New flagship scanner and innovative A4 pigment ink photo printer usher in new technology frontiers for Epson
Official Epson UK Stylus Photo R800 press release, click
here. Official Epson UK Perfection 4870 Photo press release, click
here.
Today Epson has unveiled two products that feature important technology developments for the company. We've already covered the Stylus Photo R800 printer after details were revealed by Epson USA last month (click
here). It takes Epson's fade-resistant UltraChrome photo inks to a new stage with a gloss clear coat optimiser that aims to deliver a true glossy finish that was not previously possible with earlier UltraChrome pigment ink Epson printers. Epson's new scanner, the Perfection 4870 Photo, takes claimed resolution up to an astonishing 4800x9600 ppi and introduces hardware-based Digital ICE dust and scratch removal to a consumer Epson flat bed scanner for the first time.
R800 has a trunk load of novel new features
Epson's R800 printer doesn't just have a clever gloss optimiser. It features the industry's smallest (1.5pl) ink droplet and the inclusion of red and blue inks alongside the more typical cyan, magenta, yellow and photo (light) cyan and photo magenta. These extra colours are claimed to increase colour gamut.
Like its A3 sibling, the A3-format Stylus Photo 2100 (2200 in some markets), the R800 is also capable of printing with matt black ink on matt papers. On top of that, Epson has addressed one of its key disadvantages to Canon - speed. Epson claims the R800 can print an A4 print in as little as 68 seconds, which would be on a par with the fastest Canons. And it has roll paper support and CD printing capability, plus USB2.0 Hi-speed and IEEE1394 Firewire PC connectivity.
Perfection 4870 - amazing resolution and a new version of Digital ICE
For a company synonymous with very good scanners, it's a surprise to realise that the new Perfection 4870 Photo is Epson's first consumer scanner featuring a hardware dust and scratch removal system. Canon has implemented its own FARE system in selected flat bed scanners with film scanning capability, for example and
Microtek has produced a scanner that uses Applied Science Fiction's Digital ICE system, though in this case for cleaning up reflective (prints) originals only. Systems like these are more desirable than software-only based solutions as actual physical blemishes are detected using a separate scan and remedial action is restricted to these areas of the image. Epson has chosen a development of the familiar Digital ICE system.
Digital ICE explained
To accommodate the Digital ICE system, the transparency adapert unit in the scanner's lid has to move as well as the scanning element under the glass. Epson's Digital ICE implementatio is designed for use with both transaprent (film) and reflective (print) originals.
Waiting for prices
The new Epson duo certainly make for mouth-watering study, but you will have to be patient. No prices were forthcoming for either product, let alone expected shipping dates, though the 4870 scanner earmarked for 1st February next year. The R800 isn't expected to go on sale in the US until the end of January next year.
Official Epson UK Stylus Photo R800 press release, click
here. Official Epson UK Perfection 4870 Photo press release, click
here.
