| > | | | | also better quality-wise. It is also more cost effective |
| Once you have clicked photos through your digital | | | | as the paper and ink cartridges used are cheaper. |
| camera, then the next step is to turn these | | | | Most of these printers can be purchased under $500. |
| virtual’ images into real photos. One way is | | | | However, there are few key characteristics that are |
| to send the memory card to a digital photo laboratory | | | | different in all these printers which determine their price. |
| and get the images developed there. But if you take | | | | These are : |
| digital photos on a regular basis and want to print your | | | | ·The printing width differs amongst printers. Normally |
| own, then it is better that you buy yourself a digital | | | | the width is either 8.5" or 13". The highest quality |
| camera printer, or more commonly known as a digital | | | | printers will allow you to go larger but at a much higher |
| photo printer. | | | | per print cost. |
| There are lots and lots of choices available in the | | | | ·If you want to print really great looking |
| market today. The top three companies are HP, | | | | black-and-white images, then the printer needs to have |
| Canon and Epson. So, before you go and spend your | | | | grey inks as well. So, an 8-color printer would be best |
| money, here are some tips on what you must keep in | | | | suited for this purpose. |
| mind while deciding on a digital photo printer. | | | | ·Whether your printer has separate ink tanks for |
| Firstly, digital photo printers are available in two basic | | | | each color or does it have multiple inks in each |
| types. There are 4-color printers and 6-color printers. | | | | cartridge. If you have multiple inks, then you have to |
| Nowadays, there are even 8-color printers available. | | | | replace the entire cartridge even if one color finishes. |
| So, the higher the number of colors the better will be | | | | Hence, it is more expensive to replace such cartridges |
| the photo quality once you have hit the print file button. | | | | and you waste a lot of ink as well. |
| Using good quality photo paper and one of the 8 color | | | | ·The ability of the printer to print directly from your |
| printers will give you results that rival your photo lab. | | | | camera or a memory card through a link. |
| Secondly, the printing method used by the printer is | | | | ·The printing speed per minute. This can go up to 10 |
| also very important. There are 2 main printing methods: | | | | minutes for a colored snap, so you must properly |
| inkjet and thermal. Inkjet is commonly used for taking | | | | check this out depending upon our usage. |
| photo prints but the quality of the printout is not | | | | Multi use printers are great for a busy office or |
| excellent. You need to have at least a 6-color printer | | | | household but if you want to make fine prints out of |
| to get decent print quality. Also, the ink cartridges are | | | | your digital images you should invest in a dedicated |
| quite expensive and the biggest disadvantage is that | | | | digital camera printer or digital photo printer. Look for |
| inkjet printing does not provide a waterproof coating to | | | | models that will take the most popular memory cards |
| the images. Hence, the color fades after some time. | | | | straight into the printer without having to load the |
| Thermal printing, on the other hand, is much better | | | | images into your computer. |
| since it not only applies a waterproof coating but is | | | | |
