Once again, Epson introduces an affordable printer that offers high quality borderless printing for the photo enthusiast. The R320, latest version in the R300 series maintains all the features of its predecessor but incorporates a new LCD screen to improve its function as a standalone unit. Its sleek exterior design houses a 6-cartridge system that produces superior photos on premium photo papers as well as acceptable quality in other uses.
I was very excited to test the capabilities of this photo printer on its most demanding and likely use; printing photos. My personal tests rendered very pleasing results. The colors were rich, bright and surprisingly similar to the screen versions of the images. The photo printer handles skin tones accurately with remarkable detail. A noticeable feature in the R320 is the 6 cartridge ink unit that expands the color spectrum of the printer. Also, as an added bonus, it prevents waste from allowing the consumer to replace only the used up color. Even the price of the cartridges is reasonable at under $20 each. The only aspect of the printer that needs improvement is monochrome printing. In grayscale images, a definite color hue is noticeable which any serious photographer would consider undesirable. As per text printing, the printer does an adequate job of producing sharp letters but it is apparent that this is not this device's primary use.
The Epson R320 Photo Printer can working independently without being connected to a computer. The unit features a card reader that recognizes 14 media types from all major manufacturers. It also accepts direct connection to cameras with PictBridge capabilities. The integrated LCD screen allows users to view photos from their source cards and make slight alterations to your images before proceeding directly to print. Another interesting feature of this device, it the ability to connect an external storage drive directly to the printer to facilitate the transfer of images. It's a convenient utility when you are away from a computer and need to empty out your memory cards.
The Epson Stylus R320 boasts a remarkable 5760 dpi x 1440 dpi resolution in both color and black and white. Based on the ink jet technology, this device will accept several media types with a maximum print size of 8.5 inches wide. Notably, this device also allows for direct impressions onto printable CDs and DVDs. It gives even the most basic graphic designer the ability to produce professional CD labels from the convenience of his or her desktop.
If speed is your primary concern, then perhaps the Epson Stylus R320 would not be your ideal choice. The device only prints 1.9 pages per minute for text and up to 3.7 minutes for best quality photo printing. The results on the other hand are well worth the wait. In my experience, printing photos has never been an issue of speed but rather quality therefore Epson has well concentrated its priority in developing this device.
Overall, this device has surpassed my expectations.
I am always pleased when I test a product that is able to impress me. For the reasonable cost of this unit, anyone with a digital camera can afford their own home photo lab. The superior quality that I have grown to expect from Epson is reaffirmed in this product. The vibrant photo prints are equal in quality as when you send them out to be printed. The only problem you will encounter is finding enough frames around the house to display all your photos. Happy printing!
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