From: davidh8@pogo.wv.tek.com (David Haight)
Newsgroups: comp.newprod
Subject: Tektronix announces
Keywords: dye sublimation color
Date: 16 Oct 92 02:12:38 GMT
Followup-To: poster
Organization: Tektronix Inc., Beaverton, Or.

Phaser IISD

The Phaser IISD provides continuous tone images suitable for
boardroom- quality presentations, scientific imaging, graphic arts and
other applications that call for photorealistic output.  Designed for
shareability in multiplatform environments, the Phaser IISD includes
AppleTalk, serial and parallel ports.  TCP/IP Ethernet connectivity is
also available with Tektronix 4511A modem-sized network interface.
EtherTalk is also available.

The Phaser IISD takes full advantage of Adobe's PostScript Level 2
software and its advanced features, including enhanced memory
management techniques, image data compression, and device-independent
color specification.

The Phaser IISD uses a 24MHz AMD 29000 RISC processor for fast image
processing.  Base memory configuration is 16MB, which supports full
image processing and printing capability because of advanced memory
management and data compression techniques.  Printer memory can be
expanded to 64MB for faster throughput.  Optional capabilities, such
as downloadable fonts, can be supported with an external hard drive.

The Phaser IISD includes Photofine technology, a suite of proprietary
image rendering algorithms to accurately render fine lines and text,
provide smooth color shades and produce vibrant transparencies.

Dye sublimation printers produce outstanding natural images but have
not been optimized for printing fine lines and fine text.  Even though
dye sublimation is inherently continuous tone, the heat transfer of
dye is a delicate process, with some variations in linearity of the
print density inevitable.

These variations are not generally evident in natural, photographic
images, because they contain large amounts of image "noise" --
variations in color or texture -- which mask these printing
characteristics.  In contrast, computer illustrations, algorithmically
generated color sweeps or gradient fills (such as typical PostScript
illustrations) are more sensitive to these characteristics.

Photofine rendering compensates for these tendencies, producing clear
fine lines and sharper text.  Photofine also improves the smoothness
and linearity of color shading for more accurate color reproduction.

In addition, with some earlier dye sublimation printers,
transparencies could appear weak or washed out.  This is because dye
sublimation diffuses translucent dyes into the medium, rather than
layering colored waxes onto it, the technique used by thermal wax
transfer.  Tektronix enhanced printing mode for transparencies
increases dye saturation, without requiring double printing, to
optimize transparency quality and bring the photographic quality of
dye sublimation to overhead presentations.

The result is excellent transparencies at a lower price than
previously available.

Device-independent color rendering, using the international CIE
reference standard color specification, is provided through Adobe's
PostScript Level 2 language definition.  In addition, TekColor PS
color adjustments are built into the printer for those applications
not yet taking advantage of CIE color matching.

Proprietary TekColor PS color rendering and color matching algorithms
are the result of more than a decade of Tektronix color research, and
provide practical color adjustment solutions for color printer users.

TekColor PS color adjustment features include Press Adjust and Blue
Adjust.  Press Adjust matches SWOP (Specifications Web Offset
Publications) standards for printing press colors, while Blue Adjust
approximates the blue shades of the video screen in the printer
output.

The Phaser IISD is PANTONE certified to provide process color
simulation of PANTONE colors for users of PANTONE-licensed
applications.  The Phaser IISD offers AppleTalk, parallel and serial
ports with automatic switching among each of the four interfaces.
EtherTalk is available as a hardware option, and TCP/IP connectivity
is provided via Tektronix 4511A Ethernet network interface.

The Phaser IISD is the newest member of Tektronix industry-leading
Phaser II family of color printers.  The family includes a range of
price and performance configurations to address varying levels of
color printing needs.

The Phaser IISD is covered by a one-year warranty.  For more
information on the Phaser IISD, call Tektronix Inc.at (800) 835-6100.