Epson Introduces A4 Photo Scanner

07.11.2008
Epson has unveiled an A4 photo scanner with film scanning ability, and which could also double as a document scanner. It has a high optical resolution of up to 4800dpi and 48-bit colour depth. It is primarily targeted at home users who do film scanning or those who have always wanted to backup their entire film collection. According to the company, the Epson Perfection V300 is also ideal for amateur photographers who desire the very best results from film originals.

Instant and efficient scanning

The scanner, a replacement model for Epson Perfection V200 Photo scanner, incorporates the Epson ReadyScan LED Technology, a feature that makes possible rapid scanning with zero warm up time and low power consumption. Given that it dissipates less heat and is mercury-free, the Epson ReadyScan LED Technology is environmentally friendly.

The Epson Perfection V300 Photo scanner features four customisable one-touch buttons that allow users to predefine their repetitive tasks. This feature is aimed at providing convenience and time savings for the users who could opt to customise the buttons -- which are preset with Copy, Start, Scan-to-Email, and Scan-to-PDF functions -- to suit their four most common scanning tasks.

Batch scanning

The Epson Perfection V300 Photo scanner comes equipped with an easy-to-use film holder which has the capacity of scanning six frames of standard 35mm filmstrip or four frames of 35mm mounted slides, all at one go.

Image enhancement features with user-friendly software

Enhancing the images damaged by age is now a breeze, thanks to the bundled Epson Scan v3.5, an easy-to-use photo and document editing software that includes several enhancement features.

One such feature is the Colour Restoration technology that allows users to restore faded photographs to their original colours effortlessly -- simply with the click of a mouse! At the same time, the Dust Removal Tools feature enhances the quality of the image by automatically detecting and removing dust specks and scratches from photographs.

Also included in the software is the Backlight Correction function that analyses the image histogram to identify any backlight conditions in the photograph and adjusts the brightness, sharpness and colour balance of each image -- a key feature that will certainly assist amateur photographers in producing the best quality image possible.

Besides enhancing the images, the Epson Scan v3.5 software is also useful in sharpening the readability of scanned text as its Text Enhancement feature removes unwanted shadows on the documents.

Easy conversion of documents into editable text format

The Epson Perfection V300 Photo scanner also comes with a set of software programs that provide for easy digitalisation of documents as well as easy management of media files. With the Newsoft MaxReader 4.5 Lt Optical Character Recognition software, users can easily convert scanned documents containing English and Chinese languages (both simplified and traditional) into editable text format. Users can also edit, enhance and add creative effects to their photos with ArcSoft MediaImpression 1, an application that allows them to share their media files in various ways (including through simple email attachments).

High compression PDF saving option

Among the new features offered by the Epson Perfection V300 Photo scanner is the high compression PDF saving option that allows users to save the scanned documents in their smallest size. A much-needed feature for users who often face difficulties in sending PDF attachments via emails, it is noteworthy that the high compression PDF saving option does not compromise the text readability of the scanned document!

With its film scanning ability and a great bundle of user-friendly software features, the Epson Perfection V300 Photo scanner is an ideal tool for home users and amateur photo enthusiasts in digitizing their images to minimize fading and discoloration effects.

Pricing: The Epson Perfection V300 Photo scanner is available at Rs. 7999/- (US$167).