Inkjet vs. Dye Sublimation Printers

One of the great thrills about digital photography is being able to print one's own photos without the use of a darkroom. There are many different models of printers which are advertised as photo printers. In reality, most color printers are capable of printing photos. What differs is the quality at which those prints are produced and the cost of printing.

Inkjet Printers

Inkjet printers have long been the standard for most personal and a great deal of professional printing. They are very versatile devices and the color models can produce excellent results.

Inkjet photo printers have the advantages of accepting several different sizes of paper, widely available supplies and a fast printing speed. Many photos can be printed from an inkjet printer in a fairly short amount of time.

Inkjet printing quality can be compromised by ink that sticks to the print heads, which can cause flaws in the image. Inkjet printed photos are somewhat notorious for requiring careful handling, as well. The ink tends to smear if handled just after printing. Additionally, most inkjet ink is water soluble. This means that photographs printed on inkjet printers are particularly vulnerable to damage from spills.

Dye Sublimation Printers

Dye sublimation printers are another commonly-used technology for printing photographs. The devices have their own advantages and disadvantages compared to inkjet printers.

Dye sublimation printers tend to render very high-quality prints. The quality is often comparable to what would be produced in a professional darkroom. Dye sublimation uses heat to transfer color to the paper. When the pictures are printed, the ink is dry and there is no risk of smearing. They are also much more resistant to environmental damage from liquids than are inkjet printer photos.

Dye sublimation printers tend to cost much more to operate than do inkjets. Their printing technology uses materials that are consumed much more quickly. Most dye sublimation printers can only print on one size and type of paper, as well, limiting the flexibility of the devices a great deal. Dye sublimation printers produce a negative image when a print is made. For businesses where security is a concern, this can be a problem. These printers usually operate much slower than do inkjets.

If one is a casual photographer and produces images for pleasure, an inkjet offers reliable printing at an affordable cost. Most individuals already know the basic workings of an inkjet printer.

For professionals, dye sublimation has distinct advantages. A dye sublimation printer that prints only 8x10 photographs, for instance, may not be enormously inconvenient for a professional photographer. The higher quality tends to be noticeable immediately when comparing photos side by side and this may be more important to professionals than price.