Wax-Based Printers?

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 >> Stay informed about: Wax-Based Printers? 

Rita Berkowitz wrote:
> (PeteCresswell) wrote:
>
>> Don't hear much about them any more.
>
> They are still alive and kicking.
>
> <http://www.office.xerox.com/index/enus.html>
>

If you're looking for something a little less substantial, something
that won't require $300 in materials every time you turn it on, you
might look at Kodak's line of dye sublimation wax-thermal printers.

That's what's in all those Kodak kiosks where you can get your "prints
in seconds".
 >> Stay informed about: Wax-Based Printers? 

In article <6qnkp3t9iuonejf27m67qdm3vpojovbami DeleteThis @4ax.com>,
"(PeteCresswell)" <x DeleteThis @y.Invalid> wrote:

> Don't hear much about them any more.
>
> Printed a high school class reunion booklet on one several years
> back and it seemed to work at least as well as the ink jets that
> I also printed some copies on.
>
> Are they history?
>
> Reason I'm wondering is that I use my inkjet color printer so
> seldom that when I do use it, the ink reservoirs seem to have
> dried up.
>
> I'm thinking that with a wax-based printer, that wouldn't be an
> issue.

Some ink jet printers are better than others. I had nothing but trouble
with Epson photographic printers.

--
I don't read Google's spam. Reply with another service.
 >> Stay informed about: Wax-Based Printers? 

On Fri, 25 Jan 2008 17:17:21 -0500, (PeteCresswell) wrote:

> Don't hear much about them any more.
>
> Printed a high school class reunion booklet on one several years back
> and it seemed to work at least as well as the ink jets that I also
> printed some copies on.
>
> Are they history?
>
> Reason I'm wondering is that I use my inkjet color printer so seldom
> that when I do use it, the ink reservoirs seem to have dried up.
>
> I'm thinking that with a wax-based printer, that wouldn't be an issue.

FWIW - the Kodak printer docks use a dye-sub system which won't dry out.
I believe a few other small form factor printers do similarly - I'm not
aware of any units for larger than 4x6 prints.
 >> Stay informed about: Wax-Based Printers? 

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 >> Stay informed about: Wax-Based Printers? 

Per Rita Berkowitz:
>Thanks for the tip. I've already been there. Dye subs are pretty cool, but
>can be very costly per print depending on what size prints one makes, just
>look at the print pattern on the spent roll. For my low volume needs I have
>abandoned all in-home high-end printing and farm it out.

Seems like the last time I priced home supplies against a Kiosk
in the local drug store, they were close enough that cost wasn't
a consideration.

Does that recollection sound reasonable or suspect?
--
PeteCresswell
 >> Stay informed about: Wax-Based Printers? 

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 >> Stay informed about: Wax-Based Printers? 

On Sat, 26 Jan 2008 17:11:15 -0500, "Rita Berkowitz"
<ritaberk2008 RemoveThis @aol.com> wrote:

>(PeteCresswell) wrote:
>
>>> Thanks for the tip. I've already been there. Dye subs are pretty
>>> cool, but can be very costly per print depending on what size prints
>>> one makes, just look at the print pattern on the spent roll. For my
>>> low volume needs I have abandoned all in-home high-end printing and
>>> farm it out.
>>
>> Seems like the last time I priced home supplies against a Kiosk
>> in the local drug store, they were close enough that cost wasn't
>> a consideration.
>>
>> Does that recollection sound reasonable or suspect?
>
>It depends on your printing habits and volume. If you print one 4x6 image
>it consumes the same amount of consumables as one largest print the printer
>is capable of printing. The optimum strategy is to get as many small prints
>to fit into the same space as the largest single print the printer is
>capable of, or just print big prints. Since kiosks mostly print small
>prints they are optimized for getting as many prints per page they can fit.
>They also get bulk discounts on consumables. It seems consumables are a bit
>cheaper now than they were a few years ago, but is it going to be cost
>effective for you? I don't know. Factor in the price of the printer,
>paper, ribbon, and electricity and you might find it breaks even. If
>convenience is your main objective than you can justify a higher per print
>cost.
>

The cost of the ribbon? What kind of printer do you have? An
Underwood? Does it use a black and red ribbon?

I just sent one of those drugstore 4 x 6 albums to my brother in
Denmark. There were 64 4 x 6's of shots of the family in 2007. I
uploaded the 64 images to Walgreen's website, picked up the prints the
next morning, and paid $6.40 plus sales tax.

The postage to Denmark was more than the cost of the album and prints.


--

Tony Cooper - Orlando, Florida
 >> Stay informed about: Wax-Based Printers? 

