Olympus America has taken the wraps off its new P-10 Digital Photo Printer and P-440 Digital Photo Printer. Both printers use dye-sublimation technology to produce photo-quality prints in various sizes. Dye-sub printers use a different method of applying ink to paper that produces more continuous-tone images than inkjet printers.
The P-10 Digital Photo Printer outputs either 3.5 x 5-inch or 4 x 6-inch prints. The printer can output edge-to-edge with or without borders, and produces a print in less than 45 seconds, according to Olympus. It also supports PictBridge, a new standard for outputting digital camera photos direct to printers without using a computer first.
The P-440 is a more versatile printer — it can print in five different sizes: Postcard, Photo-Album, Index, A5 Wide and 8 x 10-inch. It can also automatically output up to 50 copies of the same image.
The P-10 and the P-440 both feature USB interfaces for connecting to a computer; the P-10 can connect directly the a camera using PictBridge instead, while the P-440 features a PCMCIA card adapter interface that can be used to input content from flash storage media used by cameras like xD-Picture cards, SmartMedia, Memory Stick and CompactFlash.
The P-440 also features a 1.8-inch color LCD display so you can see what you’re going to print before it outputs; the display provides access to a navigation menu that includes image-editing tools to adjust layout, sharpness, brightness, color correction and other features. The P-440 also integrates creative controls to apply filters, stamps, backgrounds and mattings. The P-440 connects to televisions using a video cable as well.
Both printers are expected to hit store shelves in October. The P-10 will have an estimated street price of US$199 and the P-440 will have an estimated street price of $499.