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Custom Test Report BLI Comparative Performance Evaluation
APRIL 2014
Canon imagePROGRAF iPF680 vs
Epson SureColor T3000 24"
Canon imagePROGRAF iPF680 and Epson SureColor T3000 24" under test in BLI's European test lab
imagePROGRAF iPF680 SureColor T3000 24" Colour Image Quality Black Image Quality Colour Print Productivity Black Print Productivity Direct PDF Submission Functionality Device Feature Set Print Driver Feature Set This 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]. • (041403) Canon imagePROGRAF iPF680 vs Epson SureColor T3000 Custom Test Report Buyers Laboratory LLC (BLI) was commissioned by Canon Europe to conduct confidential document imaging device performance testing on the Canon imagePROGRAF iPF680 and the 24" Epson SureColor T3000, and produce a report comparing the relative strengths and weaknesses of the two products in terms of image quality, productivity, ink consumption, direct PDF submission, device feature set, driver functionality, and banner and poster printing. All testing was performed in BLI's test facility in Wokingham, UK. TABLE OF CONTENTS Executive Summary Colour Image Quality Black Image Quality Print Productivity Direct PDF Print Submission Functionality Device Feature Set Driver Feature Set Supporting Test Data Ink Consumption Test Methodology Overview 28 This 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]. • (041403) Canon imagePROGRAF iPF680 vs Epson SureColor T3000 Custom Test Report Executive Summary A very strong overall performer, the Canon imagePROGRAF iPF680 outshone the Epson SureColor T3000 24" in virtually every category evaluated, delivering much higher productivity in both colour and black in all modes test-ed—particularly in High quality, where it delivered output in less than half the time required for the Epson device—and superior image quality in colour and black modes. Moreover, the iPF680 had the advantage in ink consump-tion, using less ink for three of the four document tests, with the added bonus of allowing inks to be replenished during operation to maintain productivity and reduce operator downtime. The Epson model offered a number of strong features of its own. Notably, its device feature set includes higher standard and maximum memory capaci-ties than the Canon unit plus an optional 250-GB hard drive (although Canon do offer this option with the iPF685 sister model, which has a 320-GB hard drive), support for a higher print resolution and a much higher ink cartridge capacity, which helps reduce the frequency of replacing them. Another advantage of the Epson model is its lower rated energy consumption—54 watts while printing compared with 140 watts with the Canon model. However, the Canon model only uses 0.5 watts in standby mode (the state in which it is likely to spend more time) which is comparable with the Epson model's standby power consumption of 0.4 watts. The Canon iPF680 delivered superior overall image quality in both colour and black mode compared with the Epson device; it had a 20.8% larger colour gamut on photo quality paper in High quality setting, and it produced more natural-looking flesh tones, which were reddish in output produced by the Epson unit, and sharper colour business graphics. The Canon's serif and sans serif fonts were clearly legible down to 3-pt. level—while Epson's fonts were only visible down to 6-pt. level—with no breakup. The Epson model's optical density was higher for yellow across all modes, while the Canon model had higher density for black in all modes and cyan and magenta in Standard/High modes. Nor did it suffer from any ink bleed in text and line art when viewed under magnification, unlike the Epson device. As would be expected, both models delivered excellent results when printing Architectural, Engineering and Con-struction (AEC), Computer-Aided Design (CAD) and Geographical Information Systems (GIS) graphics; output exhibited a very good level of detail and distinct fine fines, while GIS graphics displayed an excellent depth of field so critical for topographical accuracy. The Canon model also boasts a significant advantage with its unidirectional print driver option. When selected, this option eliminates banding on the Canon iPF680's output, even in Fast mode, which is evident on the Epson device's output across the full width of the image in every mode except Max Quality. Another notable difference between the two models is how they handle ink and paper outages. When the Epson model runs out paper, it stops, even if it is in the middle of a page, and resumes printing the same page after paper is replenished, thus wasting two half pages. When it is out of paper, the Canon unit pauses, alerts the operator, and after a new roll is installed, prompts the operator to confirm the paper type and prints the interrupted page in full followed by all successive pages, hence only half a page is wasted. Moreover, BLI's analysts noted how easy it was to load new paper rolls on the Canon unit, whereas this process is much more cumbersome with the Epson model. When the Epson T3000 runs out of ink, it stops printing so that the cartridge can be replaced. In contrast, the Canon model continues to print when ink needs replacing, while alerting the user to replace the cartridge, which, importantly, can be done on the fly eliminating any operation downtime.
In conclusion, the Canon imagePROGRAF iPF680 delivered a superior performance in the majority of categories tested over the Epson SureColor T3000 24" model. The Canon model also offers several unique features over the Epson device, such as its unidirectional print capabilities and Canon Direct Print & Share, a free utility that can be downloaded from the company's website that supports direct PDF submission without the need to open an application. In addition, it offers flexibility to retrieve and share files from cloud storage services such as Google Drive and other online solutions—Microsoft SharePoint and AutoCAD 360—via the WebDAV protocol, for printing. No such utility is available with the Epson device.
