How does a laser printer differ from an inkjet printer? Advantages of laser and inkjet printer

The printer is one of the most necessary devices for a modern user. These devices are released in a wide range of technological types. What is the difference between a laser and an inkjet printer? In which cases it may be preferable to purchase a matrix device? What are the main criteria for comparing printers' performance?

Differences in technology

The key aspect of what a laser printer differs from an inkjet printer is the printing technology. In the devices of the first type, two main elements of influence on the paper are used. It is a laser - a high-temperature light beam, and also a toner - a powdery one, consisting of very small solid dye particles. In turn, inkjet printers use other basic elements: it is a dosing type printhead, and ink, which, unlike powdered toner, is usually liquid. Note - most IT specialists consider it not entirely correct to wonder whether a laser or inkjet color printer is better. Both have advantages and disadvantages. They are just different.

That's why one of the key criteria that determines what a laser printer is different from an inkjet printer is its adaptability to user-specific tasks. And therefore, in our article, we will try not so much to determine the advantages and disadvantages of each type of device, how much to find out how much one or the other is optimal in the aspect of the intended assignment.

Technology Features

Let's consider in more detail how the process of printing on devices of different types is carried out in a technological aspect. This will allow us to more clearly compare the inkjet and laser printer, and also to understand which tasks the first or second is optimal for. So, first the technology of laser printing.

As we already noted above, laser and toner are used. This powdery substance is applied to the paper, then immediately heats up the light flux, which changes the color or shade.

The peculiarity of laser printing technology (if we talk about its domestic implementation, and not industrial) is that the range of scatter of toner particles is quite high. As a result, when reproducing digital images on paper, their quality is not the most ideal. That's why laser printers are not too good for printing pictures and photos. But they are ideal for printing texts, tables, graphs.

In inkjet printer, as we have already said, ink is used. The principle of their application to paper in general is similar to the process of painting the canvas with a brush. The image on the inkjet printer is line-by-line.

There is no chemical effect on the ink - getting on paper, they, like paint, simply have to dry up. In many printers this process is accelerated by heating mechanisms.

This technological aspect allows to effectively use inkjet devices just for printing pictures and photos. The depth of color and the overall quality of the images obtained on paper are, as a rule, significantly higher than with the use of laser technology.

Ink color factor

Consider an aspect that may affect the finding of an answer to the question of what is best - a laser or inkjet printer in relation to the tasks of the user. The fact is that the ink and toner used in the device can be colored or black and white. But the printer itself can only support one of them. This can be a significant factor in what to buy - for example, a black and white laser or inkjet color printer. And that's why.

Many IT experts believe that the classification of printers for "laser" and "inkjet" is not detailed enough. The fact is that both these and other printers can legitimately subdivide, in turn, into a large number of subtypes. The basis for the corresponding additional classification is the color of the ink. Above we determined what distinguishes the laser from an inkjet printer in key moments. Now let's try to study what a more detailed classification of devices can be in a single technological type.

Printer and cartridges

Determine first of all what a cartridge is. This is the primary printing element of the printer. It is with the help of the cartridge that the toner is sprayed or the ink is applied to the paper. This element is almost always removable and replaceable.

In many cases, it is the cartridges that determine the color of the print, not the printers themselves. But this is not always the case - we will see why later.

Black and white and color laser printers

There are black and white laser printers. In them, as a rule, a single type of cartridge can be installed. He is able to print text and images with the help of black and white toner particles. Which, lining up in a certain sequence, can also form one of the shades of gray - using this feature, in particular, printers print photos and pictures.

Note: most models of laser devices for home use - in particular those that are in the budget price segment - refer specifically to those that support only black and white cartridges. They can print any type of text and pictures, but on paper they will look in the appropriate colors or in shades of gray.

There are laser printers that can work with color toner cartridges. But they are much more expensive than black and white. Technologically, they are printed in the same way - with the help of light and toner. But in this case, the color of photos and pictures on paper will correspond to the original tones that are present in the digital image format. In some cases, printers that can work with color cartridges can be compatible with the corresponding black-and-white type printers. But this compatibility is rare.

Note also that color cartridges are technologically arranged so that they can also print in black and white shades. Therefore, if the printer supports them, then the pictures on it can be printed in virtually any color. The only question is whether the user wants to overpay for a more universal type of device. And here again everything depends on the specifics of the tasks being solved. If you want to print mostly text - it's not necessary to overpay for a color laser printer.

Above we noted that in some cases it is the cartridge that determines the color of the print. That is why it is not always correct to call the printer itself "color" or "black and white". It is better to attribute the appropriate type to the cartridge only. However, as we have defined above, laser printers that support only black and white printing elements are usually incompatible with color printers. And because they are quite acceptable to call black and white. The same is true for color printers.

Black and white and color cartridges in inkjet printers

Just note the feature - very rarely there are inkjet printers that are compatible only with black and white or exclusively with color cartridges. Typically, these devices support both types of printing elements. Moreover, as with laser printers, a color inkjet cartridge can draw black and white text and images on paper. What is the advisability of using individual color or black and white ink cartridges in inkjet printers? Again, we fix the fact that reflects the dependence of the expediency of using a device of a particular type from the tasks performed by the user. If one of them is printing of predominantly black and white text and pictures, it is worth buying a cartridge of the appropriate type. The same pattern applies to the color financial element.

Note, since we touched on the corresponding aspect above with respect to laser devices, that using the phrase "black and white inkjet printer" or "color" is not quite correct. Since almost all modern devices of this type are compatible with both types of printing elements. "Color" or "black and white" in inkjet printers correctly call only the cartridge. But this rule is not always observed in informal conversations, even with the participation of IT specialists. The fact that the inkjet printer is universal, and it's incorrect to call it "color" or "black and white."

Studying the properties of inkjet and laser printer in relation to the types of cartridges used, we somehow affected the economic criterion. We determined that when printing predominantly colored texts and images, it is worthwhile to use a cartridge of the appropriate type. And in the case of laser printers - buy a compatible device and do not overpay for the fact that it supports color printing. However, we have studied only one side of the economic criterion. It will be useful to compare the inkjet and laser printer in relation to it in more detail.

The economic criterion

Above we noted that laser printers are especially good for printing texts, chart tables. How well can inkjet printers handle this task? In principle, not bad. And in nothing in this component is not inferior to laser samples. But why is it highly recommended that specialists not use inkjet devices if the main task of the user is to print texts? The answer is simple - it is unprofitable. If we consider the key advantages of a laser printer in front of an inkjet printer, then the very first in their rating is likely to be profitability. Toner, regardless of the purpose of its use - printing texts, pictures, or anything else - carries a much larger resource than ink.

Another advantage of the laser device - and it is also of an economic nature - is the better compatibility of the cartridges installed in them, with the procedures for refilling. This is the main printing element of the printer. It is the cartridge, as we said above, that sprays the same toner, it is the most technologically complex and expensive component of the device. Many printer manufacturers try to design these hardware components so that after the toner runs out, the device owner must buy a new sample. Although, from a technological point of view, the cartridges are designed so that they can be completely added to new print materials instead of those that end.

There is a fairly steady trend: printer manufacturers are very reluctant to make the cartridges refilled. This is understandable - this approach is unprofitable for them. But there is another trend: even more manufacturers do not like to do refillable cartridges specifically for inkjet printers. If you try to fill new ink in the appropriate printing element, it simply refuses to work. In this respect, manufacturers are much more loyal to laser devices. You can refresh cartridges for most printers of the appropriate type.

Nuances of calculating benefits

Let's consider a simple example, which will clearly show what a laser printer differs from an inkjet printer in the economic aspect.

The cost of a budget-friendly, but good-quality inkjet printer model now amounts to 5-6 thousand rubles (after a rise in price, due to the dollar exchange rate, it was earlier 1.5-2 times cheaper).

Laser, as we have determined, there are two types - those that support only black and white cartridges, and those that are compatible with color. The first cost 7-8 thousand. The second - much more expensive, about 15-20 thousand.

Yes, of course, at the stage of "initial investment" the jet version looks preferable. But much depends on the price policy of a particular dealer, which is again tied to the ruble exchange rate. It may well be that at some points in time, the dealer and the representative of the inkjet and laser printer under any brand will consider it expedient to dramatically increase or decrease the price of the devices in the catalogs.

However, we calculate further.

