Proper photo printing. Tips for Beginners

Selection criteria

To obtain a more objective assessment, we took into account several of the most important characteristics when purchasing a photo printer for the home:

1. Maximum format – no less than A4
2. Number of colors – to print a photo, at least 6 colors must be used (the more colors, the higher the print quality).
3. Continuous Ink Supply System (CISS) – additional points are given for the built-in CISS (allows you to significantly reduce the cost of printing)
4. Printing time 10x15 cm - printing speed at home is not so important, but still for some this parameter has a certain significance. A printer that takes no more than 20 seconds to print a small photo gets an extra point.
5. Minimum drop volume – the value should not be higher than 1.5 (the lower this value, the better the image you can get).
6. Support for other types of materials and paper - additional points are given for the ability to print on cards, films, labels, glossy paper.
7. Color cartridge resource - must be at least 1000 pages
8. Direct printing – the ability to print photos directly from your camera or phone.
9. Borderless Printing – Extra points are given for the ability to print photos without leaving blank margins on the paper (using the entire paper area).
10. Wi-Fi interface – the ability to print photos without connecting to the network using a cable.
11. User reviews – priority is given to photo printers with a large number of positive reviews regarding reliability, print quality and low cost of consumables.

Which brand of photo printer is better to choose?

This TOP includes companies that have been operating in the market for quite a long time and have already won the trust of customers. Basically, the products of companies operating in the mid-price range and premium segment are described here. Each of these brands is quite popular in the market and has earned a great name for itself. The following brands were in the top three:

• Hewlett-Packard is one of the most popular and prestigious companies in the field of office equipment production. It doesn’t have any cheap products in its assortment; it offers devices from the mid-price range and premium models. Basically, it produces jet-type units, which are suitable both for use at home and for office use by a small team. This is one of the few companies that offer compact printers for printing photos. They differ from similar options in their bright color rendition and ease of use.
• Epson is Hewlett-Packard's main competitor, but unlike it, it is not focused on producing any one type of printer. He has inkjet, matrix, and laser models of office equipment. They are interesting because of their good resource, versatility in using different types of paper and due to ease of operation. There are convenient control panels, spacious ink tanks, and large sheet trays with automatic feeding. Some of them can even be connected to a PC remotely via the Internet. There are also products suitable for synchronization with mobile devices.
• Ricoh - this Japanese company is not so widely known in the Russian market compared to Epson and Hewlett-Packard. However, in recent years, its photo printers have been recognized as some of the best. It has models for printing in A3 and A4 formats; they are distinguished by their intuitive interface, economical ink consumption, and automated operation, which makes their use comfortable. Basically, we are talking about laser models, and therefore the price for them cannot be called low. However, the high quality completely compensates for this shortcoming; the photos turn out clean, clear, and bright, like those of professionals.

The Best Compact Photo Printers

There are very few such models on the market; these include devices that can be carried with you and connected to phones or tablets. With their help, it is possible to print photos of limited sizes, on average, 7x15 cm. Despite their small dimensions, their cost is not low. Focusing on the quality of prints and ease of use, we have selected one of the best photo printers out of 10 models.

HP Sprocket, Black

Looking at the small size of this device, you don’t immediately understand why it is so expensive. However, the almost flawless quality of the prints and excellent color rendition clarify the situation. Of course, you can’t print large pictures on it, but it produces standard ones (7.6 x 7.6 cm) easily. The cool thing about this technique is the ability to send photos to it from a smartphone or tablet without connecting to a PC, which expands user capabilities and saves time. Despite its small dimensions, 10 sheets of photo paper can be inserted here without any problems.

HP Sprocket, Black is quite quiet and does not consume much power, 15.91 W. It is convenient to carry it in a bag and use it not only at home, since the weight of the product does not exceed 260 g. The device is easy to operate due to its well-thought-out design and “smart” software. On the left is the power button, on the back there is a charging indicator, a place for the cable and a reset button.

Advantages

• Lack of retractable tray;
• Good printing speed;
• One year warranty;
• Availability of Bluetooth;
• Accepts photo paper with a sticky layer;
• High resolution images.

Flaws

• Does not feed paper automatically;
• Limited photo size.

The Best Photo Printers for Home Use

Such products are usually sold in the middle price range; they may have automatic paper feeding and a large tray. Most often, they support 4-6 colors, but the brightness and clarity of the image are acceptable. They are distinguished from professional devices by a slower print output speed and a less good resource. These devices form the basis of the market. We studied 10 different options and, taking into account their parameters, selected the 3 best photo printers.