This 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]. • (041403) Canon imagePROGRAF iPF680 vs Epson SureColor T3000 Custom Test Report Colour Image Quality imagePROGRAF iPF680 SureColor T3000 24" Business Graphics Photographic Images Colour Gamut (plain paper, Fast/Standard settings) Colour Gamut (plain paper, High/Max Quality settings) Colour Gamut (photo paper, High/Max Quality settings) , — and  represent positive, negative and neutral attributes, respectively.
 One factor influencing overall image quality is the Canon model's option of using unidirectional printing, which is available in all modes. The Epson model offers only bidirectional printing, which means that the printhead travels in both directions over the image, creating a noticeable pattern of banding across the full width of the image in all modes except Max Quality. The Canon model, on the other hand, is free from any banding, even in Fast mode, when unidirectional printing is selected.
 The Epson SureColor T3000 delivered a higher optical density for yellow on plain paper across all quality modes, while the Canon iPF680 had a higher optical density for magenta and cyan.
— When printing on plain paper in High and Max Quality settings, the Epson SureColor T3000 delivered a 4.7% larger colour gamut than did the Canon iPF680, with a CIE volume of 231,073 versus a CIE volume of 220,708 for the Canon model.
 When printing on plain paper using Canon's Standard quality setting and the Epson SureColor T3000's Qual- ity setting, the colour gamut produced by both models were largely comparable; the Canon model delivered a fractionally (0.02%) larger colour gamut, with a CIE volume of 216,452 compared with a CIE volume of 216,417 for the Epson device. In Fast/Speed mode, the Canon unit delivered the larger colour gamut (3.8% larger).
 When printing on photo-quality paper using Canon's High quality setting and the Epson SureColor T3000's Max Quality setting, the Canon model delivered a colour gamut 20.8% larger than that of the Epson unit, with an impressive CIE volume of 642,169 compared with 531,496 with the Epson unit.
This 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]. • (041403) Canon imagePROGRAF iPF680 vs Epson SureColor T3000 Custom Test Report  When evaluating text in colour mode, there were a few significant differences between the two models. In all modes, both serif and sans serif fonts were legible down to 3-pt. size with the Canon model, and text was crisp with no breakup. In contrast, fonts produced by the Epson model were legible only down to the 6-pt. level in Speed and Quality modes, and only down to the 8-pt. level in Max Quality, as output suffered from double imag-ing, even after BLI analysts had run full alignment checks.
 Notably, the Canon model exhibited no ink bleed in text and line art, whereas there was some ink bleed dis- played (under magnification) on the text and fine lines produced by the Epson model.
 Fine lines produced by both devices remained distinct down to the 0.1-pt. level in Fast/Speed mode; white-on- black fine lines were not visible at all with the Epson device, while the Canon device delivered white-on-black fine lines at the 0.25-pt. level in all modes. In High/Max Quality mode there were no differences between the two models for fine line accuracy.
 However, the Canon unit produced superior results for fine lines and text when the CAD (Colour Line Drawing) settings were used.
 Colour halftone range produced by both models was excellent, with distinct transitions between all levels.
 Colour halftone fill was slightly grainy on plain paper with the Epson model.
 In Architectural, Engineering and Construction (AEC) graphics in Standard/Quality and High/Max Quality modes, both the Canon and the Epson units produced an excellent level of detail and very distinct fine lines.
 In Geographic Information Systems (GIS) graphics in High/Max Quality mode on plain paper, both units exhibited a fine level of detail and excellent depth of field.
 Colour business graphics produced by the Canon iPF680 exhibited sharper details and very good colour satura- tion when compared with the Epson device.
 When evaluating photographic images there was very little difference between the two models, with both deliver- ing excellent detailing in dark contrast areas. The Canon unit produced smoother circles and better detailing in light contrast areas, while the Epson unit delivered better saturation.
 Skin tones produced by the Canon model were more natural-looking, while those produced by the Epson device were distinctly reddish in Speed mode.
 In summary, BLI judged the Canon iPF680 to be the stronger performer in the colour image quality assessment. While the Epson model offers a higher optical density for yellow and a larger colour gamut on plain paper in High/Max Quality mode, the Canon model delivered higher optical densities for cyan and magenta, as well as the larger colour gamut in three of the four tests, especially on photo quality paper. Both models produced distinct fine lines in AEC drawings and an excellent level of detail and depth of field in GIS graphics. The Epson model suffered from some ink bleed in text and line art when viewed under magnification, but the iPF680 did not, which demonstrates the model's marked improvement over its iPF650 predecessor. Canon's unidirectional printing op-tion is also an advantage, as it eliminated the banding issues that were evident across all output from the Epson device, except with the driver's Max Quality mode.
This 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]. • (041403) Canon imagePROGRAF iPF680 vs Epson SureColor T3000 Custom Test Report Black Image Quality imagePROGRAF iPF680 SureColor T3000 24" Business Graphics Photographic Images The Canon model delivered higher optical densities for black in all modes tested—Fast, Standard and High.
