Right. Who knows about printer resolution?
Discussion
Ok.
1. I'm a bit thick and somewhat of a luddite about IT.
2. I know very little about computers
3. I know even less about printers.
I've always done without a printer at home and just used the ones provided for my convenience in the office. However, I have decided to take the plunge and am on the verge of getting a Wi-Fi all-in-one malarkey that looks the part, but the various tech.specs are confusing me a bit.
Now - resolution. The higher the better for printing quality, presumably, but I suspect that the higher it is, the more ink that gets used per sheet. I'm looking at a couple of models, one of which states 1200x2400, and the other 1200x4800.
By way of a test, since I'm currently at work, I've just printed out some pictures on one of the printers here which is apparently only 1200x1200, and they look fine to me in terms of clarity, so I'm starting to think I shouldn't worry to much about the difference between 1200x2400 and 1200x4800? Or should I?
I'm clueless, me.
Any tips gratefully received.......
1. I'm a bit thick and somewhat of a luddite about IT.
2. I know very little about computers
3. I know even less about printers.
I've always done without a printer at home and just used the ones provided for my convenience in the office. However, I have decided to take the plunge and am on the verge of getting a Wi-Fi all-in-one malarkey that looks the part, but the various tech.specs are confusing me a bit.
Now - resolution. The higher the better for printing quality, presumably, but I suspect that the higher it is, the more ink that gets used per sheet. I'm looking at a couple of models, one of which states 1200x2400, and the other 1200x4800.
By way of a test, since I'm currently at work, I've just printed out some pictures on one of the printers here which is apparently only 1200x1200, and they look fine to me in terms of clarity, so I'm starting to think I shouldn't worry to much about the difference between 1200x2400 and 1200x4800? Or should I?
I'm clueless, me.
Any tips gratefully received.......It depends on what you want the printer for. If you're going to be using it mainly for text with the occasional photo, look for the print speed. Most modern printers will be able to produce reasonable photo reproduction.
Also look at the price and availability of the consumables.
From experience I'd also avoid using 'refilled' cartridges.
Also look at the price and availability of the consumables.
From experience I'd also avoid using 'refilled' cartridges.
10 Pence Short said:
Also look at the price and availability of the consumables.
Definitely, don't know about others but the price of epson ink is now such that it is almost economical to buy a new printer instead, in fact if you sell the old one on ebay for more than a tenner, it's cheaper.I got a continuous ink system, works out at less than 1/20 the price per cartridge.
Yes avoid Epsom, I think they cost you a couple of $s in ink each time you turn 'em on.
You adjust the resolution for each type of print job.
If you printed a page from this forum you would use low resolution and regular paper.
If you were printing an 8 X 10 on glossy high quality paper then after the "test" ones you would use the highest on your printer.
Using the highest on regular paper will not work
You adjust the resolution for each type of print job.
If you printed a page from this forum you would use low resolution and regular paper.
If you were printing an 8 X 10 on glossy high quality paper then after the "test" ones you would use the highest on your printer.
Using the highest on regular paper will not work
jeff m said:
Yes avoid Epsom, I think they cost you a couple of $s in ink each time you turn 'em on.
You adjust the resolution for each type of print job.
If you printed a page from this forum you would use low resolution and regular paper.
If you were printing an 8 X 10 on glossy high quality paper then after the "test" ones you would use the highest on your printer.
Using the highest on regular paper will not work
And for printing 6x4 phots, for example, on good quality paper, is 1200x2400 ok/too much/not enough?You adjust the resolution for each type of print job.
If you printed a page from this forum you would use low resolution and regular paper.
If you were printing an 8 X 10 on glossy high quality paper then after the "test" ones you would use the highest on your printer.
Using the highest on regular paper will not work
Simpo Two said:
andy400 said:
How many dots per inch can your eyes see? Most quality printing is at 300dpi.
Litho half tones are usually output at 300dpi at actual size as there is no quality benefits in printing at a higher resolution. Linework however will usually be output at around 2400dpi.However with litho something just as important as the resolution is the line screen. This depends a lot on the substrate. Newsprint will be at a lower linescreen due to its absorbancy that say a quality art paper.
A high quality litho halftone would typically be output at 300dpi and 200lpi.
- What is your budget?
- What do you want to print?
Text on ordinary paper is not the problem it used to be.
The scanner is usually the weak link on multi-function printers.
Canon Pixma seems to be the current flavour of the month according to the press.
Don't get hung up on how professional printing works because it is different and their standards are much higher than ordinary mortals.
Right my tuppence worth, having just bought a new printer to do a some stationery with some photos.
I bought an HP Deskjet 4280 'all in one' (minus fax) from Staples.
I didn't want to spend loads since 99% of what I print is text and done on a b&w laser. I couldn't find a budget picture only printer for less than £50 in Staples, so I went for the above HP - as it included a scanner, is slim, glossy white and prints upto 2400dpi which is plenty.
