Nowadays printers have become a necessary tool for our professional and personal life. There are many types of printers available in the market. So, It’s important to choose the right printer to print the images, documents you need.
Today we will discuss different types of printers from regular document printers to 3D printers and t-shirt printers also. The printers we’ll cover include –
- InkJet Printer
- InkTank Printer
- Laser Printer
- Dot Matrix Printer
- LED Printer
- 3D Printer
- Sublimation Printer
- DTG Printer
- DTF Printer
1. Inkjet Printer
This handy printer is one of the most common printer. It is basically used in homes or small offices. It is a budget-friendly printer. You can print everything from simple documents to high-quality photos. However, the price of the inkjet printer is low, but it can be costly in long-term use due to the high price of ink cartridges.
Normally the print speed of an inject printer is 8-12 pages per minute (ppm) for black and white, and 4-8 ppm for color. The resolution of this printer is usually around 600 x 1200 dpi (dots per inch). It’s suitable for general document printing . Common connectivity options include USB and Wi-Fi allowing easy printing from computers, smartphones, and tablets.
For those on a budget, inkjet printers are the best option. These are great if you frequently print photos, graphics, or color documents. Like a few pages a week to a couple of hundred pages a month, an inkjet printer is a good choice.
2. InkTank Printer
This printer is modified version of Inkjet printer. This printer is almost similar to inkjet printer but it use refillable ink tanks instead of cartridges. The advantage of this printer is their no hassle of buying and replacing cartridges every few weeks. Just open the tank and pour the ink from the bottle.
This printer can print 10-15 black and white pages per minute, and 5-10 color pages. This printer resolution is normally 1200 x 2400 dpi, suitable for both standard documents and high-quality photos. InkTank printers come with Wi-Fi or Ethernet so you can easily connect them with smartphones and tablets.
InkTank printers have a higher cost compared to InkJet printer, But they save you a lot of money in the long run. This printer is great for anyone who prints a lot, whether it’s for home or a small business. So if you print very frequently then definitely this printer is worth considering.
3. Laser Printer
This is most used printer in offices and printing shops.
Laser printers are faster than inkjet printers, so printing shops and businesses use this printer as they need to produce documents quickly. And the printing cost of this printer is lower than the both of InkJet and InkTank printers.
Laser printers use toner instead of ink. It can handle heavy workload. Laser printers can print 20-40 pages per minute (ppm) and even more in higher end models. The resolution of laser printers normally 1200 x 1200 dpi. That can deliver clear and detailed text.
If you print very frequently and need fast printing with low ongoing costs, and if you only need black and white print then a laser printer is perfect for you.
4. Dot Matrix Printer
Dot Matrix printer was introduced in 1970. This printer was widely used earlier but is not used much today. This printer is normally used to print long documents or forms like invoices, bills and receipts especially for industrial or business use.
Dot matrix printers can print between 200 and 600 characters per second, depending on the pin model. This printer is available in two pin models 9-pin and 24-pin. The 9 pin model prints faster and the 24 pin model focuses on quality but has a slightly slower printing speed.
If you have to print invoices, receipt etc for your business or restaurant and have a high demand of printing then you can buy this one. Dot Matrix Printer can handle heavy workload and It costs much less in long time use.
5. Led Printer
Led printers are similar to laser printers, but they use led arrays instead of lasers. With fewer moving parts, they can print faster. So it’s a best choice for businesses that need to print documents quickly.
LED printers use the same toner as Laser printers. They can print at the same speed as a laser printer and almost similar resolution.
If you need to print fast, high volume and looking for reliable performance then the LED printer is great one.
6. 3D Printer
3D printers can create three-dimensional objects by layering materials. It is widely used in industries and design studios. This printer is mainly used by engineers when they need to create 3D models, prototypes or custom parts.
3D printers use plastic, resin, or metal filament. You can make complex designs with it. Depending on the model, 3D printers can produce complex 3D models within hours.
If you need to create 3D models or prototypes, Or you are an engineer who needs to create custom 3D parts and models then you buy it.
7. Sublimation Printer
Sublimation printers are mainly used for t-shirt printing. But it can print on different materials like fabrics and ceramics. You can print high-quality designs, text’s and images on t-shirts with this printer.
You can’t print directly on t-shirts with Sublimation printer. At first you have to print the design on a heat transfer paper using sublimation inks. Then place the paper on the t-shirt and apply heat with a heat press machine. This heat will turn the sublimation ink into a gas and bond with the fabric.
With this printer you can print on polyester fabrics but it cannot print in cotton, and it only prints on white or light-colored materials. So, If you want to print complex designs on a budget and only use white fabrics, a sublimation printer is best for you.
8. DTG (Direct-to-Garment) Printer
DTG printers can print directly on fabric so they are very popular in the clothing industry. This printer is mainly used by big clothing brands and custom t-shirt business to print detailed designs on fabric.
DTG printers use water based pigment inks to print directly on fabric. With this printer you can print directly on fabric without any hassle.
If you want to print on both dark and light color fabrics and need to print on high quantity , a DTG printer is a great option for your needs.
9. DTF (Direct-to-Film) Printer
DTF printers are normally used to print t-shirts, but they can also print on other items like mugs, capes etc. DTF printers can print on both cotton and polyester.
DTF printers cannot print directly on fabric. At first you have to print your design on a special PET film paper. After printing onto the paper you have to apply an adhesive powder to the wet ink, this ensures that the design will stick to the fabric during transfer. Then you have to hit the film so that the powder melts and mixes with the ink. After giving the hit, you’ve to put the film paper onto the fabric and have to give it a hit to transfer the design.
With DTF printers you can print on both cotton and polyester fabrics, and it also prints on black fabric. So if you need to print on every type of fabrics you can go with DTF printer.
Conclusion
Whether a printer is right for you depends on what you use it for. Inkjet printers are best for printing photos and for home use and if you need a lot of color print then you can go for inktank printer. For those who need high amounts of black and white prints, there is no alternative to laser printers. Specialty printers like 3D, Sublimation, DTG and DTF printers are for businesses and creative minded people.