- This topic is empty.
Dye-Sublimation Printers
-
Is it worth investing in a dye-sub printer? I read a while back, that they are good and I am curious to know what your views on them are. Do any of you own or have used one?
That’s a rather open question which is difficult to answer without knowing more really. There’s no doubt that they are good, but if that’s true then you need to ask why they aren’t more popular than inkjet printers! They have their uses as well as their limitations too. Depends what you want to use it for. If you’re planning on doing event photography, providing prints on the spot (Santa’s Cave photography is a perfect example) then they are the bees knees and something like one of the Kodak printers would be ideal. I guess one of the big drawbacks is that the maximum prints size is around the 10″x8″ size unless your willing to spend crazy money. But it’s a well proven technology that’s been around for years! Once again, it depends how you plan to use it.
I want a printer that wont ‘eat’ the ink, something that I know will give me the right amount of photos and picture quality that an inkjet wont give. Mainly I just want it to be able to share small prints with friends and local charities around my area. I have family in the printing business so I can get lots printed, but I don’t like asking if it’s just something small. Mainly any printer’s that are at home are just for word documents and not for printing A4 size, as they are blotchy. I was just thinking dye-sub, because you know how many photo’s you will get from the paper and dye together.
I have a Kodak 8500 which prints to 10×8, 10×12, A4. Its a great printer without doubt. You need good exposures and good file sizes to get good prints. It does not like “washed out” pics (which are not useful anyway). Prints are a little more expensive than inkjet but not that awfully much. problem is its max size is A4 or 12×8 (I think !). I’ve really not used it in a while as I use a larger format epson. The good thing is all prints are laminated coming out and you can leave them in the bath while you are having one also..LOL….or as my friend who uses one says “you can flush them down the toilet and they’ll be OK”.
If you are going to print larger than A4/12×8 then you would be better off getting a big inkjet but if you’re not into big prints then you could do worse than get one. They are very clean to use also. Your pic kit comes with sheets of paper and a film roll and thats it. Just print.
Yes, I think I will get a dye-sub, as I want to share some prints with friends. I hate having to print in shops, as I have nothing but problems ie. machine out of ink :roll: If I had the money I would buy a Fuji Pictrography 4500 as it’s dye-sub and can print A3, but since I don’t have the money, it will have to be within the 200-500 price range. LOL…pictures in the bath, questionable and as for the toilet always good for flushing bad ones away hehe….
So know that I have decided on getting dye-sub, which one shall it be? Do I go for a Canon, Kodak, Olympus…. :?
Hi Strawberry fields. Dye sub is at it’s best for speed and knowing your exact running costs. I have two machines in stock that I can do you a deal on. One is a Mitsubishi 6×4″ (ONLY), the other is a Hi-Tech and will print up to 6×8″ Prints quickly. The Pictography is a different Kettle of fish, the 4500 you mention is an A3 printer. I can get you one of these second hand really cheaply, but your Donor and paper alone will blow your budget! Drop me a line if you are interested: infobarkerphotographic.ie , Regards, Paddy Barker
You must be logged in to reply to this topic.
