How Does Inkless Printing Work?

Have you ever wondered how the cute pocket sized mobile printers you see popping up in stores have the ability to print full color photos without using ink cartridges, ribbons or toner? You know, like polaroids and portable printers. Well, it’s all in the paper. Via Zink zero-ink printing technology, you can print high resolution, full colour and durable prints on the go without a bulky printer that has multiple parts.

Zink’s inkless technology works by embedding into paper, advanced heat reactive crystals/molecules that produce colours upon heat stimulation.

The paper contains multiple layers including a base layer, imaging layers (cyan, magenta and yellow) and a protective polymer layer that protects your prints from moisture, UV exposure and fading once they are printed.

Zink printers are essentially thermal transfer engines that stimulate the crystals with targeted heat pulses for a specific duration and temperature that then brings the colours to life. By applying heat at different temperatures and intervals different colours are activated. All of the colour molecules are fine tuned to achieve an extensive colour palette that is both vivid and accurate, making colour printing on the go possible.

It should be noted that this “inkless” printing has its limitations though when it comes to printing sizes. Though consumers are able to print smaller photographs on the go, if you’re looking to create true to life larger images, you’re better off sticking with a well equipped inkjet model. The cost for this advanced specialty paper gets pricier as paper sizes go up. But again, if you’re looking for a quick portable printer to complete specific tasks, then the inkless technology may be just what you’re looking for.