Canon SELPHY CP600 Compact Photo Printer has been introduced. The SELPHY CP600 is battery-powered and incorporates Canon’s DIGIC II image processing engine. The dye sublimation CP600 offers 100 years light fastness and supports 100 x 150mm, credit card size, mini-stickers and 100mm x 200mm wide media. The Canon SELPHY CP 600 will be available from early April 2005 for £199.

Canon UK Press Release

Mobile SELPHY CP600 Compact Photo Printer first to incorporate DIGIC II

Canon, leader in photographic and imaging technology, is pleased to announce the launch of the battery-powered SELPHY CP600 Compact Photo Printer. The new flagship to the SELPHY range offers 69 second portable photo prints direct from any PictBridge compatible digital camera or digital video camera via USB connection. When connected to Canon’s latest Digital IXUS cameras, print times decrease to just 63 seconds.

The printer also supports IrDA wireless printing from selected mobile camera phones as well as the full array of current PictBridge functions.

Dye sublimation printing technology and Canon’s high performance DIGIC II image processor with iSAPS combine to deliver photolab quality colour prints that are long lasting and durable, with 100 years light fastness . Weighing just 850g and with a footprint barely larger than the prints it creates, the stylishly finished SELPHY CP600 is capable of producing both borderless and bordered prints.

Better control
The printer itself is the first ever to incorporate Canon’s renowned DIGIC II image processing engine. The power of DIGIC II not only produces super fast print speeds, it also allows for new processes to be incorporated which drive markedly improved image quality.

Total control
Dye sublimation printers work by heating ‘pixels’ on the print head to varying degrees, which in turn determines the amount of ink sublimated into the paper’s special coating. By taking into account data from neighbouring pixels and the thermal history of the pixel being heated, Canon has been able to gain far more precise control over the print head, This improves gradation reproduction and delivers sharper dot printing, for an overall improvement in sharpness and contrast range.

Optimising dynamic range
An automatic dynamic range correction feature optimises use of the printer’s wide dynamic range and compensates for images that are too bright, too dark or of limited dynamic range. Utilising the capacity of its DIGIC II processor and iSAPS technology, the SELPHY CP600 analyses the subject to ensure that there is no over-correction of night scenes, or under-correction of backlit shots to deliver maximum print quality.

Stylish and portable
Small enough to slide into a desk drawer, the printer also has beautiful contours and a metallic finish that are designed to complement any home environment. For assured portability and speed, the printer features a new high capacity battery NB-CP2L, capable of supplying increased current during maximum power consumption. The printer can also run from mains power via an AC adapter.

Direct printing, without the PC
Printing direct from digital cameras and without the need for a PC is extremely simple. As soon as the printer connects to any PictBridge compatible camera, a print menu displays on the camera’s LCD screen, from which print style, size and quantity can be selected. An LED on the printer’s cover glows to indicate that the print process has begun and changes colour to indicate the different stages of the printing process.

One-step printing
The Print/Share button on most of Canon’s latest digital cameras allows effortless, single step printing. As soon as the printer connects to any Canon camera with this feature, a blue light on the camera’s Print/Share button illumiates. Pressing the button begins printing of the current image in the correct format to match the paper loaded. When connected to the new Digital IXUS 700, the printer supports wide format 200mm x 100mm landscape printing, automatically cropping the image to fit the frame.

Quality and durability
The printer produces high gloss prints with extremely smooth tonal gradation and 100 years light fast durability. Heat applied to specially coated paper during the print process opens pores in the paper that absorb the different layers of gaseous ink. The pores close when the paper cools, sealing the printed image within the paper’s surface. A special high-gloss UV resistant protective coating further adds to the print’s quality and durability.

Print choices
The printer supports a range of media sizes: the enduring and popular 100 x 150mm, credit card size, mini-stickers and 100mm x 200mm wide media. Dye sublimation printers use a solid rather than liquid ink, so changing paper and colour cartridges is quick and very simple. Paper and colour cartridges with exactly the right quantity of ink are sold together, eliminating the frustration of running out of ink before running out of paper and offering competitive costs per print.

Extras and accessories
Purchase of the SELPHY CP600 entitles the owner to membership of the CANON iMAGE GATEWAY web portal. It provides members with 100MB of online album space for storing and sharing favourite photographs and albums – a form of private online photo gallery.

Software
Software supplied includes ZoomBrowser EX 5.1 (Windows) and ImageBrowser 5.1 (Mac) for viewing, managing and archiving images. The simple to use PhotoRecord printing application (Win) is also supplied. SELPHY CP600 is supported with drivers for Windows and Mac for printing via PC if preferred.

Pricing, availability and reader enquiries
The SELPHY CP 600 will be available from early April 2005 for £199 RRP inc. VAT.

Reader enquiries:
UK – 08705 143723 / www.canon.co.uk    
Eire – (01) 2052400 / www.canon.ie