|
 Controls / Buttons / Dials (5.50)The LCD Controller is the control panel for the HiTi 731PS, and it contains just a few buttons. The Controller is shaped like a remote control unit, and it’s tethered to the printer via a stiff, coiled, telephone-like cord. Its plastic pin at the upper right side slides into a mated housing on the top left of the printer. Users can either choose to leave the controller in place or remove it for easier handling.
The top two buttons on the controller are the ESC and OK buttons. Below this lies the round directional control for menu navigation. The Menu and Edit buttons sit below this, with the Print button at the bottom.
The removable control is handy and allows the user the option of pulling the display close within a limited distance. However, if the printer is taken to a shoot and the controller is lost or damaged along the way, the printer is rendered useless except for connection to a PC.
Speaking of the PC connection, this needs to be disconnected for the printer to recognize memory cards and engage the LCD Controller menu. I guess users will be doing one or the other, so it’s not really a design flaw. It was a nuisance for us during testing, and we haven’t come across this trait with any other stand-alone printer.
Menus (5.50)
The HiTi 731 PS’s settings and editing adjustments are accessed via the colorful, graphic main menu. Although not all that intuitive, the menu is simple and fairly easy to use once you get the hang of it. To access some options, users have to hit an arrow key, while others require pressing the edit button. None of this is clear until you read the electronic user manual.
The few editing options are described in the Print Quality Settings and Internal Editing sections on the Print Settings / Options page. A detailed list of menu items appears below.
HiTi 731 PS Menu
|
Main Menu
|
Sub-Menu
|
Sub-Sub-Menu
|
Description
|
|
Photo
|
Edit
|
Move, Rotate, Resize, Copies
|
Selects photo for printing and allows users to resize and arrange the image
|
|
ID Photo
|
|
|
|
|
e-Frame
|
|
|
|
|
Sticker
|
4x6, 5x7, 6x8
|
|
Configures the printing of multiple images on stickers.
|
|
Mug
|
|
|
|
|
DPOF
|
|
|
|
|
Print All
|
|
|
Prints all the images on the card.
|
|
Setup
|
Card Select
|
Compact Flash; Multi-Slot
|
|
|
|
Printer Setting
|
Position Calibration
|
Prints calibration page
|
|
|
|
Printout Setting
|
Brightness, Sharpness, Contrast, Color R/G, Color B/Y
|
|
|
|
Matte Effect
|
On or Off
|
|
|
|
Date Print
|
On or Off
|
|
|
|
Color Wizard
|
Presets for Portrait, Landscape, and Enhanced Portrait and Landscape
|
|
|
LCD Adjustment
|
Brightness, Color: Red, Color: Blue, Horizontal Position
|
|
|
|
Language
|
|
9 languages
|
|
|
Cleaning Mode
|
|
|
Size / Footprint (4.53)
The 731PS received the lowest score of all the dye sublimation printers that so far made it through Printerinfo’s labs. This came as no surprise, as this is the only dye sub able to print as large as 6-by-8 inches. Our score takes into account the printer’s size with the paper tray attached.
The printer weighs in at 13.3 pounds, heavy by dye sub standards, but still easily transportable. However, with no handles, users really would need to purchase a carrying bag, but HiTi doesn’t offer one for this series printer.
|
