E Ink has introduced an updated Spectra 6 color e-paper – Spectra 6 9-Color, in which the number of base colors has been increased from six to nine. An expanded color palette allows you to more accurately convey shades, smooth out color transitions and makes pixel grain less noticeable.
Aura Ink 10″ digital photo frame with E Ink Spectra 6 9-Color screen. Image source: Aura
According to the developers, in this way the quality of color images on electronic paper is even closer to that of conventional printed photography. Technology intendedprimarily for color displays of digital photo frames, advertising panels, information screens, digital paintings for interior decoration and other devices that can replace traditional paper media.
The original Spectra 6 used six base colors: black, white, red, yellow, blue and green. In the new modification, orange, blue and light green have been added to them. Expanding the palette allows you to create smoother transitions between shades, improve the transmission of halftones and reduce the graininess of the image.
Image source: E Ink
To control the nine color components, more complex electronics are required: the display must work in conjunction with the system SoC chip and a specialized E Ink TCON (Timing Controller). Initially, the manufacturer plans to produce a new type of screen with a diagonal of 10 inches.
The first device with an improved color screen was a digital photo frame Aura Ink 10″. It is equipped with a 10-inch E Ink display with a resolution of 1600 × 1200 pixels and a density of 200 ppi. To further enhance the image, Aura uses its own dithering algorithm – simulating intermediate shades by spatially distributing pixels of different colors. Combined with nine base colors, this allows for more accurate reproduction of skin tones, fine texture details and smooth luminance transitions.
The photo frame runs on a battery and, according to the manufacturer, can go without recharging for up to three months when changing one photo per day. When ordering on the manufacturer’s website, it costs $349.
If you notice an error, select it with the mouse and press CTRL+ENTER.
