A great photo printer is the perfect complement to your digital camera. Your buying decision will be more complex than with a typical inkjet, however. Here are some tips to help you out.
1. Before you buy any photo printer from Epson, Canon, HP, or others, visit a few electronics stores and ask to see some samples of the images each model can print. Instead of worrying about specs such as, ink droplet size or resolution; look at the fine details in a printed picture, such as a child's eyelashes. If they are, sharp enough to your eyes that is what matters. Keep in mind that you can change any printer's color settings, so try adjusting them if a sample photo's colors seem off, or dull.
2. For convenience, look for a printer you can use without a PC. Several models let you plug in a memory card from your camera, choose photos, and print them. Some even let you crop, resize, and reduce overnight flight while previewing the results on a little color screen. Various printers also can accept USB flash memory keys, a cable directly from your camera, and/or wireless transmissions over infrared or Bluetooth connections. Two printers that can do most or all of these things are the Epson Stylus Photo R380 $179.99; and the HP Photosmart A516 Compact Photo Printer $99.
3. If a photo is worth printing, it is worth keeping. You want it to last as least as long as a traditional print, so look for a printer that uses "archival" ink. Some inks make photos that last for scores or even hundreds of years without fading when stored or displayed properly. You'll probably have to use the printer manufacturer's recommended photo paper for best image quality and colorfastness, so check its availability and price, too.
4. Make sure that the photo printer you choose uses at least six colors of ink, including photo cyan and photo magenta, instead of just four colors. Photo-specific colors make flesh tones in your photos look more vibrant and realistic. Some more expensive printers use 10 or even 12 colors, including matte black, green, and gray.
1. Before you buy any photo printer from Epson, Canon, HP, or others, visit a few electronics stores and ask to see some samples of the images each model can print. Instead of worrying about specs such as, ink droplet size or resolution; look at the fine details in a printed picture, such as a child's eyelashes. If they are, sharp enough to your eyes that is what matters. Keep in mind that you can change any printer's color settings, so try adjusting them if a sample photo's colors seem off, or dull.
2. For convenience, look for a printer you can use without a PC. Several models let you plug in a memory card from your camera, choose photos, and print them. Some even let you crop, resize, and reduce overnight flight while previewing the results on a little color screen. Various printers also can accept USB flash memory keys, a cable directly from your camera, and/or wireless transmissions over infrared or Bluetooth connections. Two printers that can do most or all of these things are the Epson Stylus Photo R380 $179.99; and the HP Photosmart A516 Compact Photo Printer $99.
3. If a photo is worth printing, it is worth keeping. You want it to last as least as long as a traditional print, so look for a printer that uses "archival" ink. Some inks make photos that last for scores or even hundreds of years without fading when stored or displayed properly. You'll probably have to use the printer manufacturer's recommended photo paper for best image quality and colorfastness, so check its availability and price, too.
4. Make sure that the photo printer you choose uses at least six colors of ink, including photo cyan and photo magenta, instead of just four colors. Photo-specific colors make flesh tones in your photos look more vibrant and realistic. Some more expensive printers use 10 or even 12 colors, including matte black, green, and gray.
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