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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The truth of this article will knock your socks off. Everyone knows that printer ink is expensive, but few recognize just how expensive it actually is. Printer ink is one of the most expensive things that you’ll run into when operating an office and it requires frequent replacement. It is used at home, school, office and more, and is an essential resource for busy people. It adds up to a real expense, and the demand is high. Let’s face it, printer ink is big business today. As a matter of fact, it is a $32 billion market worldwide

Printer Ink is affiliated with Inkjet Printer Cartridges. However, note that there is a difference between printer ink and printer toner. Printer ink is a liquid that is applied to paper by pressure in the form of small droplets. Each time a nozzle fires, a new supply of printer ink is automatically drawn into its chamber, making it ready to again be is sprayed onto the page in a complex pattern of tiny dots. But what is so unique about this ink? .Keep in mind that all printer ink is not universal and it is manufactured very differently from normal pen ink. The manufacture of printer ink is a closely guarded secret, and the process and formula is patented. But, have you ever wondered what goes into printer ink? Printer ink is 99% distilled and possibly de-ionized water with pigment added for color. Interestingly, black printer ink is an equal mixture of three ink colors–”cyan, yellow and magenta.” Printer ink is transparent to infra-red light, and most of it acid free. Knowing the following will alert you to the need for certain cautions when using of printer ink. Be aware that it is not waterproof and also be aware that it can be smudged before it dries. In addition, low quality ink tends to fade more than the higher quality ink. This is especially important to know when printing on photo paper. Since using top quality printer ink is essential for obtaining the brightest and most precise, and long lasting images, it is wise to use only top quality ink.

Would you believe printer ink is the most expensive liquid on Earth. Printer ink is more expensive than oil or vintage champagne. Ounce for ounce, printer ink is more costly than gold. It is without a doubt the most ridiculously high priced technological necessity on the planet. The printer ink market is cleverly built on the Gillette business plan. That is to sell the razors cheap and charge big for the cartridges. Thus we find printers reasonably priced, but pay through the nose for the ink. Japan retains a huge monopoly on printer ink and maintains the high prices quite successfully. In addition, printer ink is notoriously over-packaged, and this adds to the already lucrative price. It is very clear that the printer manufacturers have a vested interest in printer ink and they want to protect and monopolize the sales. Therefore, they are not hesitant to warn that only their proprietary brand of ink should be used in their printers. While we have to accept that printer ink is not cheap, let’s examine the matter a little further.

Now that we know that printer ink is tremendously over priced, what can we do about it? We tell ourselves that we must print this and that, but do we have spend a fortune to do it? Well, here are a few suggestions that may help. For one, realize that running out of ink can add to your expense. This is true because running out of ink may involve some waste in the recharging process and may also be detrimental to your printer. Therefore, watch for streaking that may indicate that you are running out of ink. Then stay ahead of being overwhelmed by your computer screen flashing a message that tells you that your printer ink is low. Be ready to replace your ink immediately when it is needed. Ideally, one should be well stocked with printer ink and paper before you print your document.

Saving on printer ink is more than buying the ink at the lowest price. Before you buy printer ink, it is important to know which type of printer ink is needed for your printer. High quality ink is crucially important for good image results and to insure proper printer function. Regardless of your printing need, it is recommended that you use only high quality ink that meets or exceeds the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) standards. Only then should you consider the cost. Remember that OEM proprietary ink always demands a premium price regardless of where you shop. This leads to finding where you can make the best buy. Keep in mind that printer ink is a huge money maker for stationery stores, computer stores, and discount stores. It fact, it is one of the most profitable items they sell. But, dispel the notion of rushing to the nearest discount store. The cost will still be outrageous. So what is the solution? To begin, consider buying generic brands instead of OEM brands. However, make sure you stick to high quality ink that is up to the required standards. The internet offers the best place to buy quality printer ink and save money. A moderate purchase often receives free shipping.

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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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