Inkjet or Laser printer?

[bpk101]

Hi -

I need to purchase a printer for my home studio. As a print designer I tend to use them mostly for mono printing of page layouts to get a feel for text and image sizes and placement whilst designing. I rarely print colour.

I also use them to print out mock ups of packaging and identity designs too... letterheads, business cards etc before photographing them and adding colour where needed in PS afterwards.

For that reason I'd like a printer that produces quality text results that mimic as close as possible the characteristics of litho printing when photographed close up using a Macro lens.

Do you think I should go for a laser printer (sharper details but a slightly glossier ink that sits on top of the page), or an inkjet printer (slightly fuzzier details but a softer ink that sits in the page)?

What will look more realistic and more representative of litho results?

ps: I almost always print on a matt stock

 

[Levi]

Do you think I should go for a laser printer (sharper details but a slightly glossier ink that sits on top of the page), or an inkjet printer (slightly fuzzier details but a softer ink that sits in the page)?

It's not quite as simple as that. Laser isn't necessarily sharper because inkjet results can vary depending on manufacturer and the paper being used. My canon printer is incredibly sharp on canon pro papers (personally I prefer semi gloss but that comes from my photography) because the papers been designed for their ink. Then there's differences between manufacturer inks as well, I personally think epson prints heavier more saturated image than canon (who I prefer), it also to my recollection has a more of a 'sits on paper' look than my canon does, I'd almost say it edges towards thermal in appearance.

There's also thermal (like a lot of colour photocopiers) printer which in my view would likely give the closest 'printed on top of paper' look that litho gives but they're pretty hard to find these days. I do know that the photocopier my Mum has at her school is linked into a pc too as she's used it to print work off due to it being more economical than the inkjets they have.

Having said all that I'd wait and see what some of our other forum members say because I know there's a few printers on here (Boss Hog for example)

 

[bpk101]

Any other takers? Should I go inkjet or laser if wanting results that mimic closer the printed results of litho?