Epson’s new Perfection 3170 scanner features a high-speed USB 2.0 interface and an integrated transparency unit for scanning films.

 

September 2003: Epson’s new Perfection 3170 scanner features a high-speed USB 2.0 interface and an integrated transparency unit for scanning films.
The new model includes an on-board ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) chip, which carries out most of the image processing on the scanner, instead of the user’s computer. This gives faster scans at higher resolution, allowing files scanned at the top resolution of 3200 dpi to be quickly sent to a PC. Automated scanning of up to 12 frames of strip film, 4 frames of slides or a medium format (up to 6x 9cm) strip film is supported.
Photo Restoration software is included as standard, allowing users to recapture the original colours in faded prints and slides. Bundled with the Perfection 3170 scanner is a new version of Epson’s Smart Panel software, which supports easy image manipulation, optical character recognition (OCR) scanning and interpretation of business cards. Also included is Adobe Photoshop Elements II and Newsoft’s Presto! BizCard 4.0LE. Epson’s own Scan to Web software allows scanning of images from the scanner directly to Club Epson, the company’s new online photo sharing environment. Epson PhotoQuicker 3.4 software, which supports red eye reduction and colour balancing after scanning, is also included.
The Perfection 3170 scanner has three operational modes to suit every user: Full Auto, which allows automatic image to file scanning with one button click; a Home mode that allows some colour settings and colour restoration adjustments to be made and a Professional mode that allows access to all settings, including colour balance and dust removal options for negatives. An optional automatic document feeder is available for scanning documents up to A4 in size at 4.5 pages per minute.
The Perfection 3170 scanner is expected to sell for $649. Details can be found at www.epson.com.au.