With high-definition television capturing more consumers’ interest—and disposable income—Epson has co-opted the HD designation for a line of ink-jet photo printers. Epson’s Ultra Hi-Definition models employ a new print-head technology; each of the five nozzles can adjust to release ink droplets of different sizes, applying color in units as small as 1.5 picoliters (a picoliter is a trillionth of a liter). It’s designed to deliver smooth color gradations with little or no noticeable graininess. The new print head is the fastest ever installed in an Epson printer, enabling a 4- x 6-inch snapshot to emerge in as little as 13 seconds (or about 30 seconds if a higher-quality setting is selected).
Print quality also benefits from Epson’s new Claria ink, formulated to resist smudges, scratches, fading, and moisture. Epson claims that Claria ink produces photo prints that can hold up for 200 years—as long as, or longer than, those developed in a professional photo lab.
All models include a disc tray for applying surface art to ink jet–printable CDs and DVDs. The product line starts with the Epson Stylus Photo R260 ($130). The step-up model R380 ($180) adds an LCD screen and memory-card slots to make PC-free printing easier. The RX580 ($200) is a multifunction unit that includes scanning and copying functions in its feature set.
