We do not recommend using Pictorico through a color or monochrome laser printer. Our coating is not designed to withstand the heat and pressure associated with laser printing. The ALPS brand is also not compatible with Pictorico since it uses the dye transfer process of printing, rather than ink jet. A dye transfer printer uses different color ink ribbons that are transferred directly on the sheet, rather than sprayed like an ink jet. The ribbon on a dye transfer printer will stick to Pictorico's coating and may peel off.
Coated sheets offer many advantages over uncoated sheets in terms of print quality.
A coated sheet makes the surface much smoother, giving colors an added richness and depth. Coated sheets also absorb ink quicker, with little dot gain. For example, excessive dot gain may cause yellow dots and cyan dots to merge, creating a greenish look. Poor color separation will ultimately affect the amount of detail your printed output will have. Try comparing the amount of detail and colors you see in an uncoated printed piece, like USA Today, with a coated printed sheet, such as the cover of Architectural Digest.