Resource "factory" cartridge for inkjet printer - approximately 25-30 photos of standard size, or 300-400 pages of text in small font. What are the indicators for a laser cartridge? Many times higher. This is about 100-150 images and 1000-1200 pages of text. To this we add the fact that after the ink is out of ink in the ink-jet printer, it is most likely that you will have to change the cartridge. It costs about 400-500 rubles. Thus, the cost of maintaining an inkjet printer may soon exceed the difference in the amount of "initial investment". At least, in the correlation of costs between the jet device and black and white laser.

Thus, if there is a question as to which is better to buy an inkjet or laser printer in the economic aspect, the second option is more likely to be preferable. However, we do not forget that the quality of pictures and photos printed with devices of this type is much lower. And therefore, when comparing the inkjet and laser printer on the price parameter, you need to know what kind of tasks will be performed on the device. If it is supposed to print mostly texts - you can safely buy a laser device. If the pictures - most likely, the inkjet version will do more. It, quite possibly, will be somewhat more profitable than a laser printer that supports a color printout due to the high price of the latter.

Of course, there are examples of laser printers that are capable, due to technological features, to print excellent image quality. However, they do not belong to the custom class. Technological properties of inkjet and laser printer used at home, as well as the principles of their operation are extremely simple in comparison with those typical for the devices in question - oriented to professional digital studios and printers. They are worth several times more expensive than the devices of the category we are considering. It is advisable to purchase them if the subsequent commercial payback is expected. Which can only be achieved if you turn printing photos into a separate business. The profitability of which, incidentally, is not the highest in recent years.

Matrix printers

Above we tried to answer the question of which - inkjet or laser - the printer is better suited for solving certain tasks. However, it will be useful to supplement our little research with information about another noteworthy type of device. Once very popular, but now considered obsolete. It's about dot matrix printers. What are they?

If you study the technological side, then the matrix printers are closer to inkjet than laser. They print also applying ink to the paper. The laser and toner are not used in them. But the structure of the print head they have is completely different than inkjet printers: it builds a picture or text on paper in the form of a matrix. While in the jet devices, as we already noted above - line by line.

Despite the fact that technologically matrix printers are closer to inkjets, the field of their application is more compatible with the tasks that are typical for the use of laser devices. That is, they are better suited for printing texts, tables, charts, for pictures and photographs - not very much. If we compare printers - laser, matrix, inkjet - in the economic aspect, then the second type of device will be less preferable in relation to modern market conditions.

The point is that it is much more difficult to replenish the matrix cartridge - not all technical centers have the equipment necessary for this. But, I must say, the corresponding type of printing element has a much greater resource than its technological competitors - about 2 thousand pages of text. True, matrix devices are usually more expensive than laser ones used for similar tasks - the budget model will cost 15-20 thousand rubles.

Therefore, the economic feasibility of purchasing a matrix device will be most obvious if almost all user tasks are reduced to printing large amounts of text. This kind of purpose of printers is more characteristic for office needs.

conclusions

So, we determined what the laser printer differs from the inkjet printer. It's time to make key conclusions about our little research. Let's try to summarize in which aspects this or that specific difference of the laser printer from the inkjet printer will become a clear factor influencing the user's choice. We also correlate the available information with the features of matrix devices.

The main criterion for choosing a device will be the difference between a laser printer and an inkjet printer, as well as a matrix printer in the aspect of a special purpose.

If we mainly print texts, tables and graphics, then the ideal option for us is a laser printer that supports black and white cartridges. If you are planning to print a significant percentage of color documents or pictures, it is advisable to purchase a device that is compatible with the appropriate type of printing element.

If we print mostly photos or pictures, then the best option for us is an inkjet printer. Depending on what color images prevail, we will buy the most suitable cartridges for the device - black and white or color.

If we print basically only texts, then we can try to buy a matrix printer. Perhaps, in the economic aspect, it will be more profitable because of the lower consumption of ink. If you compare this indicator to an inkjet and laser printer, the difference can reach multiple values. At the same time, the matrix devices produce a very mediocre result when printing pictures.

Thus, the main difference between a laser printer and an inkjet printer in terms of better compatibility with the tasks performed is efficiency when printing pictures. Matrix it makes sense to compare the possibilities only with the first. But he may well be competitive with him. If we compare the original investments in the matrix, inkjet and laser printer in pure form, the difference can be noticeable. But the subsequent costs can make it more economical that the device that cost more. It is also influenced by the price policy chosen by the store-representative inkjet and laser printer in relation to the exchange rate. The approaches of Russian retailers can differ in this respect.