How does a dye sublimation printer work?
Dye sublimation printers create images by using a ribbon technology. The ribbon consists of three colors, Cyan, Magenta, and Yellow while others add a fourth color being Black. The ribbon is heated created a gas that adheres to the papers surface. Sublimation is a term for a condition where a solid is transformed to a gaseous state without first moving to a liquid state. In terms of longevity, Dye Sublimation can be considered relatively archive if a clear laminate layer is used when printing. Some dye sub printers provide the option for such “Extra Life” lamination in the ribbon however, this can increase the cost per print. Paper selections are more limited when compared to those of an inkjet printer.
