How to Choose the Best Photo Printer

Finding the best photo printer or any other printer for that matter doesn't have to be difficult. Here you will learn about the different types of printers, costs, and what to watch for when shopping.


Types

There are over 10 different types of printers. More than likely if this is for home or a home office; you'll be using either an inkjet, photo printer, or laser printer so we'll just cover those main ones.

Inkjet (Bubblejet)

Inkjet printers, also known as bubble-jet printers; work by spraying tiny drops of ink onto a page to create an image. Inkjet printers are generally inexpensive to buy, however, their maintenance cost can be extremely high. Inkjets use more ink than it's counterparts, and also doesn't print as clear as a laser printer. For the highest quality inkjet paper should be used (although not a necessity).

Inkjets usually come in color but you can still find some that print B/W only. If image quality is not of much importance to you, and you can find an inkjet that works well with a CIS then this could be a great low cost choice for you. Epson WorkForce 520 Wireless Multifunction Printer/ Copier/ Scanner/ Fax


Laser

Laser printers use a laser to create an image on a drum. That drum is then rolled through a reservoir or toner, and then an image is printed onto the page. Laser printers print very fast, use a lot less ink, and require less maintenance than inkjets. Laser printers also have higher quality prints and can use regular paper.

The initial price of the best laser printers can be high; but this makes up for it's low maintenance costs and better prints. If high quality text and image printing is important to you, or you're not comfortable using a CIS, a laser might be what you need. Brother Printer HL2270DW Wireless Monochrome Printer


Photo Printer

The best photo printers are much alike inkjets. However, they typically have a wider range of colors adding light cyan and light magenta to the bunch. Most high-end inkjets and laser printers can print photos well, but having a specialized photo printer allows for the best images to be printed. If you're a photographer or simply into photography this would be a great choice for you. Canon PIXMA MX870 Wireless Office All-in-One Printer

What to Look For

When it comes down to decision time, there are a few things to look for. The amount of ink the printer uses per cartridge. If one ink cartridge runs out, will the printer not print at all? And if it's important to you, how fast the printer prints. Then ofcourse all around ease of use. Find reviews online of the printer in question. Amazon is always a great place to get real, unbiased customer reviews on a product.

Other Features

Other features the best photo printer, laser or inkjet may have is multi-functions such as scanner, fax, and copier capabilities. Also I would highly recommend spending the extra cash to get a wireless printer. This is extra convenient if your printer is in another part of the house and you want to print without having to connect your laptop or desktop to the printer.

Here is my recommendation for overall general use. I print a lot of flyers with images and this printer has served me well. It's also CIS compatible!

Epson WorkForce 520 Wireless Multifunction Printer/ Copier/ Scanner/ Fax