As printer technology has developed, so too has the diversity of models available. When once it was just black and white dot matrix printers that filled offices and homes, today there are laser, inkjet, gelsprint and multifunction models challenging for consumer attention.

Each printer has its own unique quality. Whilst many share broad similarities, every model from the vast array of manufacturers has a standout feature. The trick though is to work out a basic outline of what you need and slowly work your way towards the colour printer that is perfect for you.

Let’s start with the basics. The two major types of colour printers are laser and inkjet printers. The inkjet uses a liquid ink that is slowly applied to the page in horizontal lines. The image is created by small dots plotted strategically across the page. As it uses liquid ink, it is often slow to dry and may take some time to print full colour pages.

Due to its limitations, the inkjet is commonly used as a personal printer. It is ideal for infrequent use or producing high quality images. They have come on a long way and speeds are constantly improving, so certainly not worth writing off.

However, if you are looking to do major printing jobs or have a number of workstations accessing the device, a laser printer might be the better option. Rather than using liquid ink, which can be smudged and slows the printing process as a result, laser printers use a special dry powder solution. This is applied to the page using the laser, which creates an image based on a magnetically developed blueprint. Complicated stuff, but it does work.

Laser printers can produce full colour pages in around two seconds (on average). Despite the high speed, there is little or no chance of your finished page containing smudges or smears as a result of the ink. As they have been purposefully developed for larger volume jobs, lasers are also extremely cost effective; particularly in the long run.

From the outset you will often pay less for an inkjet printer as compared to the equivalent laser model. This is because the technology is a little more straightforward, whilst the associated consumables are also priced lower than the liquid ink alternative.

However, laser printers come into their own when the ongoing costs are taken into account. Whilst the toner cartridges cost more, they also last significantly longer. This means that you won’t have to splash out for refills or replacements as regularly; therefore, over time, you should see that your costs per print are significantly reduced by using a laser.

Quality differences are largely negligible. In the most part you will have to pay more for whatever type of printer you decide to buy in order to get the very highest levels. Remember that the clarity of an image is defined by the number of dots per inch (dpi) the printer produces; so if this is a significant factor for you, be sure to seek out a high-end laser or inkjet.

In terms of producing photograph quality images regularly, you will need a printer that is equipped to deal with this unique requirement. Photo printers are widely available, with increasingly higher quality and lower prices to boot.

But in all of this, the underlining issue is your requirements. All environments have different printing needs, therefore you have to be able to find a model that is able to satisfy all of yours.

For an office with significant volume and numerous workstations, a Wi-Fi networked laser printer might well offer you the best in convenience and turnover. The ongoing costs will be lower than an inkjet and you will be able to produce huge volumes of printed pages in no time at all.

However, if you are looking for a cost-effective printer with high output quality for low volume offices or your home, an inkjet or even gelsprint colour printer might well provide a better solution. They tend to be more compact, cheaper to buy and run for smaller print loads and are straightforward to maintain.

Author Bio: Derek Rogers is a freelance writer who writes for a number of UK businesses. For a wide range of printers and products by brand, he recommends Printware Ltd, a leading provider of the Epson C1100.

Category: Computers and Technology
Keywords: Colour Printer,Laser Colour Printer,Inkjet Colour Printer,Multifunction Colour Printer,