Differences between an inkjet printer and a laser printer and which printer to choose for your home

What is the operating principle of a laser printer?

A laser printer is a complex, high-tech device designed to quickly create a print by heating powdered toner. Explaining its work is quite difficult. In general terms, the principle is as follows: on the surface of the photodrum, a laser beam creates areas with an electromagnetic charge corresponding to the imprint being applied. The dye is attracted to them. Next, the paper is pulled through the shaft using a special mechanism. At this moment, toner is applied to the paper sheet. To ensure that the paint does not crumble, but sticks securely to the page, it is heated to a temperature of 180-200 °C. It is for this reason that a sheet of paper comes out of a laser printer warm.

Features of laser printers

A more attractive option for the office is a laser printer, which allows you to make color and black and white images by using a laser beam and illuminating it using photosensitive elements. The first beginnings of the technology appeared in 1938, and the first progenitor was the Xerox printer, released in 1949.

Design

Structurally, a laser printer consists of a drum unit that transmits the image, a laser unit, a transfer belt, a coroton and a developing unit. In this case, the drum unit, in turn, consists of several elements:

• photo drum;
• magnetic shaft;
• squeegee knife;
• processing hopper.

Toner is used as consumables - powder, with the help of which the image is formed. The main element of inkjet devices is the photodrum, which has a cylindrical shape and is made of metal. It is coated with a special coating with increased sensitivity to light.

Operating principle

The operating algorithm of an inkjet printer is difficult to understand, so we will give only a brief principle. Printing occurs in several stages:

1. Charging the photoconductor.
2. Image transmission using laser and optical mirror system.
3. Change in charge at the point where light hits.
4. Creating an invisible picture.
5. Transferring a certain volume of ink to the magnetic roller during contact with the drum.
6. Placing the sheet under the drum and applying toner.
7. Sending the page to the “thermal” part of the printer to heat it up to a temperature of about 200 degrees Celsius.
8. Fixation of toner under high temperatures and pressure.
9. Sending a sheet with an image to the printer output.

When printing a color image, it occurs in several stages - with the creation of a raster image, transferring the toner to the tape and passing through the “oven” to produce the final image. The process of creating a color picture in this case is more complicated, and printing takes longer.

Does toner affect the environment?

There is an opinion that using a laser printer has a negative impact on health and the environment. It appeared due to the fact that when toner and paper are heated, nitrogen oxide, acetone, formaldehyde and other elements are released. Because of this, people perceive a certain specific smell.

“The toner in the cartridge is a dry, finely dispersed coloring substance (special powder), which is used in a laser printer to create a print. It is made from small granules of various polymers. Comes in black, blue, yellow and purple."

An independent Australian company conducted a study in which they clearly proved that microparticles released by toner do no more harm to the body than passive smoking. Naturally, if a person suffers from allergic or chronic diseases associated with the respiratory tract, then such discharge can somehow affect health. Whereas the evaporation does not have any special effect on other people.

In turn, representatives of the world famous said that using a laser printer is no worse than using a regular household toaster. Essentially, they are right. After all, virtually all household appliances during operation emit various kinds of substances that can have a negative effect on the human body.

To avoid such troubles, you need to learn how to properly operate this or that device. In the case of laser printers, to eliminate their negative impact, simply install the device in a well-ventilated area.

Ink color factor

Let's consider an aspect that may influence finding the answer to the question of what is better - a laser or inkjet printer in relation to the user's tasks. The fact is that the ink and toner used in devices can be color or black and white. But the printer itself can only support some of them. This can be a significant factor in whether you buy a black-and-white laser printer or a color inkjet printer, for example. And that's why.

Many IT specialists believe that the classification of printing devices into “laser” and “inkjet” is not detailed enough. The fact is that both printers can be legitimately divided, in turn, into a large number of subtypes. The basis for the corresponding additional classification will be the color of the ink. Above, we determined how a laser printer differs from an inkjet printer in key points. Now let’s try to study what a more detailed classification of devices within one technological type could be.

What is the operating principle of an inkjet printer?

An inkjet printer is a multifunctional device designed to create high-quality prints on materials of any structure (paper, photo paper, film, fabric, etc.). For everyday printing, pigment, water-soluble, ultrachrome and sublimation inks are used.

“Ink in cartridges is a liquid coloring substance used for printing through the use of inkjet-type office equipment. Characterized by the widest palette of available colors.”

When the print head begins to move, a drop of ink passes through its microscopic nozzles and is absorbed into the top layer of paper or other material. The ink does not emit harmful components, therefore it is considered absolutely safe for health if not ingested. In this regard, it is better to keep bottles with spare ink out of the reach of children.

Features of Inkjet Printers

An inkjet printer is a device that works on the principle of transferring an image onto paper using cartridges filled with special ink. The paint falls onto a sheet of the established format using special nozzles - small holes that are practically invisible to the human eye. For comparison, the thickness of each nozzle is less than a human hair, which causes frequent clogging of the mechanism during prolonged inactivity. The number of nozzles ranges from 12-256 units depending on the model, class, manufacturer and other factors.

Design

Structurally, an inkjet printer consists of the following elements:

• load-bearing base;
• power supply unit;
• paper feeder;
• print head;
• cartridge or continuous ink supply system;
• ink nozzle cleaning device;
• control node.

Design elements may vary slightly depending on the model, but the overall structure is always the same.

What is more profitable to buy: an inkjet or a laser printer?

The minimum cost of conventional printers is virtually the same - it all depends on the specific models and their characteristics. It's better to look at the price range of different types of office equipment created based on inkjet or laser technology:

• Inkjet printers - from 3,000 to 55,000 rubles.
• Laser printers - from 4,000 to 400,000 rubles.
• Inkjet MFPs - from 2,000 to 85,000 rubles.
• Laser MFPs - from 9,000 to 170,000 rubles.
• Inkjet plotters - from 30,000 to 320,000 rubles.
• Laser copiers - from 45,000 to 75,000 rubles.

In the case of multifunctional devices, it is easy to notice a significant difference in the cost of inkjet and laser type devices. But you don’t need to be fooled by the low price of an inkjet MFP. In the long term, using a laser MFP will cost much less, since it is not picky about operating conditions, and also consumes less coloring matter, which results in savings.

Some will rightly note that laser printers require additional costs for consumables, such as a photodrum, photoconductor and other expensive maintenance items. However, all these components have a long service life, and in some models they even come complete with a cartridge. Therefore, there is no need to worry about excessive additional expenses.

Differences between inkjet and laser printers

Today, the two most common types of printers are inkjet and laser (in computer slang, “inkjet printers” and “laser printers”). Let's figure out how they differ from each other.

Jet printer

operating principle is based on the fact that small drops of paint are applied to paper under pressure. The ink can be black or colored (four or six colors in total), it mixes easily and thanks to this you can get a variety of shades, which is good for printing photographs.

If you want to learn more about the design of an inkjet printer, I suggest watching this video:

One of the important disadvantages of the inkjet machine is that you need to print regularly, since if it is idle, the ink can dry out and damage the print head. Forgetfulness can result in repairs costing more than half of the entire device.

Laser printer

The principle of operation of this type : a special powder (toner) is applied using a laser (hence the name) onto a photodrum, printed from it onto paper, and then “melted” to it at a temperature. The quality of text printing is noticeably better than that of its inkjet counterpart, and the cost of printing is lower.

Another video that clearly shows how the laser gun works:

Color toner does not mix well, resulting in color prints that are not photo-quality enough. At the same time, a color laser printer costs one and a half to two times more than a monochrome (black and white) one.

Comparison of inkjet and laser printing

You can describe for a long time the advantages and disadvantages of inkjet and laser printers, but for clarity, I have summarized them for you in a table (exclusive from the IT lessons site). Using this table, you can select the type of device based on your needs.

Comparison table between inkjet and laser printers

A minus sign means that this characteristic is very bad.

One plus – it’s tolerable.

Two pluses - good.

Three pluses - the device copes with this task perfectly.

It turns out that inkjet printers are inexpensive, but photo printing requires high-quality cartridges and photo paper, which in total is not cheap.

Laser printers are initially more expensive, but the cost of each printed sheet is noticeably lower, remember that they are not suitable for printing photographs.

About the cost of printers

A few words about the cost. When you see an inexpensive device with good reviews about print quality, do not rush to buy it. Calculate how much its maintenance will cost:

• Cost of cartridges (original and, for comparison, compatible analogues);
• Cost of refilling cartridges (taking into account the fact that the number of refills is limited);
• The cost of replacing wear parts (various shafts, photoconductors, etc.).

And after that, calculate the cost of printing one page , taking into account the capacity of the cartridges.

It may well turn out that it is easier to throw away some printers and buy new ones than to replace the original cartridges.

Calculate how much you are going to print per year, add the cost of maintenance and compare with the cost of printing in the relevant organization (neighboring Internet club, printing house, photo center, etc.). If it turns out that your device will be 5-10 times more expensive than the services of specialists, then think about canceling the purchase.

Is it possible to save money?

There are two or three ways to save on printing devices:

The first method is to refill the cartridge and reuse it. New ink is poured into the cartridge (new toner is added) and used several more times. You can do this either at the nearest computer company or yourself (but this is a rather dirty job).

It should be taken into account that manufacturers do their best to prevent the refilling of cartridges: they threaten to cancel the warranty, install chips that control filler consumption, but they have successfully learned to bypass all this and by contacting a specialist, you can ultimately save considerable amounts.

The second method is to use non-original cartridges and components (applies to both inkjet and laser printers). All manufacturers are afraid that if you use “unlicensed” consumables, the printer “may fail and you will lose the warranty.”

Yes, often the resource of “compatible analogues” is lower, the print quality can also be worse, but in most cases their use is justified, since the difference in cost can reach tens of times!

The third method applies only to ink jets. You can reduce the cost of printing by using a CISS (continuous ink supply system), but this is a separate conversation.

Do not forget that most printers are sold with cartridges of reduced capacity; when replacing, it will be more profitable to buy a cartridge with increased capacity (3-5 times).

So how do you choose a printer?

Based on all of the above, you already have a general idea of ​​what you need to consider when choosing a printer:

1. Purpose (printing text or photographs, etc.);
2. Selecting the most necessary characteristics (speed, availability of photo printing...);
3. Selecting the type of printer (inkjet or laser) according to the table above in this IT lesson;
4. Estimated maintenance and printing costs for the coming year (including savings).

If you want, I will give an example of a choice based on my printer (write in the comments).

Somehow I went too fast

I wanted to briefly describe printers, but I got confused... it seems like a lot of information to begin with, let's move scanners and MFPs to the next IT lesson ?

Of course, this is only the beginning of the big topic “printers”; we will touch on the topic of printing devices in more detail in IT lessons at a higher level of complexity. If this information interests you, subscribe to the site news so as not to miss useful information.

Author: Sergey Bondarenko

Copying prohibited

Video supplement

As a review, two more videos on the topic of the lesson:

Did you like the lesson? I look forward to your comments, constructive criticism, and advice!

Read the following IT lesson: Lesson 11. Scanners and MFPs for the home

Can I use refilled or compatible cartridges?

Refilling a used cartridge is a good way to save on consumables, especially for inkjet-type devices. Cartridges for laser printers can withstand no more than 5 ink replenishment cycles, while the ink tank can be refilled about 20 times. However, refilling consumables entails a number of negative consequences:

• the manufacturer will automatically void the warranty agreement if it is still valid for your printing device;
• with each new refill cycle, print quality will noticeably decrease;
• the printer will no longer detect the level of ink (relevant for inkjet type);
• a software malfunction of the printer may occur (it can be fixed, but it will take a lot of time);
• the cartridge may begin to crumble if it is not replaced in time, which will lead to damage to the printing device (more important for the laser type).

Looks scary. But if you carefully monitor the operation of the printer, then nothing will happen. But you can save a lot on consumables for office equipment.

As for the use of compatible cartridges, today this is the best way to save money on printing. Such cartridges are 2-3 times cheaper than original ones. At the same time, they are no different from them. They have the same print quality, technical characteristics, and most importantly, they provide the ability to refill. You can buy compatible cartridges for laser and inkjet printers in our online store.

Online store

• Filer:
• What is the difference between laser and inkjet printers?

The main difference is in the printing technology.
A laser printer uses a powder or toner for printing, which is based on wax or similar polymers, on the surface of which there is a metal oxide. Under high temperature and pressure, the “powder” is transferred to paper. But an inkjet printer prints using real liquid ink. If the laser device is available in both black and white and color. That inkjet is always colored. If you compare printers by quality and color range, it is impossible to single out a “winner”. Because each of them has its own “pros” and “cons”.

An inkjet printer can print text, large photographs, graphics, banners and cards in high quality. In terms of the quality of prints, it is comparable to the products of a darkroom. And at the same time it is more economical. However, the image resolution is higher for the laser competitor, due to the fact that inkjet uses ink droplets. Another important point: a laser printer prints text and images on any paper; inkjet printers require special and perfectly flat paper.

In terms of speed, laser devices are much faster than inkjet devices. The average laser printer produces 10-15 pages per minute. The printing speed of its “ink counterpart” depends on the mode and resolution. The fastest model (HP Deskjet 5650) produces 21 sheets per minute in black and white and 15 sheets in color. However, it slows down noticeably when you need to print a high-quality text file or a high-quality photo of a standard size. In addition, a laser printer is designed for high load and has a larger ink loading volume, while an inkjet printer requires frequent replacement of cartridges during intensive use.

If you compare printers by price characteristics, you should consider the following. The initial cost of an inkjet printer is significantly lower than the purchase price of a laser printer. However, servicing the inkjet will cost much more than the operating costs of the laser version. At the same time, the price of a black-and-white laser printer print is lower than the price of an inkjet print. But at the same time, its price is lower than the price of a color laser printer print.

In addition to all of the above, laser printers can connect not only to a computer, but also to a local network. What is not allowed for inkjet. But at the same time, the former are larger in volume than the latter. Therefore, ink jets are more suitable for home and small offices.

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What type of printer has high print speed?

The speed of office equipment primarily depends on the specific model of the device, the volume and quality of printing. On average, an inkjet printer can print about 12 ppm. While a laser-type device creates more than 20 pages of prints per minute. The difference is, of course, noticeable, especially if you need to print a large amount of materials every day. But for periodic printing, it is more rational to buy an inkjet MFP. The fact is that a laser printer takes a long time to turn on. While it turns on, the inkjet machine will have time to create several prints (up to 5 pages).

Laser printing

A laser printer uses a polymer powder material - toner. The laser uses an electrostatic charge to form an image on a photodrum or photoroller. The toner adheres to the latter, is heated until it melts, and is then transferred to the paper by pressing. During printing, it emits ozone, nitrogen oxides, other harmful substances and ultraviolet radiation. A laser printer is more expensive than an inkjet printer.

• The cost per page of text is usually slightly higher than that of inkjet - here you need to compare for specific devices, taking into account the cost of consumables. But with large volumes the situation changes.
• Color print quality is only suitable for printing graphs and charts. Toner is difficult to mix, so a powder printer is not suitable for printing photos.
• High printing speed – the laser beam moves orders of magnitude faster from the print head of the cartridge.
• The laser provides increased image clarity.
• Requires more electricity spent on heating thermoelements.
• Due to the high peak voltage, most UPSs do not work.
• Usually do not work with deformed paper (crumpled, curled edges).
• High cost of toner cartridge.
• The durability of the applied toner - it does not fade in the light, does not smudge and lasts quite a long time.

Which printer, laser or inkjet, is better for home use? – determine for yourself, guided by the disadvantages, advantages and features. For a small business, office, constant printing in large volumes, photocopying, a laser printer is better. For periodic printing of abstracts, articles from the Internet, laboratory and coursework, an inkjet printer is suitable, especially if you have a limited budget for purchasing a device. CISS will simplify device maintenance and make printing more profitable.

What type of office equipment is best for printing photos?

Laser office equipment was originally developed for the purpose of quickly printing business documents. Undoubtedly, modern devices are designed for printing color images and photographs. But the quality of these prints is far from ideal. The maximum resolution available to laser printers is 2400 dpi. Such materials can only be used for reports, advertising and product demonstrations. In turn, inkjet printers are capable of printing materials at a resolution of 5760 dpi and higher. In addition, laser printers use a maximum of four cartridges, but inkjet MFPs can have more than 12 consumables. Thanks to this, the device that uses ink is able to more accurately display the color component of the printed material.

Laser

A laser printer is a printing device that uses a special powder to print text and graphics onto paper. It is also called toner. It is quite toxic because it is made from petroleum. The essence of laser printing is to apply toner to paper according to a given algorithm using lasers and heating the powder to high temperatures inside the device.

