Continuous-tone applications in digital hard-copy output devices

Jeffrey C. Saunders

doi:10.1117/12.23141

1 November 1990 Continuous-tone applications in digital hard-copy output devices

Jeffrey C. Saunders

Proceedings Volume 1342, Airborne Reconnaissance XIV; (1990) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.23141
Event: 34th Annual International Technical Symposium on Optical and Optoelectronic Applied Science and Engineering, 1990, San Diego, CA, United States

Abstract

Dye diffusion technology has made a recent entry into the hardcopy printer arena making it now possible to achieve near-photographic quality images from digital raster image data. Whereas the majority of low cost printers utilizing ink-jet, thermal wax, or dotmatrix technologies advertise high resolution printheads, the restrictions which dithering algorithms apply to these inherently binary printing systems force them to sacrifice spatial resolution capability for tone scale reproduction. Dye diffusion technology allows a fully continuous range of density at each pixel location thus preserving the full spatial resolution capability of the printhead; spatial resolution is not sacrificed for tone scale. This results in images whose quality is far superior to the ink-jet or wax-transfer products; image quality so high in fact, to the unaided eye, dye diffusion images are indistinguishable from their silver-halide counterparts. Eastman Kodak Co. offers a highly refined application of dye diffusion technology in the Kodak XL 7700 Digital Continuous Tone Printer and Kodak EKTATHERM media products. The XL . 7700 Printer represents a serious alternative to expensive laser-based film recorders for applications which require high quality image output from digital data files. This paper presents an explanation of dye diffusion printing, what distinguishes it from other technologies, sensitometric control and image quality parameters, and applications within the industry, particularly that of Airborne Reconnaissance and Remote Sensing.

Citation Download Citation

Jeffrey C. Saunders "Continuous-tone applications in digital hard-copy output devices", Proc. SPIE 1342, Airborne Reconnaissance XIV, (1 November 1990); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.23141

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KEYWORDS

Printing

Image quality

Diffusion

Calibration

Spatial resolution

Airborne reconnaissance

Dysprosium

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