Canon celebrates the 20th anniversary of the SELPHY series, the range of compact photo printers that allow you to print your shots on paper, offering high quality and a wide choice of creative options.
The SELPHY series was born in 2004 to respond to the growing demand for photographic prints, following the rapid spread of digital cameras in the early 2000s, and today includes 31 models 1 for a sales volume of over 17 million units2 worldwide.
With the name SELPHY, the result of the combination of “self” and “photography”, Canon wanted to leverage the role of photography as a means of preserving one's memories. An increasingly widespread need, made possible by the opportunity to easily and completely independently print shots captured with digital devices, while experimenting with new ways of playing and having fun with images. SELPHY printers produce high-quality photographic prints with excellent durability thanks to the adoption of an ink sublimation process, vaporized with heat. Furthermore, they are easy to use and have a lightweight and compact body that makes them easy to transport. The series has earned the trust of a wide variety of users due to its ability to easily make photo prints on the spot. The latter function, which in addition to encouraging the sharing of memorable moments, can also be used to create personalized works in the most varied fields, from wedding decorations to passport photos.
Canon Selphy turns 20: here are the portable photo printers
Canon has claimed the pioneered its position in the photo printing market by introducing the CP-10 ink sublimation printer in April 2001. In October 2004 it then presented SELPHY CP500 and SELPHY CP400 and at the same time launched the SELPHY brand, intertwining the concept of the product with the name of the brand.
Since that moment the Japanese company has continued to develop products in line with generational changes and technological progress. SELPHY CP710, equipped with a color LCD monitor and capable of printing photos directly from memory cards, arrived on the market in September 2005. Subsequently, with the launch of SELPHY CP900, in September 2012, SELPHY printers became compatible with the wireless LAN network, managing to connect with smartphones and tablets.
SELPHY SQUARE QX10, a lightweight and compact model with internal battery, ideal for travel use, was added to the range in April 2020. The path of strengthening the functions and product design finally led, in September 2022, to the release of SELPHY CP1500the latest addition to the CP series, which allows you to create vibrant prints thanks to the automatic correction function.
The SELPHY series is also exclusively equipped of the SELPHY Photo Layout application that allows you to create collages by automatically combining several photos and produce images using filters and stamps. In addition, it is possible to create layouts in various paper formats, for example printable stickers. The range also responds to a new market demand born with the spread of smartphones, namely square prints, which have become popular thanks to social media.
Canon will continue to propose new ways of printing photographs and will be committed to enhancing the culture of imaging, expanding the SELPHY series in line with the evolution of user needs.