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Biggest printed digital image-world record
set by Base3
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina -- Base3, known as one
of the top digital printers in Argentina, printed a single
image at the stunning size of 60m x 20m -setting the world
record for the Biggest
printed digital image.
Photo: The 60x20m poster depicts Ischigualastao,
in Valle de la Luna. It is displayed in Buenos Aires and was
produced using HP’s Scitex XL1500.
(enlarge
photo)
Robert Ruiz, one of Argentina’s most famous
photographers, used a 12-megapixel Nikon D2X camera to take
a photo of the Ischugualastao, an extraordinary rock formation
designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Ruiz got the entire site into the frame by
taking a master photo and using it to map 119 shots of the
scene. The shots were then digitally recomposed into a single
image.
Ruiz teamed up with Base3, known as one of the
top digital printers in Argentina, to print the photograph.
And Base3 turned to its HP Scitex XL1500 super-wide digital
printer.
Installed in early 2006, the roll-to-roll printing
system prints on a wide range of flexible media up to 5m wide,
in eight colours.
“The XL1500 offers speed at a very competitive
price,” says Damian Mogilner, Production Manager at Base3.
“And the financing services allow you to improve production
capacity and productivity of your business without committing
limited financial resources that can be used in other areas.”
The whole job ran quickly and smoothly. “We
did the whole thing in record time – two days for printing
and installation. We printed 1,200 sqm (12,900 sqft) in 15
hours, including changing and loading the media. We loaded
the media so that there were no interruptions between printing
the strips and we didn’t have to replace inks.”
The photograph was printed in strips measuring
4.8m wide, the maximum width of the perforated mesh. The strips
were soldered together until the giant print was in two halves,
each measuring 30 x 20m, to create the final 60 x 20m billboard.
The HP Scitex inks provide excellent flexibility, which meant
that Base3 could fold the giant mesh prints and take them
in a pickup truck to the installation site.
“It was incredible,” says Ruiz. “Once the billboard
was installed, and you stood back, it was really exciting.
The image quality was amazing. It was so realistic.”
The goal of the Ischugualastao project was
two-fold: to print the biggest
ever digital image and promote tourism to Argentina.
With the backing of the Argentina Ministry of
Culture, Ruiz received approval to install the billboard in
one of the most symbolic locations in Argentina, the Placa
de la Republica (Square of the Republic) in the center of
Buenos Aires.
Ruiz explains the goal of the project:'
I wanted to do something important, that was different. The
idea of inserting a landscape billboard into the urban landscape
seemed an exciting way to both promote tourism and create
a strong, contrasting image. The size was to amaze, and grab
attention. The world record for the Biggest
printed digital image was just an extra."
Following his successful collaboration with
Base3, photographer Robert Ruiz is also setting his sights
on the next big thing. “We’ve already started planning something
even bigger: seven billboards in seven strategic locations
around the city, about 7,000 sqm (75,350 sqft) each.”
“We have done even bigger billboards, but this
was one photo, one shot. It turned into a huge event and the
image became famous throughout the whole country." Damian
Mogilner, Base3
Friday, September 26, 2008
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