Epson has pitched the 4900, which costs £2,895 with the SpectroProofer, compared with £2,295 for the standard model, as a low-cost, remote proofing solution.

However, Dan Wilson, managing director of Ireland-based colour-management specialist and equipment distributor Prepress IT, said there were hidden costs.

According to Wilson, a customer with an 18-month-old Epson 79000S had a problem when the SpectroProofer failed GMG’s ProofControl to verify a Fogra 39 proof.

Wilson passed the same proof, which the Epson device registered as having a delta E of 5+, using an Eye-One spectrophotometer to read the media wedge, proving that the spectro was not performing correctly.

"Epson said that, even though the machine was under warranty, the spectro was excluded," he said. "Epson UK insists the spectro be re-certified at a charge of £500 every year if a customer wants to ‘verify proof’."

A spokeswoman for Epson UK said that the SpectroProofer was covered by the extended warranty but added that its calibration was not.

"Warranties cover against breakdown," she added. "If the spectro was faulty, it would be repaired."

Epson claimed that recalibration was done abroad, leading to lengthy turnaround times. Its solution was to offer its £500 premium exchange service, where the old spectro is replaced in situ.

However, Wilson argued that for a supposedly low-cost remote proofing solution, an annual fee of up to 17% of the cost of the proofer was a significant burden.

"I am not sure why a spectro that is out of specification is not considered a breakdown," he added.