Salt Lake City-based Onyx Graphics, a developer of RIP software and workflow systems for the signage and commercial graphics industry, announces that its software will be driving the new Colorado 1640 UVgel printer made by Océ, a Canon company based in the Netherlands.

The companies say that the combination of the printer’s automation features and UVgel technology, combined with the upcoming Onyx 12.2 release, will result in low total cost of operation, accelerating return on investment for the user. Onyx Graphics says it has custom-built this driver to include a new user interface to support the printer’s multi-roll functionality, and simplified page size and media handling. The company says its software provides all of this while offering a custom device experience including easily visible ink levels, printer status and media information.

The Océ Colorado 1640 printer is Canon’s new 64-inch roll-to-roll model powered by the company’s new UVgel technology. According to Canon, the printer combines a radically new UV curable ink from Canon that instantly gels on contact with the media; an advanced “self-aware” piezoelectric printhead technology; an LED-based UV system that cures without adding any damaging heat to the media; and continuous, on-the-fly, patented printhead nozzle monitoring and performance compensation. The company also claims the printer is the fastest printer in this segment, offering a top speed of 1,710 square feet per hour for applications such as billboards or outdoor banners and operating as fast as 430 square feet per hour for close-up indoor applications. Productivity is further boosted by its dual-roll configuration.

ONYX 12.2 software will be released for ONYX Thrive, ONYX ProductionHouse, ONYX PosterShop and ONYX RIPCenter RIP software packages.