In text output, there was a clear difference between the two models. In all modes, both serif and sans serif fonts produced by the Canon device were legible down to the 3-pt. level with no breakup. However, fonts produced by the Epson model in Speed/Quality modes were legible down to the 6-pt. level, and only to the 8-pt. level in Max Quality mode, with distinct breakup in some characters. These results along with the higher density, gave the Canon model a distinct edge overall.
Notably, the Canon model exhibited no ink bleed in text and line art, whereas there was some ink bleed displayed in the text and fine lines produced by the Epson model when viewed under magnification.
The Canon unit produced superior results for fine lines and text when the CAD (Monochrome Line Drawing) set-tings were used, with no overspray.
Fine lines in BLI's Line Art test target remained distinct down to the 0.1-pt. level in all modes in the output of both devices, but the Epson model failed to deliver white-on-black fine lines. Circles produced by both models were fully formed and there was no sign of stair-stepping in diagonal lines.
Both models delivered a very good halftone range—from the 10% to 100% dot-fill levels in all modes.
Halftone fill results in all modes were very good for the Canon device, while the Epson unit was rated only good, as some graininess was visible across all output, even without magnification.
The Canon unit delivered darker solids with higher optical density than did the Epson model and no mottling.
When evaluating AEC graphics in Standard/Quality and High/Max Quality modes in black, both models delivered very good detail and distinct fine lines.
Monochrome business graphics in High/Max Quality quality mode on plain paper were produced more accu-rately by the Canon model, with smooth halftone gradations and crisp text, whereas some graininess was visible in the output of the Epson unit, even without magnification.
This 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]. • (041403) Canon imagePROGRAF iPF680 vs Epson SureColor T3000 Custom Test Report The Canon model produced photographic images in High/Max Quality mode on plain paper with smoother gra-dations than did the Epson model.
BLI analysts lauded the Canon device for its superior black image quality; it delivered superior halftone fills, detailed and distinct white-on-black fine lines (which the Epson unit could not produce), smoother gradations in photographic images, higher optical density in all modes, darker solids and text that was legible down to a smaller size (3-pt.), with no breakup. Both models delivered excellent AEC graphics, very good halftone range and smooth circles with no breakup.
Print Productivity imagePROGRAF iPF680 SureColor T3000 24" First Page Out From Ready State First Page Out From Weekend Non-Use Throughput Speed (fastest mode) Throughput Speed (default mode) Throughput Speed (highest-quality mode) Job Stream (multiple jobs submitted to device in fast succession simulating busy network environment)  One factor having an impact on productivity is the way the Epson SureColor T3000 handles the replacement of ink. When this model runs out of ink, printing has to stop for the cartridge to be replaced, leading to operator downtime. However, printing resumes seamlessly from the same point in the page, with no discernible line or break in output and no difference in image quality, so no ink or paper is wasted.
 In contrast, the Canon model will continue to print (drawing ink from its sub tank) when ink needs replacing, while its control panel conveniently alerts the user to replace ink as well as provides ink purchasing information. Inks can be replaced while printing is in progress, so there is no operator downtime, plus no ink or paper is wasted.
 The Epson T3000 stops printing when it runs out of paper. Once a new roll is installed, it resumes printing the remaining portion of the page, thus printing two partial pages. This would have an adverse effect on productivity in longer print runs. In contrast, when the Canon unit runs out of paper, it pauses and alerts the operator. After a new roll is installed, the operator is prompted to confirm the paper type, after which the job will continue printing from the beginning of the interrupted page, so less ink and paper is wasted.  Both models' output catch tray can stack printed sheets neatly and in the correct sequence, which makes col- lating output easier and helps to reduce operator intervention and downtime. The Canon unit has the advantage of supporting flat stacking, whereas the Epson unit only supports hanging stacking.
This 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]. • (041403) Canon imagePROGRAF iPF680 vs Epson SureColor T3000 Custom Test Report  The Canon iPF680 delivered a faster first-page-out time of 85.71 seconds after a weekend of non-use, com- pared with 89.20 seconds for the Epson device. Start-up time before printing commenced was 43.93 seconds for the Canon model, slower than the 15.67 seconds for the Epson unit.
 Similarly, the Canon iPF680 delivered a faster first-page-out time of just 57.69 seconds from its ready state, compared with 85.94 seconds for the Epson device. Start-up time before printing commenced was 16.37 sec-onds for the Canon model, a little slower compared with 11.51 seconds for the Epson unit.
 When printing BLI's job stream, designed to simulate a typical mixed workflow for a large-format unit, the Canon iPF680 was 4.2% faster than the Epson model in Fast/Speed mode, 34.7% faster in Standard/Quality mode, and 52.1% faster in High quality/Max Quality mode.
 When printing BLI's 12-page DWF test file in colour, the Canon unit was 11.7% faster in Fast/Speed mode, 39.2% faster in Standard/Quality mode, and 54.1% faster in High quality/Max Quality mode when compared with the Epson unit.
