Updated: 2023-08-24
Do you really need a photo printer?
Photography has become an integral part of our lives – as cell phone cameras have gotten better, so has our ability to capture important moments. Because of this, the demand for a convenient way to print photos has increased along with it. Luckily, the world of photo printouts has come a long way since the days of using an expensive color printer at home.
Table of Contents
- Do you really need a photo printer?
- What are the most important features of a photo printer?
- Print quality
- The resolution of a photo printer (the higher the DPI is, the better)
- The type of paper
- The ease of use
- Printing sizes
- Printing speed (look at the ppm)
- Final words
A photo printer is a great way to print your vacation photos, snapshots, and the occasional – ahem – selfie. If a photo printer gives you the freedom to print your photos at any time you want them, then it’s a good thing. But it’s not for everyone. If you do not print photos frequently, are not sharing your photos on social media, or do not have a photo printer, read to find out if you could save money by skipping this gadget and go back to your old ways of printing photos at home or at a photo shop.
You might think that you can’t really use a photo printer due to the high cost of the ink. You might even be tempted to say that digital photography is much simpler and you can get by without a photo printer. But, if you are really a photography enthusiast, you would know that you cannot really get the true colors or the depth you would like to have in your pictures, unless you have a photo printer. The traditional photo printing could deliver a number of advantages and benefits that are not available when you make your pictures available online.
What are the most important features of a photo printer?
A photo printer is one of the best ways to preserve your child’s first steps, your son’s championship soccer game, or that once-in-a-lifetime trip to the pyramids in Egypt for future generations. But with so many photo printers on the market, how do you decide which is best for you? That depends on what your needs are.
Printer features are one of those things that many photographers hardly think about until they need them. And then they can feel like a bit of a pain to understand. But fear not, we’re here to help. When considering your next photo printer, there are several main features you should be looking at image quality, resolution, speed, ease of use. If you’re looking for the best photo printer for your home or office, you want one with built-in Wi-Fi and AirPrint. You also want to be able to print 4×6 images, and you want to be able to scan and copy documents. You probably want your photo printer to have a built-in memory card reader, too.
There are many benefits to owning a photo printer, especially if you are someone who loves taking photographs. Some devices offer features that are specifically tailored towards photography, such as the ability to print on a variety of photo paper types, the ability to print on photo paper using a wide range of aesthetics such as sepia, various frame types and the ability to print on photo paper that is designed to last for a long time.
As a photographer, you are always looking for the best way to display your images. You can take your pictures using a digital camera and then use a computer to make prints. But, that can be a long and expensive process. Or, you can use a photo printer to quickly and easily make prints. These printers are printers made specifically for photography. They are not like the printer you use to print out documents at work or at home.
Print quality
The problem with printing photos at home is usually that the output is disappointing. The colors and contrast are often washed out, and the images are of poor quality. Fortunately, there are a lot of companies that offer high-quality photo printers that produce great results, and the prices on these machines are getting more affordable.
The resolution of a photo printer (the higher the DPI is, the better)
The printer resolution is the number of dots per inch (what is DPI) that the printer can print. The inkjet photo printers that are on the market today have a resolution of approximately 4800 dpi. A high resolution is a key to producing crisp, sharp prints, which is why you should make sure you look at the resolution of the printer you are considering buying. However, no matter what the printer resolution is, you will still need to use high-quality photo paper with your printer to get great results.
The type of paper
Glossy papers, art papers, special purpose papers. When it comes to printing photos, there are two different types of printers to choose from: inkjet printers and laser printers. Inkjet printers use ink cartridges and come in a variety of sizes. (There are small portable models that can fit on your desk, and large ones that can fit in your home office.) Typically, the bigger the model, the better the results. Laser printers use toner cartridges and are more expensive than inkjet printers.
You can usually start off with the cheapest paper you can find. This will give you a feel for how the process works, and how much you really like photo printing. If you find that you are addicted to the process, you can then consider stepping up to higher quality photo paper.
High quality photo papers include the Epson Velvet Fine Art paper and the Arcu Lustre. The Epson Velvet Fine Art paper is a 13 mil thick paper that has a semi-matt surface that a lot of serious photographers will prefer. The Arcu Lustre is a 13 mil thick paper with a slight gloss to it.
E.g. one of he best high-quality paper for inkjet printers is Epson Premium Presentation Paper Matte, which has a smooth, eggshell surface that holds saturated, bold prints. It’s acid-free so your photos will last a long time, and it’s thick enough that light doesn’t show through.
The ease of use
Any photo printer is a pain to use if it’s complicated. Fortunately, with today’s technology, there are now a ton of photo printers that are very easy to use. These printers allow you to print high quality photos that look almost identical to the original photo, and all you need is your printer, your camera, and a USB cable. If you are looking for a very easy to use photo printer, you will need something that is simple to set up, and that has a small footprint. If you want color photos, you will need to spend a little more than for black and white. For those who aren’t too concerned with how professional their photos look, a monochrome printer is actually a better option. Or maybe you are looking for a device with a whole suite of software – including an app that will help you turn your smartphone pictures into quality prints.
There are many photo printers on the market, that are either too complicated to use or have far too many unnecessary features. For example, some you print pictures a memory card. For some people, these features are practical, but for others they are simply a waste of time and money. What you need is a printer that is easy to use and that doesn’t require you to learn any new computer or technical skills.
Printing sizes
It’s no secret that printing high quality photographs has long been a challenge for the home user. Most photo printers are designed for printing photos that are 4″ x 6″ or smaller, and the cost of the inkjet cartridges necessary for printing any larger photos can add up quickly. The most popular print sizes are print size: 8″ x 10″, 5″ x 7″, 4″ x 6″, 4″ x 8″, 2″ x 3″, etc.
Standard 8″ x 10″ photo isn’t just for grandma anymore: there are more professional uses for these photos than ever before. A larger print size means you can zoom in to see details that might have otherwise been impossible to see.
There are printers using the ZINK® technology (a type of print that uses special paper and ink to instantly develop your pictures as you take them). These are best for printing photos that are going on t-shirts, magnets, or small items like photo albums.
Printing speed (look at the ppm)
Depending on your specific needs you might look for printers that can produce quality photos and print at a consistent speed.
Speed is an important factor to consider when buying a printer. But, how do you know how fast a printer is? Most manufacturers show the speed for printing text on their spec sheets, but this is not a good indicator of how fast a printer will print photos. Instead, you should look at the printing speed in “pages per minute” or “ppm” which indicates how fast a printer can print photos.
Final words
Choosing the right photo printer for you can be a big headache. There are so many different brands and models out there, all with different features, and you have to be careful that your printer comes with the right inks and paper. At Photoopia, we like to stand out from the crowd, and we pride ourselves in having the widest range of printers to choose from.
