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Re: Printing photos with Dye Sublimation
Posted: 05 Feb 2012, 12:23
by 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
Re: Printing photos with Dye Sublimation
Posted: 05 Feb 2012, 12:47
by 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.
Re: Printing photos with Dye Sublimation
Posted: 05 Feb 2012, 12:52
by 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
Re: Printing photos with Dye Sublimation
Posted: 05 Feb 2012, 12:53
by Justin
No, different process

It'll print good photo images to put onto blanks though!
Re: Printing photos with Dye Sublimation
Posted: 05 Feb 2012, 12:58
by 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.
Re: Printing photos with Dye Sublimation
Posted: 05 Feb 2012, 14:32
by JSR
proprints;38869 wrote: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/
Re: Printing photos with Dye Sublimation
Posted: 05 Feb 2012, 18:05
by 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.
Re: Printing photos with Dye Sublimation
Posted: 05 Feb 2012, 19:43
by 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
Re: Printing photos with Dye Sublimation
Posted: 06 Feb 2012, 11:40
by 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.
Re: Printing photos with Dye Sublimation
Posted: 06 Feb 2012, 11:48
by NASH
proprints;38869 wrote: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