Labs

Sony's DPP-FP70 is the only dye sublimation printer on test. While inkjets build up an image by placing tiny dots of ink on the page, dye subs rapidly heat a solid dye to transform it into a gas without passing through a liquid state. The gaseous dye solidifies onto the photo paper to create layers of colour that build up into the finished image. The bulky ink cartridge contains a ribbon made up of transparent panes of yellow, magenta and cyan inks plus a clear protective overcoat. Each pane can only be used once, so the same amount is consumed regardless of how much colour exists in a particular photo. Cartridges are sold in packs with

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a matching amount of photo paper, so you can't choose your own media.

Dye sub photos generally look smoother than inkjet prints. They don't suffer from the graininess that can result from the inkjet process, because dye sublimation covers the entire page with ink, rather than scattering closely spaced dots. Our prints did look more like traditional photos than those from most inkjets, but their colours were relatively dull, making the images look a little flat. Six 6x4 inch photos took five minutes and 17 seconds to print and cost 20p each.

The DPP-FP70 has a clear 2.5 inch display, so you can preview photos for direct printing from a memory card. Its interface is easy to use and includes some fun creative printing options which let you change the colour balance, add preset captions, and even create calendars from your photos. If you plan to use these direct printing options a lot, Sony's DPP-FP90 has all the same features and a larger 3.6in screen for around £30 more.

Although the DPP-FP70 is very small and even has a carrying handle, no battery pack is available for it, so you can only use it when you have access to the mains. However, you could pack it and use it in a caravan or holiday home.