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One of the most perplexing decisions, when faced with choosing a new printer, is which printing technology best suits your needs. There are currently two main printing systems: laser technology, which uses toner cartridges and a transfer drum assembly; and ink nozzles that use ink tank cartridges and fine spray nozzles. Which method is best for you will depend largely on what you plan to print on your new printer and the cost factors that affect running costs. DTF printer are arguably better at high-volume printing, with lower “per page” costs and better black-intensity text than most inkjet printers. Laser printers tend to have faster page speeds, but inkjet printers still offer significant advantages in affordable color printing.

For home use, you probably want to print photos or digital graphics, which makes color a must. The traditional differentiation between lasers and inkjets has been office versus home use; however, color also offers obvious presentation advantages for commercial use. Fortunately, the prices of both printer categories have dropped enough that it is practical to buy both a laser and an inkjet printer if both color and high-quality text are necessary.

If you want a printer that is specifically designed for printing photos, you are most likely looking for a color inkjet system that is a photo printer, allows very high-quality color output, and is capable of printing to the edge. of the page. Recent launches from major brands now include all-in-one multifunction devices that include scanning and printing capabilities. Many smaller units are also available that are designed solely as a photo printer to connect directly to your digital camera. The same can be said for CD or DVD printing, with specialized printers available to print directly to discs, saving the application of labels.

On the other hand, if you are a small home office worker, then your requirements may be more general, in which case you need to make a printing decision based on the types of documents you produce and how many. Generally speaking, inkjet printers offer high-quality color prints with a low cost of hardware, but a high cost of consumables. Lasers offer significantly higher speeds but at a much higher hardware cost. However, using high volume greatly reduces the cost per page.

However, resolution scores are not the whole story. Many printer manufacturers now incorporate smoothing and enhancement features through software algorithms. This means that some results from lower dpi printers look just as good as those from a higher dpi unit. And while some printers have very high resolutions, you probably won't notice any difference in quality with common print jobs once you get above the 600 x 600 dpi resolution. What you will notice, however, is a much higher consumption of inks or toner. It's noteworthy, and perhaps obvious to some, that the higher the resolution you print at, the higher your consumables consumption, and this is the most expensive part of your printer.

Speed is another important consideration. Very rarely will you find your printer operating at the pages per minute (ppm) speed advertised or cited in the specification? There are several reasons for this, including the size of the file being printed, the amount of ink that covers the page, the ratio of black to other colors, the weight of the paper, and possibly even the constancy of the electrical power supply. to your local. Manufacturers today, under laboratory conditions, cannot make the machine work to specification, only to not rely on the claim as a gospel figure. However, you can use speed ratings to judge performance differences between makes and models. If speed is an important consideration, you can shortlist printers that claim to perform better at a certain speed and then compare other factors. You can do this on Myshopping.com.au by simply looking for printers that offer a certain ppm speed.

It is important to understand that while the printer may be cheap, the consumables are where manufacturers really get in huge amounts.

The evaluation of the cost of a printer consists of two parts. The first is the purchase price of the printer itself. This can vary considerably between makes and models and is generally differentiated through the different features on offer. Use Myshopping.com.au to find a printer based on a certain price range and compare features. However, possibly more important is an ongoing cost, which is often measured in cost per page. A typical inkjet printer can cost you between 40 and 50 cents per printed page, depending on how much ink you are using on the page, it can even cost more. In comparison, a color laser can cost between 15 and 20 cents per page. These costs do not typically include paper stock and are based on consumables and maintenance costs. Companies like Xerox often supply large color laser printers for a cost-per-page rate.

The way paper travels through a printer can affect your entire printer experience. The closer you are to a “straight” paper path, the more hassle-free your printer will be. If all your printing is on plain white bond paper only, the paper path may not be an important consideration. But if you are printing on photo paper, thick paper, envelopes, transparent film, or other materials, make sure the print path is compatible with your requirements. The way you connect to your computer can also be a consideration, especially if you work with large files where connection speed is a consideration. Today, most printers offer relatively high-speed USB interfaces. But you may want to consider wireless connections or network capabilities.

When buying a DTF printer, first of all, carefully consider its use, is it mainly for general printing or photography, is it for occasional use or high volumes, will it be a stand-alone device or connected to a network? Then, using the information in the guide above, you can decide which type of printer is best for you at the time.

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