Canon has announced two leading products in the PIXMA lineup: the PIXMA MG8140 and the PIXMA MG6140. Their printheads are created using Canon FINE technology, and have 6 separate ink tanks, including a gray ink. They provide a professional level of photo printing in both grayscale and color.

Both models are able to print a 10×15 cm color photo borderless in approximately 20 seconds and have the printing speed of 12,5 / 9,3 images per minute in monochrome / color mode, according to the ISO ESAT standard. PIXMA MG8140 can scan and re-print 35 mm films and slides. In the two models is implemented an improved system of working with printing media: two paper path, double-sided printing and direct printing on a suitable DVD, CD or Blu-ray disk.

The new Intelligent Touch System by Canon makes the printer easy, allowing you to manage them using the touch panel. User interface is backlit to facilitate navigation and show what functions and operations are available at the moment. The new models also implement the Quick Operation system, which provides the fast and direct access to frequently used functions. Installation menu and function buttons make it easy to call the required options directly from the main screen.

The PIXMA MG8140 and the PIXMA MG6140 ship with Full HD Movie Print Function, enabling to print an image by selecting individual frames from Full HD videos shot on Canon digital cameras. The program provides the video images detail level at up to 1080p resolution, and can also improve resolution and reduce noise levels to ensure optimum quality with the help of Frame Enhancement technology.

In addition, users of printers can take advantage of the extended version of the Easy-PhotoPrint EX. Now this software has a direct access to Flickr. Easy-WebPrint EX provides a simple and intelligent printing of Web pages, allowing you to select, cut and combine the content of different sites in a single document–from fitting to one page to creating a booklet.

The PIXMA MG8140 and the PIXMA MG6140 standard supports Ethernet and Wi-Fi. Thanks to IrSimple, PictBridge, and Bluetooth (as an option) the printers can connect to compatible digital cameras, camera-equipped mobile phones and camcorders.

Hard times are coming to those who like to abuse copy machines, soon they’ll have to look for workaround. And all because Canon Japan together with Hitachi introduces a new security system for office printers based on biometric human parameters. Simply put, now to scan or print a document, you will need to confirm you identity with a fingerprint.

The creators claim that the technology isneeded to patch the vulnerabilities that are characteristic for access with password or magnetic cards. Indeed, a sheet of paper with a password scribbled on it or a card may be dropped anywhere, but you can hardly leave your thumb on the table.

The company is planning to introduce the technology into operation on the basis of Canon imageRUNNER ADVANCE line of multifunction printers. Estimated cost of the devices is about $1460. Protected printers will be available on the Japanese market any day. Perhaps, the technology will find its place in other markets, in addition to printer access security.

Canon extends the “Your Print” programm that allows customers a chance to try the printing quality of Canon’s Pixma printers.

“You can test any one of Canon’s PIXMA range of home and office inkjet Printers and All-In-Ones with your own image and see the great results for yourself. Upload your image, select the PIXMA of your choice and wait for the superior quality results of a Canon inkjet to be delivered to your door,” reads the Canon Your Print microsite.

How to take advantage of Your Print scheme:

* Visit to the Your Print website and upload your own print (or selected from menu)
* Choose the printer you would like to trial (you can choose from the following PIXMA printers: MP990, iX4000, MP640, MP550, MP560, iP3600, iP4700, MX860, MP490, MP250, MP270, iP1900, iP2600, MX320, MX330)
* Receive a free print sample in the post.

On receipt of the print sample & promotional envelop, you will also receive a recommended list of etailers/retailers. Following the purchase of a PIXMA, customers are invited to tell Canon about their experience, in return for a free pack of photo paper.

The system is, however, quite limited in the pictures it accepts. Only files of between 200KB and 1MB are accepted – meaning that photos taken on even compact cameras will need to be downsized. JPEG is the only file type accepted and a minimum resolution of 512 x 768 is required.

Canon says with this size they are are able to offer a very good image which consumers are happy with. The company has prolonged the program until the end of May as a high levels of interest wa received.

If this scheme has made you a happy owner of a Canon printer, know that you can always find cartridges for Pixma inkjet printers at TonerCartridgeDepot.com

Canon Inc. and Canon Marketing Japan, Inc. will be celebrating 20 years of practicing the recycling of toner cartridges this year.

According to the feature, the Canon Toner Cartridge Recycling Program was launched in 1990, then the first of its kind. Eight years earlier, in 1982, Canon came out with the first personal copiers that made use of replaceable all-in-one toner cartridges. In line with the company’s thrust towards “living and working for the common good,” as well as having gained awareness regarding environmental issues such as the reduction of waste and the effective use of resources, the Toner Cartridge Recycling Program was introduced.

In the twenty years since its inception, the Canon Toner Cartridge Recycling Program has expanded its reach, collecting empty cartridges in 23 countries worldwide. As of June 2009 Canon has reportedly gathered about 220,000 metric tons of used toner cartridges – tons saved from ending up in landfills!

The Canon Toner Cartridge Recycling Program is described as “a zero-landfill program in which every component of the used cartridges that the company collects is reused, recycled or recovered”. Canon manufactures its cartridges such that closed-loop recycling is possible; the product is designed with the concept of recycling in mind. Hence, reusing the components is facilitated and plastic components may be recycled to make new products with “equivalent levels of quality.”

Below are key milestones that constitute 20 years of cartridge recycling by Canon:

1990 * Start of toner cartridge return program (Japan, U.S.A., Germany)
1991 * Start of recycling at Canon Dalian Business Machines (China)
1992 * Canon wins Grand Prize at 1st Global Environmental Awards (Japan)
* Start of closed-loop recycling for plastic
1994 * No. of countries where toner cartridges collected increases to 21
1997 * Start of recycling at Canon Virginia (U.S.A.) and Canon Bretagne (France)
2001 * Start of Web-based cartridge return application procedures
2002 * Start of recycling at Canon Ecology Industry (Japan)
2003 * Collection volume of toner cartridges reaches 100,000 metric tons
* Zero-landfill recycling system realized through four global recycling bases
2005 * Start of Bellmark return program (Japan)
2006 * Canon wins 3R Award from Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry (Japan)
2007 * Canon wins 4th Eco-Products Awards Chairperson’s Award (Japan)
2008 * Collection volume of toner cartridges reaches 200,000 metric tons
* Canon wins FujiSankei Group Award at Global Environmental Awards (Japan)
2010 * 20th anniversary of Canon Toner Cartridge Recycling Program