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HiTi 630PS Printer
Computer Or Computer Less Printing
By George Schaub • February, 2003
HiTi 630PS Printer
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There are differing opinions
on dye diffusion thermal transfer (or dye thermal, for short) printing.
Some folks prefer the smooth, even look of thermal, claiming that it offers
more of a true photographic quality of continuous tone. Others cede that
point somewhat but say that ink jet offers a better option due to the
greater variety of paper surfaces and usually larger available paper sizes.
But if you want convenience and speed, and the ability to carry your printer
with you, then dye thermal is a good choice or an option to your desk-bound
ink jet.
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We
inserted a CompactFlash card into the slot on the face
of the 630PS and played with the Enhance mode on the menu.
We made one untouched, (above) and one darkened image
of the cathedral in Berlin (below). The printer responded
quite nicely and allowed us to make interpretations of
each image on the card, all without a computer.
Photos © 2002, George Schaub, All Rights Reserved
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One dye thermal we recently
had the opportunity to test was the Hi-Touch Imaging Technology HiTi 630PS
(list: $249). About the size of a Tolstoy hardbound novel (8.5x8.2x5.5”),
the printer fits easily enough into a travel case or on your desktop at
home. To load the printer you place the supplied paper (available in 50
sheet packs, with ribbon: $19.99 list) into a loading tray and slip it
into the front of the printer, remembering to keep the short end of the
scored paper forward. You then put the ribbon into the printer by opening
a tab and placing it into the appropriate slot. The printed directions
for setting up the printer are a bit obscure, but follow the diagram and
it all fits easily enough. The paper size is 4x7” with a 4x6 frame.
You have a choice of printing
with the unit attached to a PC or directly from your CompactFlash or SmartMedia
memory card. In the case of PC connected printing you first have to load
the driver and accompanying Photo Desiree software. This is fairly straightforward
and offers the usual image-editing capabilities. But we really liked to
direct from card printing, which we found to be quite fast when compared
with other direct from card printers we’ve tried. Unlike other direct
printers that might offer an attached monitor aid, the HiTi 630PS comes
with a handheld controller that allows you to preview and print using
its 1.6” (diagonal) “Wizard Window” or monitor. The
controller connects via a telephone-like cord so that you can sit a foot
away and still do all the magic.
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(Above
and below) Every image we printed with the 630PS came
out with smooth, even tones, a nice dynamic range, and
very good skin tones. This is an excellent proofing
printer, and one that can be used with confidence for
making snapshot-size prints from your digital images,
with or without a computer.
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The controller has all the
buttons for making print selections and performing simple but effective
edits on the image you want to print. To use it you just put the memory
card in the appropriate slot and the unit quickly retrieves the images
on the monitor. You then toggle through prints and, if desired, perform
various edits such as Move (which, with the four-way toggle shifts the
image around the frame); Rotate; Re-size (a cropping tool); number of
copies; and Enhance (brightness, contrast, and color balance). Each
of the changes is confirmed by pushing an OK button, which does not
alter the original file but changes the print characteristics. This
may seem like a small amount of enhancements, but if you want more you
can always PC the printer and do your thing there. The controller also
allows you to do an Index Print of the entire card, make ID images and
stickers. The sticker paper is optional but a sample comes with the
original packaging.
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The specs on the printer says
that it takes about 100 seconds to make a print, excluding processing
time, but we found that time prediction quite modest, as prints came through
for us in much quicker time. We found that the image enhancements worked
very well, and we could change the character of the image quite profoundly
by playing with the controls. Prints were as sharp, colorful, and clear
as we’ve gotten from any printer of this type, and had a smooth
continuous tone that rivals and often beats comparably priced ink jet
models. And, if you’re a DPOF fan, it’s fully compliant.
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Using
the hand controller we easily printed out this Index Print
from a SmartMedia card. The controller makes the 630PS
unique in its class and completely computer free.
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There are perhaps two drawbacks
to the printer. The enclosed instructions need some work, but at least
there is some printed documentation. Even if you do not use the PC connection
to print we suggest that you load the software to access the instruction
manual, where more coherent details are to be found. The other, for some,
might be the size and lack of availability of many different paper surfaces,
such as those that can be used with an ink jet unit. But we were very
pleased with the prints, especially in the smooth, even tones and excellent
skin tones, and can say that as a proofer and a snapshot-size printer
it’s quite good.
For more information contact the company through their web site at www.hi-ti.com.
There you’ll find complete specs and other products the company
offers.
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