Colour lasers for photo printing?

[DVEous]

... Obsolete ...

[Marvin]

We have a couple of colour lasers at work (cheaper epson models, around the $1400 mark). I find that they don't print photos very well at all. The colours are quite vivid and unrealistic and they don't seem to have the fine detail. Also we can't put photo paper through them. I would not use them to print photos unless I had to (which I do for work a lot but not home).

[beej]

Hi VK4CP,

I'm currently using a colour laser (OKI C3100) for all tasks EXCEPT photo prints. I do all my photo prints at a local lab.

From what i've gathered, it comes down to resolution, my colour laser prints at 1200x600dpi, which is just not sufficient for photos. The R1800 prints at 5760x1440dpi.

Of course you can get colour lasers that print at better resolutions than my OKI, but definately not in the same price range as the R1800 for example.

The main benefits of a colour laser (when compared to a decent inkjet) are speed and ink costs.

In terms of photo printing, I use my colour laser for doing quick photo contact sheets, and that's about it.

Cheers
- beej

[Matt. K]

Laser printers are generally not suitable for photo quality imagery. You can't beat pigmented ink-jet...namely Epson.

[Nnnnsic]

It's one of those questions I have to answer for people at my old Uni... you generally won't do photos on a laser unless you're desperate.

[DVEous]

... Obsolete ...

[Doughnut]

Hi,

Since this is my first post here, please bear with me if I am incorrect
I think that Xerox you are referring to may be one of the Xerox Phaser printers. These Phaser "laser" printers uses wax instead of laser toners. Resolution and output quality from these phasers are better than colour lasers but still not as great as inkjets.

Cheers.