The CP770 uses dye-sublimation ink technology to heat-transfer images onto Canon's proprietary paper; Canon sells different media options, including greeting cards, postcards, and 2-inch by 3-inch credit cards. The dye-sublimation printing process is different from your typical inkjet; the paper makes four passes through the machine: the first three lay down the base colors (cyan, magenta, yellow) and the last pass places a thin overcoat on the image to prevent discoloration and extend durability. Canon tells us the ink in one cartridge should be more than enough to last through a pack of paper, and color ink/paper sets are available for purchase through Canon's Web site. We used the 108 sheet ink/paper combo for our cost per page calculation, and at $29.99, the cost per page comes out to 27.7 cents, an acceptable cost for a dye-sub print.
Performance
Dye-sublimation printers are usually slower than inkjet and laser printers due to the amount of time it takes for the ink to cool down once it coats the paper. For our speed tests, we connected the printer to a desktop using a USB cable in order to standardize the average print speed. The Selphy CP770 printed a photo at an average rate of .79 pictures per minute, a score faster than last year's Selphy CP740, Epson's PictureMate Pal PM200, and Epson's PictureMate Snap. These types of printers are marketed as fast, easy-to-use printers that people can print with at social gatherings immediately after taking a photo, and we're impressed that Canon is still ahead of the competition. The Selphy handled a wide range of color with precise detail and separation. Our pictures had a soft feel to them and could use a warmer tone, but we feel comfortable recommending the CP770 for the amateur photographer and home user.
Service and support
Canon includes a one-year warranty with the Sephy CP770, with toll-free phone and Web support available as well. The Canon Web site contains accessories, manual downloads, driver updates, and additional technical support. The product page also has convenient information on how to recycle used consumables and instructions on how to recycle your old batteries. Unfortunately, at the time this review was published, no FAQs for the CP770 were available.
Comparison printers:
Epson PictureMate Pal PM200
Epson PictureMate Snap
Canon Selphy CP740
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