Laser printing algorithm:

1. Using a laser and mirrors, the image from the computer is transferred to the photodrum. A picture is drawn of charges different from those on the photocell.
2. The magnetic roller applies toner to the entire surface of the photo roller, but it remains only in places where the beam has changed the type of charge.
3. The cleaning blade removes excess powder into the waste hopper.
4. At the same time, a powder image is applied to the moving paper from the drum.
5. In the printer oven it is instantly baked onto the sheet at high temperature.

Powder laser photo printers are often confused with inkjet printers. They can indeed print color pictures and photographs, but the quality of such printing leaves much to be desired. Refilling color cartridges is comparatively more expensive than inkjet cartridges.

LED and thermal printers can compete with laser printers for photo printing. Their only disadvantage is the high cost of purchase, consumables, repairs and maintenance.

Which type of MFP is better?

A multifunctional device (MFP) is a complex office equipment that can perform the functions of a printer, scanner, copier and fax machine. The combination of these functions makes printing equipment more practical and comfortable to use. If we talk about which type of MFP is better, then it all depends on your needs. But in general, laser multifunction devices are a little more convenient, reliable and productive than inkjet MFPs. It is also worth noting that the functionality of many laser MFPs can be expanded due to the fact that they can optionally be connected to various devices. Therefore, if necessary, a small printer can be easily converted into a large office printing machine.

What is a CISS printer?

A CISS printer is a multifunctional inkjet-type printing device that uses a continuous ink supply system. Compared to conventional string MFPs, these devices are characterized by a large supply of ink and low cost per print. Printers with CISS appeared relatively recently. In terms of their technical characteristics, they are almost close to the level of laser office equipment, but they are still inferior to them in terms of printing speed and cost per print. But the print quality, as always, is at the highest level.

Features, pros and cons of each

On a laser device, the surface of the drum is charged with a plus sign, and the coloring powder spills out of the cartridge during rotation, focusing on the plus points - as a result, the desired pattern is created. Then a quick, specific treatment fixes it to paper.

Advantages:

• low cost per printed page;
• high speed of drawing;
• you can print voluminous text materials;
• not afraid of increased loads;
• no need to refill cartridges frequently;
• prints are resistant to moisture;
• Prints on any paper without loss of quality.

Negative qualities:

• very high cost;
• high energy consumption;
• Cartridges cannot be refilled at home;
• Toner is very harmful to health, you need to ventilate the room after printing.

The inkjet counterpart uses an ink head instead of needles, like a matrix printer, and the image is created using a set of dots.

Advantages:

• low price compared to the laser option;
• low electrical energy consumption - more than 10 times;
• all models are equipped with a card reader that allows printing directly from the camera, without a PC, and some models can receive images via Wi-Fi;
• excellent color printing quality;
• supports various digital media;
• ink is not harmful to health;
• wide range of models;
• compact sizes.

Minuses:

• high cost of printing each page;
• frequent replacement of cartridges during intensive use;
• it is necessary to use the device frequently, otherwise the ink will dry out;
• quite high sensitivity to print settings and the quality of paper used;
• slow speed;
• If exposed to moisture, the printed material will be damaged.

Based on the data provided, each user decides for himself which office equipment to buy for his needs.

What to choose: inkjet or laser printer?

To summarize, it is worth noting that each type of office equipment has both advantages and disadvantages. Laser printers have excellent performance, low cost per print, and long service life. But they are not capable of producing the highest quality prints. Therefore, such devices are better suited for printing text materials and various office documentation. Laser printers are most often used in copy centers, printing houses, large offices, educational and government institutions. As for inkjet printing devices, their characteristics cannot impress with good performance. However, for printing clear, bright, and most importantly rich images and photographs, you clearly cannot find better devices. Basically, inkjet MFPs are chosen for the home or photo studio. The choice of a specific printer model depends on the user's preferences.

Color printing - what products are needed for it

Here, inkjet printing devices with CISS are undoubtedly the leaders; laser analogues in price and photo printing are far behind. If you are looking for a printer to print color photographs, simple text, so that the price is low, then you should choose the inkjet option, because in matters of color rendering it has no equal.

To really save on very expensive ink, install CISS, after which you can safely print any documents and color photos. The Epson XP-420 MFP is suitable for working at home with text documents, and the multifunctional XP-620 model is ideal for photo prints.

The Epson WorkForce WF-7610 or WF-7110 MFP with a maximum print format of A3+ is suitable for office work. For professional photographers, the Epson 1500W, Stylus Photo R2000 or R3000 models are needed.