The Sony DPP-FP90 Picture Station printer is a dedicated, at-home or on-the-go photo printer that uses dye-sublimation technology, to create durable, lab-quality prints. The FP90 accepts memory cards and has two USB ports for connection to PictBridge compatible digital cameras, or to a PC. The printer features a 3.6” Clear Photo LCD screen with 230,000 pixels of resolution, that lets you preview images before you print.

The DPP-FP90 can be connected to a Windows (2000, XP or Vista) PC and used like any other photo printer with most any photo or graphic application. The printer does not support the Macintosh.

It can also be used three ways without a computer:

1. Remove the memory card from your camera, insert it into one of the memory card slots and use the ample color LCD to select, edit and print your photos.

2. Select the photos in the camera first using DPOF and then place the card in the printer and press the Auto Print button.

3. Connect any PictBridge compatible camera to the front USB port and use the camera's LCD to select images and print them.

Prints are made in about 45 seconds and are sealed with the Protective SuperCoat 2 laminate, resulting in the durability required to withstand UV fading, spills, moisture and fingerprints. The Sony dye sublimation method can print 256 shades for each of three dye colors - cyan, magenta and yellow. That adds up to 16.7 million distinct colors for each pixel, creating spectacularly vivid prints with smooth color gradations that look like a print from a photo lab.

Connect a PictBridge compatible camera to the Sony Picture Station printer and make prints using the built-in LCD screen to preview pictures saving the time it would take to turn on a computer, download images from a digital camera, and transfer files to a printer.

Picture Station printers allow you to enlarge, reduce or rotate images, shift images to improve composition, add special filter effects (cross-filter highlights, partial color, sepia, monochrome, paint and fisheye lens effect), and superimpose messages or greetings on photo prints. All built into the printer's firmware.

Sony DPP-FP90 Features:

• 300 dpi dye-sublimation printing process for high quality, durable prints

• Printing System 8-bit per color - C/M/Y (approximately 16.7 million colors)

• Small, lightweight and portable, even has handle

• 3.6” Clear Photo LCD screen (230,000 pixels of resolution)

• Print directly from Memory Stick, SD or CompactFlash cards (others with optional CF adapter)

• Fast printing - 4x6" borderless photo in about 45 seconds

• 4” x 6” and 3.5” x 5” print sizes

• Direct-print from any PictBridge compatible camera or camcorder

• 2 USB ports - 1 type A and 1 type B, ver. 2.0 full speed

• Includes Windows printer driver and Picture Motion Browser (ver 2.0)

The only "setup" required is to load the dry ink ribbon into the printer, fill the paper tray and plug the printer into the wall outlet. The ribbon cartridges are marked so you can swap them in and out when using different size media. There are no messy ink cartridges to deal with - ever ! Install the Windows printer driver from the included CD and you're printing.

Compatible with Windows versions 2000, XP and Vista, the FP90 features two USB 2 ports. One for connection to the PC, and a second USB port for connecting to any PictBridge-compatible camera.

As you can see in the image above this printer has a simple control interface. Starting from the upper left you see the Zoom buttons (magnifying glass icons) with the Zoom out serving double duty as the Index button. Below you see the Menu and Cancel command buttons. In the center you see the Enter/OK button surrounded by the Arrow Pad. On the upper right you can see the Auto Touch-Up button and the Print Command button.

Printing from Memory Cards

The memory card slots are located along the top/front edge of the printer. You can directly read Memory Stick, Memory Stick PRO, CompactFlash Type I or II or Microdrives and Secure Digital. Other types of cards can be used if there's a CF card adapter available for them -- I know of CF adapters for xD-Picture Card and SmartMedia cards.

DPOF Printing

On Screen Preview

When you insert a memory card into the FP90 you will initially see a 16-thumbnail preview mode like this. Use the 4-way controller to move around the images or go to the next page of thumbnails. You can quickly select and tag the photos you want to print and set the quantity of each to be printed.

PictBridge Printing

Here's you can see the Sony Cyber-Shot T-100 plugged into the FP90's PictBridge USB port. Many new digital cameras are PictBridge compatible which means you can print your photos directly, no computer needed. Just use a USB cable to connect your camera to the printer's PictBridge port. You will use the menus on the camera itself to control the printer.

You use the camera's color LCD to select the image you want and them - it's as simple as select the photo and press the OK button -- approx. 45 seconds later your print is done!

Sony Print Packs

• SVM-25LS Print Pack: 4 x 6'' postcard paper and a ribbon, 30 sheets for $16.95

• SVM-75LS: 75 - 4 x 6'' photo pages with 3 print ribbons, 75 sheets for $42.95

• SVM-F120P Print: 4" x 6" professional printer paper with Snap-Off Edges and a print ribbon, 120 sheets for $34.99