How do photocopiers and printers work?

Discover the most frequently asked Copiers and printers questions

How to get the most from photo printers?

The spread of digital cameras has created demand for affordable, high quality photo printers, and the market is increasingly ready to deliver.

Printer manufacturers have stepped up with several advances that make it possible for amateur photographers to print professional quality pictures without spending a fortune. This capability is important for a variety of small businesses including advertising agencies, insurance claims adjusters and real estate agents. The UK market is awash with specialized printers for photos capable of producing professional-quality images at surprisingly low cost. 

Most photo printers use inkjet technology  to achieve the highest possible resolution, and many models allow the user to digitally enhance or correct photos before printing. Multifunction devices even allow you to scan printed photos and touch them up with digital editing software. This is a great way to preserve old pictures that are in the process of deteriorating. All the major printer manufacturers now offer such models including Brother, Canon, Dell, Epson, Fuji, Kodak, and Hewlett Packard.

Essential photo printer features

Features and functions to look for include:

- All-in-one solutions – copying, scanning, faxing

- Borderless printing

- Compact design

- Creative print functions (reduce red-eye, etc)

- High performance ink cartridges – printing uses a lot ink, so check how many images you can expect from each cartridge, including high volume printer ink cartridges

- Broad paper-handling capacity – to print everything from posters to postcards at professional-quality

- Image optimisation and preview – to check your image before it prints

- Touchscreen technology – trade in buttons for fingertip control

- Wi-Fi or Bluetooth technology – for fast downloads and output

- USB 2.0 connectivity and memory card slots

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