Digital Prints

6
Selecting an
Inkjet Printer
Inkjet printers are the output devices of choice for many photographers and traditional and
digital artists. In Chapter 2, I gave a big-picture overview of the main digital printing technologies.
Now, it’s time to dive a little deeper and explore the world of inkjets. Whether it’s
a desktop or a wide-format; if you’re looking for your first printer or ready to trade up; no
matter if you’re planning to self-print or use an outside print service—the more information
you have about inkjet printers, the smarter your decision-making will be.
When you go to the grocery store, you take a list. It’s the same when shopping for an inkjet
printer or an inkjet printmaker. Instead of a list of items, you need to know which questions
to ask. So, rather than giving you a rundown of all the printers with a detailed inventory
of features and specifications (with new printers constantly coming onto the market,
no book can hope to be up-to-date), I’m going to present you with nine important questions
and ways to think about answering them. Add or subtract questions to suit your situation,
then finalize your own list and start shopping! (The printer brands and models I
mention are current as of this writing. For the latest information about inkjet printers,
visit my website DP&I.com (www.dpandi.com).
(See Table 6.1 for a sample inkjet printer comparison using the following nine questions.)
1. Can I Use It to Print…?
The foundation question is: What do you want to do with the printer? It’s best if you have
an understanding of the type of printing you’ll be doing in order to pick the best printer
for the job.
You may even decide that inkjet is not the best solution for you. Looking for “good enough”
quality at a lower cost per print? Consider color laser, especially for multiple copies.