PictureMate Photo Printer

The Epson PictureMate is a compact and lightweight dedicated 4 x 6" photo printer that works with or without a personal computer. When connected to a computer it can be used with the supplied photo imaging software or any photo editing or graphics software of your choice. In standalone mode the PictureMate can make prints directly from most popular flash memory cards. It can also be connected to any PictBridge or USB Direct Print compatible digital camera. And you can also print wirelessly from cellphones and PDAs with the optional BlueTooth adapter.

The PictureMate is easy and convenient to use. It employs a single, photo ink cartridge that's good for at least 100 prints - guaranteed. The PictureMate uses Epson's 6-color pigment ink system that yields fade resistant prints that last up to 200 years (in photo album conditions). These prints are also water and smudge resistant too and when displayed last 2-4 times longer than photo lab brands. The PictureMate produces brilliant, borderless 4 x 6" prints in about two minutes.

Epson's Film Factory 3.05 software is included and is compatible with PC/Windows and Macintosh computers. It supports Epson's Print Image Matching technology and is also Exif Print-enabled.

PictureMate Features:

• Dedicated 4x6" photo printer, works with or without a computer

• Uses convenient PictureMate Print Packs, includes a photo ink cartridge and 100 sheets of 4x6" glossy photo paper.

• Epson 6-color pigment ink for archival quality glossy photos

• 5760 x 1440 optimized dpi resolution

• Builtin slots for most popular types of flash memory cards

• BorderFree 4x6" prints in about two minutes

• Low cost printing - about $0.30 each

• USB connectivity with Windows and Macintosh computers

• PictBridge, USB Direct Print, PIM and Exif Print compatible

• Optional BlueTooth wireless printing

The Epson 6-color pigment ink set is designed specifically for photographers and digital artists. This ink set includes the traditional black, cyan, magenta and yellow inks, as well as new red and blue inks to expand the color gamut.

Epson claims that PictureMate prints are fade resistant with a print life of up to 200 years in photo album conditions or 100 years when displayed in a glass frame. The prints are water and smudge resistant too.

Installation is easy. Shake the big ink cartridge and then slide it into the back of the printer. Load up to 20 sheets of paper on the input tray and once the printer finishes its "pump up" cycle - you're good to go. The ink levels can be monitored with the monochrome LCD data on top or via the printer driver on your computer.

Each PictureMate Print Pack includes the photo cartridge and 100 sheets of 4 x 6" glossy photo paper and retails for $30 -- this yields a per print cost of $0.30. Each ink cartridge is guaranteed by Epson to print at least 100 4 x 6" prints.

Compatible with Windows 98SE, 2000, Me and XP and Macintosh System 9.x, OS X 10.2-10.3 platforms, the PictureMate uses a USB 1.1 input port for connection to the host computer.

The EXT/IF is a USB port that allows connection of a CD-Recorder, ZIP drive or USB Thumb drive to be used with the printer's COPY button function.

You can plug the optional BlueTooth adapter into the EXT/IF port and print wirelessly from cellphones, PDAs or other BlueTooth-equipped devices.

The EXT/IF port is also used to connect to any PictBridge-compatible digital camera or camcorder. Shown here connected to the Konica Minolta DiMAGE X50. It's easy to do standalone printing with a PictBridge digicam. You use the camera's color LCD to select the pictures to be printed, no need to print an index page first.

The controls on top of the printer include a monochrome LCD that displays a menu system. You navigate the menus with the 4-way selector and accept selections with the OK button. The big green Print button begins the printing process, the Cancel button cancels it. The Save Photo button lets you transfer photos to an optional CD-R, Zip drive or USB drive if one is connected.

The builtin card slots handle the most popular type of flash memory cards including: CompactFlash Type I & II, Secure Digital, MMC, mini-SD with optional adapter, SmartMedia, Magicgate Memory Stick, MemoryStick (plus Pro and Duo with optional adapter), IBM/Hitachi Microdrive and xD PictureCard.

You can print directly from a flash memory card or use the card slots like an external card reader and transfer images to your hard drive. Using the Save Photo button you can send pictures to an optional storage device (CD-R, Zip drive, USB drive.)