Canon Launches New Colorado XL-Series 3.4m Printer for Large Format Graphics
▼ Summary
– Canon has launched the Colorado XL-series, a new 3.4m printer platform using UVgel technology for the 3.2m graphics market, available in hybrid and roll-to-roll configurations.
– The series includes two models, the XL7 roll-to-roll and XL7 hybrid, offering versatility across various media types and print speeds up to 211m² per hour in express mode.
– It features the UVgel 860 ink set, providing benefits like odourless, instant-dry prints, high durability, and matte or gloss finishes without additional varnish.
– New innovations include UVgel 850 PrintHeads with automated nozzle monitoring and UVgel FullBeam Curing for consistent print quality and a wider colour gamut.
– Optional features such as UVgel White, FLXfinish+, and FLXture enable creative effects and textured finishes, with availability scheduled from the beginning of 2026.
Canon has officially introduced its groundbreaking Colorado XL-series, a new line of 3.4-meter large format printers designed to bring the company’s advanced UVgel technology into the 3.2-meter graphics market. This modular platform, which can be upgraded in the field, is available in both hybrid and roll-to-roll configurations. It promises outstanding versatility and productivity for a wide array of applications, including signage, point-of-sale displays, packaging, and interior décor, working efficiently with both flexible and rigid media.
The series includes two user-friendly models: the Colorado XL7 roll-to-roll printer and the Colorado XL7 hybrid printer. These machines extend the advantages of UVgel technology to a broader segment, supporting an impressive range of media types. Operators can print on everything from standard banner, paper, vinyl, and films to specialized materials like soft signage, heat-sensitive substrates, foam board, fluted polypropylene, acrylic, aluminium composite boards, and cardboard. This flexibility allows print providers to meet diverse client needs without switching equipment. In terms of speed, the system delivers 70 square meters per hour in quality mode, 106 square meters per hour in production mode, and reaches up to 211 square meters per hour in express mode. For rigid applications, it accommodates materials as thick as 52 millimeters, or two inches.
Several key technological innovations define the Colorado XL-series. It uses the UVgel 860 ink set, specially optimized to perform reliably across both flexible and rigid applications. This ink system retains the hallmark benefits of UVgel technology: prints are odorless and dry instantly, offer high mechanical and chemical durability, and maintain dimensional stability thanks to low-temperature curing. The inks also provide excellent color consistency, are free of TPO and VCL, and can produce both matte and gloss finishes without requiring a separate varnish.
New UVgel 850 PrintHeads are another central feature. Each printhead contains 4,544 nozzles and includes automated, built-in monitoring and compensation to maintain consistent nozzle performance. A single printhead can support two colors at the same time, meaning only two printheads are needed for standard CMYK printing, with an optional third for white ink configurations. The printhead carriage is agile and precise, incorporating UVgel DynamicMotion Control to ensure superior print quality even when using challenging or difficult media.
The series also introduces UVgel FullBeam Curing, an advancement in UV LED curing technology. This system employs a unique 3.4-meter-wide LED curing array along with a specialized mirror design to deliver uniform UV light exposure across the entire print width. The result is exceptional print consistency over large surfaces and a wider achievable color gamut. Media handling is enhanced by the new UVgel TRIdrive vacuum belt system, which uses three interactive rollers and multiple powerful vacuum zones. This setup automatically detects and corrects media positioning to reduce wrinkling and skewing, ensuring highly repeatable and accurate transport through the printer for sharp, precise output.
A number of optional features, already popular on the modular Colorado M-series, are available for the XL-series as well. These include UVgel White for straightforward white ink printing, FLXfinish+ for applying matte, gloss, or mixed finishes on the same print without extra varnish, and FLXture for creating textured effects that mimic materials such as leather, wood, or fabric.
According to Mathew Faulkner, Director of Marketing & Innovation for Canon EMEA’s Wide Format Printing Group, the launch represents a significant step forward. He notes that large format print providers today need systems that offer high productivity, application versatility, and dependable quality, all while addressing the industry-wide challenge of finding skilled operators. The Colorado XL-series meets these demands by bringing the proven benefits of UVgel technology to the 3.2-meter market for the first time, supported by extensive automation and a modular design. This allows print service providers already creating high-value signage and graphics to expand into new sectors like packaging and décor, leveraging unique finishes such as mixed gloss/matte effects and textured printing at a large scale.
The hybrid capability is especially valuable, Faulkner adds, because it lets users handle both roll-to-roll and rigid applications on a single device using the same ink, color profiles, and special finishes. For brands, this means seamless campaign execution across various applications, from roll-fed graphics and rigid signage to packaging and décor elements, ensuring perfect consistency even when different pieces are displayed together in retail environments. This consistency helps elevate the overall brand experience, which is increasingly important in today’s competitive market.
The Colorado XL-series is scheduled to become available at the start of 2026 through Canon’s direct sales channels and its network of accredited partners.
(Source: MEA Tech Watch)