Today's hybrid working professionals and creators increasingly require the ability to produce physical drawings, posters and other large graphical media from anywhere — even without leaving home. Canon U.S.A. Inc. has unveiled the imagePROGRAF TC-20 large-format printer, designed to provide accessibility and affordability for today's "do-it-yourself" generation, from graphic designers to architects, engineers, educators and retail shop owners. The introduction of the imagePROGRAF TC-20 represents Canon's first printer category introduction enabling the consumerization of 24-inch large-format printing at a sub-$1,000 price via a compact, desktop, user-manageable device.

The imagePROGRAF TC-20 printer is specifically designed to fit in environments with limited space, such as home offices, small offices, schools, and satellite and temporary workspaces. It combines Canon's product technology from multiple product lines, offering high-precision printing, an automatic sheet feeder, roll paper-feeding and large-capacity ink bottles, to offer a unique combination of image quality, performance, durability and affordability.

"The printer is so easy to use and the quality of the output is so good I am able to show photos of our specialty food offerings," said Frank Nargentino, owner, Village Market. "The variety of sizes I am able to print using either the roll or various cut-sheet sizes allows me to create posters, banners, flyers and notices. This helps me increase my communications to my customers and employees, in turn helping to increase sales."

Careful attention was given to user design with regard to installation and ongoing use with a particular focus on first-time large-format users, with ease of operability demonstrated by the printer's ability to automatically switch between roll paper and cut-sheet paper, as well as availability of "no-spool" roll paper loading. The imagePROGRAF TC-20 is fully front-operational, allowing the ability to easily replenish paper media, swap out ink bottles, replace maintenance cartridges and manage settings from the full-color touch-screen panel.

The environmentally friendly printer is rated Gold by the Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT), the highest rating to date of any imagePROGRAF printer, as well as producing the lowest power consumption of any imagePROGRAF printer to date

"We are excited to introduce an entry-level, large-format printer to expand this technology's viability to an entirely new set of users," said Shinichi "Sam" Yoshida, executive vice president and general manager, Canon U.S.A. Inc. "The imagePROGRAF TC-20 combines quality and ease-of-use in a compact body, supports a variety of output sizes, and will be an essential asset for many in the education sector as well as small and home offices."

Capable of holding up to 100 sheets of letter-size and up to 50 sheets of 11-by-17-inch plain paper, and roll sizes up to 24 inches wide, the imagePROGRAF TC-20 printer offers users a wide variety of media choices. The printer comes standard with four high-capacity 70 mL ink bottles, lessening the need to change ink as frequently, saving time and replenishment cost.

Creative and workflow software solutions are available free of charge to help support varied industries and printing needs. Supported software includes:

• PosterArtist, a design software available free online at, https://posterartist.canon, a free lite version or the full version with an MRSP of $425.
• Direct Print Plus, a solution designed to allow multiple files in different formats to be inputted by dragging and dropping, then printing without needing to launch a dedicated application for each file
• PIXMA Cloud Link, which can support hybrid work by providing a means to print shared files remotely while also accessing the cloud from a smartphone or personal computer
• Mobile printing app (Canon PRINT Inkjet/SELPHY) and AirPrint compatibility
• Free Layout Plus for easy printing from Microsoft Office applications

Both Windows and Mac platforms are compatible with the imagePROGRAF TC-20.

In other news, Canon U.S.A. Inc. has announced it will launch free early access to its Kokomo software in February 2023, showcasing Canon's first application for a virtual reality (VR) platform that enables face-to-face communication in a virtual space with live-action video using easy-to-use equipment. Canon first announced the development of the Kokomo software at CES 2022.

The Kokomo application is a VR software developed by Canon that embodies the three elements of "real," "together" and "experience." These three elements help to represent the overarching product mission of a new means of communication to be there and share your own image, facial expression and even the clothing you are wearing. The Kokomo application uses a compatible consumer VR headset and compatible smartphone, allowing friends and family to experience being together, no matter where they are.

