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Shopping for an inkjet printer? Several manufacturers are vying for your attention, and each one offers a wide variety of models. But some basic technological differences in the way that printing engines from Canon, Epson, and Hewlett-Packard operate may affect the photos you produce.
Epson printers use Micro Piezo printer heads, while Canon and HP use thermal inkjet technology. In both technologies, the printer head receives ink from the cartridges you install, then expels it through thousands of tiny nozzles to create an image.
Micro Piezo heads use a piezoelectric crystal that rapidly flexes when current is applied, forcing ink droplets through the nozzles. In contrast, thermal heads rapidly heat the ink to a boiling point, and the expanding bubble forces an ink drop out the nozzle.
Epson claims that Micro Piezo heads are more precise because they can produce variable droplet sizes. Plus, they use all of their nozzles at once and can work with a wider variety of ink formulations. Another advantage of Micro Piezo heads: They can print on a wider variety of papers and surfaces than thermal inkjets can.
But thermal heads cost less to manufacture, so wider heads can be made to speed up the printing process. Most thermal heads need to be replaced periodically by the user, while Epson’s Micro Piezo heads are designed to last for the life of the printer and must be replaced at the factory if they fail.
It can be difficult to see any difference in image detail between prints from competing desktop printers that use the two types of technologies, because so much rides on the type and number of inks used. If you’re looking for the fastest photo quality printers, Canon and HP thermal printers are your best bet.
If you’re looking for printers that can accept long-lasting pigment inks and handle a wider variety of paper surfaces and types, go with an Epson Micro Piezo model.
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