Canon UK Press Release 21/09/04

Canon launches new range of compact photo printers - SELPHY

Canon, leader in photographic and imaging technology, is pleased to announce the launch of a new range of compact photo printers.  These new printers, called SELPHY, are designed to meet the increasing demand from people who want to enjoy high quality photos from their digital images quickly and easily. Enabling creation of lab quality prints, wherever and whenever necessary with no need for a PC. SELPHY is the epitome of Do-It-YourSELF PHotographY it makes printing photos from digital images as liberating, enjoyable, instant and simple as taking them. There are three new SELPHY printers in the range, each providing direct printing from any PictBridge compatible digital camera, digital video camera or Digital SLR. The SELPHY range comprises:

- SELPHY CP500 - compact, ultra high-speed (63 second borderless postcard photo prints ) superb quality 300 dpi dye-sublimation direct printer
- SELPHY CP400 - Super compact, fast (81 second borderless postcard photo prints?), superb quality 300 dpi dye-sublimation entry level direct printer
- SELPHY DS700 - Superb quality, 2 picolitre, 4800 x 1200 dpi ink jet printer that prints images quickly from all popular digital camera memory cards (85 second borderless postcard photo prints). A direct connection to the TV together with an easy to use remote control allows convenient image preview, selection and printing. Also capable of printing from IrDA compatible camera-phones

The SELPHY CP400 will be available from October for £119.00 RRP inc. VAT / EUROS 172.99 RRP inc. VAT

The SELPHY CP500 will be available from October for £149.00 RRP inc. VAT / EUROS 219.99 RRP inc. VAT

The SELPHY DS700 will be available from November for £199.00 RRP inc. VAT / EUROS 289.99 RRP inc. VAT

The SELPHY range reflects Canon?s commitment to expanding the European compact photo printer market, which last year grew by over 160% . ?By completing the digital photography circle, the new SELPHY range will be an important part of Canon achieving its objective of holding number one position in photo printing in 2006,? explains Malcom Hills, Head of Canon Consumer Imaging in the UK and Ireland.  ?SELPHY represents a high quality extension of the digital camera experience: something liberating, personal, easy and fun.?

Connect, Select, Print
PictBridge compatible digital cameras connect directly to the SELPHY compact photo printers with a PictBridge cable. A simple menu on the camera allows selection of print size, media type, border / no border and quantity. The Print/Share button found on many Canon digital cameras simplifies this process even further by providing ?one-touch? printing after connecting camera to printer. Within moments of pressing the button, a superb photo print is complete. As well as straightforward PictBridge and memory card printing, the SELPHY DS700 can connect to a television for preview, selection and printing of images on the memory card. For ultimate convenience this can be carried out using a simple remote control unit.

Versatile photo partners
With a footprint not much bigger than a CD case, the SELPHY CP500 and CP400 are small enough to be kept in a desk drawer, or taken to be used wherever you are and whenever it?s convenient. Their stylish design will suit any modern home. One particularly useful feature supported by the SELPHY CP500 and CP400 is their ability to make ID photos when they are directly connected to some Canon Digital Still Cameras, without the requirement of a trip to the local photolab.

The SELPHY DS700?s sophisticated contemporary design will look at home beside living room devices such as TVs and Hi-Fi systems. SELPHY DS700 supports all popular memory cards .
Plenty of print options

A range of special media sizes are available for the SELPHY CP500 and CP400. Available in special, no-fuss combined ink and paper cartridges, media types include the popular Postcard size, (148 x 100mm), Wide size (100 x 200mm), Credit Card size, Credit Card stickers and 22 x 17.3mm Mini Stickers (x8 per sheet). A new KP-108IP Value Pack contains 108 sheets of postcard size media and gives a reduction in the cost per print (26p per print).  The SELPHY DS700 creates postcard size prints on a variety of media finishes from ultra glossy to satin (PR-101 Photo Paper Pro, PP-101 Photo Paper Plus, SG-101 Semi-gloss, GP-401 Glossy Photo Paper). Glossy credit card size media and fun mini sticker sheets are also available.

Photolab quality
The SELPHY CP500 and CP400 produce high quality prints with smooth gradations. Improvements in dye-sublimation print head thermal control, processing, and tone curves have enhanced sharpness and contrast to allow detailed grain-free colour reproduction. The final stage of the dye-sublimation print process adds a durable, high-gloss, protective layer to give prints protection from everyday splashes, spills and kids sticky fingers. 

The FINE print head technology of the SELPHY DS700 produces 2 picolitre droplets at 4800 x 12002 dpi resolution to achieve stunning results when matched with special Canon photo media. All SELPHY printers produce prints with a 100-year life-span which have the same look and feel as photos from a traditional photolab.

Online sharing
The new SELPHY CP series compact photo printers come complete with full membership to CANON iMAGE GATEWAY, a personal online photo gallery with 100MB of free online space for storing and sharing favourite albums .

Software & connectability
The printers include Canon?s user-friendly browsing and image management software ZoomBrowser EX and ImageBrowser (for Macintosh). Each comes with easy to use printing software for users wishing to connect to PC. SELPHY CP500 and CP400 are compatible with Windows (98SE, 2000 (SP4), Me or XP (SP1)) PC or Macintosh (OS X v10.1.5 ? 10.3). The SELPHY DS700 can be used with Win2k/XP and Mac OS X 10.2.1 or later computers.