PS:

I just realized that are processes that use lasers to expose photograpic media. This of course is used by photographers, but I think the equipment cost is pretty high. This was not what I meant (or--I think--others in the thread) when talking about "laser printers".

The life of a non-trivial (trivial being crap like the HP 1020N) laser printer is an order of magnitude higher than all but commercial grade inkjet printers. Colour versions of good lasers produce excellent photo-grade prints without using ultra-high dpi capability because the colour doesn't bleed the way inkjet colour does.

Laser printing onto photographic paper in my experience (the printer used a 6'x3' drum with large sheets of photo paper rotating about an axis along which a non-digital SLR camera body and lens was used to focus a pinpoint laser) is normally to extremely high-grade photographic paper, and only in black and white because of the way laser light works.

The colour of the laser is irrelevant; colour (and most black and white) laser printing is done onto the outside of a much smaller drum using separate colours of toner, the same way inkjet printers use separate colours of dye (although good inkjets have two distinct blacks - one for photos and one for black and white text) and then transferred and fused to the paper. However, whether done in multiple passes or single-pass with multiple drums and one or more laser diodes per drum, there is no way I am aware of to use a laser directly on photo paper and produce colour. If someone knows different, please speak up because I'd like to know how it's done, too.

Electro > There is a point where multi-function printers cross the line between pretending to be useful and actually being useful. We use a commercial machine, a Ricoh 2232C which is a large multi-function laser printer, scanner, photocopier, fax, etc. and it performs all of these tasks very well. You wouldn't catch me using an HP 6500 though. Office-grade though it may be, it just doesn't compare.

I am fuzzy on how the high-end "laser" prints are made (will go check). My only comment was with respect to consumer-level laser printers based on the toner / heat fusing technology.

You lost me---I have not seen bleeding in any of my ink-jet prints---except maybe if I were to print on plain paper using settings meant for something else.

To paraphrase my earlier comments:

• I have never seen a print from a laser* printer that would match what I do with ink-jet.
• At art shows or galleries, you don't see prints from laser* printers---they are either wet chemistry or inkjet (giclee)
• Stores and on-line dealers catering to photographers don't typical sell laser* printers or supplies for same. They do sell a huge range of inkjet printers and supplies.

*"laser" = the typical toner + heat fusing

Using 3 lasers with colors matched to the paper sensitivity would surely be one way.....

found it:

LightJet. Prints on photographic paper using 3 lasers:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LightJet

Google finds other links with more info. All the hits I've read on professional or artist printing are for inkjet or lightjet.

There are dye-sublimation printers, which are neither inkjet nor laser. They can be capable of producing high quality photos, but I'm not sure about the costs.

Lightjet is still a laser printer.

Following professionals and artist printing habits is OK, but could still print with laser with equal results. Artist prefer going cheap for printers even though some paints and tools are expensive.


All printers works in lines per inch and not dots per inch. Dots per inch is what your imaged has stored as an extra data. Images does not care about dots per inch or lines per inch until you resize them to a larger size and want to print. Printers will translate dots per inch to lines per inch in order to print. A professional printing service knows their printer's LPI, so it is easy for them to make a decision. Consumer grade printers does not tell you this spec, so you have to calculate it your self or call the manufacture to get this spec.

For ink printers, higher dots per inch means you will see less screen effect. This is the same for laser, but it does have a more define dot instead of diffused.

HP laser printers has a crazy feature to make people think they are better, but they can increase quality by squeezing the dots closer and this makes the output look sharper. Some problems that I notice from this algorithm is images will look pinched or too small than the actual size. This does not happen to other brands.

To make the decision even worst is scanning photos. Paper or photographic paper has a low LPI or low DPI, so you are not going to get all the data that the main source has. Digital cameras does not save in DPI and LPI because cameras only saves the resolution. In this case a digital camera dot per inch is 1 to 1. Some programs relates dot per inch for digital camera from whatever DPI or PPI the operating system is set.

I still strongly recommend that you take the photos to a professional for the best output.

If you insist on doing printing your self, go ahead with any printer. I prefer laser printers because of low maintenance.

Okay now for printing my family photos I'm thinking about buying the Epson Stylus Photo 1400 listed here:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16828103195

As for my study/reading material I went to a local church sponsored thrift store and found an HP Laserjet 6P that works very well for $10.00. Tickled to death with it. I dabble in electronics and I was prepared to work on it but all I had to do to it was remove the toner cartridge and shake it a bit to remove a blank streak down the center of the page.
So what do ya'll think of the Epson listed in the link above? My wife and I like the option of up to 13"x19". I didn't see any specs on the print quality but the reviews are very good -- if you throw out the usual dribble about the cost of ink. I don't mind buying ink, the photos are worth it to me. And I don't like taking my stuff to printing companies because I like to have complete control of my work. Years ago when I used a manual Ricoh 35mm SLR I took my film to Eckards for development, they did very good work back then. That was a long time ago. But I digress...

No!!--"Laser Printer" in common usage means toner and heat-fusing. LightJet is totally different process, and is not something the average cansumer would ever buy.

I suppose we will have to agree to disagree---I'll stand by what I have said in this thread already.

If you get photos that you are happy with from a laser printer, then I am happy for you.

You have got to be kidding!! It is the artists who will often buy the really high-end Epson inkjets that print 2- 3 feet wide. A serious artist will buy the absolute best equipment available....

Should be a good choice. It appears to be the successor to the Epson 1280, which was--and still is--one of the standards.

If you really want to figure out the best printer for your exact needs, this is one of the best sites to do your research at:

http://www.allprinterreviews.com/

Seldom applicable but for printers in damp conditions, lasers fare worse than inkjets, probably because of the high voltages involved.

Epson is a great choice to use with linux for picture printing. They have supported Linux for a loooooong time.
If you are going to print a lot of photos then forget the cartridges and get a CIS Continuous Ink Supply also called an External Bulk Supply.

I'm afraid of 3rd party inks. I've heard they can clog. Is there any truth to that? I also don't want to compromise the quality of my prints.

Most inkjets can sometimes clog and there are MANY variables that can affect it.

The only 3rd-party inks I would consider are MIS (inksupply) and Media Street (recently bought out and have a funny new name). I use MIS with good results so far.

When you are just starting out with a new printer, don't bother with 3rd-party inks. If the cost of cartridges does not upset you, then don't EVER bother with 3rd-party...

Most professional photographers use a CIS for the prints they process themselves (those that are on extremely tight time line or that they want the most quality control over). They count on their printers and have almost 0 problems when they use the inks from the CIS manufactures.