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Epson has announced that it will bring its Stylus Photo R1900 inkjet printer to the U.S. market. The printer was released in Europe in 2007 and replaces the R1800 in Epson's lineup. The R1900 uses Epson's new eight-color, pigment-based Ultrachrome Hi-Gloss 2 ink set and a 1.5-picoliter minimum droplet size to output borderless prints at resolutions up to 5760x1440. In addition to printing on a variety of paper types at sizes as large as 13x44 inches, the R1900 can output directly onto CDs and DVDs. The printer takes paper in both sheets and rolls.
Epson says its Ultrachrome Hi-Gloss 2 ink set improves the accuracy of blues, greens, and flesh tones by using new magenta, yellow, and orange inks. The ink set also includes an improved gloss optimizer, and switches automatically between matte and photo black inks, according to paper type used. The R1900 implements Epson's new MicroPiezo Active Meniscus Control print head and Radiance engine, which the company claims produces smoother gradations, reduced metamerism, and faster print times. At high resolution settings, Epson clocks the R1900's output times at as much as 37% faster than the R1800's.
Other improvements include the addition of a second USB port so that two computers (a desktop and a laptop, for example) can be connected at once, a new Mist Collection System that keeps the inside of the printer from getting coated with ink overspray with long use, and the use of glass beads in the ink cartridges to improve cartridge longevity by helping agitate the ink and prevent clogs. The USB connections support PictBridge for direct printing from cameras and other compatible devices.
The R1900 will be available for $549 in January 2008.
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