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Phaser 440 Color Printer
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General Information
Phaser 440 overview
The Phaser 440 Color Printer is an Adobe PostScript Level 2 (version 1.3) color,
dye sublimation printer with Tektronix color matching extensions
(TekColor 3.0). Printing at an addressability of 300 dots-per-inch, the printer
features a single paper tray (Universal size) that holds A, A4, and Letter Extra
media with an optional Lower Tray Assembly (A or A4 only) which gives the
printer a dual-tray capability. (The Lower Tray Assembly is sometimes referred
to as the second feeder.) The printer prints images on A- and A4-size paper and
transparency film with 5 mm (0.2 in.) margins as well as Letter Extra paper
which allows for full-size A and A4-size bleeds. The Phaser 440’s image
processor is powered by a 24-MHz RISC processor and features integral
EtherTalk. The EtherTalk port supports 10Base5, 10Base2 and 10BaseT external
line units. Also standard are 16 Mbytes of RAM (expandable to 64 Mbytes), 39
standard fonts, and support for an external SCSI disk for additional font storage.
For host image input, the image processor also features a standard parallel port,
an RS-232 serial port and a LocalTalk port. The Phaser 440 optionally includes
support for Novell NetWare and TCP/IP networks (with the Ethernet card
installed).
Dye sublimation printing
Dye sublimation printing is an extension of thermal wax transfer printing.
Many of Tektronix’ current and older printers are based on thermal-wax transfer
technology. During the dye sublimation printing process, transfer roll dye, in
contact with a sheet of special paper, is vaporized (sublimed) into the surface of
the paper by an electronically controlled thermal head. The thermal head
features individually controllable heating elements at 300 elements per inch that
span the width of the printing paper and the transfer roll. The temperature of
each element can be controlled so that a specific amount of dye is vaporized into
the paper. This allows the printer to produce a remarkably wide range of colors
and shades with detailed precision.
The printer, using the subtractive color method, transfers sequential layers of
yellow, magenta, cyan and black dye into the paper to create its full gamut of
color.
The printing paper is an ultra-smooth coated paper. Since the transferred dye
penetrates and bonds into the surface of the paper, the prints are durable and do
not scratch, rub off, or retransfer to other materials.