It might have to do with the RIP in some part, but it also has to do with the printable color gamut of the machine, density range, and simple resolution. It still doesn't have the range of shadow density of an 8- or 12- color inkjet for example, but the range of dark grays before they become black seems better than any laser I've seen to date. I was also impressed with the resolution - blades of winter/spring grass had a nice degree of individual sharpness and shadow detail without becoming either cartoonish (from the application of the black) or all blending together in one textured tan mass as other lasers tend to do.
4 color will only create 4 color gamut - but is good enough for my application - normal photos. How big is the gamut depends on the pri and secondary pigment (L*A*B*) in the manufacturing process. Optical density range is only part of the printable gamut. By the way, paper also play a very important parts of the color. Reason is that the ink is just a few micron on the paper. Fedrigoni is a good but expensive paper for photo application. By the way, for normal photo, we don't use to the extreme color. To me, the half tone is more critical.
Acceptable, but not perfectly consistent. The 25% gray was very consistent, but the 50% gray showed some slight streaking - to my eye it appeared to be drum wear as the inconsistency was in the 18" direction not the 12" direction. How much would it cost to maintain the machine to a higher specification to not have this - I don't know. I don't think it would affect photographs at all though.
You are right that as long as the machine defect is not too much, for photo application, slight streaking or banding will not effect the printout too much. I came across some digital machin has very bad banding at the end of the A3 page. Only way to send for the print is to select darker color at the end of the page so that the banding is not obvious. Thus, at the end, I decided to reduce the print size of my album.
What temperature does the hot lamination run at? Easiest might be to get a print sample and try it to see if any affect on the toner is detectable.
OPP lamination only runs at 80 to 90 degC. And polyester laminate runs at 110 to 120 degC.
May I ask what machine you are using to hot laminate? I was wondering if there was a machine that could load a stack of 1,000 to 1,500 prints, laminate, and cut them as a way to gloss over toner on uncoated paper. I have not seen such a machine to date.
Checkout GMP from Korea
That's a good question too - I do not know how the price per print compares right now to what can be delivered on the previous generation CLC for example.
