DD's DyeMax - Pondering, Pontificating, Guessing Wildly

[SirRaph]

Link to DyeMax

I'm sure many of us have seen this new 'proprietary process' from DD, and thought to ourselves, "I don't see what they did thar."

And while I love DD and what they're doing as a brand, I can't help but want to dig into this process, if not just to see what they're doing to get those effects.

Here's what we know:

- The coloring is not a film or wrap like InnColor/FullColor discs, (I've never felt one, anyone who has can confirm)

- The LINES are too crazy, and the SHADING to exact to be using any a mask-and-dip method of any type.

- It's relatively inexpensive. It's only $25 for a single disc, and from what it says on their site, they have no problem using your image. That means that it's a quick process that requires little human involvement -- especially if the $25 includes the cost of the disc itself.

- Available color spectrum is very wide.

- They're secretive about the process -- meaning they don't have any sort of patent or rights to exclusive uses.


My best guess? I'm guessing they found a technology, probably a printer of some sort, likely designed for a completely different purpose. I've often fantasized about a printer that could follow the contours of a disc. Use an ink/dye that can penetrate poly carbonates. You could always equip the printer's plumbing to resist acetone -- or more likely, use a viscous ink/dye that will stay in place while you transfer it to a station that could apply some heat.

Anyone felt one of these, and/or have any other insights or ideas?

 

[adamlamar]

The Quick Stop in Arlington, TX has a couple of these, as well as one of the Nikko designs. I thought they were regular dye jobs until I went to the DD site later on. My best guess is it's some sort of print process.

 

[lilbrummy87]

From what they said at the Lewisville open in TX is that it is not dye but ink. They have a printer that prints onto the disc and the ink dries into the plastic. I have a few dyemax discs. A lewisville open "stamped" one and a few Sparkle Astras I just picked up. I tried scrapping the ink off one of the astras and the top layer came off, but it seeped into the plastic and wont come out like dye would. But they did say it was a printer. And I, who works at a print shop, want to find a printer that will do the same.

 

[adamlamar]

I don't think any of these are PDGA approved, but the Vitamin Water frisbee looks to be done with a similar process.

 

[Nuke]

I got a stalker from them off ebay. The image on it is obviously digital and pixellated a touch. It's definitely a printer.

 

[adamlamar]

Sublimation printing wouldn't be a direct-to-disc print, but could yield the same results.

 

[Royal Hill]

I love this concept. Custom with a minimum order of 1. Custom to you, or customized for a friend/gift/trophy/keepsake.

Gosh, I like the idea of having some photographic images screened on for kicks. How about full face photos of some of your DG crew. imagine:

"Hey, what are you thinking on throwing on this one?"

"hmmm... I think I'll throw Kenny on this one, or maybe Monty...he flies pretty good into a headwind"

"Yeah...you're right. besides... Dan's been getting pretty flippy lately"

 

[kyledstauffer]

Here's one I had done from them recently. It's definitely some type of digital printing. Really shiny though...was not expecting that. I tried to take a picture of the side so you can see the ink, but it's pretty fuzzy. Pretty cool...but I do feel they had pretty poor costumer service (it took them forever to get this done and communication was spotty at best).
Top:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/68316355@N04/6306605394/in/photostream

 

[SirRaph]

Here's one I had done from them recently. It's definitely some type of digital printing. Really shiny though...was not expecting that. I tried to take a picture of the side so you can see the ink, but it's pretty fuzzy. Pretty cool...but I do feel they had pretty poor costumer service (it took them forever to get this done and communication was spotty at best).
Top:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/68316355@N04/6306605394/in/photostream

Holy **** that's a sweet disc though!

 

[Dan Howard]

"Yeah...you're right. besides... Dan's been getting pretty flippy lately"

HEYYY, I resemble that comment!

It's a dye sublimation print process and DD hit the jackpot when they figured out which ink works. I'm sure the very best minds at Innova, discraft... are working on this right now. Once they get it too the price will come down, $20 for a brand new GL River with a spot on reproduction of Munch's "The Scream" on it is in our future (or at least until the copyright police get involved).

Anybody who patronizes this business is taking the food out of American Baby's mouths! They took ar Jerbs!!!!!!!!!!!!

(Oh wait, they are doing this in Emporia Ks... damn that Rusco!! )

Hate what it means for us but it is kinda cool to go to a c-tier and get one of these.

 

[Dsplayname]

The pro Shop, Disc Stalker, in Metro-ATL has one of the printers and does it too. All I have heard of the durability is that the pictures wear off pretty quick during regular play.

 

[LoPan12]

Voodoo figured it out first I think. Check they're Facebook for pictures, they've had them for months. Didn't do custom pictures though

 

[giles]

It is a printer that costs LOT$

 

[Ricta]

It is a printer that costs LOT$

True, but the secret isn't the printer...it's the ink that they're using. I've tried digital printing on discs at my work. The image turns out fine, but there is a layer of ink on the disc that I thought wouldn't be legal. We have alot of large format printers that are easily capable of what DD is doing...but the ink they use is the tricky part. I've been wanting to play around more with it, but we've been way too busy to have "down time" where I can mess around. I'd like to know if they're using an ink that needs to be UV cured...I'm almost certain that it does.

Another issue I've found is the dome on discs. The printers we use have "crash sensors" where the smallest bump or imperfection in material sets it off and...scrap. I'm curious if they can only print on flat discs or something really domey.

Also...are these discs even pdga legal? The website for DD doesn't say anything about it. Not sure if that's been answered yet or not.

 

[LoPan12]

Well, whatever it is, it looks fantastic. I got this and it doesn't have that discraft supercolor..."thickness" feeling? Y'know how it just gives the impression of "layer of ink"? The one I got definitely has the feeling of a dye in the plastic...

 

[Ricta]

I wonder if it's Sepiax... a water-based resin ink that's supposedly prints "direct to anything." The more I think about it, I doubt it's a UV ink. It even prints on glass and metal! I'm dyeing to know what ink it is! /bad joke

 

[JTacoma03]

It's some kind of modified screen-printing for sure.

I got a couple of the Buzzzes from the Cyber Monday deal. They look sick, but in the bag rubbing against other discs they start to fade/smear. I've got a pretty noticable smear ring around the edge of the disc where the bottom of the rim of the disc next to it touches.

Not a big deal to me though, I bought it to be a thrower, not wall art so :thmbup: for the new technology. It's kinda pushed me away from dyeing...knowing I'll never do something that cool.

 

[JSurmann]

I'm thinking they use a flatbed printer that prints billboards, something large format and using UV ink that instantly cures....very intrigued.

 

[Ricta]

I've screen printed on discs before and it never turns out well. There's always a layer of ink on the disc. Also think about how much work it would be to put different 4-color images on discs. That's 4 screens made up for one disc (CMYK). That process would take WAY too long. I'm 90% sure it's some sort of digital press, using an ink that they don't want to advertise. With digital there's no changing of screens, just changing an art file.

 

[leadpaint]

Sublimation printing wouldn't be a direct-to-disc print, but could yield the same results.

my thoughts exactly