The Essential Inkjet Buying Guide

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03 September 2001 04:09 PM
Tags: inkjets, photo printers, buying guide, colour, resolution, output

Get top-notch print quality from an inkjet without draining your wallet.

Within the last year, true photo-quality inkjets have stormed the market, accompanied by superior resolution, low prices, and long-lasting inks. Even some professional-quality inkjets are now available at consumer prices. Impressive, under-AU$450 printers now deliver superb photo output.

The best photo printers use six ink colours rather than the usual four, improving quality by making it easier to mix a colour (since more inks are available for mixing). Fewer dots per colour means smaller, less visible dot patterns. A good photo inkjet should also be able to change tone gradually, without visible patterns or jumps in colour or darkness.

When shopping, relise that inkjets often have different resolutions for colour and monochrome. Look for the photo-output resolution. Photo inkjets may be able to make up for a somewhat lower resolution with sophisticated dithering schemes, but the only sure way to rate photo output is to view print samples. If you are unable to do that, consider buying a printer you can return without paying a restocking fee, in case you're not satisfied.

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