Say Goodbye To Ink Cartridges And Say Hello To The Zink Portable Photo Printer

Have you ever heard of a Zink digital photo printer? If not, you soon will, especially if you own a digital camera or own a camera phone.

Assuming that production stays on schedule, it promises to be one of the hottest consumer electronics items available for Christmas ’07.

Here’s why…

This little gem, produced by Zink Imaging, LLC, delivers crisp, clear 2″ x 3″ paper images without ribbons, ink or toner cartridges. You read it right…NO ink cartridges.

Yup…Zink = zero ink. It is, indeed, a breakthrough in hi-res portable printing technology thanks to scientist Steve Herchen: Zink Chief Technology Officer, and staff.

Certified Home Inspectors Take Note

I normally do not stray from my core topic of homebuilding but I think the Zink warrants it, although (as an example) I could see this printer utilized by Certified Home Inspectors in the field working with clients that would want to see photographic results immediately of what the home inspector finds throughout their home. Think of it as a state-of-the-art Polaroid.

Psssst…Zink is a spin-off of Polariod.
Source

This great new tech toy is the epitome of portability in the digital image printing world. Gimme!

How the heck does the Zink work?

The only thing you need in order to print is your digital camera, a Zink printer and Zink paper. As you may have guessed, Zink photo paper is not your run-of-the-mill paper. Each sheet is embedded inside with heat-activated dye crystals and a protective polymer overcoat layer outside that the Zink printer waves its’ magic wand over and there you have it…rich, full color digital prints! Five years of R&D well spent, in my opinion.

Actually, the part about the wand…not true. Here’s how the Zink printer works.

Now here’s the scientific explanation of how a Zink printer works.

I can’t wait to give my soon-to-be-antiquated ink cartridge printer the ol’ heave ho once a larger model is available (not to mention affordable).

Each 2×3 print is affordable at about 20 cents apiece. That’s competitive with today’s printers especially when you consider that expensive ink cartridges take a hike with a Zink. As I mentioned earlier, the prints will be 2×3 with the first couple of models, (1) a Bluetooth capable printer and (2) a model built into a 7 megapixel camera. They will run $99 and $199, respectively. I doubt that includes the camera itself.

Zink models capable of printing larger sheets of photo paper will soon follow. For now, just put it in your pocket and go!

I think I need one to go with my ultra-compact Panasonic camera. Yeah…that’s the ticket!

One other advantage of Zink photo paper over ink jet ink on today’s photo paper is water resistance. Put a drop of water on your ink jet photo and you’ve got instant art…better known as a run. I’m not saying that your image on Zink paper won’t degrade with a drop of water but it is water resistant. You can’t say that about the better known alternative.

Branding will vary on upcoming models and applications with Zink technology behind it all.

“ZINK Imaging is creating the future with a network of the world’s most innovative companies and global brands. Our partners are developing ZINK enabled products and will commercialize them under their brand names.”
Source: Zink

If you think camera phones are everywhere now, just you wait!

“By next year, the cumulative number of camera phones shipped will surpass the cumulative number of both conventional and digital cameras shipped in the entire history of photography-and camera.”
and…
“In fact, Lyra says the global installed base of camera phones has now surpassed film and digital cameras combined, with a forecast of 850 million units this year, up to 1.5 billion units by 2010.”
Source: Lyra Research and DEMO

Here’s another staggering statistic to ponder…

“Lyra Believes Digital Camera Worldwide Shipments Will Exceed 130 Million by 2010, a 10 Percent CAGR, Despite Market Saturation and Camera Phone Competition.”
Source: Lyra Research

Lyra Research is recognized worldwide as the leading provider of market, product, and technology information and analysis focused on the imaging industry.

• Here’s some Zink marketing.
• Watch the first public demonstration of the Zink at play at DEMO ’07.
• Even more Zink press coverage

Now where was I? Oh yeah!

Dear Santa,

I’ve been a very good boy this year. I want a…