How to Choose an Inkjet Photo Printer

One of the best modern inventions is the inkjet photo printer, a printer you can use right at home to print photos from your computer or directly off your digital camera. Inkjet photo printers are very affordable, convenient, high quality, and easy to use. But how do you choose which one is right for you? Read on to find out some useful tips.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. 
    
   How much do you want to spend?

   The first thing you need to do is decide on a price you would like to pay. Inkjet photo printers range dramatically in price depending on features, print speed, maximum print size, and much more. Get a ball-park idea of how much you want to spend before starting any research. That way you can easily narrow down your search and avoid having too many models to choose from.

2. The next thing to consider is if you would like just a basic inkjet photo printer, or if you want a photo printer / scanner / copier / fax all in one (or some other combination). Do you need features beyond the printer itself? All-in-one printers are very convenient and popular, but they may also cost more.

3. 
    
   Inkjet photo printer review site

   After narrowing down your search to price range and inkjet photo printer features, you are now ready to start your research. It is best to read reviews of printers before buying so that you can get information about how well the printer performs from actual consumers like you. Visit sites such as Cnet Reviews (http://reviews.cnet.com/printers/), ConsumerSearch (http://www.consumersearch.com/inkjet-printers), or Steve's Digicams (http://www.steves-digicams.com/printers.html) for comprehensive lists of reviews for inkjet photo printers. Find links to these sites below in the Resources section.

4. 
    
   Inkjet photo printer ink

   When doing your research, be sure to make sure you consider the future cost of ink. An inkjet photo printer might not cost very much up front, but you will need to purchase replacement ink cartridges every time the ink runs out. Ink can be costly and inkjet photo printers vary dramatically in how many ink cartridges they use, how much they cost individually, and how long they last in the printer. For example, an Epson photo printer, a Hewlett Packard photo printer, and a Canon photo printer all have different ink cartridge set-ups.

5. 
    
   Inkjet photo printer paper

   Another thing to consider during your research phase is cost of printing supplies. Each inkjet photo printer usually recommends using paper made by that same company so the paper and printer are compatible and you end up with the best possible print. Look into how much paper supplies cost for each company.

6. After you've narrowed down your search to a few models, see if you can get a hold of samples of prints printed by those inkjet photo printers. Many stores offer samples or you might be able to request samples directly from the manufacturer online or over the phone. Seeing samples is a good way to assess photo print quality with your own eyes. Keep in mind that what you see on your computer monitor is not always exactly what comes out of the printer so it's good to take a look at some hard copy prints.

7. It is now time to make your final decision and buy an inkjet photo printer!

Resources

• Cnet Reviews - Printers
• ConsumerSearch - Inkjet Printers
• Steve's Digicams - Photo Printers

[Thims]

on 12/19/2008 It's amazing how expensive all this can be. You pay for quality. Nice article.