When it comes to making a hard copy of your documents that you have created on your computer, tablet or mobile phone there are a number of different options. You will need to make a small investment in order to be able to print your documents on. There are many different choices out there and depending on your printing needs, you should easily be able to select which device is the best one for you. For Example: If you need a print on cardstock paper then you have to search a specific printer for cardstock or for the regular paper then your options will be completely different.
What types of printers are there?
For the most part, there are two different printing technologies that are available for you to print from whichever device you need to. Both of these technologies have been around for 30+ years and each one of them has their advantages and disadvantages. The tricky part is to figure out which one of the fulfills as many of your needs as possible. Color inkjet printing and laser printing can do many of the same things, but at the same time, there are some things that one or the other cannot do.
Color Inkjet Printing
Color inkjet printing is one of the most versatile of the two types of printing methods and relatively speaking it is also the cheapest for the initial investment. Printing on paper consists of patterns of tiny dots called pixels and the closer these pixels can be put together the crisper and clear the image on the page will look. Inkjet technology uses liquid pigments sprayed through a nozzle on a printhead to create images on a piece of paper.
Depending on the make and model of the printer will determine the specific printhead technology and ink cartridge configuration. However, all of them basically print the same way, a combination of black, yellow, cyan and magenta are used to create the million+ color combinations that are possible when using an inkjet printer to print all of the documents.
Laser Printing (Color and Monochrome)
Laser printing technology is much different from that of an inkjet printer in that it uses a dry powdery compound to create the images on the paper. The whole process starts with a digital file consisting of text, images or a combination of both. The software sends the data to the printer and using the magnetic properties of the powdered toner an image is created.
Using an electric current that is applied to the drum the toner sticks to drum and as the paper is moved through the printer the toner is then transferred to the paper. The paper with the toner on it is moved through the fuser unit which uses a combination of heat and pressure to permanently stick the print to the paper.
Laser printers can either be plain black and white (also referred to as monochrome) or they can be color. The color laser printers use four different color toners cartridges (Black, yellow, cyan, and magenta) just like an inkjet printer does to create the 16 million color combinations that are possible in the full-color spectrum.
How to choose which is best for you
When it comes to deciding what type of printing is best for you there are many things that you might want to consider. Both technologies have a number of advantages and disadvantages associated with them. Also, depending on what brand and model you choose, will make a big difference on what features that a specific printer will come with. This means you will need to do your own research to determine which printer type is best suited for your printing needs.
A good place to start your research would be a list of the advantages and disadvantages of both printing technologies. Below is a list of both the advantages and disadvantages of starting with inkjet printers and followed by laser printers.
Inkjet Printing Advantages and Disadvantages
As with anything there are always going to be good points and bad points for everything worth having. The real struggle is for you to decide what is best for you based on a list of the advantages and disadvantages of each printer type. Then once you decide which one, you then have to figure out which model best fits all of your specific needs. Below is a fairly extensive list of the advantages and disadvantages of the inkjet technology.Pros
1) Smaller size fits easily on a desk
2) Extremely lightweight, highly portable
3) Advanced nozzle technology creates smaller ink droplets
4) Photo quality printing is available on specific model printers
5) Multifunctions are also available on so models
6) Quick-drying ink technology does not require waiting to handle paper after printingCons
1) Printing high-quality photos require the purchase of special photo paper
2) Ink tanks (cartridges) contain relatively small amounts of ink, requiring frequent replacements
3) Ink cartridges can be quite expensive depending on the brand/model
Laser Printing Advantages and Disadvantages
The technology that went into designing the first laser printers came directly as the result of advancing requirements of business printing. This is one of the primary reasons why laser printing is still primarily used by the business world and inkjet printing is mainly used for personal use in homes. Below is a listing of several prominent advantages and disadvantages of using laser printers.Pros
1) Faster printing speeds can be achieved with laser versus inkjet
2) Higher capacity cartridges mean more printing can be done per set of cartridges
3) Laser printers require very little human intervention
4) This technology is relatively quiet as compared to inkjetCons
1) Higher initial acquisition cost of equipment
2) Much large footprint, especially color laser printers
3) Toner cartridges are very pricey as compared to inkjet
In Closing
When it comes to printing there are truly is a vast number of options for you to choose from and knowing as much as you can about the types of printing will make it a lot easier on you to narrow down your search. Hopefully, we have provided you with enough information regarding the differences between inkjet printing and laser printing. This way you will be able to focus more of your attention on which make and model to choose.