Computer printers: they come in all shapes, sizes, colors, and prices. The different computer printer technologies all provide differences in image quality, print speed, affordability, sustainability, and even noise. Inkjets, plotters, dot matrices, lasers. What does it all mean? Laser printers are toner-based and they function much like photocopiers. As the name implies, these printers use precision lasers to adhere the toner to paper using pressure and heat. Laser printers will generally cost a little more than most other printers, but the money spent is a worthwhile investment. They are known for their fast and high quality printing as well as their low cost per copy. If you’re doing a lot of printing, spending more on a laser will end up saving you money in the long run. The high speed, quality images they produce and the frugal use of ink make the laser printers ideal for students as well as offices and small businesses.

Inkjet printers use liquid ink instead of toner, which they spray in very small, precise droplets onto paper. These are the most common consumer printers because their initial costs are so low. Although inkjets print more slowly than lasers and require time for the liquid ink to dry, they print silently and some, called photo printers, are equipped with extra pigment in order to produce a much wider spectrum of color. These photo printers are capable of printing on high quality photo paper and card stock as well as regular office paper. However, the initial cost of inkjet printers is low for a reason: the cost per copy is much higher than with lasers, requiring consumers to buy more ink cartridges more frequently. Inkjets certainly produce high quality images with very exact colorations, so if you don’t mind renewing your ink cartridges regularly or if you will not be printing often, an inkjet could be right for you.

Dot matrix printers use print head that runs back and forth across a page, striking an ink-soaked ribbon against the paper. This impact printing functions much like a typewriter and is similarly capable of carbon or carbonless copying. Unlike a typewriter, lettering in a dot matrix printer is not fixed. Instead, any kind or size of font can be created using a dot matrix, which arranges little dots to form shapes much like a Lite-Brite. Many dot matrix printers are designed with multiple printer heads to produce rapid printing that covers the entire width of a page almost instantly. These are made for high volume output, are known for their ease and flexibility of use, and are advantageous for their ability to carbon copy.

Plotters are used for printing posters and flyers on very large pieces of paper and are unique in that they maintain a very high resolution despite the size of the page. They print quickly and have a very high image quality. For professional printing requiring exact detail and brilliant imagery on a large scale, plotters are the printers to choose. Most plotters come equipped with time saving features like continuous adjustments that mitigate interruptions and optimize both quality and reliability.

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Inkjet printers work by propelling tiny droplets of liquid ink onto paper. They are the most popular type of printers because they combine low cost with superior quality of output. They are user friendly, inexpensive and reasonably fast as well. Major players in the inkjet printer sales world wide are HP, Canon, Epson and Lexmark.

Inkjet Head Design

Inkjet printer heads come in two forms of design. One is the fixed-head design and other disposable-head design. In the fixed head there is a built in head whereas in the disposable design head is a part of the disposable ink cartridge. Under the fixed head the head need not be replaced every time the ink runs out but incase the head is damaged the entire printer becomes useless. For disposable head every time the ink finishes the entire inkjet cartridge along with the print head is replaced increasing the running costs. However damaged print head is only a trivial problem: all you need to do is change the cartridge.

An intermediate method does exist: a disposable ink tank connected to a disposable head, which is replaced infrequently (perhaps every tenth ink tank or so).

Advantages and Drawbacks:

Inkjet printers when compared to dot matrix and daisywheel printers are absolutely noiseless and yield excellent print quality for both text and picture and also do not require any warm-up time. However their drawbacks are expensive ink cartridges and highly prone to clogging print heads. Though consumers can overcome cost disadvantage by using compatible/generic cartridges, re-manufactured cartridges or easy-to-use refill kits.

So from the various inkjet printer brands available in the market select the one which is reasonably priced with respect to both the fixed cost and running cost and offers useful features as well. It is recommended not to buy the cheapest inkjet printer model from the range. Going for the second cheapest often results in sensible improvements. Also don’t buy the latest model either. Its cartridges will remain expensive for a long time.

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Your home office printer is going to be an important part of your home business. While making the right choice of printer seems like a daunting task, your major decision is going to be between an ink jet and a laser printer. Along with a different way of delivering ink to the page, these two types of printers have their own benefits and drawbacks.

The key difference between the two printers is the type of ink that they use. Ink jet printers use liquid ink and laser printers use powdered ink. Laser printers come in two varieties, monochrome (black and white) and color. Each type of printer serves different purposes.

Most businesses use monochrome laser printers because they print a lot of black and white documents. If you’re using your printer for the same reason, you may want to consider a monochrome laser printer. They have a better page output than ink jets and come at a midrange price. They are normally priced higher than ink jets, but their ink refills cost a lot less. Monochrome laser printers are perfect if you need to print lots of pages of text. The only drawback to this type of printer is that you can’t print color.

If you need any color printing done, an ink jet printer will be your least inexpensive option, at least in terms of initial cost outlay. Ink jets offer a lot power for their speed, but they are definitely slower than laser printers. The main advantage is their price and their portability. Compared to laser jet models, ink jets are very lightweight and are generally smaller. This makes them a good option if you don’t have a whole lot of space for your printer.

The major drawback to ink jet printers is the cost of their ink. Compared to laser printers, refills for ink jets cost substantially more. Even though you’re saving more at the onset, you’ll be paying a lot in the long run. The price of ink over the life of your printer can be a deterrent to getting an ink jet. But if your budget for your printer at the outset is small, then an ink jet might be your only option. They are generally cheaper than laser printers.