 When printing BLI's 12-page DWF test file in monochrome, the Canon unit was 13.9% faster than the Epson model in Fast/Speed mode, 37.9% faster in Standard/Quality mode, and 54.3% faster in High quality/Max Qual-ity mode than the Epson device.
Direct PDF Print Submission Functionality imagePROGRAF iPF680 SureColor T3000 24"  A free download from Canon's website, the iPF Direct Print & Share utility enables PDFs to be printed without opening Adobe Acrobat. iPF Direct Print & Share also allows users to retrieve files from cloud storage for print-ing. The latest version (v2.0) of iPF Direct Print & Share (not tested with this model) supports "Shortcut Print" functionality which defines several print settings via a desktop icon. Files are automatically printed with the predefined setting with a simple drag-and-drop operation on the icon. Multiple desktop icons can be created for different print settings.
This 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]. • (041403) Canon imagePROGRAF iPF680 vs Epson SureColor T3000 Custom Test Report Canon's iPF Direct Print & Share utility
 There is no direct PDF submission functionality available for the Epson device, nor does the company offer cloud storage/connectivity. imagePROGRAF iPF680 SureColor T3000 24"  The Canon iPF680 successfully printed BLI's 24" x 70" banner (originally a 4,955-KB PDF file) in Fast mode, tak- ing just 24.0 seconds to generate a preview, and a further 1 minute, 48.34 seconds from preview to final paper cut.
In Speed mode, the Epson SureColor T3000 successfully printed BLI's banner, taking 68.91 seconds to generate a preview; however, an additional 3 minutes, 0.58 seconds were required from the file preview until the banner completed printing and was cut. This 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]. • (041403) Canon imagePROGRAF iPF680 vs Epson SureColor T3000 Custom Test Report imagePROGRAF iPF680 SureColor T3000 24" Image Quality (Fast and Standard modes) Image Quality (High/Max Quality modes) When printing a poster in Fast/Speed mode at 300 dpi, the Canon model took 47.6 seconds to complete the job and the Epson unit took 39.1 seconds, although banding was evident in the output of both models across the full width of the poster. When the Canon model was switched to unidirectional printing, which eliminated the banding, it took 60.14 seconds to print.
When printing a poster in Standard/Quality mode at 600 dpi, the Canon model took 62.90 seconds and the Ep-son unit took 77.17 seconds, but some slight banding was evident with the Epson model in this mode.
Printing a poster in High quality (600 dpi) mode on the Canon model took 1 minute, 44.48 seconds, while the printing the same poster in Max Quality (720 x 1440 dpi) mode took the Epson model 3 minutes, 4.18 seconds—a 76.3% longer print time for the Epson model.
At these High/Max Quality settings, image quality was equally good on output from both models with vibrant reds, rich colour saturation and clarity of definition. This 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]. • (041403) Canon imagePROGRAF iPF680 vs Epson SureColor T3000 Custom Test Report Results averaged across three sets of 50-page A1 printing in Fast/ Speed and Standard/Quality Modes imagePROGRAF iPF680 SureColor T3000 24" COTTAGE ARCHITECTURAL PLAN (Fast/Speed Mode) Average weight of ink used (grams) Percentage of total ink used averaged across all colours COTTAGE ARCHITECTURAL PLAN (Standard/Quality Mode) Average weight of ink used (grams) Percentage of total ink used averaged across all colours RETAIL POSTER (Standard/Quality Mode) Average weight of ink used Percentage of total ink used averaged across all colours GIS MAP (Standard/Quality Mode) Average weight of ink used Percentage of total ink used averaged across all colours — When producing 50 prints of a Cottage Architectural Plan in Fast/Speed Mode, the Canon unit used 22.6% more ink than did the Epson T3000. However, the Canon model used only 1.2% of the ink available, whereas the Epson model used 2.7% of the available ink.
When producing 50 prints of a Cottage Architectural Plan in Standard/Quality Mode, the Canon unit used 1.8% less ink than did the Epson SureColor T3000.
When printing a Retail Poster in Standard/Quality Mode, the Canon unit used 28.6% less ink than did the Epson T3000, and a percentage of available ink that was nearly three quarters less than that of the Epson device.
When printing a GIS Map, the Canon iPF680 used 31.1% less ink compared with the Epson device, and a per-centage of available ink that was, again, nearly three quarters less than that of the Epson model.
As noted earlier, the fact that the Canon cartridges can be run to exhaustion without interrupting the printing process means that less ink and paper are likely to be wasted by the Canon model than by the Epson unit.
This 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]. • (041403) Canon imagePROGRAF iPF680 vs Epson SureColor T3000 Custom Test Report Device Feature Set — The capacity of the Canon cartridges (130 ml and 300 ml for black, cyan, magenta and yellow) is much lower than those of the Epson model (110 ml, 350 ml and 700 ml), and as a consequence they will need to be replaced more frequently than with the Epson device.
