Buying a Professional Photo Printer
Photo printers are printers that can work either with a computer or as a stand-alone product, whose sole function is printing high-quality photographs. This article compares the three most popular types of professional photo printers.
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The first things to consider when purchasing a photo printer for professional use are the speed of the printing, dry time and any other factors that are encountered before the final product, as the printer will most likely be used for multiple tasks in a single work day. Of the considered "professional printers," dye-sublimation printers are typically the fastest, with Fujifilm PG-series printers close behind them. Inkjet printers are the slowest of the three, with the ink application and drying time being very lengthy.
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The second aspect to consider when purchasing photo printers is the quality of the end product. In the professional world, the quality of the photo could determine the level of professionalism of a certain organization or individual, and therefore could have adverse effects if it suffers. Of the three printer types considered, Fujifilm PG-series printers offer the best quality. They use a certain means of dye-transfer that renders them very similar to traditional prints, the difference in quality of sharpness and color being almost unnoticeable. These printers also generally come with a built-in calibration utility that keeps the end product consistent, leaving little room for variation in quality.
Dye-sublimation printers are next in line of quality. Like the Fujifilm PG-series printers, they offer high-rate prints that are hard to tell from those of traditional development. A problem with this type of printer is that since its prints are made with such speed, intended to make many prints in a short time span, the level of sharpness is sometimes reduced, leaving a lower quality photo.
Inkjet printers are rated lowest out of the three in quality. Because the photos are made with ink, they are inherently prone to some problems. One common problem with some prints from inkjet printers is that colors may tend to shift under various light sources. Certain shades of colors, such as black, are sometimes difficult for inkjet printers to portray accurately. Overall, the consistency in quality tends to be more tentative with inkjet printers than the other two.
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The final thing to consider when purchasing a photo printer for professional use is the cost. Inkjet printers are the lowest priced printers in this comparison, ranging from $50 to $300. Dye-sublimation printers are more expensive than inkjet printers, ranging from $50 to $70 for minis to $500 and above for some of the higher-end printers. Fujifilm PG-series printers are the most expensive of the three, ranging as high as $5,000.
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