Dye Sublimation

Dye Sublimation
Dye-sublimation is the process used to print smooth, continuous-tone images that look truly photographic. This process uses a dye-based ribbon that is partitioned by a number of consecutive color panels. The panels are grouped in a repeating series of colors - Yellow, Magenta and Cyan (YMC) - along the length of the ribbon. During printing, a printhead containing hundreds of thermal elements heats the dyes on the ribbon, which vaporize and diffuse into the surface of the card. A separate pass is made for each of the three color panels. By combining the colors and varying the heat used to transfer them, the printer is able to produce up to 16.7 million colors.
The temperature of the print head controls how much dye is converted to a gas - as the print head temperature rises; more dye can be absorbed into the plastic card. Consequently, the picture quality and continuous color tones produced by a dye sublimation printer - at 300 dpi - can outperform most laser or ink jet printers with higher resolutions. The advantage of dye sublimation is the millions of colors that can be created. Varying the heat intensity on the ribbon panels yields various shades of each color, making color selection virtually unlimited.
Why do you need a separate black panel, when you can create black by mixing the three basic YMC colors together?
The answer to this question is simple. The black created by mixing the YMC colors together is referred to as "Composite Black." Composite Black typically looks muddy or has a grayish tint when compared to Thermal Transfer (TT or resin) black. Composite Black is not recommended for printing bar codes since it does not produce the sharp edge many scanners require. Although this is invisible to the naked eye, it is easily observable under magnification). Composite Black is also invisible to IR scanners since there is no carbon in the dye. Since you may not know what type of scanner will be used, the rule is to always use TT (resin) black to print bar codes.
In general, all dye-sub ID card printers are capable of printing in monochrome using a single color ribbon. These ribbons are less expensive than full color multi-panel ribbons and can be either dye or ink (thermal transfer). The most commonly used monochrome ribbon is "Black" but there are several other colors available including; Red, Green, and Blue.
Dye sublimation ribbons are preferred for printing pictures for photo id cards or security badges, since they can produce many shades of gray for a smoother look and a better picture quality. A resin black picture normally uses a dithered gray scale (gray made from a combination of pixels which limits the number of shades), producing a coarser, grainy look to the image.
-
Entrust Datacard SD260 ID Card Printer
#xxx535500-00XAlphaCard Price: Add to Cart or Login for PriceRetail Price: $1,980 -
Rectangle Badge Reels - Pack of 25
#2120-39XAlphaCard Price: $25.98Retail Price: $39.52You Save: $13.54 (34%)
-
Heavy Duty Badge Reels with Reinforced Strap- Pack of 25
#2120-330XAlphaCard Price: $59.99Retail Price: $78You Save: $18.01 (23%)
-
Round Badge Reels with Lanyard Loop- Pack of 25
#2124-30XXAlphaCard Price: $28.99Retail Price: $31.20You Save: $2.21 (7%)
-
Heart Badge Reels - Pack of 25
#2120-761XAlphaCard Price: $23.99Retail Price: $31.20You Save: $7.21 (23%)
-
Pink Ribbon No-Twist Badge Reels - Pack of 25
#605-I-WHT-PNKRIB & 704-CB-PNKRIBAlphaCard Price: $40.99Retail Price: $55.12You Save: $14.13 (26%)
-
Metallic Round Badge Reel - Pack of 25
#2120-303AlphaCard Price: $28.99Retail Price: $39.52You Save: $10.53 (27%)
-
Round Badge Reels with Reinforced Strap - Pack of 25
#2120-3XXXAlphaCard Price: $17.99Retail Price: $23.92You Save: $5.93 (25%)
-
Entrust Datacard SD460 ID Card Printer with Laminator
#507428-00XGRPStarting at: $3,898
Retail Price: $5,680 -
Entrust Datacard SD460 ID Card Printer with Laminator & Tactile Impressor
#xxx507428-00XGRP, 507952-00XGRP, 509XXXGRPStarting at: $4,798
Retail Price: $7,208.99 -
Entrust Datacard CR805 Card Printer with Lamination
#51XXXX-00XAdd to Cart or Login for Price Why is price hidden? -
Entrust Datacard CR805 Card Printer with Lamination & Tactile Impression
#Entrust Datacard CR805Add to Cart or Login for Price Why is price hidden?
-
Black Rigid NextLife Compostable Badge Holder - 2 Card Holder - Vertical or Horizontal - 100 Per Pack
#1850-0001AlphaCard Price: $191Retail Price: $248You Save: $57 (23%)
-
Square Badge Reels with Reinforced Strap - Pack of 25
#2120-382XAlphaCard Price: $19.99Retail Price: $27.04You Save: $7.05 (26%)
-
Vertical Clear Vinyl Event Ticket Holder with Tuck-In Flap - 100
#1840-1605AlphaCard Price: $80.99Retail Price: $99.84You Save: $18.85 (19%)
-
Multi-Card Rigid Badge Holder - 50
#HOLDER-DISP-C-CC-MULTI-FROAlphaCard Price: $37.99Retail Price: $44.20You Save: $6.21 (14%)
-
Entrust Datacard SD360 Dual Sided ID Card Printer
#xxx506339-00XAlphaCard Price: Add to Cart or Login for PriceRetail Price: $2,580 -
Magicard Enduro+ ID Card Printer
#XXX3633-900XAlphaCard Price: Add to Cart or Login for PriceRetail Price: $2,295 -
Magicard Enduro3E ID Card Printer
#3633-30XXRetail Price: $2,295 -
Magicard Enduro3E Duo ID Card Printer
#3633-302XAlphaCard Price: $1,698Retail Price: $2,695You Save: $997 (37%)
-
Entrust Datacard SD160 ID Card Printer
#510685-001AlphaCard Price: $1,152.90Retail Price: $1,480You Save: $327.10 (22%)
-
Magicard 600 ID Card Printer
#3652-50XXAlphaCard Price: $2,246.50Retail Price: $3,625.99You Save: $1,379.49 (38%)
-
Semi-Rigid Open-Face Badge Holder - 100
#1840-81xxAlphaCard Price: $56.99Retail Price: $69.68You Save: $12.69 (18%)
-
Rigid Luggage Tag Holder - 100
#HOLDER-RIGID-V-LGGAlphaCard Price: $83.99Retail Price: $102.96You Save: $18.97 (18%)
-
ID Accessory Pack - Includes Lanyards, Strap Clips & Slot Punch - 100 Count
#ACAccPck100-PunchAlphaCard Price: $115.99Retail Price: $208You Save: $92.01 (44%)
-
Anti-Microbial Breakaway Lanyard 5/8" - 100
#2136-ANTIMICROBIALAlphaCard Price: $95.99Retail Price: $98.80 -
Pre-printed 3/8" Awareness Lanyards - Pack of 100
#2138-5288 & 2138-5290AlphaCard Price: $61.99Retail Price: $67.60You Save: $5.61 (8%)
-
Nisca PR-C101 ID Card Printer
#PR-C101AlphaCard Price: Add to Cart or Login for PriceRetail Price: $2,399
-
Evolis Tattoo2 RW Rewritable ID Card Printer
#TTR201BBHAlphaCard Price: Add to Cart or Login for PriceRetail Price: $1,690 -
Natural Rigid NextLife Compostable Badge Holder - 2 Card Holder - Vertical or Horizontal - 100 Per Pack
#1850-0008AlphaCard Price: $191Retail Price: $248You Save: $57 (23%)