If the Canon device detects that printhead nozzles are in danger of clogging, it automatically starts a cleaning routine. This task would have to be done manually with the Epson unit, although BLI analysts did not encounter any nozzle clogging issues during testing.
Canon's ink cartridges are replaceable during operation, which helps to reduce downtime for Canon users. The Canon unit supports a slightly higher maximum cut-sheet media length of 1.6 m compared with 1.5 m for the Epson unit.
Both models offer both high-speed USB 2.0 and Gigabit Ethernet connectivity.
The Canon device supports easy and quick roll paper set with auto paper feed, while manual paper feed is re-quired with the Epson model, which takes more time. The catch trays of both models enable printed sheets to be stacked very neatly (and in the correct sequence), making collating output much easier. However, the Canon unit has the advantage of supporting flat stacking, whereas the Epson unit only supports hanging stacking.
— The Canon model offers a standard and maximum RAM of 256 MB, while the Epson unit has a standard and maximum RAM of 512 MB, plus an extra-cost optional 250-GB hard drive, which this Canon model doesn't offer. However, the Canon iPF685 sister model comes with a standard 320-GB hard drive and 32-GB virtual memory.
The Epson model is a lighter (53 kg versus 56.7 kg) device than the Canon unit.
The HP-GL/2 functionality supported by Epson lacks certain features such as Pen Selecting, Centering and Scaling, which are available with the Canon model. — The Epson model includes a colour LCD, while the Canon model has a monochrome LCD display.
— The Epson SureColor T3000's rated power consumption is much lower than that of the Canon model while print- ing (54 watts versus Canon's 140 watts).
However, in standby mode (where the devices are likely to spend more of their time) the Canon model's power consumption (0.5 W) is comparable with that of the Epson device (0.4 W).
Rated noise emissions are lower with the Canon model (47 dB versus 50 dB).
This 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]. • (041403) Canon imagePROGRAF iPF680 vs Epson SureColor T3000 Custom Test Report Driver Feature Set  The Canon iPF680 has five speed settings (Fast 300, Standard 600, Draft 600, High 600 and 1200), which are matched by three settings with the Epson device (Speed, Quality and Max Quality), although not all speed set-tings are available with all media types.
 Both the Canon GARO driver and the Epson ESC/P driver provide a useful overview of the settings for pre- defined profiles.
 The Canon driver offers a wider range of seven predefined profiles than the Epson unit, which has only three.
 The Canon driver supports multi-up (2 to 16) printing, while the Epson driver supports only 2 to 4 multi-up print- — However, the Epson driver has a poster mode (4 by 4), which is also offered by the Canon GARO driver (2 by 2).
— The Canon driver enables page stamping (Date, Time, Name and Page Number), but the Epson driver offers a wider range of options, including all the image quality attributes.
 Both the Epson driver and the Canon GARO driver offer a wide range of built-in adjustments for CMYK balance, brightness, contrast and saturation. ICC profile settings are also available with both drivers—in the case of Canon's GARO driver in its matching tab under Advanced Settings. Canon operators can select four matching modes (driver, ICC, driver ICM and host ICM matching) and choose one of four rendering methods (auto, per-ceptual, colorimetric or saturation). — The Epson model provides a useful thumbnail preview for users to check the effects on the image as they make colour adjustments.
 The Canon driver offers unidirectional printing, even in Fast mode. This means that the printhead travels in only one direction to create the desired image, helping to avoid the banding that's evident across the full width of the image when using the Epson device's bidirectional printhead in every mode except Max Quality.
 The Canon driver includes the Color imageRUNNER Enlargement Copy Mode utility, which enables users to integrate a Canon small-format MFP device with the iPF680. Documents scanned by the Canon MFP are au-tomatically routed to a hot folder that is monitored by the driver of the iPF680. The image is then resized and printed, offering a fast, easy-to-use poster creation tool for office users. Epson users can choose comparable functionality via the extra-cost CopyFactory Utility.  The Canon driver also includes a Free Layout nesting tool that enables files—even files created with different applications—to be scaled, resized, or grouped together as a single job from the printer driver. Images can be dragged and dropped to their desired locations and printed together on a single page, helping to save on paper.
 The Epson driver offers resizing functionality via the Layout Manager utility.
 The Canon model also offers a plug-in for printing from Microsoft Office applications, which includes useful tools for automatic media resizing, nesting and borderless printing. Epson offers similar software, LFP Print Plug-in for Office, to its users.