After I set it up, I printed about 20 A6 pictures and the 'Low Ink' warning was displayed
I looked at the light and sure enough the colour tank was empty. Being the sort not to read the manual, I rang Staples and told them that my new printer had ran out of ink after only 20 small pages. The salesman informed me that the cartridges were 'factory testers' which allow you to evaluate the product and test a few docs but the cartridges were not full and you have to buy real ones 
So drove back to Staples in my 4.0 litre range rover and enquired about cartridges. "We do two black and two colour sir", was the response. "They come in normal or XXL-extra large (read normal looking) or regular size (read half normal size)".
I bought:
So all in, £100. Bordering on Trade decription act if you ask me as it I could see nothing on the box.
Robbing bastewards
I bought an HP Deskjet 4280 'all in one' (minus fax) from Staples.
I didn't want to spend loads since 99% of what I print is text and done on a b&w laser. I couldn't find a budget picture only printer for less than £50 in Staples, so I went for the above HP - as it included a scanner, is slim, glossy white and prints upto 2400dpi which is plenty.
After I set it up, I printed about 20 A6 pictures and the 'Low Ink' warning was displayed
I looked at the light and sure enough the colour tank was empty. Being the sort not to read the manual, I rang Staples and told them that my new printer had ran out of ink after only 20 small pages. The salesman informed me that the cartridges were 'factory testers' which allow you to evaluate the product and test a few docs but the cartridges were not full and you have to buy real ones So drove back to Staples in my 4.0 litre range rover and enquired about cartridges. "We do two black and two colour sir", was the response. "They come in normal or XXL-extra large (read normal looking) or regular size (read half normal size)".
I bought:
- One XXL Black @ £25
- One XXL Colour Cartridge @ £30
So all in, £100. Bordering on Trade decription act if you ask me as it I could see nothing on the box.
Robbing bastewards
The Science Bit
I presume you understand the principle of a mosaic bitmap on print, screen and scanner - obviously the more, smaller dots means better resolution. With paper, you have the added problem that the ink soaks into the paper and blotches. For best fidelity a china coat or even plastic reduces the blotting paper effect and produces a finer image.
For printing, 300dpi is normally fine for most uses, and decent paper would be helpful. 720 or 1400 (with special paper) does add quality for photo prints and is worth having, but you are unlikely to need any more.
You also have to remember that you need the definition all the way through the system. Printing a 72ppi image at 720dpi adds nothing. And that 72dpi has to be at the size you are going to use it - doubling the size of the image halves the number of pixels per inch. Good practice is to scan at a higher resolution and maintain it through the system until you know the use (keep the RAW or TIFF master file, make copies at lower resolutions for specific projects).
With scanners, more dpi (physical, not interpolated, which a fiddle in the software) is very helpful. This is because you will eventually want to scan a small image for use at a significantly larger size. You might want to scan a slide at 4800x4800, so you can print a 10x8" copy. Unless you are scanning slides, 2400x2400 is good for most purposes.
Also beware when scanning printed material. It will already have a fixed dpi. Scanning at a much higher resolution adds nothing, and you also risk Moire (pronounced Mwaray) patterns - an interference between the two resolution levels that produces bars, lines or dots. Always review scans before saving them.
So for most uses, 2400 ppi scan and 1400dpi printing should be fine and freely available from device manufacturers.
I presume you understand the principle of a mosaic bitmap on print, screen and scanner - obviously the more, smaller dots means better resolution. With paper, you have the added problem that the ink soaks into the paper and blotches. For best fidelity a china coat or even plastic reduces the blotting paper effect and produces a finer image.
For printing, 300dpi is normally fine for most uses, and decent paper would be helpful. 720 or 1400 (with special paper) does add quality for photo prints and is worth having, but you are unlikely to need any more.
You also have to remember that you need the definition all the way through the system. Printing a 72ppi image at 720dpi adds nothing. And that 72dpi has to be at the size you are going to use it - doubling the size of the image halves the number of pixels per inch. Good practice is to scan at a higher resolution and maintain it through the system until you know the use (keep the RAW or TIFF master file, make copies at lower resolutions for specific projects).
With scanners, more dpi (physical, not interpolated, which a fiddle in the software) is very helpful. This is because you will eventually want to scan a small image for use at a significantly larger size. You might want to scan a slide at 4800x4800, so you can print a 10x8" copy. Unless you are scanning slides, 2400x2400 is good for most purposes.
Also beware when scanning printed material. It will already have a fixed dpi. Scanning at a much higher resolution adds nothing, and you also risk Moire (pronounced Mwaray) patterns - an interference between the two resolution levels that produces bars, lines or dots. Always review scans before saving them.
So for most uses, 2400 ppi scan and 1400dpi printing should be fine and freely available from device manufacturers.
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