Buying a new printer is not a burden on the pocket like it used to be. Today, there are many options with great features and prices. In this guide we share with you the key factors to consider when purchasing a printer.
TYPE OF PRINTER
The first thing you need to figure out is what type of printer is capable of fulfilling all of your printing needs.
Laser printers are best suited when you:
- Want to print black and white documents
- Need fast printers with large print capacity
- Do not need gallery-quality photo prints
- Need a printer for an office, since they are large and heavy
- Don’t mind spending more on toner cartridges than ink cartridges. Although expensive, these tend to last much longer than ink cartridges
Inkjet printers are best suited when you:
- Require high-quality images printing since these printers have good tonal variety and are better at blending colors
- Print on a wide variety of paper types− they can print on heat-sensitive paper
- Don’t need to print frequently− these printers are slower and their paper trays will not hold as much
WIRELESS CONNECTIVITY
For a hassle-free printing experience, look out for its connectivity, ask yourself-
- Where are you going to print from?
- Which device will you use for the print?
All printers have wired connectivity and some models also offer Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity. There are machines that support Google Cloud Print and Apple AirPrint. While wireless printers are more flexible, wired printers are a secure and excellent choice for anybody dealing with sensitive information.
PRINTER SIZE
The size of the printer matters and will depend on what image sizes you wish to offer. A wide format printer usually can handle longer and heavier rolls, which can translate into overall media savings. For a small business, a smaller-sized printer would be the right choice.
PRINTING SPEED
Printer speed is measured in PPM (pages per minute). PPM speed differs for text-based pages and images-based pages. It becomes important if you need to achieve a particular amount of output each day or week. Remember that faster print speeds typically mean a decrease in image resolution, so find printers that can achieve faster speeds while retaining resolution.
PRINT QUALITY
The design of the printhead, the driver, and the quality of the ink all affect the print quality. Most importantly, print resolution dictates how vivid, clear, and sharp, the obtained prints are going to be. A printer’s DPI (dots per inch) indicates how accurately a printer can replicate the pixels of a source image. The higher the DPI value, the greater will be the quality of prints.
DUPLEX PRINTING
Printers with the feature of printing on both sides automatically offer a faster and more efficient experience. However, for simple printing needs, you may not need to think about this option. But for complex designs like booklets, getting a printer with this option would be a better choice.
MULTI-FUNCTION PRINTER
Nowadays, there are devices that consolidate the functionality of a printer, copier, scanner, and/or fax into one machine. It is a good way to consolidate assets, reduce costs and improve workflow. They have a much smaller footprint than a separate printer, scanner, copier, and fax machine and are a good option for businesses.
MEDIA HANDLING
Knowing the specific type and size of paper that the printer can support is crucial. While some printers would be better suited for photography, others may be more apt for outdoor signage and short-term graphics. Also, look at a printer’s specifications sheet to find out what paper thickness it can handle. Find a printer that can handle any requirement you come up with!
About CityBlue
CityBlue Technologies is considered one of the most well-rounded solutions for the architectural, engineering, and manufacturing industries. We pair the latest technology with our expert sales staff and our experienced service team to provide our customers with the best possible service. Together with our strategic partners, CityBlue Technologies truly delivers solutions beyond expectations.