Easy To Use

Without the need for multiple cameras or a complex system requiring professional settings, face-to-face communication in a virtual space can be achieved with the simple configuration of a commercially available compatible VR headset and a compatible smartphone. Users can easily register using the smartphone application and connect with a caller, who also has a compatible VR headset and registers for the Kokomo application, communicating with each other in a remote location with the same ease of operation as familiar existing calling applications, with the realistic sensation of being face-to-face in a life-size setting while viewing each other's image.

Real Together Experience

The image processing technology developed by Canon U.S.A. reproduces the user's image in live-action in a virtual space from the image captured by the compatible smartphone, allowing the user to make an "ImmersiveCall" video call while viewing the other party and surroundings in 3D in the virtual space using the compatible VR headset. The "ImmersiveCall" with live representation allows for social interaction to be accessible from one's home, hotel, dorm room or across other distances if there is a compatible headset, the software and an Internet connection is available. When using a VR headset that covers the user's field of vision, a highly immersive visual experience unobstructed by screens or frames can be achieved, and by using a compatible smartphone to capture full-body images, users can communicate with gestures and other forms of communication. In addition, the "Media Player," a function for sharing photos and videos in a virtual space, allows users to enjoy communicating and chatting together while simultaneously viewing content together on the call.

Dynamic Environment

In addition to "Kokomo Studio," the default virtual space with a relaxed and chill atmosphere, multiple virtual spaces are available, and users can switch between them depending on the content of the conversation or mood. Other virtual spaces for an "ImmersiveCall" include "Malibu Trailer" in Malibu, California, "North Shore" and "Mountain Tea House" in Oahu, Hawaii. In addition, at CES 2023, users can experience a special virtual space inspired by the new film, Knock at the Cabin, directed by M. Night Shyamalan, in theaters February 3.

In other news, Canon U.S.A. Inc. has announced that its AMLOS (Activate My Line of Sight) solution has garnered another accolade: a 2023 CES Best of Innovation Award in the Software and Mobile Apps category. AMLOS is a software and camera product suite designed to provide a new level of engagement for collaboration across multiple locations using the power of Canon's image processing technology, along with hand-gesture controls.

The CES Innovation Awards program is an annual competition honoring outstanding design and engineering in consumer technology products across 28 product categories. The CES 2023 Innovation Awards program received a record-high number of more than 2,100 submissions. An independent panel of industry-expert judges reviewed submissions based on innovation and functionality, aesthetic and design. Out of those submissions, hundreds of products were selected as CES 2023 Innovation Honorees. Those rating the highest across each category receive the "Best of Innovation" designation. AMLOS was among only 17 products given this high-level distinction for 2023.

CES will be held in Las Vegas from Thursday, Jan. 5, through Sunday, Jan. 8, 2023. Attendees will have the chance to interact with AMLOS in an immersive, real-time experience at the Canon booth, located at booth #16359 in Central Hall.

"To be honored with a CES Best of Innovation award is a testament to the creativity, research and expert development that went into making AMLOS a valuable tool to help bridge the gap between the office and employees working from home," said Shinichi “Sam” Yoshida, executive vice president and general manager, Canon U.S.A. Inc. "It helps give people a consistent experience no matter where they are working. We are excited that the industry is recognizing the value AMLOS can provide in this endeavor."

Leading up to the official availability announcement just a few months ago, AMLOS generated wide industry acclaim for its efforts in helping hybrid work teams stay engaged with one another and well-connected despite being in different locations. Keypoint Intelligence named AMLOS a winner of its Buyers Lab (BLI) 2023 Outstanding Innovation Award, which followed an April announcement from ProductionHUB, which named it an Award of Excellence winner. AMLOS also won the InfoComm Best of Show Award after Canon's presence in the show in June.

Developed to help support high productivity and employee engagement, the AMLOS solution is a software and camera product suite designed to support modern hybrid meetings. The AMLOS solution is an additional layer on top of an organization's existing, compatible conference solution. It allows both in-person and remote participants to engage in meetings, providing an intuitive experience with hand-gesture controls for in-person participants, and a user interface that can be customized by a remote participant to help promote collaboration. The AMLOS solution consists of software and a Canon CR-N300 or CR-N500 PTZ (Pan-Tilt-Zoom) camera.