What is a Photo Printer?
A photo printer is any type of printer specifically designed to print photos. Why this may sound obvious, printing the highest quality photos can be a challenge and a photo printer possesses several key features that allow them to produce eye-catching photo prints that can last a lifetime.
Whether you’re a professional photographer or looking to print family photos, this guide will help find the right photo printer for your needs.
Which Features Should I Look for in a Photo Printer?
Choosing a photo printer can be a daunting task, here are some of the main features to consider when choosing a photo printer that suits your needs.
Resolution
Resolution is arguably the most important factor to consider when choosing a photo printer. Resolution is a way to measure the amount of detail a printer can produce. Measured in dots per inch (dpi), higher resolutions generally equate improved overall quality of the printed photos. High-resolution photo printers can produce high-quality photo prints with increased fine detail and clarity. Level of resolution becomes an increasingly noticeable factor with larger format printing. Large, low resolution photo prints can often produce pixelation which can cause blocky, unpleasing results.
Borderless Photo Printing
Borderless printing is a useful feature which is often overlooked when choosing a photo printer. Borderless printing also known as full-bleed printing is a technique which enables the printer to deposit ink onto the entirety of the media without unprinted margins. Borderless printers offer many advantages including removing the need to manually trim prints and making photos easier to frame. Borderless printing also allows users to benefit from the full effect of media sizes, with no wasted space.
Media Handling
Media handling relates to the size, weight, colour, and material types that a printer is capable of printing on. When it comes to printing photos, the type of media can make a huge difference to the quality, longevity, and overall impact of your photos. Regarding media type, glossy paper often yields the best results, delivering a smooth finish that allows colours to pop for a visually striking photo. It is for this reason that glossy media handling is a highly recommended feature to look for in a photo printer. If you’re looking to produce larger photo prints, an A3 or A3+ model will allow you to produce high quality large format photographic projects in-house.
5 or 6 Ink Photo Printers
While the vast majority of printers utilise the traditional 4 cartridge CMYK setup, a selection of photo printers has begun to leverage the benefits of additional inks in either a 5 or 6 cartridge setup. The additional inks are usually light cyan and/or light magenta. 5 or 6 ink photo printers offer several advantages when compared to CMYK photo printers including improved colour accuracy for more true-to-life photos thanks to the additional cartridges providing a wider colour gamut. The additional ink cartridges can also help to reduce graininess with smoother transitions and gradients for better overall print quality.
Compatibility
Whether you favour a Windows PC or Apple Mac, compatibility can be a deciding factor when choosing a photo printer. With Mac devices being the preferred choice of graphic designers and creatives, Mac compatibility is a valuable feature for any photo printer. Seamless integration with Macs can allow users to truly realise the potential of photographic projects with photo editing applications such as Apple Photos.
What type of printer is best for photos?
When it comes to producing high quality photos in-house a dedicated photo printer is the clear choice. Due to the difference in printing methods, inkjet printers have become the predominantly used technology in photo printers. Capable of producing vibrant colours and fine details, inkjet printers are able to print directly onto glossy media for high-quality results. Inkjet printers offer users an affordable, versatile entry point to photography printing.
Our Range of Photo Printers
Printerland stocks a broad range of photo printers from leading manufacturers including Epson and Canon. Still spoilt for choice? Head over to our guide to the best printers for photographs for more inspiration, or if you require further advice regarding your purchase, why not contact a member of our team of printer specialists to discuss your photo printing needs.
