Epson pictures long-lasting success with new Stylus

Epson has moved to consolidate its market-leading position in the inkjet arena with the launch of two printers it claimed are the first to offer true photo-quality prints.

Epson has moved to consolidate its market-leading position in the inkjet arena with the launch of two printers it claimed are the first to offer true photo-quality prints.

The vendor said prints made on the Stylus Photo 870 (A4) and Stylus Photo 1270 (A3) are guaranteed to last 10 years without fading in normal indoor lighting conditions, when used in conjunction with Epson's premium photo paper.

Robert Clark, Epson product marketing manager, said the issue of light fastness was one of the major factors holding back mass adoption of photo printing.

"Until now, no manufacturer has committed to the lifetime of prints. If you combine our printing technology with our ink and paper, prints will last at least 10 years," Clark said.

He said the new printers would "close the loop" when used in conjunction with Epson's range of digital cameras and scanners.

Tony Petford, director of marketing at Epson UK, said the models would consolidate its position in the home market, which he said was 95 per cent inkjet. He said the company would use its 80 per cent share of the inkjet market to promote the use of colour printing in the workplace.

Other features of the 870 and 1270, which replace Epson's 750 and 1200 models respectively, include edge-to-edge printing on Epson's media rolls, which require no trimming when the pictures are printed. Priced at £239, the 870 also comes with photo editing software that allows red-eye reduction and retouching.

The 1270 costs £399 and includes Adobe Photoshop 5.0LE in addition to the 870's features. Epson also claimed the printers are the quietest available.