Although physical media such as DVDs, cassettes and even books are quickly replaced by their digital counterparts, there is a medium that does not appear to be coming anywhere soon: printed photos. Although millions of users upload their personal photos to social media every day, there is still nothing like holding a photograph in their hand and enjoying a memory.
Last century, Polaroid had a monopoly on instant photo printing, so much that most people referred to all high-speed cameras as "Polaroids." Now our smartphones are our standard cameras, and instant photo prints are here to marry the technological benefits of the present day - such as social media and photo filters - with fun yesterday.
Direct Photo Prints are designed to take your personal photos on your phone and print them directly into physical photos you can share and value. They print in regular photo sizes and often contain apps for editing photos, so each print comes out perfectly.
If you're ready to go for fun with instant photo prints - or if you're ready to give your modern technology a healthy dose of nostalgia - you're in the right place. Read on for everything you need to know about instant photo prints - the features you want, the hidden pricing clothing and the best available models.
All-in-one digital camera / printers usually contain respectable camera hardware with lots of megapixels and can create prints directly from the camera itself.
Important considerations
Before you go shopping, take a moment to think about what you are using your instant photo printer for and what features are most important to you. We recommend that you start by asking these questions.
How much does exchange photo paper cost? This is the most important consideration of all because a pricing photo printer ends up being a bargain if the replacement photo paper is too expensive. Look for a photo printer or high-speed camera that takes replacement cartridges of 30 to 50 feet each and expects to pay between $ 20 and $ 40 per cartridge. If you see a model with replaceable photo paper that is more expensive than that, find one that is cheaper.
What apps work with the printer? Some direct photo printers can work directly with your social media apps, while others require you to use the manufacturer's own apps. If you plan to print many photos from sources other than your smartphone camera, make a list of the apps you want to print from and make sure the model you buy is compatible. (Often, you can save photos from apps to your personal camera roll for printing, but that's not always the case, and it's a cumbersome process.)
What size photos does the printer produce? Many instant photo prints print standard sizes such as 4 x 6 and 5 x 7 inches, but some print to unique sizes such as 2 x 3 inches. Think about the size of photos you want and buy a photo printer that can print in these sizes.
Does the printer work with my smartphone? All direct photo printers can work with your smartphone, but in some cases it is unnecessarily complicated. For example, some instant photo printers work best with NFC fields for transferring photos, a feature found only on Android phones. Similarly, some direct photo prints are written to physically connect to specific smartphones such as the iPhone. Before you make your final purchase, be sure that the model you want to buy is fully compatible with your smartphone and check user reviews for feedback on what the experience is like.
How portable must your instant photo printer be? Many instant photo printers have built-in batteries, so you can take one with you and print images without having to plug in an electrical outlet. If you want to print on the go, be sure to buy one with a built-in battery. If you do not, you can save some money and buy a printer that is supposed to keep in touch all the time.
Instant Photo Printer Features
When you shop for an instant photo printer, you see many new innovations, as well as some worthless "features." Here are the things that matter most when you buy one.
Wireless connection: You need to transfer your photos from your smartphone to your instant photo printer, and it is much easier to do it wirelessly than with a cable. Avoid instant photo prints that require you to use a USB cable to connect your phone. The headaches aren't really worth it, and wireless models cost about the same as their wired equivalents.
Custom apps: Most instant photo prints come with their own smartphone apps to print your photos, but these apps aren't always great, and in some cases you just have to use these apps to print. On the other hand, some included apps are outstanding and make it easy to customize your photos with image editing tools and fun templates. Once you've narrowed down your search to one or two models, look for online reviews of the apps themselves so you can get a preview of how the app for each model works.
Stickers: One of our favorite innovations in direct photo prints is the ability to create your own stickers. Many models work with self-adhesive photos, so you can choose to make a fun sticker out of all your photos whenever you want. Don't hit it until you try it - check out user reviews to see examples of stickers others have made, and then start dreaming up your own!
Instant Photo Print Prices
Cheap
If you are looking for a basic direct photo printer or need one for a specific use such as a vacation or wedding, you can find a decent model for anywhere between $ 30 and $ 75 . Instant photo prints in this price range do not offer many clocks and whistles, so expect to be limited to models that only print photos in a single size. In general, it is best to stay away from the cheapest photo printers as they often have the most expensive photo paper.
Mid-Range
The best values for direct photo prints are on models that cost between $ 75 and $ 100 . Instant photo prints in this price range usually include custom apps that make it easy to edit your photos and add filters before printing. But not every business in this price range is a bargain, so pay close attention to the quality of the photos that each model prints, as well as how expensive the exchange photo paper is.
Expensive
If you need the absolute best high-speed photo printer available, you have to spend a lot more. Instant photo prints in $ 100 to $ 200 include a laundry list of features such as the ability to print in multiple sizes. If you need professional-quality prints, or you just want the most versatile portable printer you can get, at least spend that much.
Tip
• Buy lots of extra photo paper in advance. Make sure you never run out of photo paper for new photos and fill in when you buy your instant photo printer. By keeping extra around you also protect yourself from any future problems (such as if the manufacturer interrupts or if it becomes difficult to find).
• Check to see if third-party photo paper is available at a discount. In some cases, you can find compatible photo paper from another supplier and save a lot of money, so do your homework in advance to see which models work with third-party photo paper. (And don't forget to check user reviews of third-party photo papers as they are not always good.)
• Print original photos for better quality. Photos from social media will be compressed and will not look as good. Many direct photo printers can connect directly to your social media accounts, allowing you to print photos directly. It's an incredibly convenient feature, but there is a catch: when you upload a photo to a social network, it gets compressed and slightly degraded (so that image file sizes on social media can remain small), so when you print photos from social media pages , they can sometimes look blurred or pixelated. Whenever possible, print directly from original photos for the best quality.
• Consider getting an all-in-one digital camera and photo printer. This is something to consider if the camera on your smartphone does not take good pictures. The camera / printer combines a bit more expensive than standalone printers, but for many, the convenience - and image quality - is worth it.
Other products we were considering
We love Kodak Portable Instant Printer Premium because it has perfected the printing process and it can even charge your phone while printing. This is definitely one of the most expensive models available, but it is dead easy to use and print amazing photographs, so it is well worth the steep price. If you are okay with photos that are only 2 x 3 inches in size, the Polaroid Mint Pocket Printer is a fun option. It is small, it is available in several colors and can print up to 50 photos with a single cartridge. If you want the most portable instant photo printer - or if you just miss the instant quality of a Polaroid - here's what you get.
Many direct photo prints include templates for decorating photos with virtual frames and captions, great for creating greeting cards, holiday decorations or just personalized messages.
FAQ
Question: How long does it take for an image to print on an instant photo printer?
A. Most instant photo prints are really fast and can develop a photo in seconds, much like a vintage Polaroid camera. Some models can take as long as a few minutes, depending on whether they have additional features, such as printing photos that are also stickers.
Question: Are instant photo printers noisy?
A. No. Instant photo prints have moving parts, but they are small, so there is not much noise when used.
Q. Can I print photos from a video on my phone with an instant photo printer?
A. Yes. While instant photo printers cannot print directly from a video, they can print from a still image from a video. Some instant photo printer models include software that helps you select images from the videos on your phone, but the easiest way to get a specific image from a video is to pause the video at the desired moment and take a screenshot and then print the screenshot.
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