The Zink paper has four layers – a base (which can currently be white or clear, paper, card or adhesive), three color layers (cyan, magenta and yellow) and a protective polymer overcoat on top. The color crystals, which Zink has trademarked under the name Amorphochromic crystals, respond to precisely targeted heat pulses of specific duration and temperature to become visible. Through this technique, it's possible to produce millions of colors with excellent accuracy, delivering exceptionally vibrant and clean prints that are durable, waterproof and heat-resistant. The Zink printers themselves will be somewhat of a revolution. All they need to do is pass Zink paper under a thermal transfer head, meaning that very few moving parts are required and it's possible to make exceptionally compact printers. One of the first Zink printing products to be released is a Bluetooth pocket printer the size of an iPod and priced at around US$100. The Polaroid Digital Instant Mobile Photo Printer will run off 2x3 inch full-color pictures and stickers from a mobile phone or camera in seconds. There's also a digital compact camera in development with a built-in Zink printer – just like your old Polaroid camera, but with the ability to run off unlimited prints of your favorite images.

 

 

While ZINK Imaging has developed the technology (with more than 100 patents and counting), the company is partnering with others to build

and release the actual products. The first products that will feature ZINK technology will be Polaroid’s Mobile Photo Printer and Integrated Digital Camera and Printer. Cell phones and cameras can be directly connected to the Mobile Photo Printer via Bluetooth or USB, providing 2 x 3 inch prints. (The printer itself measures just 4.7- by 2.8- by 0.9-inches.) The Mobile Photo Printer should be released sometime this spring, and Newsweek reports that it will sell for $150.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The way it should look like when it comes out of the Zink Zero when you print.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here is a look at the magic ink of

the ZINK technology. It is made possible through special

 Amorphochromic crystals that are embedded into ZINK paper.

 

 

                                 

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Last Updated: February 1, 2008

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