NEW YORK--Sept. 14, 2005-- Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leading provider of office imaging systems, ink-jet technology and digital photography, today announced the introduction of the new imagePROGRAF W8400D dye-based-ink large format printer. This latest addition to Canon's imagePROGRAF line marks the next phase in Canon's rapid expansion of large format solutions for all markets. The new W8400D dye-ink model offers outstanding color performance and gradation on both plain and glossy print media, and complements the excellent coloration, light resistance, water resistance and color stability afforded by the pigment-ink imagePROGRAF W8400Pg, released in May of this year. With the introduction of the new W8400D, providing the vibrant and rich color gradation provided by dye-based inks, Canon offers customers a dye-based ink option to meet a variety of print needs. The W8400D bundles exceptional print speed with a brand new suite of workflow software. The new W8400D dye-based printer is a cost-effective alternative to pigment ink output for niche large format markets including corporate graphics, CAD and architectural users, publishers, and proofing departments. "Canon has reengineered our large format printers to meet both the production and creative needs of our wide format audience. With the inclusion of Canon's new bundled software and the efficiencies afforded by dye-based ink, this new device adds a crucial component to Canon's rapidly expanding large format product line," said Sam Yoshida, director and general manager, Product Marketing Division, Canon U.S.A., Inc. "Advantages such as our accurate high-quality print speed, along with heightened resolution, and our proprietary bundled software provides a true out-of-the-box large format printing solution to our customers." Outstanding Image Quality & Speed Capable of printing up to 44 inches (1,117.6 mm) in width, the imagePROGRAF W8400D combines four picoliter inkjet droplet size, one-inch print head density with precision engine enhancements and an industry-unique array of out-of-the-box software solutions to offer a truly valuable solution for creating, processing, and printing large format output Canon's proprietary print head technology enables high-speed printing at 2400 x 1200 dpi for high image resolution, clarity and detail, while enabling the W8400D to achieve print speeds up to 307 square feet per hour (sfph) at 1200x1200 dpi resolution(i). Software Advantages The imagePROGRAF W8400D printer comes with a suite of easy-to-use software programs applicable to a wide variety of business environments. The imagePROGRAF Printer Driver 2005 is a Windows and Macintosh driver that delivers accurate "Out of the Box" color, and automatically installs professionally created color profiles for Canon's wide variety of large format media. The Canon driver also offers simplified page setup options and one-touch borderless printing - providing a similar look and feel to other Canon consumer and business imaging equipment. The included HDI driver provides an efficient way to print AutoCAD files accurately from Windows for architectural and engineering businesses. Canon also provides the new PosterArtist version 1.1, software that empowers users of all levels to create and design professional posters, banners and signage with extreme ease. The program includes an extensive library of royalty-free images and clip-art, as well as the ability to import images in JPEG, TIFF, and bitmap (.bmp) file format. Other features include automatic object layout and size adjustment for various output sizes, professionally designed templates to simplify poster creation, and opacity blends for increased design flexibility. New features in version 1.1 include a wider selection of fonts, enhanced editing functions, and a convenient My Template function allowing users to save posters they have created as templates, which can be reused on later projects. Great for corporate event signage and internal communication departs, PosterArtist allows for the fast easy creation of professional quality signage. Digital Photo Print Pro (DPPP) offers easy image correction and layout tools for all levels of users. This program provides professional-grade editing tools, such as redeye elimination, skin tone improvement, moire removal, and automatic borderless cropping. The imagePROGRAF W8400D uses the same image controller as the pigment ink imagePROGRAF W8400Pg, allowing for 4x higher resolution than predecessor models without sacrificing speed. By utilizing a single chip design (SOC--System On Chip), the image processing is significantly faster, eliminating the need for two separate memories access - CPU and image processing ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit). In addition, the memory itself has been upgraded to DDR SDRAM (Double Data Rate SDRAM) to further speed up the printing process. Combined with a faster image processing algorithm, the new system is able to retain Canon's printing speed advantage - even with an increase in processed data. The imagePROGRAF W8400D will be available in the fourth quarter of 2005 through authorized Canon U.S.A. dealers and has an estimated MSRP of $5,995.00