The scanner is compatible with TWAIN / WIA and includes features such as Auto-Scan, scan to memory card and Stitch Assist with the aid of MP Navigator EX software. The flatbed scanner module has an optical resolution of 1200 x 2400dpi increasing to 19200 x 19200dpi digital. Two cartridges are supplied – pigment black and dye-based cyan, magenta and yellow. The unit’s inkjet printer makes use of Canon’s FINE (Full-photolithography Inkjet Nozzle Engineering) technology which claims to deliver virtually grain-free photo-lab quality prints using 4800dpi cartridges with a 2pl drop size. You get to select the paper type and size plus pick from various layouts and carry out some editing. The second application, Canon Easy-PhotoPrint EX, brings together features for photo work and printing such items as calendars or photo albums. Canon MP Navigator EX enables you to scan items and access images whether they are stored on the computer or memory card. Also included on the media CD are a PDF version of the User Manual and two software applications. While you can carry out some functions direct from the PIXMA MP490, such as the previously mentioned direct memory card printing plus printing a scanned image, for other tasks you will need to link to a computer and install the supplied drivers for printing and scanning documents.

Images can be selected from the TFT screen.

Among the supported memory cards are CF, Microdrive, Memory Stick, Memory Stick Pro, Memory Stick Duo, Memory Stick Duo Pro, SD, SDHC, MMC and xD formats which gives the user direct card printing capabilities. Just below this control panel is a swing door memory card compartment. Situated on the top of the unit in the right front corner is a control panel that features a 1.8-inch TFT LCD screen providing visual content feedback and buttons to turn the device on/off and select either monochrome or colour output. Paper feed is from the back to the drop-down front output paper tray. With the standard arrangement of a flatbed scanner sitting on top of an inkjet printer, this All-In-One device can print, scan and copy.

Manual canon mp490 printer