Rita Berkowitz wrote:
> Pudentame wrote:
>
>>>> Don't hear much about them any more.
>>>
>>> They are still alive and kicking.
>>>
>>> <http://www.office.xerox.com/index/enus.html>
>>>
>>
>> If you're looking for something a little less substantial, something
>> that won't require $300 in materials every time you turn it on, you
>> might look at Kodak's line of dye sublimation wax-thermal printers.
>
> Thanks for the tip. I've already been there. Dye subs are pretty cool,
> but
> can be very costly per print depending on what size prints one makes, just
> look at the print pattern on the spent roll. For my low volume needs I
> have
> abandoned all in-home high-end printing and farm it out. It's cheaper,
> less
> maintenance, easier, and less time consuming. I use a decent local printer
> that takes care of all my printing needs and if there is a mistake or
> damaged print they will reprint for free.
>
>
>
>
>
> Rita
>

What I'm currently doing most of my printing on ...

http://wwwtr.kodak.com/TR/images/tr/consumer/miniLabSystem3300.jpg
 >> Stay informed about: Wax-Based Printers? 

(PeteCresswell) wrote:
> Don't hear much about them any more.
>
> Printed a high school class reunion booklet on one several years
> back and it seemed to work at least as well as the ink jets that
> I also printed some copies on.
>
> Are they history?
>
> Reason I'm wondering is that I use my inkjet color printer so
> seldom that when I do use it, the ink reservoirs seem to have
> dried up.
>
> I'm thinking that with a wax-based printer, that wouldn't be an
> issue.
Hey Pete,

How large do you need to go? If 6x8 (bigger than it sounds) will do, I
can highly recommend the HiTouch 730 or newer 730S. I have 2 of their
printers (631PL for my 4x6 stuff and 730PS for 6x8). The 730 can print
4x6, 5x7 and 6x8 BTW. PL models have to be connected to a computer while
the PS models can print directly from memory cards without the need for
the computer.

FYI - I bought the 631PL new 3 years ago and added the 730PS used as my
Christmas present from my wife this past year (12-25-07). If I had
gotten the 730 new I would not have bothered with the stand alone
version as I tweak all my stuff before printing.

I have been very pleased with both.

If you'd like to discuss this, shoot me an E-Mail and I'll send you my
phone number and schedule so we can talk. There are pluses and minuses
to these printers. Pluses way out weigh the minuses IMHO.


Best,
Dave >You know, from Hickam. Just in case CRS has set in =;~)<

PS - The place I got my 730PS had/has a S400 (heavy duty 4x6 $249.00
retail) in "mint- condition for $99.00) Give me a shout for Info.
 >> Stay informed about: Wax-Based Printers? 

Per Dave:
>Hey Pete,
>
>How large do you need to go? If 6x8 (bigger than it sounds) will do, I
>can highly recommend the HiTouch 730 or newer 730S. I have 2 of their
>printers (631PL for my 4x6 stuff and 730PS for 6x8). The 730 can print
>4x6, 5x7 and 6x8 BTW. PL models have to be connected to a computer while
>the PS models can print directly from memory cards without the need for
>the computer.

I think Rita's cured me of my wax-based fantasies.

Printer-wise, I prefer 8.5 x 11 just for general use - not
necessarily photos - using the scanner as a color copier, for
instance.... Recipes and stuff like that.


For photo prints the kiosk approach is gaining ground with me for
another reason: My wife correctly observes that since we went
digital, we take a lot of pix, but she winds up with very few
prints - and those she does have tend to fade.

Habituating ourselves to using the kiosk instead of making some
prints "when I get around to it"... would cure that: we'd get
prints, and they'd be long-lasting prints... Maybe even load up a
CF or SD card with the selected pix and let somebody else make
the trip to the drug store....
--
PeteCresswell
 >> Stay informed about: Wax-Based Printers? 

On Sat, 26 Jan 2008 16:27:37 -0500, "(PeteCresswell)" <x DeleteThis @y.Invalid>
wrote:

>Per Dave:
>>Hey Pete,
>>
>>How large do you need to go? If 6x8 (bigger than it sounds) will do, I
>>can highly recommend the HiTouch 730 or newer 730S. I have 2 of their
>>printers (631PL for my 4x6 stuff and 730PS for 6x8). The 730 can print
>>4x6, 5x7 and 6x8 BTW. PL models have to be connected to a computer while
>>the PS models can print directly from memory cards without the need for
>>the computer.
>
>I think Rita's cured me of my wax-based fantasies.

You saw her Brazilian?

>Habituating ourselves to using the kiosk instead of making some
>prints "when I get around to it"... would cure that: we'd get
>prints, and they'd be long-lasting prints... Maybe even load up a
>CF or SD card with the selected pix and let somebody else make
>the trip to the drug store....

Walgreen's, and other drug stores around, allow you to upload the
images from your home and pick up the prints that day or the next day.
They recently had a 10 cents a print special for 20 or more prints.

I print a lot of my stuff at home on an Epson, but it takes too long
to print 20 or 30 images when I'm sending out family snaps to
relatives.


--

Tony Cooper - Orlando, Florida
 >> Stay informed about: Wax-Based Printers? 

Per tony cooper:
>I print a lot of my stuff at home on an Epson, but it takes too long
>to print 20 or 30 images when I'm sending out family snaps to
>relatives.

Might the el-cheapo printers/ink I use - but my experience is
that the pix also fade badly within a year or so.

OTOH, I've got perfectly-serviceable prints from 40+ years ago
made by whatever the commercial process is/was.
--
PeteCresswell
 >> Stay informed about: Wax-Based Printers?