How to Choose the Best Photo Printer for Your Specific Needs

A digital photo printer is not only convenient, but it also helps you save money down the road. You may have to spend a few hundred dollars just so you can get your hands on a decent printer, or you may also need to wait for several months before your savings on photo reproduction can pile up.

This is why you have to be sure that this pricey purchase will be worth it. There are several factors you need to consider when shopping for a brand new photo printer.

Different Types of Printers
Each time you do a printer comparison, always remember that there are two basic types available for you to choose from. The inkjet photo printer is the most common type that comes in handy if you are planning to use the printer for multi-purpose document usage. An inkjet photo printer can act as your holistic home printer that lets you print text files, web pages, as well as other types of digital media together with your photographs.

On the other hand, a dye sublimation printer is solely meant for photography reproduction. This kind of photo printer rarely works well if repurposed for text document printing. However, dye sublimation printers can produce glossy and high-quality prints that are highly recommended for professional photographers.

Even though these printers usually produce the high quality photos, they also come with an expensive price tag, making them recommended only for those who are planning to do lots of home photo printing. As such, cheaper inkjet printers can work just fine for most photographers.

Resolution
Resolution is probably the number one consideration when it comes to buying photo printers because a higher resolution gives photographs a much better quality. Even though the resolution of almost all printers branded as photo printers can be considered as decent enough for more casual usage, experts will be better off with 4,800 x 1,200 dpi resolution or higher if your budget allows it.

Printer Size
Not a lot of buyers consider the size when comparing photo printers. What they don’t realize is that size is an important factor. Ultra-portable and smaller machines might be more expensive, but these are ideal for photographers who are always on the go. If you do not need the convenience that a portable photo printer offer, you might want to search for bulkier and more expensive machines that offer higher quality photo printing.

Connectivity
See to it that you choose a printer that is compatible with most, if not all, of the digital storage devices you are using. There are consumers who often make the mistake of assuming that all photo printers share the same standard connectivity types.

The Bottom Line
Even though there are a few factors you need to take into account when shopping for the best photo printer, taking your sweet time to carefully consider all your choices can ensure that you get a better long term investment.

Category: General