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Color Printing Reaches Its Ultimate Resolution

Posted by timothy on from the gentlemen-we-have-achieved-300dpi dept.

ananyo writes "The highest possible resolution images — about 100,000 dots per inch — have been achieved, and in full-colour, with a printing method that uses tiny pillars a few tens of nanometres tall. The method could be used to print tiny watermarks or secret messages for security purposes, and to make high-density data-storage discs. Each pixel in these ultra-resolution images is made up of four nanoscale posts capped with silver and gold nanodisks. By varying the diameters of the structures (which are tens of nanometres) and the spaces between them, it's possible to control what colour of light they reflect. As a proof of principle, researchers printed a 50×50-micrometre version of the 'Lena' test image, a richly coloured portrait of a woman that is commonly used as a printing standard (abstract). Even under the best microscope, optical images have an ultimate resolution limit, and this method hits it."

6 of 140 comments (clear)

  1. And it's cartridges will... by MindPrison · · Score: 5, Funny

    ...cost 10 times the printer itself.

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    What this world is coming to - is for you and me to decide.
  2. In other news... by Kergan · · Score: 5, Funny

    "Everything that can be invented has been invented."

    Charles H. Duell, Commissioner, U.S. patent office, 1899.

    1. Re:In other news... by uradu · · Score: 5, Informative

      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Holland_Duell

      Famous statement attributed in various forms to various people throughout history. Duell's actual statement (provided that was attributed correctly) was the exact opposite of this.

    2. Re:In other news... by elashish14 · · Score: 5, Funny

      What a simpleton! He was clearly proven wrong when we invented the Rectangle with Rounded Corners.

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      I have left slashdot and am now on Soylent News. FUCK YOU DICE.
  3. Still not close enough! by Impy+the+Impiuos+Imp · · Score: 5, Funny

    > 'Lena' test image

    Pr0n, driving tech development since cavemen fingerpainted a wall.

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    (-1: Post disagrees with my already-settled worldview) is not a valid mod option.
  4. Re: optical images have an ultimate resolution lim by black6host · · Score: 5, Funny

    Those things would not be Color printing. In fact, you could view this process as monochrome too, except when the comparitively long wavelength visible light hits it, it acts in a similar way to a pigmint (well, diffraction isn't exactly the same, but similar enough).

    Pigmint, huh. Isn't that the pork rind they leave on your pillow at night at a Motel 6 in the south? :)