This 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]. • (041403) Canon imagePROGRAF iPF680 vs Epson SureColor T3000 Custom Test Report Canon Print Driver Main Tab
Canon Print Driver Page Setup Tab
Canon Print Driver Layout Tab
Canon Print Driver Favourites Tab
Canon Print Driver Colour Adjustment Tab
This 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]. • (041403) Canon imagePROGRAF iPF680 vs Epson SureColor T3000 Custom Test Report Epson Print Driver Printer Settings Tab
Epson Print Driver Layout Tab
Epson Print Driver Advanced Settings Tab
Epson Print Driver Utility Tab
Epson Print Driver Colour Controls
This 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]. • (041403) Canon imagePROGRAF iPF680 vs Epson SureColor T3000 Custom Test Report SUPPORTING TEST DATA Job Stream Productivity Mixed File Types, Same Size Canon imagePROGRAF iPF680 Epson SureColor T3000 24" (time in seconds) (time in seconds) BLI's job stream consists of nine files, including PDF, TIFF and DWF files totalling 19 pages, all Arch D-size. This test replicates the type of traffic a typical wide-format device might experience in a real-world, multi-user environment. All of the files are submitted to the controller in a specific order and sent to the printer as a group, at which time the stopwatch begins; timing ends when the last page of the last file exits the device. Both devices were loaded with 610 mm rolls. Colour Productivity Canon imagePROGRAF iPF680 Epson SureColor T3000 24" (time in seconds) (time in seconds) The 12-page DWF test file was printed using the device driver set to the plain paper/colour setting. Both devices were loaded with 610-mm rolls. The actual time indicated is the time it took to RIP, image and deliver all pages of the test document to the collection bin.
Monochrome Productivity Canon imagePROGRAF iPF680 Epson SureColor T3000 24" (time in seconds) (time in seconds) The 12-page DWF test file was printed with the Canon driver set to the plain paper/monochrome setting and the EPSON driver set to plain paper, greyscale, black ink only. Both devices were loaded with 610-mm rolls. The actual time indicated is the time it took to RIP, image and deliver all pages of the test document to the collection bin.
First-Page-Out Productivity after a Weekend of Non-Use Canon imagePROGRAF iPF680 Epson SureColor T3000 24" (time in seconds) (time in seconds) Time Before Printing Commences This 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]. • (041403) Canon imagePROGRAF iPF680 vs Epson SureColor T3000 Custom Test Report First-Page-Out Productivity from Ready State Canon imagePROGRAF iPF680 Epson SureColor T3000 24" (time in seconds) (time in seconds) Time Before Printing Commences First-page-out times are achieved by sending an Arch D-size PDF file to print, timed from release to page out with the Canon driver set to the plain paper/monochrome setting and the Epson driver set to plain paper and black. Both devices were loaded with 610-mm rolls. Colour Print Quality Colour Optical Density Evaluation Canon imagePROGRAF iPF680 Epson SureColor T3000 24" Note: Colour density readings were assessed by printing an IT8 test file on plain paper in default colour settings at all quality settings available and measuring the density of 100% dot fill and 50% dot fill using an XRite 508 densitometer.
This 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]. • (041403) Canon imagePROGRAF iPF680 vs Epson SureColor T3000 Custom Test Report Colour Gamut Comparison Media Type/Settings imagePROGRAF iPF680 SureColor T3000 24" Plain Paper Standard Glossy Photo High Epson SureColor T3000 24" colour gamut on plain paper in Speed
settings (red) versus Canon imagePROGRAF iPF680 colour gamut
(shown chromatically) on plain paper in Fast settings.
Canon imagePROGRAF iPF680 on plain paper in Fast
Epson SureColor T3000 24" on plain paper in Speed
mode mode
This 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]. • (041403) Canon imagePROGRAF iPF680 vs Epson SureColor T3000 Custom Test Report Epson SureColor T3000 24" colour gamut on plain paper in Max
Quality settings (red) versus Canon imagePROGRAF iPF680 colour
gamut (shown chromatically) on plain paper in High quality settings.
Canon imagePROGRAF iPF680 on plain paper
Epson SureColor T3000 24"on plain paper
in High quality mode
in Max Quality mode
This 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]. • (041403) Canon imagePROGRAF iPF680 vs Epson SureColor T3000 Custom Test Report Epson SureColor T3000 24" colour gamut on plain paper in Quality
settings (red) versus Canon imagePROGRAF iPF680 colour gamut
(shown chromatically) on plain paper in Standard settings.
Canon imagePROGRAF iPF680 on plain paper
Epson SureColor T3000 24"on plain paper
in Standard mode
in Quality mode
This 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]. • (041403) Canon imagePROGRAF iPF680 vs Epson SureColor T3000 Custom Test Report Epson SureColor T3000 24" colour gamut on photo quality paper in Max
Quality settings (red) versus Canon imagePROGRAF iPF680 colour gamut
(shown chromatically) on photo quality paper in High quality settings.
Canon imagePROGRAF iPF680 on photo quality paper
Epson SureColor T3000 24"on photo quality
in High mode
paper in Max Quality mode
This 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]. • (041403) Canon imagePROGRAF iPF680 vs Epson SureColor T3000 Custom Test Report Black Print Quality imagePROGRAF iPF680 SureColor T3000 24" Note: Solid black density measurements are based on four readings taken from a BLI proprietary PDF test target file corresponding to four different 100% solid black locations on the output. The output was assessed at all quality settings available, with the Canon driver set to plain paper/monochrome setting and the EPSON driver set to plain paper, greyscale, black ink only. Density was measured using an XRite 508 densitometer.
