MELVILLE, N.Y. – Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging solutions, today announced the FlatSpread FS-500, the new film hinge processor, for its Canon DreamLabo 5000 Inkjet Production Photo Printer. This new post-press machine will create a "FlatSpread" lay-flat style photo book and will be on display at WPPI Expo in Las Vegas, March 11 - 13, in the Canon booth (# 421). 

Lay-flat photo books are highly regarded in the premium photo book market, allowing for a professional look, such as a two-page, single-image or panoramic spread. Launched in 2012, the Canon DreamLabo 5000 Inkjet Production Photo Printer offers the retail photo printing and high-end print-on-demand (POD) markets optimal performance and productivity. Its integration of FINE (Full-photolithography Inkjet Nozzle Engineering) print-head technology is designed to offer high photo and text quality. The printer also offers an alternative to traditional silver halide processing technology, coupling its strengths with the advantages of inkjet printing. The FS-500 will eliminate the need for exclusive, pre-hinged sheets, or mounting photos onto backing boards, helping to reduce material and labor costs, providing more affordable lay flat-options.

The DreamLabo 5000 Printer features the ability to automatically produce full-bleed double-sided prints in a single pass in a variety of paper sizes and finishes, which is especially ideal for premium photo book production.

This new style of photo book is produced by binding DreamLabo 5000 double-sided prints (Canon Double-sided Glossy and Double-sided Luster paper) with an attached flexible film hinge. When completed, and bound, the photo book will have widely flat and visible pages when open. Double-sided prints will allow the addition of many pages within the photo book, yet the book remains slim.

FS-500 users can control the "page-flatness" of Lay-flat photo books by optimizing the width of hinge slit within 0.02 to 0.08 inch (*). Photo book sizes can be produced in a variety of sizes, ranging from 5x5 inches up to 12x18 inches. The FS-500 can process an A4 (8.27 x 11.69 inches) size sheet in approximately 14 seconds (**) and includes a standard automatic sheet feeder with a 100 sheet capacity.

For more information on the DreamLabo 5000 Commercial Inkjet Photo Printer, please visit:www.usa.canon.com/dreamlabo