Powerful new color copier will have DTP links

Folio: The Magazine for Magazine Management, March, 1990 by Margaret Hunter

Powerful new color copier will have DTP links

Chicago--New software being developed this spring will make it possible to attach the Canon Color Laser Copier 500 to personal computers for use as a scanner and color laser printer.

Such abilities are sure to make the copier's $49,000 price tag seem more reasonable to publishers who might otherwise buy scanners and printers separately.

Even without computer links, however, the copier comes armed with a formidable array of graphic tricks: It can combine multiple images; adjust overall color by changing percentages of each of the four process colors; change colors of parts of images; superimpose type on top of images; crop, size and place color images within a page of black-and-white text; draw contour lines around logos; and stretch, slant or squeeze images.

Powerful interfaces

The copier can already accept input from video sources, film scanners and 35mm positive or negative transparencies. A digital GPIB interface is an optional feature, and a SCSI (small computer standard interface) is being developed this spring, according to Rick Clayton, Canon's marketing program specialist.

Currently, Canon is working with software vendors to develop driver programs that will allow off-the-shelf hardware to be used as output devices. More software, also in development this spring, will be needed for the copier to be used as a scanner with a variety of computer platforms.