Nowadays, majority of the population have transitioned from the film or analog camera to the digital camera. Their main difference is the fact that the digital cameras capture and save the photographs on electronic data storage devices, or memory cards, like Secure Digital (SD) cards and Compact Flash (CF) cards. These digital cameras and memory cards could be connected to the computer to transfer the photographs. Most pictures are uploaded to the Internet, but for those who prefer to have tangible copies of their snapshots, digital photo printers are commercially available and easily purchased for home or office use.

A lot of models of digital photo printers also work without the need to be connected to a PC. With these models, you have to check whether your camera’s memory card is compatible with the media slot built into the printer. You can also look at your digital camera’s propriety cable, typically bundled with your camera, and see if it is connectable to the digital photo printer.

Digital photo printers use two main types of printing technology: dye sublimation and inkjet. Printers using dye sublimation use heat to vaporize and set the dye onto the photo paper’s glossy side; this dye penetrates the surface to produce the photograph. Inkjet printers, on the other hand, use tiny drops of ink to dot the sheet. The inkjet kind of printers is more popular because they are usually multifunctional, with the ability to scan, copy and print not only photographs but also text documents. For more specific photo printing needs, however, it is recommended to use dye sublimation printers because they are optimized for printing photographs with vivid and realistic colors.

Another thing to look for when you are on the hunt for the perfect digital photo printers is the ability to print in higher resolutions. Dye sublimation printers can print 300 dpi (dots per inch) resolution, and inkjet printers can print 1200 to 9600 dpi. Now, you would think that inkjet printers would print better pictures, but remember that the two types are different– a print using dye sublimation in 300 dpi would be the same quality as a 4800 dpi print using inkjet.

Aside from printing technology, you also may want to review other features available between choosing digital photo printers. If you want to be able to bring your printer to parties and reunions to share your photographs on the spot, portability is a very good feature; some printers could be battery-powered. A liquid crystal display (LCD) screen could also be useful for those who would like to edit photos without a camera– you could add timestamps or captions, crop images, remove red-eye, and other adjustments. The printer’s ability to print in multiple sizes is always a good feature; if you need a 6″ x 4″ or a wallet-sized photo, your printer can handle it for you. Since inkjet printers are more popular, the price of its inks and photo paper are usually less expensive. They also are more speedy in printing, if you need to print a large amount of photographs. All in all, there are a lot of choices for the discerning buyer of digital photo printers. Take time to review and assess what you need.

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Category: Computers and Technology
Keywords: digital photo printer, home photo printer