Kodacolor Technology

: "For other uses of the "Kodacolor" brand, see Kodacolor." Kodacolor Technology is a Kodak-owned brand used to collectively market several of its inkjet printing technologies. It was announced on 6 February 2007 at the launch of Kodak EasyShare All-in-One Printers [ [http://www.kodak.com/eknec/PageQuerier.jhtml?pq-path=2709&pq-locale=en_US&gpcid=0900688a80671462 Kodak Revolutionizes the Inkjet Industry] ] . Kodak claim that these technologies enable consumers to print crisp text documents and Kodak lab-quality photos at home.

Key elements

"Kodacolor Technology" is comprised of four main groups of technologies:

*Patented, Pigment-based inks
**Kodak utilizes a proprietary milling process for uniform pigment particle sizes. In the initial development of their pigment ink, they discovered that pigment particles were settling at the bottom of the storage containers, which negatively affected image quality. [ [http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/07_08/b4022048.htm?chan=search Kodak's Moment Of Truth] ] The solution to this problem was to mill the pigment particles much smaller with this proprietary process, so they would stay suspended in liquid.
**The five-ink inkjet color cartridge is really four colors (black, magenta, cyan, and yellow), plus a clear protective ink/coating. This proprietary coating is for uniform gloss levels on the printed page.
**Polymeric Binders for Durability
**Kodak claims that prints will last over 100 years unprotected (whereas dye-based inks prints typically last only 15 years before fading)
*Instant Dry, micro-porous photo papers
**optimized so that the pigment particles sit on the surface of the porous paper while the liquid they are suspended in is absorbed.
**ink drop absorption (drying time) takes 15 milliseconds
**water and smudge resistance exceeds performance of dye-based systems
**high gloss surface maximizes quality and color
**dries instantly for immediate handling
*Kodak color and image science
**over 100 years experience in the imaging/photographic industry
**wider color gamut coverage
**scene balance algorithms for auto image improvement
** image restoration algorithms
**advanced multi-level half toning and rendering processes combine to create continuous smooth tone images
*Proprietary High Speed Inkjet Printing System
** Microelectromechanical Systems (MEMS) print head
**Micro-Precision, Uniform Dot Placement
**Dual Drop Sizes - 2.7 pL & 6.5 pL
**3,840 nozzle high density permanent printhead
**1/2 inch printhead swatch height (fewer passes)
**Can make a photo print in 28 seconds

References

External links

* [http://www.kodak.com/US/images/en/corp/1000nerds/tousi/Kodacolor_Technology_Slides.ppt Kodacolor Technology Overview]

* [http://1000nerds.kodak.com/search/default.asp?item=473852 The Inkjet Story: Kodak's Startup From Within]