| There are a lot of high quality photo printers on the | | | | things look a little brighter - but the photo quality might |
| market, so unless you have a good idea what you are | | | | not be ideal for selling prints or framing them to display |
| looking for, it can be difficult to make a choice. On | | | | at home/work. So finally, a mid-range printer would be |
| listening to various people's needs, I would never | | | | adequate for the 'from time to time' photographer, but |
| recommend the same printer - in other words, it | | | | for a professional - get saving for the better models. |
| depends what you need it for as to which photo | | | | What Print Technologies Are Available? |
| printer to choose. | | | | Print technology is an important factor for anyone who |
| Not everyone is going to need a state-of-the-art | | | | is thinking of buying a printer for photos. Generally |
| printer to print their photos - the one with the attractive | | | | speaking, there are four main technology types for |
| brand logo and highest price tag. The main things you | | | | at-home photo printers - ink-jet, sublimation, laser and |
| will have to think over before you buy is your personal | | | | piezoelectric. |
| budget, what printing technologies on offer and how | | | | Sublimation takes fourth place for the casual |
| they can benefit you. | | | | photographer because it can be a slow processing |
| How to Set a Sensible Budget | | | | time and the resources needed can be increasingly |
| Having a personal agreement of your budget and | | | | costly. That being said, if you have the time and |
| sticking with it is priority when you want to buy a photo | | | | money - the photo quality is of a very high standard. |
| printer (or anything for that matter!) If, after setting your | | | | Ink-jet will be one that most people are familiar with |
| budget you still don't find a printer in the range you had | | | | and it tends to be the most popular choice of photo |
| hoped for, then you will have to wait a few more | | | | printer. The main reason being the cost and easy to |
| months and increase your budget a little. | | | | maintain/buy ink replacements. Just because the cost |
| Fortunately, photo printers are currently good value for | | | | is favorable, it doesn't mean that the ink-jet is bad |
| money and it is only those whose technology is | | | | quality - quality is of a consistently good standard. |
| pushing the boundaries that can have a large price tag | | | | Then there is Piezoelectric, a printer that is worth that |
| attached. On that note though, you should be aware | | | | little extra budget lenience! Without a doubt, the |
| that the lowest costing models often deliver what we | | | | Piezoelectric variety offers the best quality of photos |
| call 'grainy' photos - something you want to avoid if at | | | | that can be produced in your own homes. In contrast, |
| all possible. | | | | laser technology is becoming a little left behind and the |
| If your budget can only reach the mid-price range then | | | | photos produced are not the most admirable. |
