{"id":16439,"date":"2016-03-24T17:39:10","date_gmt":"2016-03-24T17:39:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tonergiant.co.uk\/blog\/?page_id=16439"},"modified":"2025-02-28T13:25:16","modified_gmt":"2025-02-28T13:25:16","slug":"inkjet-printer-guide","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.tonergiant.co.uk\/blog\/buying-guide\/buying-guide-types-of-printer\/inkjet-printer-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"Inkjet Printer Buying Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"

Since first penetrating the market, inkjet printers have risen to become the most widely-used type of printer available, with both domestic and business users relying on an inkjet machine for their day-to-day printing needs. And with excellent print clarity, accurate colour reproduction, and an affordable initial purchase price, it isn\u2019t hard to see why the inkjet has retained its title as the king among printers for over 20 years.<\/p>\n

Naturally though, the inkjet does have its downsides, so before you hand over cold hard cash and invest in one, it\u2019s important to weigh up the pros and cons. By considering the advantages and disadvantages of inkjet printers, and comparing these to other printer types, you\u2019ll be better placed to determine whether this type of printer<\/a> is exactly right for your specific requirements.<\/p>\n

Before we get into the pros and cons of inkjet printers, however, we\u2019d like to cover exactly how they work and the type of technology used in the inkjet printing process \u2014 so let\u2019s get to it.<\/p>\n

How Inkjet Printers Work<\/h3>\n

During the inkjet printing process, thousands of microscopic droplets of ink are fired through a series of jets in the print head at extremely high speed, ultimately forming the image on the page. Despite the huge volume of ink drops being simultaneously applied to the paper, this process is highly accurate, with the average inkjet operating at 300 dpi able to accurately apply 2,475 dots in 1\/5000th of a second to the page.<\/p>\n

Not only does this \u2018drop on demand\u2019 (DOD) system afford fast printing speeds, it makes for highly detailed and rich images on the page, particularly when printing full colour photographs. Predominantly inkjet machines utilise two types of the DOD model: piezoelectric DOD and thermal DOD.<\/p>\n

Piezoelectric DOD uses a small voltage inside the cartridge chamber to stimulate a special conductive material, causing it to pulse and subsequently propel the droplets of ink out of the cartridge towards the print head.<\/p>\n

Thermal DOD on the other hand uses a heated element that warms the ink, causing it to vaporise. The resulting bubbles create pressure in the cartridge chamber, forcing the liquid ink towards the print head and jet nozzles.<\/p>\n

With us so far? We hope so. Now that we\u2019ve covered how inkjet printers work, it\u2019s time to go over their advantages and disadvantages<\/p>\n

\"inkjet-printer\"<\/h3>\n

The Advantages of Inkjet Printing<\/h3>\n

As touched on previously, inkjet printers have a number of advantages, all of which we\u2019ve covered below to demonstrate what you can expect when purchasing an inkjet machine.<\/p>\n

They\u2019re Affordable to Buy<\/h4>\n

Given the vast number of manufacturers, inkjet technology has become incredibly affordable in recent years, with some models boasting a sub-\u00a330 RRP. Even if you want a more advanced model with a comprehensive range of features, it\u2019s still easy to spend under \u00a3200 on a top quality inkjet machine.<\/p>\n

They\u2019re Easy to Use<\/h4>\n

One of the biggest advantages of an inkjet printer \u2014 particularly for domestic users \u2014 is their simplicity of use. From the minute you open the box, load the cartridge and print your first document, you won\u2019t be hampered by anything super technical, leaving you free to enjoy simple and easy everyday printing.<\/p>\n

They Don\u2019t Need to Warm Up<\/h4>\n

Unlike some types of printer<\/a>, which require a few minutes to warm up and ready themselves before issuing your printout, inkjets are quick off the line. Depending on the model you choose, you can expect a first page speed of around 5-10 seconds \u2014 making the inkjet a great choice for those on the go.<\/p>\n

They Print Great Photographs<\/h4>\n

If you plan to print lots of coloured photographs or graphics, go with an inkjet machine. While laser machines have got better at producing detailed images in recent times, they can\u2019t yet compete with the accuracy, clarity and depth afforded by inkjets.<\/p>\n

\"Big<\/a><\/p>\n

They Can Print on Any Type of Paper<\/h4>\n

Thick, glossy or matt \u2014 you name a paper type, and an inkjet will be able to print on it. This flexibility makes them perfect for arts, crafts and other creative practitioners who regularly need to print on different surfaces and textures.<\/p>\n

The Disadvantages of Inkjet Printing<\/h4>\n

Unfortunately it\u2019s not all good news for the inkjet printer. Here, we go over the downsides of this printing technology to help you make a more informed decision on the type of machine that\u2019s right for you.<\/p>\n

Their Cartridges Can Dry Up<\/h4>\n

If you use your inkjet printer infrequently, you might find its ink supply dries up between uses, something which can lead to blockages and other internal printing issues. Because ink is held in a liquid state within the cartridge, it gradually evaporates when exposed to the air.<\/p>\n

They Can Smear and Smudge<\/h4>\n

For a minute or so after printing from an inkjet printer, you\u2019ll need to be careful with how you handle the document. This is because the ink may be still wet on the page, and smudging, smears and blemishes can occur if the paper is handled incorrectly.<\/p>\n

They Can Cause Paper Warping<\/h4>\n

Given that inkjets use liquid ink, the droplets can cause the paper to warp or distort when the wet ink is applied. This tends to occur when printing images on thin, low quality paper \u2014 necessitating the need for higher quality, more expensive papers to be used with an inkjet machine.<\/p>\n

After assessing the pros and cons you’ve decided an inkjet printer is the machine for you, click here<\/a> to view our complete range of inkjet printers from a selection of popular manufacturers.<\/p>\n<\/span>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Since first penetrating the market, inkjet printers have risen to become the most widely-used type of printer available, with both domestic and business users relying on an inkjet machine for their day-to-day printing needs. And with excellent print clarity, accurate colour reproduction, and an affordable initial purchase price, it isn\u2019t hard to see why the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"parent":15788,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[150],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-16439","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry","category-how-to-tips"],"yoast_head":"\nInkjet Printer Buying Guide - Toner Giant<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"A guide to buying your next inkjet printer\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tonergiant.co.uk\/buying-guide\/types-of-printer\/inkjet-printer-guide\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Inkjet Printer Buying Guide - 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