Some photo printers can operate independently of computers.
Companies design photo printers specifically for printing high-quality images in both monochrome and full-color. Two of the most common technologies that companies use for photo printing are thermal, also known as dye-sublimation or dye sub, and inkjet. While thermal and inkjet photo printers both have their advantages and disadvantages, neither is decidedly better than the other. The photo printing technology that is best for you depends on the printing features you prefer.
Printing Process
Inkjet photo printers use a process known as dithering to produce photo-quality prints. The process involves layering different sized dots of a single color over and over, which tricks the eyes into believing that here are more colors present than there are actually. A printer-head creates these dots by spraying fine streams of ink from a nozzle or jet on to a sheet of paper. In comparison, thermal photo printers rely on heating elements and specialized strips known as Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Key tones, or CMYK, ribbons for printing. When the heating element heats the CMYK ribbon, ink particles sublimate--becoming gaseous--and then depose or reform on the surface of a sheet of paper.
Media Types
Due to the process thermal printers use for transferring images to paper, printing with a thermal photo printers requires the use of a specialized, glossy photo paper. Companies produce this type of paper specifically for capturing the gaseous ink particles that thermal photo printers rely on. In comparison, an inkjet photo printer can print on standard formats of printer paper in addition to gloss-coated photo paper. So if you want to save money by opting for standard paper, or if you are planning to use a photo printer for printing text documents and other materials besides images, an inkjet photo printer is the better option.
Image Quality
Thermal and inkjet photo printers can both produce high quality images; however, interpretations of the word "quality" vary from person to person. To some printer-users, inkjet photo printers provide superior image quality due to their high levels of detail and lack of blurriness. However, others claim that thermal photo printers, though they can produce images that are a bit blurry, allow for deeper color saturation. While graphic artists and businesspeople tend to prefer the more precise inkjet photo printers, photographers tend to prefer thermal photo printers, which allow for fuller colors.
Reliability
Because inkjet printer printing-heads move back and forth in order to spray ink, they are more susceptible to breaking down in comparison to the relatively static thermal printer heating elements. In addition, thermal printers are not prone to suffering from ink clogs or bleeds as the printers do not apply ink in liquid form. So if you are looking for a reliable, low-maintenance photo printer, a thermal printer will typically be the better option.
Tags: photo printers, inkjet photo, thermal photo, thermal photo printers, photo printer
