Designers can visualise 3D garments, with accurate proportion and scaling, and customise the garment's fabric, texture, stitching, embellishments, print patterns and graphic placement without waiting for a printed sample. EFI Reggiani vice-president and general manager Adele Genoni said that, “This unparalleled new digital printer brings new creativity to the industry with an explosion of colour. “ And, along with the entire portfolio of advanced EFI Reggiani textile production solutions, it helps our customers reach new levels of sustainability, efficiency and profitability.” The machine can print resolutions of up to 2,400dpi in one, two, three or four passes, and at a maximum speed of 560sqm/hr.

Reggiani Colors gives users the ability to print nearly any configuration of inks in 1.8m, 2.4m and 3.4m widths including using special inks, inks of different chemistry types, and chemistry for special treatments such as for higher-penetration printing, all at the same time, EFI said.

New software on the machine also allows for real-time image processing, which EFI said enhances users' overall workflow performance. The printer can be used in tandem with the recently-launched EFI Fiery Textile Bundle, which combines technologies for efficient textile design and file preparation with the Fiery ProServer digital front-end (DFE) for professional colour management and high-quality RIP output.

Riva said the new printer was “very well received” at ITM. “A lot of people came to the booth to see the technology and the new applications possible with the machine,” he said. The 1.8m-wide version of the printer, suitable for garments and fashion, is commercially available immediately while the 2.4m-wide and 3.4m-wide models, targeted at the home décor segment of the market, will be available from June. The machine can also be used with EFI’s Optitex integrated 2D/3D digital software for the fashion and textile industry that enables companies to quickly create 3D digital garments. Optitex 3D Design Illustrator, a new plug-in tool, gives designers the freedom to validate and customise 3D garments in Adobe Illustrator, EFI said.

“With the 12 channels you can improve the colour gamut and it gives you many more possibilities in terms of design, printing quality and uniformity,” said EFI Reggiani sales and marketing director Michele Riva.“ And you can use the 12 channels as a dual six-colour configuration if you want to improve the productivity.”A continuous ink recirculation system lets users print with a wider variety of inks while reducing purging and maintenance. Meanwhile, a simplified printhead design and proprietary electronics on the printer reduce setup time and streamline maintenance tasks.

Reggiani Colors was launched at the ITM exhibition in Istanbul earlier this month alongside EFI’s new Mezzera technology, which has been created to give textile companies a way to eliminate the excess water usage, chemistry waste and high operating costs of denim production.