[dwb]

QUOTE A5, I think...the smaller one than A4??
They are.

As a rough rule of thumb, each succeeding A number halves the long dimension of it's predecessor. So the length of an A5 sheet is the width of an A4 sheet and the width of an A5 sheet is half the length of an A4 sheet. In other words, cut an A4 sheet in half parallel to the short edge and you get two A5 sheets in its place.

David

 

[dwb]

QUOTE Apparently they are called a 'dye-sublimation printer' and now available from many companies.

This is the same process you find in some of the post card sized (4 x 6 inch) printers which are targeted specifically at the digital photo market. The dye is in solid form and is carried on a transparent film. When the dye is required for printing, the heater elements in the print head switch on and the dye is converted directly from the solid state to the gaseous state. Some may recall their chemistry classes where this process is known as sublimation. The dye panels are usually just larger than the printable area with a set of three or four panels being stored successively on the film. Thus each print required either 18 or 24 inches of carrier film to pass over the print head.

The Alps printer (if I am thinking of the right one) was targeted at a different market and the dye was stored individually in separate cartridges. The film was about 1/6th of inch wide. This tape was used in much the same way as an old typewriter or Dymo labelling machine. A wide range of tapes are/were available including gold and silver as it is/was intendied for making greetings cards and things like that. There is a strong tradition in Japan of sending personalised greetings cards at New Year and other special occasions.

It would be a shame for us railway modellers if Alps have stopped making this printer model as I don't think there are any other print engines on the market which print with such thin strips or have such a wide range of dyes available.

David