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Last updated: 8 November 2022

Inkjet Printers

Commercial Inkjet Printers in UK

Inkjet printers can be a beneficial addition to offices that need to print complex products, such as photographs or small quantities of promotion materials (under 1,000 pages a year). The best inkjet printers tend to either be high-end multifunctional inkjet printers that can handle a variety of functions or specialised single function inkjet printers that can print high quality photographs.

There are both heavy duty inkjet printers that can handle printing many complex images in high quality and cheaper inkjet printers that are typically found in domestic context where printing may not be needed everyday.

Colour inkjet printers can handle printing a variety of colours and can print in monochrome which is ideal for text and simple graphics. Most business printers have at least one element of multi-functionality, whether this is a scanner, copier or a fax machine.

Fill in the form if you want to get professional advice about inkjet printer suppliers in the UK. Our customer service team will provide you with up to 4 free non-binding quotes specifically tailored to your business.

Printing in Colour With Inkjet Printers

Professional colour inkjet printers can usually print on large paper formats, such as A3, non-paper formats, such as CDs and DVDs, photo paper, and they tend to be multifunctional, similarly to all-in-one-printers.

While laser printers have been a typical addition to most office places, due to their low printing cost, speed and reliability, inkjet printers are quickly becoming a preferred printing method for businesses that need both printing diversity and quality. This is typically the case for workgroups that need to print low volumes of high quality, complex images and graphics.

With that said, just like photocopiers, not all colour inkjet printers are created equal and users will find that the more that they invest in an inkjet printer, the higher the quality, the lower the general printing costs and the lower likelihood that the printer will require. Moreover, suppliers of high-end inkjet printers will also be able to offer a service agreement that will ensure your business can receive prompt maintenance and support.

Types of Colour Inkjet Printer Toner

There are several types of inkjet printer toner that can be matched with particular types of paper to achieve an array of desired results. Colour inkjet toner uses the CMYK colour model (cyan, magenta, yellow and the key, black) and while the method may vary, inkjet printers will apply the ink to a surface by spraying it through a tiny nozzle in the print head.

Ink Jet Printer With Four CMYK Colours

There are a variety of ink formulas and each has its advantages and disadvantages. The two most common types of inkjet toner are non-soluble pigment and soluble dye-based ink. The difference between the two essentially impacts the stability, contrast and colour intensity as well as how the ink is applied to the printing surface.

It should be noted, however, that your choice in the paper used will also impact the quality of the print result as well as its lifetime. The differences between the two ink types are illustrated below:

Pigment based ink:

Change Toner Cartridge In Inkjet Printer CMYK
  • Pigment based ink works by spraying encapsulated ink droplets onto the paper where they quickly dry and remain on the surface.
  • They tend to be more water resistant and take longer to fade due to a higher UV resistance.
  • They are more commonly used for black inks and are less vivid than dye based inks.
  • Pigment based inks are more ideal for print tasks that need to last for several years and are best suited for black text and images that need archiving.
  • There are essentially three types of pigment based ink: water, oil and solvent based.
  • They tend to be more expensive than dye based inks and lack the colour range and brightness found in dye based inks.

Dye based ink:

Inkjet Colour Toner Cartridge
  • Dye based inks work by being absorbed into the paper fibres under the surface and are
    slower to dry than pigment dyes.
  • They are better than pigment inks for colour rich images that require a wide range of vivid colours.
  • Vivid colours are not long lasting as dye based inks tend to lack UV protection. The lifetime of a print can substantially be extended by using the correct type of paper
  • Dye based inks are more common due to their lower price and more brilliant colour scope.

The Best Paper for the Best Colour Prints

There are three essential elements to printing high quality documents: the printing hardware, printer ink and the printing paper. Maximising the qualities of all three elements will result in the best possible printing result for your business.

Inkjet Printer Paper Logo

Using high quality paper will result in a longer document lifetime and will reduce the likelihood of “muddy” colours and general poor quality. There are many types of paper that are suitable for a variety of printing projects and they, for the most part have some kind of coating or resin.

Coated paper can protect the paper and improve how it soaks dye based inks, delivering a lasting, high quality result.