HP DeskJet Ink Advantage 5075 M2U86C

This is a multifunctional device with the optimal combination of quality and price, which is interesting primarily because it allows you to print photos and documents directly from your smartphone. For this, inkjet cartridges are used, however, they must have a special chip; other options are not suitable here. But this is precisely what ensures high quality and accuracy of the print.

Despite the fact that the device is not very large, it still has a wireless connection, which means it is not necessary to keep it near the computer. Communication between them can be ensured using Wi-Fi, and it is set up quite simply using a special adapter. For one price, the buyer receives a scanner and a copy machine along with a photo printer, which is very profitable. But in this model, the monthly load should not exceed 1200 pages in A4 format, otherwise it may fail prematurely.

Advantages

• Color printing resolution – up to 4800 x 1200 pixels;
• Black and white images are produced at 1200 x 1200 dpi;
• It is not very noisy;
• Convenient control panel;
• Relatively light;
• Doesn't take up much space in the house.

Flaws

• Does not independently determine the paper type;
• You must supply the consumables yourself.

The HP DeskJet Ink Advantage 5075 M2U86C is a premium model, but it can't print and scan at the same time.

HP Officejet Pro 6230 ePrinter

HP is one of the best photo printer brands, so you expect a lot from it initially. This model also did not disappoint, although outwardly it is no different from its predecessors in the rating. Its advantage lies in the use of original pigment inks of our own production, which guarantee professional quality prints, clear color rendition, durability and brightness.

This option is very beneficial for those who want to save on paper consumption, as it allows you to cut it in half thanks to borderless printing on both sides. Moreover, you can send photos to it from any device that can be synchronized with it, including remotely. All this is possible thanks to the 10/100 Ethernet option, and the HP All-in-One Printer Remote app allows you to scan photos even from a mobile device.

Advantages

• 225-sheet tray;
• No paper jams;
• Withstands production of up to 15,000 pages per month;
• Finished prints do not fade in the sun and are stored for a long time;
• Easy to refill cartridges;
• Excellent performance;
• Automatic shutdown when idle.

Flaws

• Does not support all paper sizes and types;
• Works only with Mac and Windows OS.

Canon Pixma G1410

...Having tested the Canon Pixma G1410, we came to the conclusion that it is suitable for printing photos on both plain and glossy paper...

Expert opinion

Externally, this model is very similar to the HP Officejet Pro 6230 ePrinter; it is also an inkjet version. With its help, it is possible to obtain fairly bright images with a resolution of up to 1200×4800 dpi. There is no blurring in the images and there are no complaints about color rendering. This effect is possible, in particular, due to the support of 4 colors.

The paint used here is not as economical as in previous models, since the minimum drop size is 2pl. However, even with such performance, this is one of the best photo printers for home on the market, and there is often no need to replace ink. For the price offered, this is just a gift!

Advantages

• Colored water-soluble ink;
• Can print borderless;
• Reliable FINE ink system.
• One set of inks is enough for 7000 pages;
• Resource – up to 6000 pages;
• Low noise level;
• Ease of use;
• The tray is located on top.

Flaws

• At high temperatures, small streaks of paint may be visible.

Best portable printers

The Best Professional Photo Printers

These devices allow you to print not only photographs, but also various advertising booklets, brochures, and leaflets. Naturally, the cost of such products will be higher than average. Such devices usually work not only with A4 and A3 formats, but also with stickers. Of all the options available on the market, 3 units were added to the rating. The reason for this was their operational efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and ease of use.

Epson L1800

This photo printer is the best for printing photos, particularly because it has built-in capacity ink tanks. There are a total of 6 containers available here, which are located as conveniently as possible and are not noticeable to others, being hidden under the lid. On one refill you can print about 1,500 color photographs in a 10x15 cm format. They come out smear-free, the paints dry quickly and, before use, special drying is not required, as is the case with many other models.

When ink runs out, compared to cartridge devices, the Epson L1800 inkjet photo printer can be replaced quite easily, and the cost of the service is significantly reduced. Reviews also write about the economical consumption of inks thanks to the printing technology in “drops” measuring 1.5 picoliters. Transporting this printer, which prints photos in almost any conditions, is carried out without any problems, although its size is considerable.

Advantages

• Wide range of paper density - from 64 to 300 g/m2;
• Can print in black and white;
• Large resource - up to 75,000 pages;
• Good tray capacity – up to 100 sheets;
• Compatible with OS X, Windows;
• Complete kit for instant use.

