¹⁄35

Making Custom Decals

The Mystical ALPS Printer
As promised, here is some information specific to using the ALPS printer. If you do not own an ALPS printer and do not care to read about one, you can stop here.

Another disclaimer -- these points are directly derived from my own experiences with my MD-5000 and by reading my User's Guide. I also read more literature found on the ALPS web site concerning how the ALPS printers actually work. I can not guarantee any results you might get with your ALPS on using the information I write here. I can only say that it works for me.

Printer Models
There are multiple ALPS printers on the market. Because I wanted to also do photographic printing using the Dye Sublimation process, I purchased the top of the line printer, the ALPS MD-5000. The other ALPS printers (MD-1000, MD-1300, MD-2300, and MD-4000) all have lesser capabilities in one respect or another.

The Dye Sublimation process is also available on the MD-1300, but that model only holds four ink cartridges at a time. The MD-5000 holds seven. Hence, the MD-5000 requires less manual switching of cartridges during a printing job. I knew I would be using five cartridges frequently (one white plus the four standard colors -- Cyan, Yellow, Magenta, and Black). So for this reason, I chose to spend the extra money and buy the MD-5000. This proved to be a good decision for reasons I did not even know yet. I will write more on this below in the Half-Tone Colors section.

Unfortunately, for all those that do not already own an ALPS printer, all of the ALPS printers have been discontinued by the manufacture. The print cartridges and hardware support will be available for several years, but the printers themselves are no longer being sold. They do come up on E-Bay from time to time, so you can get one if you work at it. For the best results, you will want to buy an MD-5000 (if you can find one).