In the 1950's and 1960's Polaroid's instant cameras were all the rage. You could shoot a picture and have the finished print in a minute or so. The quality wasn't that great, but hey, you had your pictures now! Today with digital cameras and high-tech photo printers, we have quality instant photos virtually indistinguishable from processed prints. And unlike the old instant cameras, you have the digital equivalent of a negative for future use.
Checking photo printer reviews happily discloses that even an inexpensive photo printer produces true photo quality prints. The main difference in printer prices has to do with features for printing digital pictures. Of course the best digital photo printers will produce better quality, but for the average consumer there's no noticeable difference.
A Quick Review of Printer Types
The two types of true photo printers are: 1) thermal dye transfer (usually called dye sublimation), and 2) photo ink jet. A quick photo printer review reveals the differences.
Thermal Dye - These printers dry transfer pigments from a ribbon, usually 3 colors plus a protective clear coat. Most have a maximum print size of 4" X 6", but a few will print digital photo enlargements up to 8" X 10". Many are portable, some even battery operated. A thermal dye printer's 300 X 300 dpi resolution will match an ink jet's 1200 X 4800, and the print's clear coat makes it look and feel more like a conventional photograph.
Photo Ink Jet - Differences from traditional ink jet printers include; faster printing, inks formulated specifically for photos, and more nozzles applying the ink. Prints are very high quality and generally cost less than thermal dye transfer prints. Photo ink jet printers print photos up to 13" X 19", and can also serve as an all-purpose printer for your computer.
Tips for Comparing Printers and Printing Photos
Photo printer technology has come a long way in the last couple of years. Even though do-it-yourself prints are still about double the cost of print processing services, it's still cheaper than conventional film processing and the flexibility and convenience can be well worth it.
Digital cameras information from A to Z: camera types & features, how they work, accessories, photo printers, comparisons and more - plus digital photo processing tips and info at A-Z Digital Cameras.com, Your Complete A-Z Resource for Digital Cameras, Accessories and Information.
This article may be re-printed in its entirety, with no changes and this resource box included. © 2005 A-Z Digital Cameras All rights reserved
I have a p3 500MHz PC with 128MB RAM, 10.2... Read More
Are you frustrated with your PC?Is it feeling sluggish or... Read More
"Aaaaaahhhhhh! I've been invaded by a virus!" Getting a virus... Read More
CCNAs and CCNA candidates hear it all the time: â??Get... Read More
In the years of the dot com boom and bust,... Read More
Cisco Certification: Taking Your First Certification ExamYou've studied hard; you've... Read More
Sometimes your PC will start acting strange for no apparent... Read More
1. Let your PC boot up completely before opening any... Read More
1. Before sitting down for coding, you must have formal... Read More
As the web has evolved, so have the methods of... Read More
Plasma and LCD TVs are the latest trend in home... Read More
World War II - Germany decided to attack Poland. Poland... Read More
By using your computer today you can find a lot... Read More
When studying for your Cisco CCNA, CCNP, or CCIE exam,... Read More
I got my eyes set on a iPod mini, as... Read More
Up until the recent past, those who wanted to take... Read More
The Internet is an awesome tool, but be careful and... Read More
I do a holiday letter every year and send them... Read More
iPod users start to get the picture and it's turning... Read More
Surf the 'Net for about 10 minutes and chances rate... Read More
Projectors have come a long way in the past few... Read More
IF WE say that it was mainly because of the... Read More
For those seeking to buy their first flat panel TV... Read More
Do you remember the old saw about how computers would... Read More
Those small USB drives have so many names, pocket drives,... Read More
Do you know how many fonts are currently installed on... Read More
MMC and SDFlash memory is available in so many formats... Read More
You will need the following:1. 1.44MB FDD (floppy)2. NVFLASH utility... Read More
That desk in front of you and everything else around... Read More
When browsing the internet you are likely to come across... Read More
Music lovers have been carrying around radios and other bulky... Read More
Just The Facts, Ma'mPalm pilots are all the rage now.... Read More
Upgrading your processor will always speed up your computer, but... Read More
Below you will find some useful information and comments about... Read More
So I'll start from the very beginning.One day I was... Read More
On 21 August 2003 Symantec Security Response upgraded the W32.SOBIG.F... Read More
Plenty! When we made the decision to be our own... Read More
When I first started studying for my CCNP, some of... Read More
Computers have replaced typewriters, but two-finger, hunt-and-peck typing can never... Read More
You use Ctrl+Alt+Del to see what's running on your PC,... Read More
When browsing the internet you are likely to come across... Read More
iPod users start to get the picture and it's turning... Read More
First things first, what is Firefox? Well, it's a browser.... Read More
Feeling overwhelmed in selecting a new TV? With all the... Read More
So you've got some spyware, ad-ware, or viruses on your... Read More
Getting a new computer should be an exciting and gratifying... Read More
Cisco Certification: Taking Your First Certification ExamYou've studied hard; you've... Read More
IntroOne of the big advantages of PCs over earlier types... Read More
Although there are many things that can affect the performance... Read More
As the Web grows more crowded and just plain "noisy"... Read More
Maybe you always wanted a feature that hasn't been available... Read More
When you think of a help desk, what do you... Read More
We've all seen them, you've been browsing a website and... Read More
Stimulus thru Caffiene or Visual Input?It appears that the Mobi... Read More
Microsoft Certifications are one of the most widely acclaimed, pursued,... Read More
Computers are everywhere, and vary in specification, brands, sizes, shaped,... Read More
Feeling overwhelmed in selecting a new TV? With all the... Read More
Everywhere you look today people are listening to personal audio... Read More
I recently got an e-mail asking about virtual memory. The... Read More
All of us are familiar with the pyramids of Egypt.... Read More
Do you remember the old saw about how computers would... Read More
System File Checker is a great utility that is typically... Read More
For those seeking to buy their first flat panel TV... Read More
Plasma and LCD TVs are the latest trend in home... Read More
If you're a computer expert, you'll probably already know about... Read More
Many computer users are worried about their computer's performance. After... Read More
Personal Technology |