Zink teams up with Pandigital to unveil an array of imaging products leveraging Zink Imaging’s award Zero Ink Printing Technology. This collaboration has resulted into the emergence of their first product that claims to be the world’s first ever Zero Ink 4×6-inch printer.

Zink Technology brings to Pandigital a new technological platform to enable a new generation of devices which are compact in size, easy-to-use, as well as eco-friendly. These products will be powered by patented Zink Paper. The Zink Paper is an advanced composite material integrated with yellow, magenta, and cyan dye crystals. Using heat, Zink devices activate and colorize these crystals, providing an easier printing process.

“We are thrilled to have Pandigital join our partner network,” said Wendy Caswell, President and CEO, Zink Imaging. “Throughout Pandigital’s history, they have driven growth in existing and new product categories by making products easier to enjoy and by leveraging innovative technology and design. Their corporate mission of delivering simple and elegant products to the mass market consumer at a great value is a perfect match for what the ZINK Technology stands for – an unparalleled value proposition, simplicity in printing, and ZINK for everyone.”

The Pandigital Portable Photo Printer negates the requirement of ink cartridges or ribbons and outs borderless full-color 4×6-inch prints. Users can carry it along virtually anywhere as it does not require a PC. The device features a memory card slot, a preview LCD, and an intuitive user interface.

“The fact that today’s busy consumers want to more thoroughly and simply enjoy their digital images is the cornerstone of Pandigital’s success in the digital photo frame industry,” said Dean Finnegan, CEO and founder, Pandigital. “Our new Pandigital Portable Photo Printer is the perfect complement to our award-winning lines of digital photo frames and PhotoLink scanners, as they give consumers an additional way to enjoy their digital images and treasured memories. And Zink is the only technology that allows us to completely eliminate the hassle, cost, mess and waste of ink cartridges while instantly delivering a high-quality beautiful 4×6-inch photo.”

Pandigital being the newest partner of Zink Imaging, it represents the further expansion of Zink business and technology ecosystem.

The Epson’s five includes two multifunctions, a compact photo printer, a regular-sized printer and another multifunction with faxing capabilities.

Of the first two multifunctions, Stylus Photo RX690 is the new flagship consumer photo MFP that features Epson’s new Realoid printer engine chip. Epson Stylus Photo RX690 prints and copies 40 pages of both black text and color documents per minute.

Additionally, Photo RX690 features dual paper trays for a combined paper holding capacity of up to 300 (150 for front feed and 150 for rear feed) A4 sheets. This model also has the option of an auto-duplexer.

Stylus Photo RX610 is a new entry level multifunctional photo printer. Epson Stylus Photo RX610, in turn, can print as fast as up to 37 pages per minute for A4 sized black text document and 38 ppm for color documents; A4 copy speeds are almost equivalent at 37 copies per minute.

Both multifunctions are equipped with a 2.5-inch tiltable LCD screen for pre-print preview and editing, offer full variety of memory card options and PictBridge for PC-less connections. Users also have the option of a Bluetooth adaptor for wireless printing.

Epson Stylus Photo R290 is a single function inkjet photo printer. Rated at 37 ppm (pages per minute) for A4-sized black text document and 38 ppm for color documents, the printer pushes current inkjet print speeds to the limits. As post-photography touch-up becomes more pervasive, enthusiasts will be pleased to learn that draft 4×6-inches photos can be printed in just 12 seconds in draft mode.

Another feature of Epson Stylus Photo R290 that makes it different from other new devices is a direct printing onto the surface of CD/DVDs. The printer comes with the bundled EPSON PhotoEnhance software that allows for automatic corrections of common photography flaws such as poor color balance and contrast. And the new EPSON PortraitEnhance will help boost face definition and skin radiance in photos.

These three printers implement a six INKdividual cartridge configuration great for the cost conscious, since only depleted ink cartridges need to be replaced. The pride of photographers is in their printed works. The new printers use Epson Claria Photographic Inks that provide a stunning photo quality printouts lasting up to 200 years (in dark album storage conditions). The inks are capable of replicating a wide range of colors and offer incredible brilliance and gloss.

Epson PictureMate 270 is a compact printer churns out a lab-quality photo in just 37 seconds. The compact printer comes complete with a comfortable carry handle and folds neatly into a box with no protruding parts when not in use. It is the perfect companion with its small form and stylish exterior, especially for users who require printing on the go. With the optional battery pack, the EPSON PictureMate allows users to print 4×6-inch lab-quality photos anytime anywhere. A big tiltable 3.6” color LCD screen allows users to experience PC-less printing effortlessly.

Epson Stylus CX9300F is a multifunction inkjet printer with a print speed of up to 32 pages per minute for black text and color documents. Unlike other device described above, this model is equipped with high-speed fax that transmits monochrome and colour faxes at 33.6k kilobits per second and stores up to 60 speed dials. The MFP also has a built-in 30-sheets automatic document feeder (ADF) and a 2.5” LCD screen.

Stylus CX9300F utilizes four-cartridge system with improved DURABrite Ultra inks. Black cartridge is available in high or standard capacity versions.

All five printers are powered by the Micro-Piezo printhead and Advanced Variable Sized Droplet Technology resulting in up to 5760 dots per inch resolution. The printers support the most common type of memory cards as well as PictBridge devices for direct photo printing. With optional Bluetooth toggle you can go wireless and to receive images from any Bluetooth-enabled devices including mobile phones and notebooks.

For those of us who believes the only possible printing is high-definition printing, Epson introduces a new A3+ (13×19 inches) photo printer.

The Photo R1900 implements a “groundbreaking” technology that allows for “smoother images and color control” coupled with UltraChrome™ Hi-Gloss2 Ink. The UltraChrome™ Hi-Gloss2, apart from common cyan, magenta and yellow inks, also features matte black, photo black, red, orange (replacement for blue) and gloss optimiser.

All in all, Epson Stylus Photo R1900 is said to produce 18,446,774 trillion colors. Such a tremendous amount of colors offers “a wider color gamut, natural skin tones and consistent color with a smooth gloss finish.”

Another innovation in this printer is the Look Up Table (LUT). This table is used to determine how much of each color is required to make a print from a RGB source file. The mathematical algorithm makes sure a printed image matches perfectly the original.

The Stylus Photo R1900 supports Epson’s Variable-sized Droplet Technology, increased range of media in cut-sheet and roll formats, printing on CDs and DVDs, direct print via Pictbridge.

A bundle of software, Epson Creativity Suite, is also there featuring Epson Easy Photo Print, FileManager, Web to Page and Camera RAW Plug-in.

The Epson Stylus Photo R1900 will be available from November 2007 at a price of £399.99 ($820).

Canon U.S.A. introduced the Selphy ES2 Compact Photo Printer. The printer features “Easy Photo Pack” cartridges that combine ink and paper. It uses USB 2.0 to connect to a Mac or PC and also supports direct connections to PictBridge-enabled cameras. The Selphy ES2 also automatically corrects for red-eye and enhances images for exposure, color and brightness.

The Selphy ES2 sports a 3.0-inch “tilt-up” TFT display that delivers detailed previews of your images before printing. The printer produces from credit card size up to 4 x 6-inch prints at 300 x 300 dots per inch that are water-resistant and can resist fading up to 100 years.

Canon Selphy ES2 employs Canon’s proprietary Easy-Scroll Wheel, a navigation tool that lets you quickly browse and use the functions you want. The device also features built-in memory card readers that work with most commonly used memory cards in digital cameras including CompactFlash, Memory Sticks, MMC, SD Card, SDHC and others.

The printer is coming in October and will cost $199.99.