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Printing Photos at Home vs Using a Print Service
With digital photography, we can take unlimited high quality photos without having to pay for film or development. But for many of us, there is still something special about holding a printed photo in your hands. However, you have choices to make when it comes to printing your digital photos. Here we'll compare printing photos at home versus using an online or local print shop service.
Cost Savings
One of the biggest advantages of printing your own photos is the potential cost savings, especially when printing in higher volumes. Let's compare:
| Print Option | Cost per print |
|---|---|
| At home photo printer (inkjet) | $0.20 - $0.50 |
| Online print service | $0.15 - $0.75 |
| Drug store kiosk | $0.25 - $1.00 |
As you can see, printing at home can be the cheapest option per photo. However, you do have to factor in the upfront cost of the printer, paper and inks.
Print Quality
Modern consumer photo printers can deliver stunningly good results, rivaling or exceeding local print shops. Inkjet printers with 6 or more ink cartridges provide excellent color accuracy and sharpness when using the right paper. Some models even offer borderless printing for a classic look. If print quality is your top priority, be sure to research ink and paper combinations that work well for your printer model.
Convenience
The convenience factor of printing at home can be huge. With your own photo printer, you can print exactly what you want, when you want it. No need to drive to the store or wait for an online order. Just select your images, hit print, and you'll have photos in hand within minutes.
Specialty Prints
While you can print great looking photos at home, most consumer printers are limited in paper sizes, types and finishes. If you want enlarged prints beyond 8.5x11, canvas gallery wraps, metal prints or specialty photo books, a professional print lab is the better choice. Their specialized equipment can offer printing and mounting options that are impossible to match at home.
Volume Printing
If you need to print more than just a few photographs, such as for a party or event, a print service can offer cost savings through volume pricing. But for occasional small batches of prints, you'll probably save by printing them yourself.
As you can see, both at-home and print service options have their advantages. Consider how often you print, desired print quality and types, and your budget to decide if printing your own photos is right for you.
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Choosing the Right Photo Printer for Your Needs
With a wide range of photo printers available, it can be tricky to decide which one best suits your needs. Here are some key factors to consider when shopping for a photo printer:
Print Quality
One of the top priorities is finding a printer that produces the print quality you require. Key factors affecting quality:
- Print resolution - Measured in dots per inch (dpi), the minimum for good quality photo prints is 720x1440 dpi.
- Ink technology - Inkjet printers use various ink formulas from basic dye to more advanced pigment inks. Pigment lasts longer without fading.
- Color accuracy - Using 6 or more ink cartridges provides a wider color gamut and more accurate hues.
Print Speed
Print speed is measured in pages per minute (ppm). For photos, 4x6 prints often range from 15 seconds to 2 minutes each. Consider how quickly you need your prints:
- Standard photo printing = 3-8 ppm
- Event/party printing = 10+ ppm
Connectivity
Choose a printer with the connections you need:
- WiFi - Print wirelessly from phones, tablets, and WiFi-enabled cameras.
- Bluetooth - Direct connection to Bluetooth devices.
- USB - Wired connection to one computer.
- Ethernet - Wired network connection.
- Card slots - Insert SD cards from cameras to print.
Media Flexibility
The printer should support the paper sizes, types, and thicknesses you plan to use:
- Sizes - 4x6, 5x7, 8x10, panoramas, etc.
- Photo paper - Matte, glossy, metallic, etc.
- Alternative media - Canvas, magnets, stickers, etc.
Consider your current and future printing needs, then choose a printer that fits within your budget. Focusing on the features that are most important to you will ensure you select the right photo printer.
Photo Printer Connectivity Options
When shopping for a photo printer, one important consideration is how the printer will connect to your devices for printing. Here we'll look at the main connectivity options available:
WiFi
A WiFi enabled photo printer can connect directly to your home wireless network and print from any device on that network, including:
- Smartphones and tablets
- Laptops
- Desktop PCs
- WiFi-capable cameras
WiFi provides wireless printing convenience without needing cables or adapters. This makes it easy to print from anywhere in your home. One downside is that WiFi printers may be slower than wired connections.
