Dye
Sublimation Printing: High Quality Photo-realistic Color at a reasonable
Price
 |
|
The
picture here is the Alps dye-sub. The color and the quality
of the image was appreciably superior to non-dye sub mode.
This is sort of the difference between other dual mode printers,
such as dye sub-thermal wax transfer printers, like the Seiko.
The dye sub is always superior. Alps rates their printer at
600 dpi; virtually all other dye sub printers which cost horrendously
more are rated at 300 dpi.
|
The
reports on the Epson models are so glowing it is hard to get a word
in edgewise for Alps. Before you got lulled int o
buying an Epson, however, be sure to read the warning
about severe
guaranteed fading of ink jet color. We have been told that Alps
no longer sells in the USA.
Nonetheless,
we believe that Alps deserves equal air time. The Alps MD-2300 sounds
like a wonderful machine, capable of producing continuous tone images
in near-photographic quality. The next printer up in quality is
a Kodak dye-sub 8650 series
which costs $8000 and up. The Alps costs less than 10% of that.
Alps has another model, the 1300, and it is even more cost effective,
about $500 (prices vary faster than we can update the information).
Most
dye sub printers really hog desktop real estate. Our digital imaging
technology center is already overfilled with equipment, so it was
a relief to find out that the Alps had such a reasonable footprint.
Alps
now has a new model, the MD-5000, with 2400 dpi photo quality. If
you want their dye sub, although both models can do dye sub, the
results are better with the 1300. If you do not need dye sub, then
the MD-5000 is the newer model.
Wow,
a dye sub print from a printer that only costs $500! Now here is
a cost effective way to achieve dye sub quality without spending
more than is necessary.
 |
| Nicholas
Hellmuth holding an ALPS dye-sub print |
While
I was a Visiting Professor in Japan at the National Museum of Ethnology,
Osaka, I had an opportunity to use the Kodak
dye sub as well as the Seiko dye sub and thermal wax machines. The
Epson 1520 ink jet printer we recently acquired has produced streaks
and banding, a constant problem with color printers in general.
It
could take up to 10 minutes to print a single page with the Epson.
Worse, the printer frequently failed to print the photographs, and
printed only digital gibberish. This is because you are forced to
clear the entire system any time a minor printing error occurs.
Since
each sheet of paper cost about $1, and the Epson demanded another
dollars worth of ink (per each page) you can throw away a lot of
money quickly if you are stuck with an Epson ink jet printer. We
demanded our money back from Epson even though the 30-day grace
period was long gone.
Someone
recently indicated that Alps-Electric USA had gone out of business.
I do not have confirmation of this yet.
If
someone handed me a batch of dye sub prints, from dye sub printers
costing $8,000, I would have a hard time telling the difference
between the Alps dye sub and the Kodak
dye sub. Of course the main difference is that the Alps costs
about $500, substantially less than $8,000!
 |
|
Close-up
of ALPS dye-sub print
|
Hopefully
the Alps products will be more readily available at places such as
Office Depot so that more people can experience their nice color prints.
In the meantime you can reach Alps directly at (800) 825-2577 which
is 1-800-825-(ALPS). Besides, be forewarned about the reality of cheap
ink jet printers, their color
fades FAST, and Epson printers will bankrupt your budget with
their greedy ink cartridges.
 Main telephone
is (408) 432-6000, fax (408) 432-6035, e-mail is: alpsusa@ccmail.alpsusa.com,
web site is www.alpsusa.com
Check to see whether they are still in business. Either way, please
let us know, ReaderService@FLAAR.org.Mail
address of Alps is: 3553 North First Street, San Jose, CA 95134.
Comparison
of dual
color modes of the ALPS 1300 and more pictures
Extensive
test results on what papers
are best for Alps
Gateway
to many
more reviews of paper and helpful links
List
of Useful and Necessary Accessories for Digital Imaging and Computers.
What
kind of equipment can store all these large digital images?
Where
and how to store your digital images? RAID,
DVD,
or CD-R
?
Lots
of links to information on desktop
publishing hardware/software, www.laser-printer-reviews.org
|
