Water-Proof: Zink paper is also water-proof since the ink is inside of the paper itself and sealed with a clear, polymer overcoat that protects the paper from water, heat, and light compared to traditional prints.

Printing technology has not changed much in the past 30 years. Color printers have become more accessible, and the quality has improved, but overall, the process has stayed the same.

The creators of the first completely new printing technology in nearly 30 years, ZINK continues to perfect the chemistry, electronics, and manufacturing process that make inkless printing possible. Zink paper was invented by Polaroid and became a separate company, ZINK holdings LLC , in 2005. It is the only company to produce Zink paper, but they license out the technology, allowing other brands like Polaroid, Kodak, Canon, HP, etc to sell it under their name. Smudge– Resistant: The layers of colored crystals are safely inside a polymer coating. Once printed, the colors are hardened and set so they don’t change.

Cyan Crystals = Low Temperature (100 degrees Celsius or 212 degrees Fahrenheit) and a Long Duration Luke Filipowicz has been a writer at iMore, covering Apple for nearly a decade now. He writes a lot about Apple Watch and iPad but covers the iPhone and Mac as well. He often describes himself as an "Apple user on a budget" and firmly believes that great technology can be affordable if you know where to look. Luke also heads up the iMore Show — a weekly podcast focusing on Apple news, rumors, and products but likes to have some fun along the way.Yellow Crystals = Hi Temperature (200 degrees Celsius or 392 degrees Fahrenheit) and a Short Duration HP Zink paper is known to be the most affordable out of all the options (works with all Zink compatible products), so if you’re on a strict budget, this is the way to go. Magenta Crystals = Medium Temperature (150 degrees Celsius or 302 degrees Fahrenheit) and a Medium Duration

How to re-watch the iPhone 15 Apple event "Wonderlust" — iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, Apple Watch Series 9, Ultra 2 Each brand is going to recommend using the Zink paper with their brand name or logo on it. This is just to boost their sales. As long as you load the correct size of Zink paper into your device, you can use any brand. Long-Lasting: Photos do fade given enough time but you can expect to get years and years of visual enjoyment from your Zink prints before they begin to discolor and fade. Images printed on Zink paper can potentially last as long as those printed using traditional ink or toner. However, you can increase the longevity of your pictures with proper storage by keeping your Zink photos in an album or box out of direct sunlight and high humidity. With each pulse, certain dye crystals melt. Each color requires a different heat intensity and duration to melt it. The temperature-time formula for each color is: Not all instant cameras and portable printers use Zink paper. For example, the Fujifilm Instax is a popular and inexpensive instant camera that does not use Zink paper. Below are a list of instant cameras and printers that are not compatible with Zink paper:Zink paper’s unique printing process and the construction of the paper itself make it different from other photo papers. Some of the benefits of Zink paper include: Tear– Resistant: A paper base layer combined with the polymer top coating makes Zink prints resistant to tearing like other prints. However, you can still cut them scissors, if needed.