Photo impact printing is a method of reproducing images by creating many dots on a metal plate using a fine needle (stylus). Photo impact printings can be manufactured only using computers and dedicated processing machines. They are sold in the form of low-cost order-made nameplates.

This method utilizes the fact that point-indentations diffusely reflect light, and appear white. Black parts are the base of the mirror-polished surface of the metal plate. Therefore, images processed through this method can appear black or white depending on the angle they are viewed from. Even if the images are viewed from the ideal angle, they still appear blurred, with low contrast.

This method controls the degree of reflection to make images have a photo-like appearance, and technically does not reproduce darkness/ brightness and contrast directly. The same applies to daguerreotype images. Photo impact printing and daguerreotype are totally different from Millennium Photo in that Millennium Photo reproduces the color tone of images using darkness, making it possible for images to be viewed from any angle.

Moreover, it seems that photo impact printing can only be used in processing small sized images due to limitations of processing machines.

Photo impact printing appears to have a large number of issues in photo processing; however, this method is low-cost, and is easy to process with; therefore, this is probably the best method for printing text on small items such as key rings, lighters, and accessories.