Size matters when it comes to everything that surrounds us. While some objects we may prefer to be as big as possible, others we like to be the smallest possible. When it come to technology the latest trends suggest that a smaller more portable form factor is preferred for laptops, digital cameras and printers alike.




We might have been used to know a laptop as bulky and hard to carry around and see a printer only sitting on our desk due to it’s larger size, but all this is about to change with the introduction of portable photo printers.

When the Sony DPP-MP1 was released it was the smallest dye sublimation printer available on the market. The printer weighed under one pound if you didn’t count the paper tray or battery and could be moved around with ease. Because of an attractive design it also proved to be a perfect companion for any digital camera. In the box of the printer, upon shipping you’ll find paper tray, AC adapter, USB cable and a test printing pack.

The battery pack is bought separately, as in the case of most compact printers and attaches to the end of the printer. With the help of that battery pack you can take your printer along pretty much anywhere without worrying about electricity sources.

Aside from working like any regular printer, connected to a PC through its USB slot, the DPP-MP1 can also work with memory cards and compatible digital cameras. If you’re using a Mamory Stick the easiest way to print out your photos is to press the DPOF button that allows you to print all the pictures you’ve preselected on the digital camera. You also have the option of selecting every picture manually.

Like most other dye-sublimation printers you can find on the market the Sony DPP-MP1 portable photo printers include a ribbon cartridge that contains the three colors you’ve grown accustomed to, cyan, magenta and yellow. Through heat the ink is vaporized and transferred onto paper.

After the third and last layer of ink is applied the printer also places a protective transparent layer on top. This is meant to make the photographs more resistant throughout time, to scratches and water. Printing media supported consists of 4.12 by 1.97 inch paper that can be found for sale in packs of 24.While some users may prefer a larger format for printing, the small size of this photo printer obviously limits the media size supported.

So what’s so great about these little printers? They print great quality photos at relatively fast speeds and can be taken along virtually anywhere with ease. The only thing that you really need to consider is buying the optional battery pack since without it the Sony DPP-MP1 will loose much of its portability. This is, of course, if you’re not only visiting places where you know for sure you can plug the printer in.

Watch tweets on: