If you are looking for the best printer for your business, you’ve probably wondered what the differences are between copiers and inkjets. Although both of them have their place in homes and offices, there is a good chance that one will be better for you than the other. The basic distinctions here are down to how each of them actually prints. This, in turn, has an impact on what a printer will do well, how expensive it is to print documents and photos, and how much you will have to pay upfront. 

Inkjet vs. Copier: Printing 

While the most basic definition of printing is the same on both inkjet and copier, like putting letters and images onto paper, the two methods achieve this result in different ways. 

Inkjets rely on liquid ink, deposited onto the page through a print head that uses numerous micro-nozzles. It prints by putting small drops of ink onto the paper. Depending on whether that ink is dye or pigment-based, the ink may change the colour of the paper, or it may simply dry as a deposit on the surface. 

Copiers, on the other hand, rely on toner, which is a powder. It is used to generate an electrostatic charge, which is used to transfer the toner to the paper, which is then bonded to the surface of the page using heat. 

These approaches will affect everything from how big a printer is to how expensive a single page is. Both of them can be found in a single-function, or all-in-one printer, alongside copying, scanning, and fax capability. 

In this case, Copiers trump inkjets because the liquid ink used in inkjets dries up if they are not used frequently. This may result in an expensive maintenance cost. Copiers can be used anytime, with no worry about drying ink, since they use powder instead of liquid.

Inkjet vs. Laser: Print Quality

The specific qualities of liquid ink and toner powder affect the type of print that they produce.

Inkjets excel at color printing, especially for images and photos with subtle shades, using pigment-based and dye inks. The nature of liquid ink means that those mixtures are easier to make on an inkjet than on a copier. 

Copiers are not always made to handle photo printing; they rely instead on halftone dots to make certain colours on documents. Even those copiers that can handle higher-quality colour for photo printing need specialized laser-printer-ready photo paper to do it. Copiers are better for printing text, offering crisp, clear letterforms that inkjets can’t match.

Inkjet printing may bleed slightly, causing letters to appear less sharp upon close inspection, though the print remains legible. Inkjet prints can smudge since ink continues drying after printing, making smudging a common issue for inkjet users.

Copiers use heat-transfer, making prints smudge-proof and dry as soon as they come out of the printer. 

In Baltimore, you can choose to buy or lease copiers for your office. We can give you the option to get the copier that you want.  You can contact our local copier leasing services department in your location.

If you’re in Baltimore, call us at (410) 220-5299 for copier leasing assistance. For copier repair services in Baltimore, contact our repair personnel at the same number.

Basically, copiers are better than inkjets in every sense. It is more convenient, and it has a lower maintenance cost. Not to mention, it can print and copy in bulk, something that inkjets can’t do. 

Copiers are more expensive than inkjets, but they are more durable and they last longer. If you are not willing to pay for a copier upfront, you can always look for a local copier leasing company to look for the best copier brand for you.