Your project is complete, and you’re ready to hit “print,” expecting a clean, legible document or photo to show off your quality work. It really should be this easy, but deciding what type of printer is right for you can be overwhelming. Will an inkjet printer meet your needs, or is a laser printer the better option? What about an “all-in-one,” and is wireless printing important?
First, let’s examine the differences between laser and inkjet printers, then take a look at a few common printer types so you can make an informed decision.
Understanding Inkjet Printers
It should come as no surprise that an inkjet printer uses ink, but how do they actually work? Inkjet printers have tiny, microscopic nozzles that spray the ink onto a page. The ink then forms dots, which, in turn, create a letter, symbol, or even an image. The number of dots determines the resolution, or quality, produced by an inkjet printer. More dots equates to a higher resolution, which is measured by dots per inch (dpi).
Inkjet cartridges utilize a printhead with nozzles, which is how the ink makes its way onto the paper. Cartridges are required for inkjet printers. Most printers include a starter set to get you going. Still, you’ll need to purchase replaceable or refillable cartridges and replace them as needed, depending on how much you print.
If you need to print documents or images in color, you’ll need the primary shades of cyan, yellow, and magenta. Together, these three colors can produce other colors.
The advantages of purchasing an inkjet printer over a laser revolve primarily around initial costs and use. Overall, the initial cost of inkjet printers is lower than lasers, and they do a better job of blending colors. For low to medium volume printing, and when color printing is a necessity, inkjet printers are best. Plus, they tend to be smaller and easier to maintain than laser printers.
Color inkjet printers are available at a variety of price points from brands like HP and Epson.
Laser Printers Excel for High-Volume Needs
Laser printers, like photocopiers, don’t use ink. Instead, they use a toner that contains a powder made up of tiny, plastic particles of various colors. And like inkjet printers, they’re available in monochrome (one color) or color.
An electromagnetic static charges the toner, causing the belt or drum inside the printer to be drawn to the image. Then, the toner is pressed onto the paper. Finally, a fuser unit will bond the toner to the paper. It’s that simple!
It’s common for many businesses to use multiple printers. For those high-volume jobs that don’t require color, monochrome laser printers usually get the job done faster. Laser printers are not only designed and engineered to be faster to meet the demands of busy offices, but laser toner cartridges also print faster since they can dispense the ink quicker than an inkjet cartridge.
For example, some Lexmark printers can print up to 50 pages per minute (ppm) and are recommended for monthly volumes between 2,000 and 20,000 pages.
However, when color printing is required, Brother color laser printers are a highly rated, wireless option. For companies with the need for a secure office printer, it has a built-in card reader that can scan employee badges.