Epson photo printer trio

Epson has announced details of three new photo printers, set to ship in September. All three are said to produce a dozen 4x6-inch prints in a little over two minutes, but can further print images as large as 8.5"x11", with or without borders. The printers can also "correct" a photo automatically, compensating for underexposure or washed-out highlights. The basic model of the three is the R280, whose main advantage is a $100 pricetag.

The RX595 adds numerous enhancements; most notable are scanning and copying functions, and the ability to operate without a computer, instead interfacing directly with cameras, memory cards, USB drives and Bluetooth devices. With the help of a 2.5-inch LCD, this enables users to create quick greeting cards, or use simple restoration options to improve the appearance of old photos.

Finally, the RX680 introduces a second paper tray, allowing plain paper and photo paper to be kept separate. Users can also print two-sided pages, and preview the auto-correction function, potentially saving money. The 595 and 680 will be priced at $150 and $200, and are both Mac and PC compatible; Mac owners, however, must wait for Mac OS X 10.5 to use auto-correction.

By Electronista Staff