When it comes to quality of printing, speed of printing and overall quality, color laser printers are the best choice. All of this comes at a higher price than you’ll pay for an ink jet printer or monochrome laser printer, but it may be worth it if you need to print high quality documents. A color laser printer has ink that is relatively inexpensive compared to ink jet ink. In addition, a color laser printer will allow you to print high quality photos along with black and white documents. This can save you money on having your pictures printed, and allow you to print as many copies as you need.

Depending on the kind of business you’re in, the quality that you get from a color laser printer may well be worth the initial cost. If you have the money to spend, a color laser printer is your best bet. But if you’d rather keep those initial costs low and print color, then an ink jet printer might be the better way to go.

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Inkjet printers are becoming the most popular home computer printers. In contrast to a laser printer, which uses high heat to fuse powdered ink to a material like paper, an inkjet printer sprays a fine pattern of liquid ink. Without the need for heat, an inkjet printer can print on a far wider range of materials, from the delicate to the metallic. The primary quality of these materials must be their ability to absorb and hold an inked image without bleeding or spreading.

Inkjet paper is designed especially for inkjet printers. Like any paper, its many varieties are generally classified by weight, brightness, texture, and opacity. Basic inkjet office paper weight ranges from 21 to 27 lbs, and is most suitable for printing text. The amount of ink required to print a photo, however, can soak and buckle these lightweight papers. Photo paper is heavy and very opaque, even to the point where it can be printed on both sides without the images showing through.

That is why your home inkjet printer has settings (usually found under “properties” or “configuration” when printing) for the type of paper or material you are using. The printer will decrease the amount of ink it sprays to compensate for lighter-weight paper, and adjust the image colors to suit the opacity or transparency of your paper.

Yes, you can keep printing on your basic white office paper, but perhaps it is time to live a little! Here are just some of the new options available for your inkjet printer:

Photo Paper: Papers formulated for photo printing can be any weight or thickness, but they share a high opacity. The best quality photographic prints can generally be achieved with thicker papers, with a glossy finish that make photo colors more vivid. Photo papers are primarily distinguished by their surface coatings; glossy or matte. Gloss coatings are shiny and very light-reflective, with quick-drying properties to prevent the ink from smearing. Matte surfaces are flat and low-gloss. Bridging the gap are semi-gloss and luster papers.

Textured Paper: Many new inkjet papers have a textured finish, such as linen weave or canvas, which will give your finished prints a distinctive look.

Fabric Sheets: In the past, the only way for the home crafter to transfer an image to fabric was to print the image on a heat-transfer medium and then iron the medium onto the fabric. Today, you can print directly on fabric using paper-backed fabric sheets in your inkjet printer. After printing, the paper backing is removed. The fabric is generally lightweight cotton, linen, satin or silk – and a shade of white. The color of the fabric is important. Inkjet printers do not print white ink, so the white parts of your image will be the color of your fabric. Also, be aware that special photo inks in your printer will not produce as vivid an image on fabric as standard inks.

Fusible Fabric Sheets: A variation on fabric sheets, this fabric is backed with a heat activated adhesive. Print your image, trim, and iron it onto apparel, fabric crafts, scrapbooks or any flat surface for a custom applique effect.

Translucent Vellum: Vellum is a translucent paper that imitates the qualities of animal-skin parchment. Vellum is a crafter’s secret weapon for achieving layering and light effects. When printing on vellum, consider how light or background will show through your image. If the image will be transmitting light, try configuring your printer for “transparency” paper, because that will deposit more ink and adjust the colors to be more vivid against a light source.

Metallic Papers: Special metallic paper surfaces can accept inkjet printing. Finishes are generally low-gloss and include color variations of gold, silver and copper. Some also have self-adhesive backing.

Transparency: The problem with inkjet printing on standard transparency material (overhead projector sheets) is that the ink smears on the non-absorbent surface. Now, special transparency sheets have been created with a fine texture that holds the ink, preventing smearing or smudging. Be sure to use the “transparency” setting on your printer to adjust the inking and color.

Magnetic Paper: Create refrigerator magnets, organizational systems, calendars, and magnetic advertising cards by printing directly on this lightweight (11 mils) magnetic material.

Specialty Sizes: We think the world is created in 8 1/2″ X 11″ or A4 rectangles, but there are many other sizes of inkjet paper. You can print directly on greeting cards or envelopes of all sizes. Sheets of pre-scored or perforated business cards, name stickers, tags and other shapes are available.

Waterproof Outdoor Paper: For outdoor use, consider vinyl-coated inkjet sheets that are water-resistant.

Transferring Images to Other Surfaces

Heat Transfer Paper: Images printed on transfer paper can be transferred to a surface like fabric by applying heat and pressure, usually with an iron (hence the common name of Iron-On Transfer). The image must be printed in reverse (mirror image) so it is transferred correctly. The end result is a rubbery or stiff film on the surface of the fabric, with generally sharp and vivid colors.

Peel-and-Stick Adhesive Paper: Here is a nifty shortcut for crafters and scrapbookers. Print directly on a peel-and-stick sheet, trim your images, peel off the backing and apply your images directly. There are even self-adhesive fabric sheets for making fabric stickers.

Decal Papers: Also known as “water slide decals,” an image is printed on a transparent film that is then removed from the paper and adhered to a surface with water. This is especially good for uneven or natural surfaces, pottery, ceramics and glass.

Rub-On Transfers: Similar to decals, this paper produces an image on a transparent film that can be transferred to a surface with pressure.

Temporary Tattoos: Yes, you can actually buy water slide decal “tattoo paper” for your inkjet printer, to personalize your body for every occasion.

These are some of the hottest new printables to be developed for your inkjet printer. Most of them can be found at your local stationer, craft or quilting store, or online from craft suppliers or manufacturers. Experiment on your next craft or scrapbook project. You may discover that your inkjet printer and your imagination can be best friends.

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