What is a Photo Printer?
A printer designed to print on ultra-white photo paper that has been coated to prevent ink smearing. Photo printers that support all sizes of photo paper are available; however, some are limited to wallet-sized 3x5" or 4x6" prints. Inkjet printers were not up to the task of producing photo-quality prints when they were first introduced in the mid-1990s, but dye sublimation technology was and is still used (see dye sublimation printer).
Many regular inkjet printers from companies like Epson, Canon, and HP can now handle heavier photo paper stock and produce excellent results.
A photo printer can be either a printer that only prints photos or a printer that can print photos as well as other types of documentps. Photo printers differ from other types of printers in that they have more color cartridges, allowing for a wider range of hues and tones, and some even have special photo ink. Claims that a printer is a "photo printer" may be deceptive because, technically, all inkjets can print a picture; however, not all inkjets have the quality or the variety of options that true photo printers have.
Choosing between a Photo Printer or an Inkjet Printer
Photo printers are purpose-built to produce photographs that rival any 35mm film print. Inkjet or dye-sublimation (dye-sub) technology is used in photo printers (also called thermal wax printing). Keep the following points in mind when deciding between a photo printer and an inkjet printer:
- Photo printers frequently accept memory cards directly from digital cameras, so you don't even need to use your PC to print your digital photos.
- Although there are a variety of photo printer sizes available, the majority are smaller than standard inkjet printers.
- Standard 8.5-x-11-inch paper cannot be used by photo printers.
- Photo printers are terrible at printing black text, so an inkjet printer is far more versatile.
- Both photo and inkjet printers can produce borderless images (just like a film print), but a true dye-sublimation photo printer is much slower than an inkjet and much more expensive in the long run due to the special paper and dye ribbon required.
Will photos from a photo printer last long?
Yes. The Instax technology protects the HD printed photo while also providing impressive color development and preservation.
What photo printer brands are available online?
Online retailers sell Fujifilm, Marvino, and other photo printer brands.
What is the difference between a photo printer and a standard printer?
Because they're designed to print on cut-paper sheets as large as 11 by 17 or even 13 by 19 inches, most near-dedicated photo printers are larger than standard desktop-style inkjets, plus banners and roll paper for some models.
What functions does a photo printer have?
A dedicated photo printer can only print photos, whereas a near-dedicated photo printer can also print text and graphics and may even include some all-in-one printer functions such as scanning and faxing.
Can you print photos on a regular printer?
There is no set standard that makes a printer photo-specific. In theory, you can create black-and-white or color prints with almost any home printer. Most printer software packages include custom settings that alter the resolution of your print job to make it nearly perfect for photos.
Is special ink required to print photos?
Printing on some media typically does not necessitate the use of special inks.
Which is better for photo printing: laser or inkjet?
When both text and images are printed, laser printers produce higher overall print quality. Color image printing is specialized by inkjet printers, which produce high-quality color photos. Laser printers are unrivaled when it comes to crisp, clean black and white text and color images.
Can a laser printer produce color photographs?
While inkjet printers can produce high-quality prints, laser printers can print color images in large quantities. They are also excellent for posters and brochures.
What kind of paper is used to print photos?
Glossy, lustre, and baryta paper are the most common types of photo paper. An inkjet printer employs a printer cartridge that produces a 300 x 300 dpi image.