Printers have become a necessity, be it at the workplace or home. But, before getting a printer, you should know about different types of printers. Thus, it will help you to learn about the disadvantages and advantages of printers available in the market.
Various printers are available that would suit your budget for the workplace, office or home. From high-end full-colour laser printers to low-cost inkjet photo printers to multifunctional all-in-ones, there is a model appropriate for you.
Let’s check out various printers to help you narrow down your search based on your requirements.
Different Types of Printers and their Uses
While a lot of printers can multitask for a range of simple print jobs, others comes with add-ons. So, let’s get to know them better:
1. Dot Matrix Printers
You may have seen Dot Matrix printers in a medicine shop, any store or other places. It is one of the older computer printers used in different organisations.
Dot Matrix printers use a wire print head or pin to press an ink ribbon against a paper piece. Have you seen paper reams with teat-off perforated holes on the side? These are meant for a dot matrix printer.
Far less common nowadays, dot matrix printers are usually quite reliable and strong. Thus, dot matrix printers are suitable for conditions where you need a large amount of printing regardless of their quality.
Among the different types of printers available in the market, dot matrix printers are popular for surviving in the commercial field. In other words, Dot matrix printers are usable in harsh commercial workspaces where most customer-level printers are incompatible.
2. Dye-sublimation printers
If you are searching for an ideal printer for non-conventional printing substrates, you can choose Dye-sublimation printers. These printers are suitable for printing on water bottles and mugs for retail or brand usage.
Whether you need to make signs and banners or manufacture clothing, dye-sublimation printers offer high-quality and long-lasting print results.
While discussing different types of printers, Dye-sublimation printers come in the top 10 list. Also known as Dye-sub printers, these printers come with specific designs that can print on particular surfaces like plastic.
So, if you want to print colour ID cards, you will need a dye-sublimation printer. Thus, it can run off a large number of ID cards quickly.
The technology used for Dye-sublimation printers embeds the link into the printed item. So, you don’t need to worry about smearing, running or fading ink. In addition, most dye-sublimation primers use thermal printer technology that yields reliable and professional products at any moment.
Dye-sublimation printers are mainly 2 types –
- Professional
- Personal
Personal Dye-sublimation printer
If you want a dye-sublimation printer for personal use, you can choose Canon’s SELPHY CP1300.
The Canon SELPHY CP1300 is best for home photo printing. It is an affordable and compact home dye sublimation printer which is suitable for printing photographs.
This printer can print up to 4”x6” sized photographs and provides a wireless connection. So, you can connect your device to this printer by using wireless connectivity and take an instant print.
Professional Dye-Sublimation Printer
Generally, you will get different types of printers used for professional purposes. But, regarding large commercial usage, professional dye-sub printers are suitable enough.
Whether you run a full-service photo lab, self-service kiosks, or even photo booths, you can choose the HiTi P525L. It is an excellent large-cap dye-sub printer dedicated to printing photographs.
Furthermore, you can make 6”x8”, 5”x7”, and 4”x6” printed in record moments to keep your customer fulfilled.
3. Supertank Filters
While discussing different types of printers, Supertank Printers come under the subcategory of all-in-one and inkjet printers. These printers feature refillable, large ink tanks instead of replaceable ink cartridges.
These printers will be a better option for you since they can fulfil high-volume printing needs. Moreover, if you are aware of the environmental impact caused by countless disposable ink cartridges, choose super tank printers.
Supertanks printers are best fit with any printing app virtually compared to other different types of printers. If you are worried about how frequently you must change out the colour or black-and-white inkjet cartridges, choose super tank printers.
These printers come with printhead nozzles that are permanent rather than replaceable, like conventional inkjet cartridges. So, they were long-lasting. As an effect, they clogged or cut down nozzles and the requirement to diagnose.
Since super tank printers use liquid pigment ink bottles with permanent print heads, the printing cost is much lower. In other words, the cost of per-sheet printing is much smaller than laser toner or conventional disposable ink cartridges.
Though you have to make a higher initial investment, you can decrease the waste involved in office or home printing.
Suitable for large-use workspace
So, if you want to use a super tank printer, you can use the Epson EcoTank Pro ET-5850. It is an excellent super tank printer that sets off busy landscapes. Renewing the internal ink tanks is mess-free, simple and fast. For black ink printing, you can print up to 25 ppm.
4. All-in-one printers
You probably won’t need to search for different types of printers if you have an all-in-one printer. Also known as an all-in-one multifunction printer, this printer mixes the functionality of a scanner, a printer and usually a fax.
It allows you to copy a document, send, receive and save documents on your PC. In addition, you can print them out from your PC, and they are of 2 types – laser and inkjet.
These printers are large in size compared to other printers you use daily. However, they are perfect for a small business or small office, as they take up small space and cost less than an individual scanner, fax, and printer.
All-in-one printers are also a great tool for individuals in any home office. Moreover, these printers are ideal for printing usages such as photo scanning, printing, document printing and copying.
So when you are selecting the best printer for you, it is useful to review the advantages of every printing tech type.
While shopping for an ideal all-in-one printing, check and review the scanning and printing resolution capabilities. Here are examples of all-in-one printers:
- Best for office use: Epson WorkForce Pro WF-7840
- Best for home use: HP DeskJet 3755
5. Inkjet Printers
If you search for different types of printers on the internet, Inkjet printers will come first. These printers are of the right standard for home use or consumer printers. The price of these printers is comparatively low.
Inkjet Printers use liquid ink, which is relatively cheaper to replace. They can make fairly fast monochrome or premium colour prints. These printers are ideal if your printing needs are infrequent or you don’t want premium printing.
Inkjet is the most common among other different types of printers for this reason. Hence, they provide good stability in price, speed and quality.
Inkjet printers provide the greatest range of printing capabilities compared to any other printer type.
Moreover, it can do multiple things:
- Printing photographs on text pages on handmade paper.
- High-resolution printing on photo paper.
- Labelling and iron-on transferring on stickers and paper.
Conclusion
Apart from these different types of printers, you will also see laser printers in xerox shops. These printers use a laser beam for heating a toner element that embeds itself onto the printing paper.
So, you have to choose the perfect printer based on your needs. Moreover, buying your own printer may be worthwhile if you have a lot of printing work.