What Type Of Printer Ink Cartridges Are Good For Printing Photographs

2010-03-05

If you're trying to get photo quality prints, you'll need decent printer ink. The standard printer ink cartridges that come with your device might not make the cut when you're printing photographs, and unfortunately, this means that you'll have to do some searching to find the right ink for your printer. Photos are difficult to replicate in good quality, and good print heads, paper, and ink are all necessary components of a well printed picture. Before you start on a photo album or a family project, take a few minutes to look for the best ink that you can find.

Of course, different printers use different types of printer ink, as this is one of the main ways that printing companies make money. A cartridge from one printer will have a completely different design than any other cartridge on the market, and the actual ink on the inside of the printer ink cartridge will also be different. Photo-quality cartridges often have special print heads (in many cases, that is--some modern printers have print heads that are built into the printer itself, although this design can be problematic if the heads become jammed), more durable, high quality ink, and they're usually quite expensive. Nevertheless, you should look for a cartridge that's well reviewed and then try to find the least expensive option on that exact cartridge, as you'll otherwise be risking low quality prints.

The best printer ink cartridge in the world won't help you, however, if you use substandard paper. Paper is, in fact, a major factor in getting a photo-quality print, and you'll need paper that's thick, glossy, and designed to handle the right type of ink. Again, this varies from printer to printer and from manufacturer to manufacturer, but most print companies supply some sort of "glossy" or "photo" cuts that are ideal for photography. As with ink cartridges, you should do some research and read consumer reviews in order to find the best possible option. You can also save money by buying photo paper in bulk--unlike ink cartridges, paper doesn't have an expiration date.

Many generic cartridges are available for photo printing, and occasionally there are some great options, particularly with refillable ink cartridges. As photo-print cartridges can be exceptionally expensive, refillable ink is a viable and inexpensive alternative, and you're unlikely to notice much of a quality drop, provided that you look for refill kits designed specifically for your printer. Read a few customer reviews and print a few test pages with different cartridges. You'll be able to get photo quality prints with the right approach if you're willing to do a bit of research.