EPSON Stylus Photo 870 Inkjet Printer

Circa 2000

A six-color photo-centric inkjet printer designed for producing high-quality, professional-looking photographs at home. It was one of the first printers to offer photo lab quality and longevity comparable to traditional film prints.

Use Case:

For digital photography enthusiasts to print vibrant, long-lasting photos from digital cameras, scanners, or the web.

• It specialized in high-resolution, six-color printing (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black, Light Cyan, and Light Magenta) for smooth tonal gradations and finer detail.

• It supported borderless printing, including continuous edge-to-edge snapshots using a roll paper holder accessory.

• Despite its photo focus, it was also capable of printing laser-quality black text for general document printing.

Historical Significance:

Highly significant for bringing professional-grade photo printing to the consumer market at an affordable price (around $299 USD at launch).

• It leveraged EPSON's exclusive Micro Piezo inkjet technology and a 6-ink system to achieve photo quality and print speeds that rivaled and influenced traditional photo lab processes.

• Paired with specific EPSON papers and inks, prints were rated for fade resistance of up to 25 years, a major breakthrough for archival-quality inkjet prints at the time.

• It helped solidify EPSONs reputation as a leader in photographic printing and was enthusiastically received by professional photographers and trade journals.

(H-16.5cm x W-43cm x D-28.5cm)