EPSON launches high quality, portable home photo-labs in the Middle East

There are two new models that have been launched - the EPSON PictureMate PM 280 and PictureMate PM 240, which are both premium quality 10x15cm photo printers. Both printers work in standalone mode, so users don't even need to connect to their computers and they are easy to use with fast print speeds up to 42 seconds per photo. Exclusive to the PictureMate PM 280, is an internal CD drive allowing users to print directly from a CD or save images from digital memory card to CD. Both printers also provide direct printing from digital camera memory cards, USB Direct Print, PictBridge and an optional Bluetooth adapter.

In addition to the superior photo quality, the images will remain colourful and vibrant for a long time. Both photo-labs offer 200 years durability in album storage, which means family photos can be shared for many generations to come.

The PictureMate PM 280 and PM 240 also feature the latest EPSON PhotoEnhance technology. It automatically detects the type of scene in an image and adjusts the colour reproduction and contrast, for example, in portrait photos the technology recognises the presence of a person and adjusts skin tone and brightness to provide users with a premium quality photo. Users can also further improve their photos using the crop and red-eye removal features. For added convenience, EPSON has ensured that users can access all of the quality enhancing features in standalone mode so they don't need a computer - photos can be edited directly from the 2.5inch colour preview monitor.

Both models incorporate EPSON's Advanced Variable Sized Droplet Technology (Advanced VSDT). With five different droplet sizes they use the smallest droplet of two picolitres for areas where fine detail is required and larger droplets where there are blocks of colour in your image. As well as allowing EPSON to provide fast printing speeds, Advanced VSDT works in harmony with the Epson Micro Piezo print head to produce premium quality photos with smooth gradations and tonality.

The PictureMate PM 280 and PM 240 also feature a variety of presentation formats. Users can choose from colour, black and white or sepia and they can also get creative with their photos by adding fun-frames, clip-art and text. Both models also offer a range of flexible layout options. Users can choose to print 20 photos to a single sheet of 10x15cm photo paper to create an index card for their CD, enabling them to quickly identify photos at a later date. Alternatively users can print four photos to a page which are suitable for identification cards or print photos with or without a border.

Further, the optional battery pack that the models offer allow users to print photos in situations where a main power supply is not available, thereby ensuring that photos can be printed anywhere.

EPSON has designed both models to deliver cost-effective photos, without any sacrifice in quality. The EPSON PicturePack is designed to accompany both products and contains everything you need for 150 photos. Epson has also launched an additional PicturePack for 50 photos.

Khalil El-Dalu, General Manager, EPSON Middle East said,

"Both the PictureMate PM 280 and PM 240 are loaded with a host of user-friendly features that make it extremely easy to take high quality photo prints from the comfort of one's home. The quality enhancing features and creative templates ensure that regardless of the user's level of technical expertise, they can manage their own photographic memories to share with friends and family."