The following paper types will make sure that you get the best printing results for your projects:

Inkjet Printer For Printing Photographs With Wireless Printing
  • Canvas paper has an added texture that gives a subtle added depth to printed images and works best with printed artwork. This type of paper is great for greeting cards, photo books, art portfolios, etc.
  • High-gloss photo paper (also known simply as glossy paper) is typically used for printing high quality photographs that have a high contrast and a deep colour density.
  • Matte photo paper is perfect for contexts with a lot of light where glare is an issue. Matte paper can be viewed from many angles without losing viewing quality. This type of paper will however degrade faster than coated paper.
  • Resin or silicone coated paper is certainly the best type of paper for printing with a colour inkjet printer. The coating applied to this type of paper gives it a brighter white base than matte or glossy, its details will be sharper and colours more vivid. Most importantly it is waterproof and will take much longer to fade due to the protective layer. The only disadvantage to this paper type is its high price, in contrast to its cheaper glossy and matte counterparts.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Buying an Inkjet Printer

There are various advantages and disadvantages to inkjet printers as they tend to meet specific printing needs and are only suitable for some printing occasions.

The advantages and disadvantages to inkjet printers are as follows:

Pros of Buying an Inkjet Printer

Multifunction inkjet printer with scanner
  • High quality and resolution printing is what makes inkjet a superior process when it comes to complex printing. Photographs, brochures and other important promotional and reporting documentation that are produced by inkjet printers tend to have an improved impact on the viewer. If you need to print posters, broadsheet brochures and other materials that are larger than A4 then you should consider A3 and large format printers.

  • A small floor footprint is what makes inkjet printers recognisable as they tend to be small enough to fit on a desk.

  • Environmentally friendly power consumption (typically around 50% power usage of equivalent laser printers) and inkjet cartridges that are easy to recycle make inkjet printers great green alternatives.

  • Low volume printing needs are best met by inkjet printers as they have a lower initial cost than their counterparts. If your business needs to print less than 1,000 pages a year then an inkjet printer is the leanest solution.

Cons of Buying an Inkjet Printer

Printer Head From Inkjet Printer
  • Low toner yield will make printing with an inkjet printer expensive, especially for high volume use. However this is an associated cost with printing high quality, complex images and there are few alternatives that are cost effective.

  • Inkjet printers are not ideal for printing text and simple graphics and businesses that need to print high volumes of documents should consider a laser printer.

  • Inkjet printers are slow and the number of pages that they can print a minute will be low in comparison to alternatives such as laser printing.

  • Inkjet printers are noisy, due to a number of moving internal parts. You should consider the auditory environment of your office before considering an inkjet printer and its placement.

  • Clogging is a risk for inkjet printers that are not regularly used and they will inevitably require more maintenance than other types of printers.

Which Toner Is the Best?

There are a variety of printer toner cartridges and inks, each with their own benefits and level of quality. There are essentially three main types of inkjet printer cartridge:

  • Genuine, also known as OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) cartridges are produced by the same manufacturer as your printer. These cartridges tend to be the most expensive but they also the most reliable and deliver the highest quality prints. If you want to consistently have exceptional printing results then it is recommended that you stick to buying OEM cartridges.

  • Re-manufactured cartridges are used cartridges that are refilled, cleaned and have any defective parts replaced. There are an assortment of production practices when it comes to re-manufactured cartridges and users should be wary of the risks involved with installing these cartridge types. Leaking, printer malfunction and even printer damage are just some of the hazards of using a re-manufactured cartridge.

  • Compatible cartridges are brand new cartridges that are manufactured by third party producers. They will differ in brand, design and price but they will mostly differ in the quality and amount of ink that they contain. There are cases where compatible cartridges contain less and even inferior ink to OEM cartridges and users are advised to be cautious when buying these types of ink containers.

Choose the Best Printer for Your Business

The best inkjet printer for your business depends on what you need from a printer. Do you need to print high quality, complex images then an inkjet printer with an appropriate choice of paper will allow you to print images that leave a lasting impression.

If your office needs to print high volumes of simple content in either few colours or monochrome, then you should consider investing in a laser printer. A laser printer will have a lower long term cost for businesses that will need to print more than 2,000 pages a year and will be faster than most inkjet printers. Or if you are looking for convenience then wireless printer might be the right choice for your business.

Printer Colour Toner Inkjet Printer

There are many advantages to using an inkjet printer for your business. However, depending on how much you spend, there are various disadvantages, such as lower toner yield, speed and capacity. You can typically go for a printer lease or hire solution, rather than buying one outright, in order to preserve your cash flow.

Some of these disadvantages can be overcome by investing in a high end inkjet printer that, through superior engineering can have a lower toner yield and higher overall performance.

If you would like to learn more about inkjet printers for your business then fill in the form today. Our qualified sales staff will connect you with suppliers of inkjet printers that match your needs and send you up to 4 quotes, completely for free. These suppliers can deliver high-quality products and services, all at competitive prices.

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