Epson Photo Printer Boasts Speed, Clarity

Stylus R800 supports tiny droplet sizes and high-gloss finish.

Ramon G. McLeod, PC World

LAS VEGAS-- Epson America has introduced a photo printer that the company claims has the smallest ink droplet size in the industry and can produce 5-by-7-inch photo prints on glossy paper in as little as 45 seconds.

The Stylus 800 made its debut at the Consumer Electronics Show here and is scheduled to ship in February priced at $399.

Epson representatives say the new photo printer can produce 1.5-picoliter ink droplets, which should mean smoother, crisper-looking photo prints. Two picoliters is the lowest previously claimed specification by major photo printer manufacturers.

Product Features

The company says the new printer can produce archival prints that can last up to 100 years.

"Photographers want the archival properties of prints made with pigment inks, but are concerned that the colors and gloss will not be as good as prints made with dye inks," says Parker Plaisted, product manager for Epson photo imaging. "With the Epson Stylus Photo R800, photographers can be confidant that the Epson UltraChrome Hi-Gloss pigment inks will deliver archival high-quality prints on matte and glossy papers that achieve the colors and gloss level seen in prints with dye inks."

The Epson UltraChrome Hi-Gloss ink set includes eight individual cartridges and features the new Gloss Optimizer as well as Photo Black and Matte Black ink cartridges. In addition to the traditional cyan, magenta and yellow inks, the Epson UltraChrome Hi-Gloss ink set includes new red and blue inks that the company says expands the color gamut.

The printer takes paper sheets up to 8.5 by 11 inches, and can make borderless prints on 4-by-6-inch, 5-by-7-inch, and 8-by-10-inch photo papers. It can also print directly onto printable CDs or DVDs; you place the disc in a tray that slides through the printer's front-loading, straight-through paper path.

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