Unlike digital cameras and inkjet printers, dye-sublimation printing technology has not changed much over the last ten years. However, print quality has improved, speeds have increased and prices have dropped dramatically. The first dye-sub printer that Imaging Spectrum sold was the Kodak XL-7700. With a price tag of $24,895 the XL-7700 could print a color image in about 5-6 minutes for about $7 a print. With the introduction of the Sony UP-DR80 this fall, professionals and pro-sumers alike can now own a photo quality dye sub printer for under $1,200.
ProMatte Finish
What is dye-sublimation? I'll leave that to Wikipedia. Suffice it to say that dye-sub is continuous tone and very durable, like a traditional print. The printing process is quick and the print doesn't have to cure or dry like some inkjet prints. The draw back of dye-sub has always been the fact that it can only print on smooth, glossy paper. Manufacturers have tried to simulate a lustre (E-Surface) or matte finish by manipulating the protective laminate that is laid down during the printing process. The results have not been great, however, Sony's new ProMatte finish from the UPDR80 is very nice. (Email me with your mailing address if you would like to see sample prints from the UPDR80.)
Intermediate Cut
Another cool thing about the UPDR80 is that it has the capability of making an intermediate cut. That is, you can print three 4x8s or two 6x8s at once and the printer will cut between them. The 4x8 size is especially popular for producing holiday photo cards.
Small and Lightweight
The printer is very lightweight and easy to move, making it great for events. Just be careful because it's not a tank like the Shinko S1245 and it's not as fast either, outputting an 8x10 in a little over a minute. Also the small size puts limits on the capacity. Once loaded the printer will only produce 50 prints before needing to be reloaded with paper and ribbon, but it is very easy to load (watch the video above). Initially, we had some customers running into overheating problems when the printer was used continuously over extended periods (like at an event). Sony recently released a firmware update that has alleviated the problem (available here). We have tested the UPDR80 with Express Digital Darkroom and with Windows 7 with no issues. And for you fellow Mac users out there, yes there is a Mac OS driver (here).
Plug into Sony SnapLab 20L for computer free printing
If you own a Sony 20L SnapLab here is a cool feature - the UPDR80 will plug right into it! This enables the 20L to print 8x10, 8x12 or 4x8 photo cards. Sony released special borders in October that we can send you if you own a 20L or you can design your own.
Overall, we are very impressed with this little printer. The quality is good enough for the pro, it can hang at smaller events and the price point is almost half of the big boy dye-sub printers. If you have any questions about the Sony UPDR80 please contact us or leave a comment below.
