A photo printer is not necessarily the same thing as a regular printer. Most inkjet printers will print high-quality photos and documents. But dedicated photo printers – such as Canon’s PIXMA PRO-200 and SELPHY CP1300 – have the technology and features to really bring photos to life. The SELPHY CP1200 and SELPHY CP1300 are compact printers that don’t need to be connected to a computer to produce excellent photos for a photo album or scrapbook. The PIXMA PRO-200 uses an eight-colour dye-based ink system to produce vibrant professional-level photos on a diverse range of photo papers, from glossy and luster to matte or fine art.

It is possible to print documents on a dedicated photo printer, but it will cost more per page. It is more efficient and cost effective to print documents on a multipurpose all-in-one device like a Canon TR Series printer, TS Series printer or G-Series MegaTank Refillable Ink Tank printer.

If you have low-volume printing needs – a document here, a photo there – it’s more cost effective to print these occasional one-offs at a store. For more frequent print needs, investing in a home device can pay off in the long run. A reliable document and photo printer allows you to print high-quality coloured text documents and store-quality photos from the convenience of home. With a G-Series MegaTank Refillable Ink Tank printer, it costs pennies per page to print.

Printing good quality photos at home requires a combination of four things: a high-quality image, a reliable printer, the right paper and the right ink. To get professional-quality prints, the image needs to have enough pixels for the print to look sharp. In general, it’s best to aim for about 300 dots per inch (dpi) for quality prints. Use a printer that has a print resolution up to 4800 x 1200 dpi. Choose the right paper for the job, whether gloss, semi-gloss or matte. Canon Genuine consumables produce the best results.

A portable photo printer is a worthwhile investment if you’re looking for a convenient and compact on-the-go option. You don’t need to connect a portable printer to a computer. All you need is an SD card and/or Wi-Fi or Bluetooth (depending on the device) connectivity and you’re ready to print. Portable photo printers tend to support smaller paper sizes, perfect for anyone looking to print photos for albums, scrapbooks or other keepsake books.