechanges fast,” adds Scherbaum. We can also be a lotmore creative and are constantly experimenting withnew materials so we can offer the museum morechoice and keep costs as low as possible.

Having consistent, accurate colours is another keyrequirement for the V&A. Phil Collett explains, “TheEpson Stylus Pro GS6000 is fantastic for colourmatching. It works well with the ColorGATEProduction Server Pr RIP to produce colours thatmatch consistently with existing displays anddesigner’s precise requirements.”

Jane Scherbaum carried out a detailed review of thetrue cost of running the printer. “I compared the like-for-like cost of producing graphics for our Fashion Gallerywith the Epson Stylus Pro GS6000 and our previousHP printer. I was amazed to find the costs were virtuallythe same. Considering the increase in quality, durabilityand the different types of media we can now use, this isa major advantage for us and the Museum.”

She continues, “The Epson Stylus Pro GS6000 hasallowed us to take a lot of the work that waspreviously outsourced, back in-house. This includesexternal signage on the Museum façade, which hassaved us a lot of money and given us greater controlover the content. There is plenty more signagethroughout the museum that I am sure the EpsonStylus Pro GS6000 can handle and we are continuallylooking for new media and substrates to work on.”

In conclusion, Jane Scherbaum is delighted with theEpson Stylus Pro GS6000 and the support receivedfrom Colourgen and Colyer. “The Epson Stylus ProGS6000 has given us a new dimension. Our graphicdesigners can work on creating new and innovativeideas for displays and graphics and we can deliverthis under our own steam. The printer itself has beenvery reliable, is comfortable to work with and hasbeen surprisingly cost-effective. We are certainlypleased to have it and look forward to doing evenmore with it in the future”.

Colourgen is the UK’s leading specialist distributor of large format digital colour printing solutions,consumables, bespoke software, engineering and support services. The company is the exclusive UKdistributor for the Epson Stylus Pro GS6000 as well as the Seiko II ColorPainter V-64S and H-Series mildsolvent printers. Colourgen also distributes Epson’s aqueous large format printers and consumables, andthe Seal and Kala ranges of laminators and finishing products. Colourgen specialises in delivering totalsolutions based on the industry’s best, most reliable products together with unrivalled consultancy,installation, technical support, maintenance and training.

Colyer London is the single port of call for business solutions and office products that support and inspirecreative minds in London. Through a combination of personal service, insights and expertise, what we do ishelp our customers take their thinking and ideas from vision to reality. From design consultancies, advertisingagencies, architectural practices and TV and media businesses, to radio broadcasters, theatres, copywritersand all the others involved in the creative industries, when you want to get from A to B and all you need is C.

www.colyer.co.uk Tel: 020 7833 0888

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