LAS VEGAS--Feb. 9, 2004-- Canon U.S.A., Inc., a subsidiary of Canon Inc. today is showcasing the industry's fastest 24-inch pigment ink printer, designed to offer breakthrough wide format output speeds combined with superior image and archival quality. The introduction of the imagePROGRAF W6200 greatly expands the company's wide format product portfolio and establishes a new market category for the imaging technology leader. Using Canon's singular bi-directional head, MicroFine Droplet Technology(TM) and pigment ink solution, Canon's imagePROGRAF W6200 is able to rapidly produce highly detailed, brilliant, photo-quality archival prints and proofs up to 24 inches wide. The printer - producing A1-sized prints in less than five minutes in standard (600 x 1200 dpi) mode - comes equipped with the company's own graphic PS-level 3 compatible raster image processor (RIP) software and retails at less than $3500. "The output speed of the imagePROGRAF W6200 fundamentally strengthens Canon's competitive edge in the fast-growing wide format segment," states Amit Bagchi, director of printer division for Canon U.S.A., Inc. "Fueled by its rapid output and a comprehensive range of exceptional features, Canon will market the new W6200 printer as a high-speed, high-quality and cost-effective proofing, signage and poster solution for multiple environments, including corporate, print for pay and photo retail operations." With the increasing use of high-quality digital imaging solutions by corporations and photographic retailers, Canon expects wide adoption of the printer for multiple professional applications. From in-house production and proofing at ad agencies, graphic and design studios, pre-press operations and commercial point of purchase to informational and display signage for retail and entertainment establishments, the imagePROGRAF W6200 promises to fulfill many diverse large-format printing purposes. "Beyond its use within the professional printing and pre-press arena, the addition of the new W6200 printer to our imagePROGRAF line of wide format printers also creates an entirely new market for Canon and a far more competitive profit center for photo retail establishments, enabling them to easily produce high quality, highly profitable posters for customers quickly, conveniently and on site," adds Mr. Bagchi. "Additionally, at approximately three feet long and four feet tall, the small footprint of the imagePROGRAF W6200 keeps the amount of valuable retail floor space it uses to a minimum and can itself serve as an eye-catching point-of-sale device, promoting impulse buys, novelty applications and customized decorations for celebrations such as birthdays, anniversaries, promotion and retirement parties and even company award ceremonies." High Speed, High Quality, Low Maintenance Canon creates posters in under five minutes. The imagePROGRAF W6200 printer's extra-large, bi-directional print head streamlines the workflow and speeds the output, printing A1 size media (594mm x 841mm or slightly larger than 24" x 36") in as little as 1.5 minutes in draft (300 x 1200 dpi) mode, 4.5 minutes in standard (600 x 1200 dpi) mode and seven minutes in high (1200 x 1200 dpi) mode. What's more, the print head is user replaceable, ensuring that printer downtime is held to minutes (not hours or days waiting for a service call). Utilizing Canons's MicroFine Droplet Technology that consistently provides precise and uniform 8-picolliter ink droplets, a extra-large (1.07-inch, six color, bi directional print head with 1280 nozzles per color (for a total of 7680 nozzles), the imagePROGRAF W6200 produces brilliant graphics in record times. Thanks to Canon technology - including a top quality print mode of 1200 x 1200 dpi - and the use of 1/6-density Photo Cyan and Photo Magenta as two of the six ink colors create smoother color gradations and dramatically reduce graininess particularly in midtone and highlight areas. The printer employs a new straight paper path design, wherein roll media is fed from the back and printed out to the front and cut sheets are fed from the front. The paper path can be switched manually between roll media and cut sheet media. The imagePROGRAF W6200 also features adjustable head heights to accommodate a variety of Canon specialty media compatible with the unit. A pull out media exit guide supports rigid media to come out flat and stores conveniently in the main unit when it is not needed. The printer is capable of full-bleed printing on compatible roll- media such as heavy coated paper, photo semi-glossy paper, photo glossy paper and flame resistant cloth in popular sizes including but not limited to 20" x 24" and 24" x 36". Offered as Canon's latest pigment ink engine - for greater archival longevity - the imagePROGRAF W6200 printer features six individual 130 ml ink tanks that can be easily replaced as needed, even mid-job. Despite its heavyweight printing capabilities - including both roll and cut sheet media compatibility - the imagePROGRAF W6200 is quickly and easily assembled, weighs in at a mere 110 pounds, has a space-saving foldaway basket and a lower profile making access to the roll holder and the LCD panel easier. The W6200 printer is a multi-platform system supporting Windows 95/98/ME, Windows NT 4.0/2000/XP and Macintosh OS 8, 9 and OS X (10.2). The printer also fully supports the most popular network protocols (including TCP/IP, AppleTalk and IPX/SPX) and ships with a 10/100 BASE-T/TX Ethernet network interface and a USB 2.0 high-speed interface. An optional Firewire/IEEE1394 board is available. The Canon Graphic RIP included with the imagePROGRAF W6200 printer and contains such features typically found in upgraded or high-end RIP packages as hot folder printing workflow, print server capability, ICC profile based color management, color curve editing and press simulation. Canon's Graphic RIP is both Macintosh and Windows OS compatible. The Canon imagePROGRAF W6200 printer begins shipping in mid February and carries an MSRP of $3,495.