Bluetooth
Bluetooth allows the printer to directly communicate with nearby mobile devices like smartphones and tablets. The pros and cons:
- Pro: Simple pairing process
- Pro: No WiFi network needed
- Con: Typically slower than WiFi
- Con: Limited range, devices must be nearby
USB
A standard USB 2.0 or USB 3.0 port allows a direct wired connection between the printer and a single computer. USB is fast and reliable but limits printing to one device.
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Ethernet
An Ethernet port enables wired connection to a home router using a network cable. This gives reliable network printing speeds without using WiFi. But it lacks wireless convenience and portability.
Card Slots
Many photo printers have slots for inserting memory cards directly from digital cameras. Typical slots include:
- SD card
- Micro SD
- CompactFlash
- Memory Stick
This allows easy direct printing without needing a computer. But the printer typically lacks a screen to select/edit photos.
Consider which connections you need for the devices you plan to print from. Many printers offer a combination like WiFi, Bluetooth, USB and card slots for maximum flexibility.
Key Factors for Quality Photo Prints
When shopping for a photo printer, print quality should be one of your top priorities. Two key factors determine the quality of your printed photos:
Print Resolution
Print resolution is measured in dots per inch (dpi). The higher the dpi, the more dots of ink per inch and the more detailed the image.
- 720x1440 dpi - Minimum for good quality photo printing.
- 5760x1440 dpi - Excellent for crisp, finely detailed photos.
Keep in mind the resolution you need depends on your print sizes. Small 4x6 prints don't require as high dpi as large poster-sized prints.
Ink Technology
Consumer photo printers use either dye-based or pigment-based inks:
- Dye-based ink - Vibrant colors but prone to fading over time.
- Pigment-based ink - Longer lasting and more fade resistant.
Advanced 6 or 8 color ink systems use a combination of both dye and pigment inks to optimize photo printing. Some key technologies include:
- Canon ChromaLife 100+ - 6 dye and pigment inks for 100+ years fade resistance.
- Epson Claria - 6 dye inks for vibrant photos.
- HP Vivera - 5 pigment and dye-based inks.
The combination of high resolution printing, advanced ink technologies and quality photo paper results in stunning, gallery-quality photographic prints from today's home photo printers. When evaluating print quality:
- Look at print resolution measured in maximum dpi.
- Understand the printer's ink technology and ink cartridge configuration.
- Read online reviews showing real world print samples.
Focusing on these print quality factors will help you choose a photo printer capable of producing prints identical to your digital images.
Photo Printer Media Capabilities
When shopping for a photo printer, it's important to consider the types of print media it supports. Consumer photo printers can print not only on basic paper but also on a variety of specialty media to suit different uses and styles.
Paper Sizes
Most home photo printers support common paper sizes like:
- 4x6 inches - Standard photo size
- 5x7 inches
- 8x10 inches
- 8.5x11 inches - Letter size
- 11x14 inches
- 13x19 inches
Options like borderless printing allow bleeding images off the paper edges for a classic look. And some printers support panorama sizes like 4x10 or 5x15 inches to print extended landscape shots.
Paper Types
The printer should also support different paper finishes and surfaces:
- Glossy - Highly reflective, provides vivid colors
- Satin - Subtly glossy finish
- Matte - Flat non-reflective finish
- Metallic - Shiny metallic look
Using paper properly matched to your printer and ink system is vital for optimal print quality and longevity.
Alternative Media
Some printers allow creative printing onto non-paper media like:
- Canvas - Stretched canvas wraps
- Cardstock - Thicker printable cards
- Magnets - Printed fridge magnets
- CD/DVD - Printable discs
This adds unique capabilities for printing photos onto keepsakes, gifts, displays and more. Just double check your printer model supports the media you want to use.
Evaluating the media handling capabilities helps ensure you choose a printer able to print the sizes, types, and thicknesses you require.
Scan Your Old Photos And Documents With Ease
If you have a collection of old photos and documents that you want to digitize, there are many photo scanners available that can help you achieve this task with ease. The following are some tips and recommendations to help you choose the best photo scanner for your needs:
Some of the best photo scanners on the market include the Epson FastFoto FF-680W, the Canon CanoScan LiDE400, and the Epson Perfection V600. These scanners offer high resolutions, easy-to-use software, and a range of features that make scanning your old photos and documents a breeze.
