Dye sublimation printer

USS Atlantis · Post by **USS Atlantis** » Sun Jul 13, 2008 5:52 pm

OK

I was perusing through ALPS printers, thinking about saving up to buy one and I noticed that they use dye-sublimation to print

Then I remembered

I've got a Canon Selphy CP730 that came with my camera

It also uses dye-sublimation technology

Question for the decal printing experts

Will my Selphy work for printing decals?

I know the resolution is less - 2400dpi for the ALPS, 300 for the Selphy

But for personal use, I can live with that

Answers please

Joseph Osborn · Post by **Joseph Osborn** » Sun Jul 13, 2008 11:42 pm

Some Alps models can do dye-sub printing, but that's not the mode that works for decals. In fact, using dye-sub ribbons on decal paper usually wrecks the printhead. I haven't heard of any dye-sub photo printer that works with decal paper in the 10 years I've been using Alps. That doesn't mean you can't try your printer just to see what happens.

Kylwell · Post by **Kylwell** » Mon Jul 14, 2008 12:26 am

Just as a note, dye-sub just means the ink goes from a solid to gas state with no intermediate stage.

Dye-sub

Because the surface of a decal paper is basically gelatin the heat from the dye-sub process tends to make it messy.

An Alps, when printing to decal paper, uses a toner transfer system, much like a laser printer but with less heat.

Now laser decal paper might be able to take the heat from a dye-sub as it's made to work with the high temp fuzer on a laser printer but you still wouldn't be able to print white.

Which is why the Alps was the holey grail of decal printers.

USS Atlantis · Post by **USS Atlantis** » Mon Jul 14, 2008 5:46 am

So, you're saying, bite the bullet and go with an ALPS as soon as I can?

There is an MD5000 on evil-bay for relatively decent price right now - hmmm

Kylwell · Post by **Kylwell** » Mon Jul 14, 2008 9:09 am

SCC-7107 USS Atlantis wrote:So, you're saying, bite the bullet and go with an ALPS as soon as I can?

There is an MD5000 on evil-bay for relatively decent price right now - hmmm

If you're absolutely gonzo for printing your own decals and understand that the Alps printers are not longer supported in any way by the parent company (meaning no tech support, no parts, no nothing).

kitty · Post by **kitty** » Mon Jul 14, 2008 5:12 pm

which means you are practicaly forced to buy an industrial printer that has the option of white ink.
I won't pay 9000 euro or more for such a printer, the more since they are only available in 1.20 meter width or more.
So the end of home made decals is in sight.
Unless some smart printer manufactor comes up with a white ink for injects that won't kill the printhead, be it bubble or piezo.

USS Atlantis · Post by **USS Atlantis** » Mon Jul 14, 2008 5:14 pm

Kylwell wrote: If you're absolutely gonzo for printing your own decals and understand that the Alps printers are not longer supported in any way by the parent company (meaning no tech support, no parts, no nothing).

Well, considering I have plans for 4 models that I'll be mastering/casting/selling - having the decals in-house would probably be wise

Course I could go with another brand too

kitty · Post by **kitty** » Mon Jul 14, 2008 5:17 pm

which other brand that is still producing?
Industrial printers are way to expensive and large.
You'd have to buy one of these monsters that can print on cups, golfballs, tiles etc, so you'd be paying for capabilities you would never need.

Kylwell · Post by **Kylwell** » Mon Jul 14, 2008 6:26 pm

SCC-7107 USS Atlantis wrote:
Kylwell wrote: If you're absolutely gonzo for printing your own decals and understand that the Alps printers are not longer supported in any way by the parent company (meaning no tech support, no parts, no nothing).
Well, considering I have plans for 4 models that I'll be mastering/casting/selling - having the decals in-house would probably be wise

Course I could go with another brand too

Well you other best bet is a Roland SolJet SC-545EX large format printer, used @ $5k.

But you can also cut vinyl with it.

Or you can go the laser printer way, getting a laser printer and modifying it to print white toner on one sheet, color on another.

USS Atlantis · Post by **USS Atlantis** » Mon Jul 14, 2008 7:28 pm

5k used?

Ewwww

Maybe I'll sub-contract the hi-quality stuff to JT or someone else

I don't have near that much to spend on yet another printer

Guess I'll stick with my Lexmark Inkjet and over-coating for personal use

kitty · Post by **kitty** » Sat Jul 19, 2008 4:01 pm

Kylwell wrote:Or you can go the laser printer way, getting a laser printer and modifying it to print white toner on one sheet, color on another.

which would mean buying 2 identical laserprinters and using a white toner instead of black and b/w mode on one of them.
But which company sells toner cartridges with white toner that register as beeing black?
Again i don't know any in any decent price range.
Again leaving industrial printers only.
which is a no go for a hobby that only costs money and doesn't earn any.
5K$ for a used one, meaning 9K$ for a new one.
I also think that you shouldn't buy a secondhand printer.
At least not at those prices, because within a year you'll be in trouble because it isn't supported anymore.
Basicaly home decals is something that won't be possible anymore.
A printer that you can use for making decals shouldn't cost more than 700-800$ for a hobby, anything more is throwing away money, because you need 50 years for your decals to drop to an acceptable price/sheet.
Just another reason why this hobby is dying.

fcollingwood · Post by **fcollingwood** » Wed Aug 27, 2008 12:57 am

New Alps MD-5500 printers, as well as the full range of Alps MD inks are available from Alps Supplies

Redshirt 5 · Post by **Redshirt 5** » Tue Mar 03, 2009 1:15 pm

Hey, that IS some good news. I started looking around for ALPS printers, and was quite disconcerted by the apparent discontinuation of the product.

Now all I need to do is justify the cost to myself (and Missus Redshirt....

)

- Tim

seam-filler · Post by **seam-filler** » Wed Mar 04, 2009 3:23 am

The Kodak Easyshare printers have white in the colour acrtridge - for photo balancing I presume. I haven't yet worked out a way of convincing it to priint white yet - but I'm working on it.