Dubai, UAE, 13 January 2010: Canon Middle East today announces the PIXMA MP640 and PIXMA MP990 - two high spec All-In-One printers aimed at home users and professional photographers who want the ultimate in print and copy performance, combined with ease of use.

Both PIXMA MP640 and PIXMA MP990 deliver fast, high quality, convenient printing using 1pl FINE (Full-photolithography Inkjet Nozzle Engineering) technology with a maximum print resolution of 9600 dpi. The PIXMA MP640 and PIXMA MP990 both have five individual ink tanks containing pigment black ink for laser-quality text printing, plus dye-based cyan, magenta, yellow and photo black inks.

Additionally, the PIXMA MP990 includes a grey ink for even higher quality output with both mono and colour photo prints. Grey ink helps to reduce graininess and stabilise the grey balance in greyscale photo printing. It also boosts colour reproduction in low saturation areas with colour photos. Prints produced using Canon's ChromaLife100+ system photo ink and photo paper are guaranteed for at least 300 years when placed in a photo album, while prints exposed to the natural environment or stored under glass last a minimum of 30 years. Built-in LED indicator lights in the single inks make it easy for users to gauge when each cartridge needs replacing.

Quick, convenient printing

The PIXMA MP640 and PIXMA MP990 both feature an improved print engine, which cuts overall printing times. Producing a single photo lab quality 10x15cm (4x6") colour photo print takes just 20 seconds. Canon has also become one of the first printer manufacturers to adopt ISO/IEC 24734 and 24735 print and copy speed standards, enabling users to make direct printer-to-printer speed comparisons between different models and manufacturers. The PIXMA MP640 can produce approximately 9.2ipm (images per minute) in mono and approximately 8.1ipm in colour; while the PIXMA MP990 is capable of approximately 11.9ipm in mono and approximately 9.1ipm in colour, using ISO/IEC 24734 speed measurement tests. Both printers have a built in auto duplex unit for automatic double-sided printing.

For users looking to digitise old photo collections or for everyday copying and scanning, the PIXMA MP640 and PIXMA MP990 feature high quality 4800 dpi scanners (CIS for PIXMA MP640, CCD for PIXMA MP990). Unique to multi-function printers, the PIXMA MP990 includes the ability to scan up to 6 frames of 35mm film strips and up to 4 mounted slides.    

Auto Photo Fix II and Easy-Web Print EX

As with the rest of 2009 PIXMA All-In-One line-up, Canon has been able to achieve great functional improvements without sacrificing ease of use. Both the PIXMA MP640 and PIXMA MP990 come with the enhanced functionality of Auto Photo Fix II and the new software application Easy-WebPrint EX (available to download at www.canon-europe.com).

Auto Photo Fix II offers quick and easy adjustment of underexposed images, using multi-zone algorithms that calculate the exact amount of image correction that should be applied to different parts of a photo. The result is natural-looking, beautifully balanced pictures.

Internet users will also appreciate the smart simplicity of Easy-WebPrint EX, a program that enables key or desired parts of a web page to be clipped (either automatically or manually) before being printed. Easy-WebPrint EX is not only convenient and cost-effective:  a Fit-To-Page option enables users to arrange multiple clips - even those taken from different websites - on to a single page, potentially reducing ink and paper costs.

Smart printing made simple

The PIXMA MP640 and PIXMA MP990 also deliver a range of convenient hardware features that makes these flagship PIXMA All-In-Ones even easier to use. Both have an Easy-Scroll Wheel with integrated 4-way (up / down, left / right) cursor control for fast access to printer setup, copying and print menus, via large, colour TFT LCD displays (9.5cm (3.8") on PIXMA MP990, 7.5cm (3.0") on PIXMA MP640). PIXMA MP640 and PIXMA MP990 also include built-in 802.11b/g Wi-Fi connectivity for easy integration into a home or office wireless network, ship with hi-speed USB connections, and offer PictBridge ports for use with compatible digital cameras and flash memory card slots. Bluetooth is available on both models as an optional extra, while both models have built-in IrDA and Ethernet ports. Both MFPs also enable users to print directly onto compatible DVD/CDR's.

Both PIXMA MP640 and PIXMA MP990 make it quick and easy to print from flash memory cards or USB memory sticks directly. The content of cards or sticks automatically appear on-screen when they are inserted into the printer, enabling you to quickly select which images you want to print, select the appropriate photo paper and then output your selection. You can also save scanned documents to flash memory cards or USB memory stick.

The PIXMA MP990 includes Easy-PhotoPrint Pro, a plugin for Adobe Photoshop and Canon's Digital Photo Professional that makes it easy to apply various styles to users' photos. These include full-page borderless, monochrome, index and Adobe RGB mode.

Additional information 

The PIXMA MP640 and PIXMA MP990 are bundled with the following software:

Canon MP Navigator EX - software included with PIXMA All-In-Ones and CanoScan scanners, which presents a common user interface for image input. Enables users to scan in documents and photos or access images on a memory card or PC. Other features include one-click Auto Scan Mode - which automatically recognises the original document format (photo, magazine, etc), then scans and saves using optimal settings - and over 15 language OCR Support.

Canon Easy-PhotoPrint EX - fully integrated user-friendly software for photo printing and creative projects, such as calendars or photo albums. As well as assisting with options such as paper type selection and size, Easy-PhotoPrint EX includes Auto Photo Fix II, which analyses a photo and automatically adopts the optimal correction based on whether it's a portrait or scene. Auto Photo Fix II features automatic red-eye correction.

CD-LabelPrint - simplifies the process of printing directly onto inkjet-printable CDs and DVDs.

Canon Easy-PhotoPrint Pro (PIXMA MP990 only) - a plugin for Adobe Photoshop and Digital Photo Professional - an application that ships with Canon digital single lens reflex cameras. Easy PhotoPrint Pro makes it easy to print photos in various styles, including full-page borderless, monochrome, index and Adobe RGB mode.

Compatibility

Canon's PIXMA MP640 and PIXMA MP990 are compatible with Windows Vista, Windows XP, Windows 2000 and Mac OS X 10.3.9 to 10.5.

-Ends-

About Canon Middle East
Canon Middle East, a subsidiary of Canon Europe, is the operational headquarters for Canon in the Middle East and North Africa and is based in Dubai, UAE.

Founded in 1937 with the specific goal of making the best quality camera available to customers, Canon's tireless passion for the Power of Image has since extended its technology into many other markets and has established it as a world leader in both consumer and business imaging solutions. Its solutions comprise products, ranging from digital compact and SLR cameras, through broadcast lenses and portable X-ray machines, to multi-function and production printers, all supported by a range of value added services.

Canon invests heavily in R&D to deliver the richest and most innovative products and services to satisfy customers' creative needs. From amateur photographers to professional print companies, Canon enables each customer to realize their own passion for image.

Canon believes that considering the interests of society and the environment is an integral part of good business practice. This is embodied in its corporate philosophy Kyosei - 'To live and work together for the common good'.

Further information about Canon Middle East is available at: www.canon-me.com

For media enquiries, please contact:
Rijosh Joseph
d'pr
t: +971 50 2818849
e: rijosh@d-pr.ae  
 
Ruta Bublyte        
Canon Middle East
t: +971 50 4560711
e: ruta.bublyte@canon-me.com

© Press Release 2010