Printing photos with Dye Sublimation

[proprints]

While doing some research on "proper" photo paper, i.e the ones that stuff like holiday snaps and school photo's come on, I came accross DNP Centuria Digital paper, and noticed that it was printed on a Dye sublimation printer. My question is, does anyone have any experience of printing high quality images on these types of papers using a dye sub printer.
Thanks
Steve

[Justin]

I used to have a sublimation photo printer. Worked very well, prints cmyk in 4 passes but it died, was replaced, and died again :-( Only suitable for photo printing and mine was single size as well. These aren't the same as we use for sublimation printing blanks if anyone's wondering.

[proprints]

Hi justin
i think you answered my question, as what i was basically asking was, can a Richo 3300 (with sub ink) print good quality photos on proper photographic paper

[Justin]

No, different process :-) It'll print good photo images to put onto blanks though!

[proprints]

Damm!! what a shame, i have the oppotunity to do some scholl photo's and would have liked to utilise my Ricoh, oh well best start my search for a printer that will do the job.

[JSR]

Damm!! what a shame, i have the oppotunity to do some scholl photo's and would have liked to utilise my Ricoh, oh well best start my search for a printer that will do the job.

If you're printing professional photos, you may want to look into printers with archival (pigment) inks/paper - such as the Epson printers with Ultrachrome ink. Waterproof and last 100+ years. I think HP and Canon have pigment/archival ink systems in some printers these days, too.

A good place to read up on printers with archival inks and long print permanence is: http://www.wilhelm-research.com/

[John G]

The dedicated photo printers (canon selphy etc ) you use to print photo's out are dye sublimation, but its a different system altogether and not compatible with mug printing etc.

[pisquee]

As far as I know, the photo printers use sublimation within the printer - so the inkjet printer, and heat press are the same piece of equipment effectively, and the special photo papers are like the mugs we put in heat presses

[AJLA]

I have 3 Dye sub printers in my shop, a Mitsubishi, Copal and a ...Hmmm can't remember the other. Mine are used in kiosks etc but a lot of event photographers use them out and about at proms etc


Dye-sublimation is a printing technique that diffuses dye onto paper. No ink at all just a ribbon and aroll of paper.

[NASH]

Damm!! what a shame, i have the oppotunity to do some scholl photo's and would have liked to utilise my Ricoh, oh well best start my search for a printer that will do the job.

my advise is just to pop down to a photolab and get your images printed on photo paper prices are from .8p each depending on quantities