How to Buy a Photo Printer

Is it worth it to buy a dedicated photo printer?

While full-sized inkjet printers and digital photo printing services may be more attractive ways to turn a digital photo into a traditional print, compact digital photo printers can be handy if you want easy, portable photo printing without a computer. Experts advise considering the following tips when shopping for a dedicated photo printer:

• Check your camera's compatibility. Photos can be transferred from cameras in several ways, but not every printer or camera can use all the options. Most printers can accept memory cards, hook up to a PictBridge-compatible camera and connect to your computer via USB. If you want computer-free printing, be sure to choose a photo printer that's compatible with your camera's memory cards. This is especially important if your camera isn't PictBridge-capable. Some printers can also print from USB drives and/or connect to camera phones wirelessly using Bluetooth technology. Few printers have built-in Bluetooth, but most manufacturers offer optional adaptors.

• Ink and paper costs are high. Manufacturers generally sell paper and ink as a kit that prints a specific number of photos, so you can easily determine the cost per print. Buying ink and paper in larger packs will bring the per-photo cost down. Most of the reviews we found calculate a printer's cost per print based on the listed cost of the ink-and-paper packs. If you prefer matte to glossy prints, be sure matte paper is available for your printer.

• Some are more portable than others. If your printer will just sit on your desk at home, its size and weight aren't so important. If you plan to take it with you to picnics and ball games, however, you'll probably want a fairly small and light printer that can run off a battery. You'll also want to find out how many photos it can print on a single charge.

• Think about what types of photos you print most often. Most snapshot printers can make 4-by-6-inch prints only, but some can handle other sizes. If you want larger prints, a full-sized printer might be a better choice. See our separate report on inkjet printers.

• Compare ink types. Most photo printers use either inkjet or thermal-dye technology, and both types can produce excellent photos. If you plan to go long periods without printing, then a thermal-dye (dye-sublimation) printer is better; it uses ink that doesn't dry up. However, because the paper must pass through a thermal-dye printer four times, these machines tend to be a bit slower than inkjet photo printers. See our related report on printer ink.

• Factor in durability and longevity. Most thermal-dye photo printers apply a clear overcoat, which protects photos from smudges and UV fading. The best inkjet printer prints are water- and smudge-resistant, as well. Manufacturers' claims vary regarding the longevity of their inks, so it pays to read the fine print. Some photos can, in theory, last as long as 200 years under perfect archival conditions.

• Look at the software package. Make sure it's compatible with your computer's operating system and that it has all the editing features you want.

Keep in mind that using an online digital photo printing service is often less expensive than printing your own images, provided you can wait a few days for the prints and don't require full creative control over them. See our report on digital photo printing for more information.