About the EPSON PiezoGraph

Seiko Epson pursued ever-more-detailed expression of color since its first days selling scanners and inkjet printers.

The company boasts scanners featuring high resolution/high gradation, along with a deep subject depth. It also offers inkjet printers which produce images of unprecedentedly high quality using between six and eight colors of microdots. Using this combination to scan and print artworks enables one to reproduce every nuance, shadow, irregularity, and layer of paint in the original work. As a result, this technique has evolved as a technique for making prints of analog works. This technique even reproduces neutral colors, subtle brush strokes, and media texture at a quality beyond what older methods such as offset printing and silk screening can provide.

This scanner-and-inkjet-based technique, as developed in Japan, has been named “PiezoGraph” It has attracted attention as an epochal advance in the ability to express the artist’s vision.

Currently, the PiezoGraph, which has evolved as a technique for making prints of analog works, is not simply used to make prints. Rather, it is unfolding as an expressive method which can create new value on its own. The main elements cited as underpinning its development are the exceptionally broad range of media to which it can print and its ability to apply digital technology.

- The wide selection of media expands creative possibilities

Because the PiezoGraph is inkjet-based, no contact is made with the print medium. It does not apply force to paper or medium, as with previous prints. The media compatibility of its ink is also excellent. For these reasons, it offers a great degree of freedom in selecting a printing medium. Thus, it is even successful in capturing the feel of Japanese paper (washi) and cloth.

The broad selection of media translates into broad creative possibilities. It can be described as a technique offering a different form of expression than offset printing and silk-screening.

- Using digital technology to produce works original unto themselves

The PiezoGraph turns analog artworks into digital ones. It therefore allows the colors of an original work to be adjusted, or for multiple materials to be combined in the creation of a new work. Moreover, it can be used as an intermediary step, whereby works printed using it are then retouched further with paint. This is not a mere duplication technique; it is a form of artistic expression for creating works original unto themselves.

Whereas the Piezograph has been developed in tune with leading artists in Japan, at the same time in Europe, EPSON have worked with leading artists to develop the “Digigraph ™”. Digigraphie ™ is artistically and technologically the same as Piezography but has been designed as a scheme that can be used by the artist to guarantee the quality of their work. Because of this, the qualification for a Digigraph has a stricter interpretation, with only EPSON Ultrachrome ™ Inks currently qualifying for use with this scheme.

EPSON believe strongly in working together with cultures and countries independently, respecting their differences and their individual originality. Nowhere is this as important as in the filed of art, where freedom of expression and understanding is so important. Therefore, we frequently develop similar schemes with similar themes separately from each other. We thank you for your understanding of our approach.

Trademarks

PiezoGraph and EPSON PiezoGraph (and their Japanese equivalents) are registered trademarks of Seiko Epson Corporation.

Digigraphy and Digigraphie are registered trademarks of Seiko Epson Corporation.

エプソンピエゾグラフについて

セイコーエプソンでは、スキャナおよびインクジェットプリンタの発売当初から、その精細な色彩表現の可能性を追求してきました。

高解像度／高階調を実現し、深い被写体深度を誇るスキャナと、6〜8色の超微小インクドットによって今までにない画像品質を実現したインクジェットプリンタ。この組み合わせで絵画をスキャンして印刷することによって、原画の表面の凹凸や陰影、絵具の重なりまで再現することができるため、アナログ作品のプリント技法として発達してきました。従来のオフセットやシルクスクリーン印刷では再現し難い中間色の色彩、微妙な筆のタッチ、画材の質感などの再現に威力を発揮するのです。

そしてスキャナとインクジェットプリンタによる作品プリント技法を「ピエゾグラフ」と命名しました。作家の意図を表現できる画期的な方法として注目されています。

アナログ作品のプリント技法として発達してきたピエゾグラフですが、現在では単なる複製にとどまらず、新たな価値を生み出すための表現技法として発展しています。発展を支える主な要素として、「用紙の選択幅が非常に広いこと」「デジタル技術を応用できること」が挙げられます。

◆用紙の選択幅の広さが、創作の可能性を広げる

ピエゾグラフはインクジェット方式ですので、用紙に接触しません。従来の版画のように用紙やインクに圧力がかかることがなく、またインクのメディア互換性が高いため、用紙の自由度が非常に広いことが特徴です。これにより和紙や布であっても、その風合いを保ったまま印刷することができます。

用紙の選択幅の広さは、創作の可能性を広げます。オフセットやシルクスクリーンとは違う表現を可能にする技法と言えます。

◆デジタル技術を利用してオリジナルワンの価値を生み出す

ピエゾグラフはアナログ作品をデジタル化します。そのため、原画とは違う色調に仕上げることや、複数の素材を組み合わせて新しい作品を生み出すことができます。さらに、出力した上から絵具で加筆するなど、創作のための中間制作物として使用することもできます。単なる複製画にとどまらず、新たな価値を生み出すための表現技法と言えます。

＜商標について＞

｢ピエゾグラフ｣およびPiezoGraph、「エプソンピエゾグラフ」およびEPSON PiezoGraphはセイコーエプソン株式会社の登録商標です。