The leading technology of making photographic prints
DYE SUBLIMATION
What we need to make a photographic dye sublimation print?
To make such a print we need a dye sublimation photo printer (most often with the resolution of 300 DPI) and a dye sublimation paper. The dye sublimation paper, as a consumable for photo printers, consists of two components.
The user will find the following in the basic operating packaging:
- a special thermally resistant paper adapted for the sublimation of dye
and - a polyester film with applied base dyes, which for simplicity will be called dyeing ribbon.
To summarize this point, it must be stated that everything we need to print photos using the dye sublimation technique is a dye sublimation photo printer and a two-component dye sublimation paper. We do not need any other consumables, for example inks.
Without inks
Environmentally friendly printing method
The highest quality method
Very durable print
How a dye sublimation photo is created?
Before we explain it, a few words about the dyeing ribbon which is an integral part of the dye sublimation paper.
One print on paper, such as 10 cm x 15 cm, corresponds to a four-section sequence on the ribbon. Individual sequences are separated by markers. Each of the four sections of the dyeing ribbon has a format like the paper size on which we want to print our photo. The basic dyes: CYAN MAGENTA, YELLOW (CMY) are applied separately on each of the three sections of the given dyeing ribbon sequence. The fourth section contains a laminating and a protecting substance, among other things against water and UV rays.
Each dye is applied separately by properly heating the dyeing ribbon by a printer’s dye sublimation head. This means that the printed paper size (for example 10 × 15) has to move four times under the fixed thermal head. Three times for the application of basic colors, whose combination will reproduce our photo and the fourth time for the protection of this photo with a protective layer (overcoating). Of course, we want the process to proceed as quickly as possible. In case of the HiTi P-525L photo printer, the total printing time of the 10 cm x 15 cm print amounts only to 12,8 seconds.
The dye sublimation printer head mentioned before is a very sensitive element, controlled by a content of the printed image. Depending on this content, it heats respective fragments of the color section of the dyeing ribbon with different intensity. Differently heated dyes are released in the form of an aerosol in different portions of the dyeing ribbon and are sublimated by the paper moving under the head.
Competitors of dye sublimation.
Until recently, the role of the leader in the field of making photos was played by minilabs, that is devices in which a light-sensitive photographic paper is subject to a wet chemical process after being previously exposed to light.
The revolution in the field of photography took place at the beginning of the 21-st century. Photographic cameras using photosensitive films were replaced with digital cameras in which photos are stored in special digital memories. It was decided to use previously known printing techniques, that is inkjet, laser and of course dye sublimation for printing digitally saved photos.
Each of the above mentioned methods of digital photographic printing has its advantages but also its limitations. Dye sublimation photo printers are the most preferable ones taking into account the balance of advantages against limitations.
Advantage of dye sublimation.
Of course, quality should be mentioned first. This is the most important thing in photography. It can be seen with the proverbial “naked eye” whether the printed photo is of good or bad quality. Currently, dye sublimation ensures the highest quality among all methods of digital photo printing !!!
Durability is the next very important thing. Thanks to the mentioned before protective layer, dye sublimation prints are among the most durable ones. The comfort of making prints is also important due to consumables which are very easy to use.
A very important argument for choosing the dye sublimated photo printing technology is the fact that it is environmental friendly. The dyeing ribbon used during the printing process is the only waste which is very easy to dispose.
Based on more than 16 years of experience, which the RUDIMEX Company has in the field of dye sublimation photography, we recommend this technology as well as HiTi dye sublimation photo printers with full confidence.