This 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]. • (041403) Canon imagePROGRAF iPF680 vs Epson SureColor T3000 Custom Test Report Device Feature Set imagePROGRAF iPF680 SureColor T3000 24" Max. print quality Ink tanks replaceable during operation 3.5 picoliter (variable) Ink cartridge capacity 90 ml, 130 ml MBK (Starter), 130 ml and 300 ml 110 ml, 350 ml, 700 ml Number of nozzles MBK: 5,120 nozzles, Other colours: 2,560 nozzles each, 15,360 in total 3,600 (720 per colour) Number of printheads Minimum line width Minimum print margins Maximum outside diameter of roll paper Maximum cut-sheet media length Maximum media width Optional media handling Roll media adapter (iPF685 has 32-GB virtual memory) (iPF685 has 320-GB HDD) 10/100/1000Base-T/TX Ethernet, USB 2.0 100Base-TX/1000Base-T Ethernet, USB GARO, HP-GL/2, HP RTL HP-GL/2, HP RTL, Epson ESC/P Net weight (unpacked) Rated power consumption when in Rated power consumption when active Acoustic pressure Operation: 47 dB (A) or less; Standby: 35 Operation: 50 dB (A); Operation: 6.4 Bels or less This 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]. • (041403) Canon imagePROGRAF iPF680 vs Epson SureColor T3000 Custom Test Report Driver Feature Set imagePROGRAF iPF680 SureColor T3000 24" 5 (Fast 300, Standard 600, Fast 600, High 3 (Speed, Quality, Max Quality), depending Predefined profiles Overview of profile settings provided IQ optimized for options Thicken fine lines Multi-up printing Poster print mode Yes (Date, Time, Document/User/Printer Name, Media Type, Print Quality Level, Yes (Date, Time, Name, Page Number) Resolution, Print Mode, High Speed, Finest Detail, Edge Smoothing, Colour Adjustment and Value, Colour Density Yes, auto 180 degrees Yes, auto 180 degrees Option to preview before print Link to device web server from driver No (there is a link to Status Monitor) Yes, with optional hard drive (there is also a link to Status Monitor 3) CMYK balance adjustment Brightness adjustment Contrast adjustment Saturation adjustment Advanced colour management options Disable automatic cutter Unidirectional printing This 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]. • (041403) Canon imagePROGRAF iPF680 vs Epson SureColor T3000 Custom Test Report Amount of Ink in Each Canon imagePROGRAF iPF680 Cartridge (grams) Weight of cartridge prior Weight of cartridge at Net weight of ink Total ink weight across five cartridges Amount of Ink in Each Epson SureColor T3000 24" Cartridge (grams) Weight of cartridge prior Weight of cartridge at Net weight of ink Total ink weight across five cartridges Ink Used in Three 50-Page Runs of Cottage Architectural Drawing Test Document (Fast mode) on the Canon imagePROGRAF iPF680 (grams) Net weight of ink used Net weight of ink used Net weight of ink used Average amount of ink used across three runs Total ink weight across five cartridges for 50-page run (based on averages) This 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]. • (041403) Canon imagePROGRAF iPF680 vs Epson SureColor T3000 Custom Test Report Ink Used in Three 50-Page Runs of Cottage Architectural Drawing Test Document (Speed mode) on the Epson SureColor T3000 24" (grams) Net weight of ink used Net weight of ink used Net weight of ink used Average amount of ink used across three runs Total ink weight across five cartridges for 50-page run (based on averages) Ink Used in Three 50-Page Runs of Cottage Architectural Drawing Test Document (Stan-dard mode) on the Canon imagePROGRAF iPF680 (grams) Net weight of ink used Net weight of ink used Net weight of ink used Average amount of ink used across three runs Total Ink Weight across five cartridges for 50-page run (based on averages) Ink Used in Three 50-Page Runs of Cottage Architectural Drawing Test Document (Qual-ity mode) on the Epson SureColor T3000 24" (grams) Net weight of ink used Net weight of ink used Net weight of ink used Average amount of ink used across three runs Total Ink Weight across five cartridges for 50-page run (based on averages) This 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]. • (041403) Canon imagePROGRAF iPF680 vs Epson SureColor T3000 Custom Test Report Ink Used in Three 50-Page Runs of Retail Poster Test Document on the Canon image-PROGRAF iPF680 (grams) Net weight of ink used Net weight of ink used Net weight of ink used Average amount of ink used across three runs Total ink weight across five cartridges for 50-page run (based on averages) Ink Used in Three 50-Page runs of Retail Poster Test Document on the Epson SureColor T3000 24" (grams) Net weight of ink used Net weight of ink used Net weight of ink used Average amount of ink used across three runs Total ink weight across five cartridges for 50-page run (based on averages) Ink Used in Three 50-Page Runs of GIS Map Test Document on the Canon imagePRO-GRAF iPF680 (grams) Net weight of ink used Net weight of ink used Net weight of ink used Average amount of ink used across three runs Total ink weight across five cartridges for 50-page run (based on averages) This 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]. • (041403) Canon imagePROGRAF iPF680 vs Epson SureColor T3000 Custom Test Report Ink Used in Three 50-page Runs of GIS Map Test Document on the Epson SureColor T3000 24" (grams) Net weight of ink used Net weight of ink used Net weight of ink used Average amount of ink used across three runs Total ink weight across five cartridges for 50-page run (based on averages) Ink consumption Test Methodology Overview: Buyers Lab's ink consumption analysis was conducted using three document types (architectural