Quirky HP TopShot a photocopier for 3-D objects

Quirky HP TopShot a photocopier for 3-D objects You'd be forgiven if, at first glance, you mistook HP's quirky new TopShot LaserJet Pro for an old-fashioned overhead projector. However, like most laser printers, it's not really suitable for printing photographs or documents that incorporate lifelike images. Like other recent HP printers, the TopShot excels at networking - and not just the local area variety. And, as mentioned earlier, downloadable apps that reside on the printer can post scanned images to popular websites without running them through your computer. My 14-centimere-tall teapot was too high (the camera captured the top, but cut off the sides) and a baseball glove was too broad. I eventually found a number of three-dimensional items one might find on an online auction site that were of appropriate size and shape (see sidebar). Matte elements, such as the body of a game controller and a cardboard Blu-Ray sleeve, came out nicely, but others - like the thick glass bits on a necklace - sometimes lacked detail. I tried scanning several 4-by-6 photos at 300 dots-per-inch, the TopShot's highest capture resolution, and the resulting files were grainy, pixelated, and had mottled colours. However, it struggles with documents of greater visual complexity, especially photographs. I couldn't imagine using them for anything. However, the range of suitable objects is limited. The TopShot's 3-D scanning system also impacts traditional 2-D scanning. Not surprisingly, it's a capable printer/copier, especially when it comes to text documents, business cards, and simple brochures with colourful logos and diagrams. The TopShot then selects and amalgamates the best parts of these pictures, creating a composite image. The TopShot's distinctive camera arm helps it stand out in a sea of seemingly interchangeable black and grey all-in-one printers, but its 3-D scanning capabilities will likely prove beneficial only to a small group of online businesses. You can find the HP TopShot LaserJet Pro at Canadian retailers for $399. Some people may find they do the majority of their printing, scanning, copying and uploading without ever touching a laptop or desktop. Imagine an invisible pyramid, the tip touching the camera with its four sides extending down to the edges of the scanning plate. Quirky HP TopShot a photocopier for 3-D objects Trade News selected by Local Linkup on 31/03/2012