Home and office printers fall into one of two categories: inkjet and laser. While each type fulfills the same basic function, they use radically different technology that requires unique ink cartridges. Below is an overview of the differences between inkjet and laser printers.

What Are Inkjet Printers?

Inkjet printers use tiny nozzles to spray liquid ink directly onto the paper. After the image is received, the printer’s onboard software analyzes the file, then decides which nozzles should apply droplets of ink and when.

As the paper passes through the machine, hundreds of nozzles release thousands of droplets in seconds. This process is generally slower than laser printing, which makes it better suited for home use. However, the wider range of CMYK color ink cartridges available makes inkjet the preferred option for printing professional-quality graphics and photos.

How Do Laser Printers Work?

Laser printers use static electricity to transfer toner to a sheet of paper. As a positively charged drum inside the printer rotates, a laser “draws” the text or image on its surface. The laser temporarily gives those parts of the drum a negative electrical charge.

Instead of ink cartridges, laser printers use toner, which is essentially a powdered pigment with a positive electrical charge. Because opposites attract, the toner is drawn to the negatively charged image on the drum. As paper is fed into the machine, it’s also given a negative charge, which draws toner from the drum as it passes by.

Toner sticks to the surface of the paper, which then passes between hot rollers that fuse the image into the paper fibers. Laser printers are typically capable of printing hundreds of pages per minute, making them a more popular choice for offices and other high-volume applications.

Whether you’re out of ink cartridges or need fast printer repairs, Alpha Laser Richmond Corp. has the unique services and expertise you need. They deliver toner and ink cartridges to businesses throughout New York City, and can handle most printer issues in under an hour. Call (718) 317-1263 to find out more about their services.