Zink paper

Zink began as a research and development project in Polaroid. After Polaroid's bankruptcy in 2001, and subsequent acquisition by Bank One's One Equity Partners (OEP), a team of Polaroid employees decided to buy this EXCITING new technology from Polaroid and start their own business, Zink. Zink stands for Zero Ink. The Zink printers are able to create a high-quality photo print without the use of ink, toner, or ribbon. The secret to their printing is in their patented paper. Because there is not an ink cartridge in the printer, it can be made compact and portable. This means that they can be integrated into other electronic devices. In early 2008, Zink will release their paper, printer, and integrated digital camera / printer to the public.

ZINK Paper

THIS ARTICLE IS COMPLETELY IRRELEVENT TO WHAT I WAS SEARCHING Zink is the sole manufacturer of its patented paper. Unlike any ordinary paper, Zink paper is made with advanced composite materials composed of different layers. Cyan, yellow, and magenta dye crystals are embedded between the overcoat and the polymer base. According to the official website of Zink paper the patented crystals embedded in the paper are called Amorphochromic™ dye crystals. These synthesized molecules bear properties that allow them to achieve imaging clarity and stability. Initially the crystal dyes inside the Zink paper are colorless; this quality gives Zink paper an appearance and feel of ordinary paper. Unlike standard printers, Zink printers do not contain any ink print heads. Instead, the printers use heat to activate and colorize each embedded dye crystals inside the paper. The advanced technology allows each crystal to be developed independently under specific duration and temperature to appear practically in any visible color. Because of this innovative and advanced technology, Zink paper has the following positive qualities that push the product into the competitive market: • Zink paper is dry and not light-sensitive • Zink paper is non-toxic and recyclable • Zink paper is water-resistant • Zink paper has long durability • Zink paper can display images with high resolutions • Zink paper is affordable • Zink paper can potentially exist in any desirable sizes

Benefits

Lyra Research has determined that the number of pictures taken by digital cameras and camera phones is expected to be more than 300 billion by 2007. Most people never print out pictures from digital cameras or camera phones because of the associated high cost and inconvenience. With the advent of Zink technology, however, these concerns are no longer an issue. Compared to its competitors, Zink offers its products at a significantly lower price. The Fujifilm CX-550 currently costs $900, whereas when Zink products become available in 2008, its printer and a 100-pack of Zink paper is estimated to cost only $99 and $20, respectively. As a result of Zink’s low price, experts predict that the Zink technology is going to be in high demand. Furthermore, the Zink technology is very versatile as it applies to a number of commercial and private uses. The fact that Zink printer is portable, lightweight, and ink-free allows the product to be directed to a variety of electronic devices, such as laptop computers, cell phones, and digital cameras. For example, Zink Integrated Digital Camera effectively combines a seven mega-pixel digital camera with a Zink printer. Consequently, the current features of Zink, in addition to its future potential, give this technology endless possibilities and profitability.

Potential Flaws

Despite Zink Imagings' potential to push the printing industry to a higher level, professional analysts recently raised several concerns regarding the quality of the picture, the monopoly of the producer, and the safety of heat coloration.

The first concern is the quality of the imaging. According to a news correspondent’s opinion, he feels that the print he sees isn’t “as rich and deep as you would expect from a good color print, but they’re not bad at all.” Perhaps this newly introduced technology, to this day, hasn’t quite reached the standards of professional photographers.

Another potential apprehension is that Zink is licensing manufacturers to produce the actual hardware, but is retaining the ability to produce the paper. This fact causes alarm to other printing companies because Zink Inc., as the sole producer of Zink paper and printer, can potentially become a monopoly in the printing world.

Finally, the users of Zink imaging worry about the safety of potential radiation and overheat of the technology. Zink website describes the paper as “non-toxic and safe.” The website, however, does not address possible radiation and overheating side effects at all. Because the company has not yet released the technology to the public up until this time, there is no report of any side effects associated with the product.

Competition

No company in the current market is directly replicating Zink’s technology. Although the Fujifilm CX-550 printer uses similar inkless technology, the implementation of the technology is very different. The Zink printer is more advanced than the CX-550, which requires multiple passes though the printer and additional processes to complete a print. On the other hand, the Zink printer, regardless of the width of the paper, prints in a single pass at a consistent speed and quality. However, the biggest difference that sets the Zink printer apart from other competitors is its portability. Although the market considers the CX-550 to be a “compact” model at 11 pounds, the Zink printer is small enough to fit in either the palm of your hand or the pocket of your jeans. The Zink printer can literally be taken anywhere; this beneficial quality presents Zink technology as a potentially profitable product.

Zink's Future

While the technology is fascinating, these type of cameras have been tried on the market before. Granted Zink is taking a slightly different approach, but the overall result may be the same as previous attempts. However, Zink does have many competitive advantages compared to other inkless printers. First, it is pocket sized and portable. This is a huge draw. Other printers weigh a couple of pounds at least. Secondly, it is affordable. All other inkless printers have cost upwards of $700.