In the table below PCSTATS has two sets of industry standard printer test images; the first set are in the original (full size) jpg format, and the second set below are the scanned in copy of the actual printout from the Samsung SPP-2040 photo printer. Have a look at each to get a better sense of the image quality capable through dye sublimation printing.

	PhotoDisk Reference Image 1	PhotoDisk Reference Image 2
Raw PhotoDisk JPEG Reference Images Click each to view full size jpeg.	3600x2297 (300dpi) 1.83MB (view the full size image 1)	3791x2312 (300dpi) 2.48MB (view the full size image 2)
Samsung SPP-2040 Test Prints Scanned in at 600dpi and adjusted to 300dpi, no image optimization.	1942x1185 (300dpi) 0.78MB (view the full size scan of photo print 1)	1919x1181 (300dpi) 0.86MB (view the full size scan of photo print 2)

There are some slight colour differences between the PhotoDisk reference jpegs and the pictures printed by the Samsung SPP-2040 photo printer. The SPP-2040 firmware also has a mildly annoying habit of cropping the image to fit into the 4"x6" frame such that a small portion off every edge is cut off.

We've been able to live with that quirk, but it's the image damage that happens when a dye sublimation printer encounters dust or lint that is not so forgiving.

	experts tip: lint and dust control
	Blemishes like this close up section of photo-print are permanent; the result of lint on the surface of the photo paper during the printing process. The foreign object prevented the cyan film from transferring to the paper below. Here's a suggestion, before printing out your own photos clean dust and lint from the area around the Samsung SPP-2040 with a damp cloth so it isn't drawn into the vicinity by static charges. If lint gets onto the glossy photo paper during the printing process it will prevent the cyan, magenta or yellow film from transferring to the paper below. The last pass the paper takes through the machine applies a clear coating, and by this point lint always seems to become affixed to the surface of the photo. Keep things clean and dust free, and the quality of pictures will kept first class.
	Comments and Feedback? Suggest a Tweak.

Dust and Lint - Enemies of Glossy Photo Paper

The PCSTATS labs must be particularly lint filled this time of year, because no matter how well we cleaned off the special glossy photo paper and the area behind the SPP-2040, some small particles always managed to get between one layer of the CMYK film as it was printing. Take a look at the scanned in photo prints above and see if you can spot the few odd blotches of colour which don't belong...

While this is certainly undesirable, in most cases the little blemishes (which are the direct result of dust or lint on the paper) are very small and go largely unnoticed unless it is over a solid dark colour.