Flaws

• Supports A3 paper size only;
• The output speed of the finished photo is lower than that of text (191 sec.);
• Considerable weight of 12.5 kg.

As reviews show, the Epson L1800 is suitable for both home use and office use for printing not only photos, but also advertising brochures.

Epson SureColor SC-P600

This is the best photo printer in terms of functionality, which boasts a combination of high print quality and ease of use. Yes, its price is not low, but it is fully justified by the good results of use. Here, the unique Vivid Magenta color formula is taken as a basis, which allows you to obtain bright, rich, contrasting photographs. This is what makes it possible to call this model professional.

This is one of the few devices that, in addition to the main ink (6 colors - yellow, cyan, turquoise, black, light and rich purple), also uses gray shades. This ensures a wide color gamut, which accurately conveys the original tones when printed. The device looks even more attractive due to the impeccably high speed of print output - up to 150 seconds versus 191 seconds, which are observed in the previous version in the rating.

Advantages

• CD/DVD printing function;
• Availability of a special tray for creating layouts;
• Good print head life;
• Meniscus control for precise positioning;
• Two ports for USB connection.

Flaws

• It is a little noisy when working.

Ricoh SP C260DNw

This is the optimal solution for both small offices and home use. This technique deserves attention due to its high-quality and at the same time economical printing. It easily copes with a large flow of jobs, producing about 20 pages in one minute. No less convenient here is the fact that the printer supports work in Mac, Windows and Linux environments. The device warms up almost instantly and is ready for use within 30 seconds after switching on.

The Ricoh SP C260DNw laser photo printer works with paper in A4, A5, A6, B5, B6 formats, and therefore allows you to take not only pictures. It is very convenient here that you can load 150 sheets into the tray at once, and their density can be completely different, ranging from 60-160 g/m². Like all models, the cartridge life is strictly individual for different colors, of which there are four - yellow, cyan, magenta, black. However, this is enough to produce clear and bright images.

Advantages

• Power consumption in print mode up to 58.3 W;
• Withstands up to 30,000 prints per month;
• The first page comes out in 14 seconds in any color;
• Can connect with smart devices;
• Refilling the cartridge is not difficult for masters;
• Doesn't damage sheets.

Flaws

• Weight 23.8 kg;
• It's a little noisy.

Types and characteristics of photo printers

Modern printers are divided according to printing technology. The table shows three technologies and their descriptions.

Rating of the best photo printers

The basis for adding office equipment to the rating was numerous positive customer reviews, successful results of our tests and high ratings from experts in this field. When analyzing the characteristics of all models, we relied on the following points:

• Ease of use;
• Efficiency of use;
• Cost-effective;
• Versatility of use;
• Life time;
• Value for money;
• Type – for professionals or amateurs;
• Dimensions and design;
• Duration of the warranty.

Among the characteristics, we paid attention to product life, print speed, number of colors, noise level, print resolution, wireless connection. The warm-up time (for laser models) and the first page output, tray volume, type and thickness of paper used were also taken into account. Not the least place in the analysis of goods, as one of the selection criteria, was given to the reputation of manufacturing companies, which, due to their fame, often raise prices for their products.

Which photo printer is better to buy?

When choosing the best office or home photo printer, you first need to pay attention to its color formula. It is advisable that there is a cartridge or containers for ink of at least 4 shades. The standard set is black, yellow, magenta and cyan. However, if there are more colors, the print usually turns out even brighter and more interesting.

For ease of printing, it is better that the device can connect to a PC wirelessly via Wi-Fi. No less relevant is the ability to transfer images directly from the phone, which is ideal for selfie lovers. Those who want to receive prints of various sizes should consider purchasing office equipment that supports A3, A3+, A4 paper sizes.

Here's what model you can choose based on different purposes:

• To quickly print selfie images, you can buy HP Sprocket, Black.
• The Epson L1800 is well suited for use in a photo studio, for example, for obtaining prints for passports and other documents.
• If you also need to print advertising brochures, in addition to photographs, you should pay attention to the Epson SureColor SC-P600.
• For working with paper of different types and formats, the best choice is the Ricoh SP C260DNw.
• Amateur photographers can limit themselves to non-professional options - HP DeskJet Ink Advantage 5075 M2U86C and HP Officejet Pro 6230 ePrinter.

Even if we are talking about the best photo printers, no one can guarantee that they are completely free of shortcomings. Therefore, we advise you to familiarize yourself with them in advance and understand whether they are important to you. In any case, this rating will help you make your choice!