Canon has revitalized its printer and multifunctional range, with the release of twelve new products.

Canon has revitalized its printer and multifunctional range, with the release of twelve new products.

The range has been largely influenced by minimalist Japanese design, with contemporary styling and sleek black and silver curves forming the central part of its design ethos.

The Pixma range sees the introduction of ten new products ? eight multifunctionals and two single function printers ? with emphasis on usability and quality results. The line up sees a host of automated technology featuring, from Auto Skew correction for the correct alignment of scanned documents to an Auto Image correction system, which uses Face Detection and Scene Analysis technology to automatically correct exposure errors and colour tonality.

The MP970 model sees the further continuation of Canon?s existing FINE, ChromaLife and Dual Colour Gamut Processing Technology, and improves on the MP810 by incorporation a larger LCD screen and a revised user interface. With While LED lights ?virtually eliminating warm-up time? and support for Bluetooth, Ethernet and PictBridge, the MP970 confirms its position as Canon?s flagship multifunctional model. Two further models ? the MP520 and MP610 ? support the range.

Targeted at the home office user, the MX300, MX310 and MX700 models include high-speed fax capabilities, with the latter model boasting Ethernet connectivity. All feature Dual Colour Gamut Processing Technology, which uses two scans of a document to reproduce faithful colour tones and text legibility.

Canon?s FINE technology continues its evolution, with its extra-fine nozzles able to produce ?virtually grain free photo lab-quality prints?. Together with its ChromaLife 100 technology, Canon claims that prints, appropriately protected, can last up to 100 years using this system.

Five additional multifunctionals add to the range. Two entry-level models ? the MP210 and MP220 ? replace the MP160 and MP180 respectively, bringing speed and ease of use to the fore. The Quick Start feature allows documents to be scanned in between 2-4 seconds from powering up, with Auto Image Fix technology helping to rectify image flaws.

Two Canoscan scanners have also been introduced, in the form of the LiDE 90 and the 8800F. Replacing the LiDE 70, the LiDE 90 features the same ease of use and low-power consumption as its predecessor, but with a faster scanning speed and in a more compact form. Powered by a USB 2.0 connection, it features dust and scratch removal technology, backlighting correction and grain reduction.

Claiming to be six times quicker than its predecessor, the 8800F also has a zero power up time ? both of which attributed to its new high brightness white LED lights. Aimed at photographers and graphic designers, the unit accepts 35mm negatives, mounted and unmounted transparencies and 120 format film.

Two single-function PIXMA printers have also been introduced: the iP3500 and iP4500.
Both models feature FINE and ChromaLife 100 technology and use single ink tanks for ?minimum wastage?. Replacing the iP4300, the ?best-selling photo printer in Europe?, the iP4500 is also capable of printing directly onto compatible CD/DVD disks and can produce a photo print in just 21 seconds.

The new range has been tailored to current market trends, where the sale of single function printers is slowing, being steadily replaced by the popularity of multifunctionals. Also, with the release of two new scanners, Canon hope to retain the majority market share they have in the field.

The new range will be available from September. For more details visit www.canon.co.uk