You can install up to seven cartridges, allowing you to apply special inks or coatings in addition to the manufacturer's MicroDry CMYK process colors. For example, the VPhoto Primer undercoat lets you print photographic images on copier-grade paper or preprinted letterhead with the same quality you'd expect from expensive specialty papers. Other cartridges provide spot colors, glossy overcoats, opaque white and metallic inks, and gold and silver foil. These specialty ribbons are ideal for creating eye-catching presentations, invitations, or greeting cards.
Colors are well saturated and reasonably accurate.
However, we saw some minor banding on a few isolated prints. The MD-5000 produces some of the sturdiest digitally printed images we've seen. But these features carry a price. Read through past issues of Macworld magazine or see a list of recently-posted online items . Read our regular reviews of new downloadable Mac software , complete with mouse ratings.