plan, retail poster and GIS map). Each document was formatted as a PDF and sized at ISO A1, except for the Cottage Architectural Plan, which was formatted as a DWF file. The Canon imagePROGRAF iPF680 was installed in BLI's lab with the latest level of firmware (as of March 2014) and connected to a Windows 7 workstation using a 1000BaseT TCP/IP connection. The device was left in default configuration throughout testing. The Canon GARO driver was used for all testing and was left in default colour setting configuration with media selection set to plain paper and the image set to print at actual size. For the Cottage Architectural Drawing, Print Priority settings were set to Line Drawing/Text with Quality set to Fast and Standard (600 dpi). For the Retail Poster and GIS Map, Print Priority settings were set to Image with Quality set to Standard (600 dpi). The Epson SureColor T3000 24" was installed in BLI's lab with the latest level of firmware (as of March 2014) and connected to a Windows 7 workstation using a 1000BaseT TCP/IP connection. The device was left in de-fault configuration throughout testing. The Windows EPSON-GL2 driver was used for all testing and was left in default colour setting, with media selection set to plain paper and the image set to print at actual size. Quality was set to Quality (600 dpi) mode for all document types with the exception of the Cottage Architectural Plan, which was tested in both Speed and Quality modes.
Before installing the ink cartridges, BLI technicians weighed and recorded the weight of each with all packag-ing removed. At the end of each 50-print test run, the cartridges were weighed again and the resulting weight of ink used for the test run calculated for each colour. To ensure that the sub-tank on the Canon model did not affect results, a procedure was followed to ensure that the sub-tank level was at its maximum before the print run commenced and again after the print run was completed, thereby ensuring that ink replenishment of the sub-tanks was taken into account for each print run. Canon imagePROGRAF iPF680: one cartridge was then run to exhaustion and the weight of the empty car-tridge was recorded. Epson SureColor T3000 24": one cartridge was then run to exhaustion and the weight of the empty cartridge was recorded. This 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]. • (041403) Canon imagePROGRAF iPF680 vs Epson SureColor T3000 Custom Test Report The percentage of ink used per cartridge was calculated by dividing the net weight of ink used in the print run by the overall weight of ink in each cartridge and multiplying by 100. The percentage of total ink used per printer was calculated by adding the percentages used of each of the cartridges and dividing by the number of cartridges. Testing was conducted in BLI's European test lab, in an atmospherically controlled environment monitored by a 24/7 Dickson Temperature/RH chart recorder, ensuring that typical office conditions were maintained. All pa-per used in testing was allowed to acclimatize inside the facility for a minimum of 12 hours before being used. BLI's dedicated test network in Europe, consisting of Windows 2007 servers, Windows 7 workstations, 10/100/1000BaseTX network switches and CAT5e/6 cabling.
The test methods and procedures employed by BLI in its lab testing include BLI's proprietary procedures and industry-standard test procedures. In addition to a number of proprietary test documents, BLI uses industry standard files including an IT8 test file and an ASTM monochrome test document for evaluating black image quality. In addition to a visual observation, colour print quality and gamut size are evaluated using a profile software tool from Colour Confidence that was read using an EFI ES-1000 colour spectrophotometer and analysed using Chromix ColorThink Pro 3.0 software. Density of black and colour output was measured using an X-Rite 508 densitometer. About Buyers Laboratory LLC Buyers Laboratory LLC (BLI) is the world's leading independent provider of analytical information and services to the digital imaging and document management industry. For more than 50 years, buyers have relied on BLI to help them differentiate products' strengths and weaknesses and make the best purchasing decisions, while industry sales, marketing and product professionals have turned to BLI for insightful competitive intelligence and valued guidance on product development, competitive positioning and sales channel and marketing sup-port. Using BLI's web-based bliQ and Solutions Center services, 40,000 professionals worldwide create ex-tensive side-by-side comparisons of hardware and software solutions for more than 15,000 products globally, including comprehensive specifications and the performance results and ratings from BLI's unparalleled Lab, Solutions and Environmental Test Reports, the result of months of hands-on evaluation in its US and UK labs. The services, also available via mobile devices, include a comprehensive library of BLI's test reports, an image gallery, hard to find manufacturers' literature and valuable tools for configuring products, calculating total cost of ownership (TCO) and annual power usage. BLI also offers consulting and private, for-hire testing services that help manufacturers develop and market better products and consumables.
For more information on Buyers Laboratory, please call David Sweetnam on +44(0) 118 977 2000, visit www.
buyerslab.com, or email [email protected]. This 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]. • (041403)

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