We know photo printers are good for printing high-quality photos and other printers are good for printing documents. But what happens if you don’t want to spend extra on a photo printer and instead print photos with your laser printer that you have been using for months? You may be confused about whether a laser printer can print photos or not.
Quick Answer: Well, yes you can print photos using your laser printer and that’s exactly what we are gonna discuss today. But first, why is a laser printer good for printing photos? Well, because they can produce high-quality prints and have a wide variety of options for paper types and sizes.
You can even get laser printers that print in full color. So if you’re looking for the best way to print photos, laser printers are the way to go.
In this article, I have compiled 4 simple steps on how to print photos with laser printers.
Step 1: Pick a Good Laser Printer
In addition to being cheaper, laser printers are also much faster than inkjet printers. This means that you will not need to wait as long before printing your documents.
To start the process, make sure your Laser Printer is completely functional and ready to print.
Laser printers also use toner, so they do not require ink cartridges. To make your decision easier, we have created a good list of all the available laser printers on the market.
Related – Best Color Laser Printer Under $200 and Best Color Laser Printer for Mac
Step 2: Set up the printer
Before you begin using your new laser printer, make sure that you set it up correctly. You should first turn off the power switch on the back of the machine.
Next, remove the paper tray cover by pulling out the tab at the top of the slot. Then, open the lid on the front of the printer. Finally, insert the paper into the feeder and close the lid.
Step 3: Select the correct paper size
Once you have inserted the paper into the feed tray, press the “start” button located on the side of the printer. This will start the printing process.
If you do not see any text appear on the screen, check the settings on the control panel. Make sure that the print mode is set to “normal” and that the resolution is set to 600 dpi.
Related – Can I Use Inkjet Paper In a Laser Printer?
Step 4. Load the photo into the computer
After loading the image into the computer, open the file using an image editing program such as Photoshop or GIMP. You can also use a free online service called Pixlr.com.
Click on the “Edit” tab at the top of the site and select “Load Image.” Then click on the “Browse” button and locate the picture you wish to edit.
Do you need special photo paper for laser printers?
No, you don’t need special photo paper for laser printers. However, if you want to produce high-quality photos with your laser printer, you’ll need to use glossy or semi-glossy photo paper.
Good quality photo paper can help your printed photo look best, with rich colors and sharp details. When you print on photo paper, the ink is applied to the paper itself. This allows the paper to hold the image after it’s printed, so this way the print never gets off and stays unharmed for a long time.
So, it’s always a good decision to get yourself a good quality photo paper so that the paper can hold the image quickly and keep it there for a long time for you.
Even though most laser printers will work just fine with standard photo paper, you can get the best possible results by investing in special photo paper specifically designed for use with laser printers. How to know that the photo paper you are using is the best? Well, the paper will be thicker and more glossy than standard photo paper, which will ultimately help you to produce sharper and more vibrant photos.
There are various types of special paper. Some produce an image that appears flat and is easy to frame. Others create an image that is three-dimensional as the image is created with a laser instead of ink. The produced prints can be framed, displayed, and can be hung in rooms.
What is the Best laser printer paper for photos?
There are two types of photo paper: Photo Papers and Plain Papers. Photo papers contain a special coating on top of the paper. When you scan a photo printed on photo paper, the ink stays in place without bleeding, fading, or smudging. You can print photos on both photo paper and plain paper. Plain Paper is somewhat similar to Photo Paper and is suitable for printing large prints or for printing photographs on glass.
It is always better to avoid Plain Paper. as they are best for printing office documents. The Photo paper can give you the best results as it is a coated paper with smooth surfaces and are available in matte, low-gloss, and glossy finishes. I Recommend Buying Canon Luster Photo Paper Letter and Canon Photo Paper Pro Platinum for getting the best results.
The General recommendation is that you use a photo paper that has a PPI rating of at least 300. The higher the PPI, the more sensitive the paper is to ink and water. Higher PPI ratings provide clearer, sharper prints with less noise, but they are more expensive.
To get the best results, it’s best to select the type of paper based on the photo you want to print. If you print a photo using a camera, choose a type of paper based on the paper used in the camera.
Glossy vs Inkjet vs Matte Photo Paper: Which Paper is Best for Printing Photos in Laser Printer?
When it comes to printing photos using a laser printer, there are three main types of paper to choose from Glossy, Inkjet, and Matte. Each type of paper has its own unique benefits and drawbacks, so it’s important to choose the right paper for printing your photos. It completely depends on your personal choice whether you want a more traditional photo look or more of a sparse or rustic look. Each paper has its own specialty to print. Here I’ve compared three of these papers and described which type of paper is good for what purpose.
Glossy Photo Paper for Laser Printer
Glossy paper is used for photo printing because it has a shiny finish that makes colors pop. For being the shiniest, glossy papers are best for photographs that will be displayed in a frame or album, as it has a high level of detail and vibrancy.
These papers can be used for other important prints like resumes or documents. However, glossy paper can be more difficult to write on and can show fingerprints more easily also it is more expensive than other types of paper and can smudge more easily.
Inkjet Photo Paper in Laser Printer
Inkjet paper is a great choice if you want your photos to have more glossy, vibrant, and sharp looking which can make your photos look more striking.
For being glossy and vibrant inkjet papers are a good choice for everyday printing needs like school assignments or invoices. Also just like glossy papers, Inkjet papers are good for all-purpose options, as well as good for both frames and albums. Inkjet papers are less expensive than glossy paper and can absorb more ink than regular photo paper.
Matte Photo Paper for Laser Printer
Matte paper is a cheaper option that is still good for printing photos but the colors won’t be as vivid as they would be on inkjet paper.
But if you want kind of paper that can absorb more ink than other types of paper, matte paper is a good option. Even though the colors won’t be quite as saturated, the overall effect can be very chic and unique.
This type of paper is ideal for printing photos that require a lot of white space, such as portraits or landscapes. Matte papers are specifically used for outdoor printing, wedding, and travel photo printing.
Matte papers are extra thick and for that reason, they can withstand a rain shower than glossy or inkjet photo paper, so if you’re looking for storing your photos for a long time, matte paper is the way to go.
Which one to choose?
As you can see, all three types of paper can serve a variety of purposes, and there are many benefits to each one. Inkjet paper and glossy photo paper are the most popular options, but matte photo paper is ideal for portrait and landscape prints.
If you are looking for a long-lasting paper that’s easy to work with, choose matte photo paper. It’s the best option for printing photos for framing and other craft projects.
But in case you want a shiny finish that makes the colors pop, choose glossy photo paper. It’s the best option for such photos that will be printed for display in a frame or album.
For more glossy, vibrant, and sharp looking, choose Inkjet photo paper. It’s the best option for school assignments, and invoices as well as good for both frames and albums.
