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 The same technology that powers little 4x6-inch snapshot printers, such as Kodak’s widely successful EasyShare Printer Dock, has been a favorite with portrait and event photographers for years. It’s dye-sublimation, the process in which a printer heats a ribbon to transfer ink from the ribbon to paper. Dye-subs are popular with the pros for the same reason snapshooters love them—they create rugged, instantly dry, water-resistant prints. But the pro machines have been huge, industrial-looking, and expensive ($1,000 plus).
Kodak’s latest pro-level dye-sub, the Professional 1400, is out to change all that. It’s good-looking, measures 17x9.4x30 inches, weighs 28 pounds, and streets for only $500. Best of all, it turns out very impressive prints.
In fact, the 1400 scored an excellent rating in our color accuracy test (Avg. Delta E of just 3.72). It bested Sony’s $170 4x6-inch DPP-EX50 (reviewed August 2004), which scored 5.19, our previous leader in dye-sub color accuracy. Though some dye-subs tend toward harsh contrast, the 1400’s contrast is normal.
Not only does this printer boast great color specs, it also pops out prints up to 8.27x12 inches on 8.5x14-inch glossy paper. Pros love the predictable cost of dye-sub paper and ribbons, which are sold together. Packs of 50 sheets and ribbon street for $90, whether it’s 8.5x12 or 8.5x14. A matte finish also is available in the smaller size.
However, like most dye-subs, the 1400 has a smaller color gamut than most six- and eight-ink inkjets. For example, Epson’s Stylus Photo R800 ($400 street) produces deeper blacks and more saturated colors across the board, except for some orangy yellows and darker purples, where the 1400 excels. It’s also noisier than some inkjets, such as the R800 and Canon’s whisper-quiet i9900.
You might be disappointed with the 1400’s limited paper sizes and finishes, and its inability to print borderless photos. To get normal-sized borderless prints, you need to pair the 1400 with a decent trimmer, such as Kodak’s 12-inch ($154 street) or 18-inch ($195 street) rotary units.
Kodak advertises this printer as fast, and it is. Thanks to a Hi-Speed USB 2.0 connection, 8x10s take an average of 1 min 19 sec. Unfortunately, because you can’t opt for smaller ribbon and paper combinations, 4x6s still clocked in at over a minute. If you gang them four per page, however, the per-picture speed and cost numbers are good.
Overall, our tests show that the Professional 1400 turns out prints that compare favorably to those you’d get from a lab. It’s tough to beat the current crop of inkjets for convenience, versatility, wide gamut, and price. But in terms of large dye-subs? The Professional 1400 is a major step forward and a very good deal.
Certified Test Results: Kodak Professional 1400
Resolution: High (301x301 dpi). Color accuracy: Excellent (Avg. Delta E: 3.72). Shadow/highlight detail: High. Contrast: Normal. Image quality: High: (using Kodak Ektatherm Glossy paper). Print speed: Very fast at 8x10 (1 min 19 sec); moderately slow at 4x6 (1 min 6 sec). Vital statistics: Handles 8.5x12- and 8.5x14-inch cut-sheet media; Hi-Speed USB 2.0. 17x9.4x30 in., 28 lb. Street price: $500. In the box: quick reference guide, software (drivers). For info: www.kodak.com; 800-235-6325.
What’s Hot
Excellent color-accuracy.
Low price for 8x14-inch dye-sub.
Fast 8x10 print speed.
What’s Not
Can’t print borderless.
Limited paper sizes and surfaces.
Louder than like-priced inkjets.
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