Professional Printers
Professional Printers
You don't have be a professional printer to get professional printer results. In today's market there are many types of printers that can produce professional results without having to pay for a professional printer.
There are three basic types of printers available on the market today.
Dot Matrix
It's the oldest type of printer currently in the market. Similar to a typewriter in function, they print using an inked ribbon that is impressed upon by a printhead to generate the print on the paper. Dot matrix printers were considered pioneers at the time of introduction. However, now their technology is redundant, because better performing printers have been introduced since then.
That being said, it's also a common sight to still find many companies using these printers. Why, did you ask? Because dot matrix printers are the only printers capable of producing carbon copies, making it easy for banks and payroll departments of companies to tolerate these noisy beasts!
Dot Matrix Printer's Pros
* Can easily print on multipart forms (read carbon copy)
* Very economical
Dot Matrix Printer's Cons
* Very noisy
* Poor quality output
Inkjet
The inkjet printer is used by professional printers and is an economical way to produce high quality looking photos and brochures. The inkjet printer works by ejecting many hundreds of tiny drops of ink on to the paper. Each company has its own technology but the common this is the result - noiseless, crisp printing at low costs.
The cartridges used in these printers cost a fortune. But that's how printer companies make their money. They keep the cost of the printer low but make the cartridges expensive. And did you know that it is cheaper to fill a pool with vintage champagne than with printer ink?
The resolution or the quality of print offered by inkjet printers is measured in DPI or (dots per inch). The higher the DPI, the better the print quality. You can also choose from colored printers to photorealistic models. If you are require the printer for printing high quality graphic work or want to print family pictures, a photo inkjet printer can be avoided.
Inkjet Printer's Pros
* Quiet operation
* High quality print outs
Inkjet Printer's Cons
* Ink tends to smudge
* Cartridges are very expensive to replace
Laser
The laser jet printer is my personal favorite for producing professional printer quality photos provided it is a color laser jet printer. A high-end printer technology, laser printers have been available for some time now. Though complex in printing technology, laser printers give you great quality prints. Each paper that passes through the printer is given a negative charge while the toner is positively charged. These opposite charges attract toner to the paper where it is heated to make it hold onto the paper.
The laser's functionality is limited to "drawing" out which parts of the page should be positive or negative in charge.
Laser Printer's Pros
* Extremely fast
* Impressive black and color print quality
Laser Printer's Cons
* High running costs
* Expensive Repairs
Ultimately, choosing the right professional printer is left up to you. If you have the money and can afford a color laser printer then this would be the best option. If you are on a tight budget and aren't printing a lot of pages then a laser jet printer would be the best option for you.
