Are you trying to decide between a consumer grade inkjet or laser printer for creative projects at home? We have tested nearly all of our specialty papers on both laser and inkjet printers, so we have lots of experience to share and hopefully make your decision easier.
The main difference between an inkjet and laser printer is the basic printing technology
- Inkjet Printers use wet ink
- Laser Printers use dry toner
Here are some characteristics of each technology to consider and apply to your printing habits
| Inkjet Printer | Laser Printer |
| Uses wet ink | Uses dry toner |
| Smaller initial investment | Larger initial investment |
| Replace ink cartridges often | Toner cartridges last longer but are more expensive |
| Variable drying time depending on printing surface (greater chance of smudging) | Virtually no drying time required |
| Prints beautiful, full color photos when paired with special inkjet photo papers | Best for razor sharp black text – No photo printing |
| Undesirable results when printing on vellum, parchment, metallic, linen, or other textured paper | Sharp and more saturated text when printing on vellum, parchment, metallic, linen, or other textured paper |
Conclusion:
In general, inkjet printers are more versatile because of their ability to print both black and white text and color photos. Although consumer grade laser printers are black and white only, their text printing is superior. Laser printers generally print sharper, more saturated text on a larger variety of paper surfaces.
No matter which printing technology you choose, you will still have to be mindful of the printer’s specifications including the minimum and maximum paper size and paper thickness.
