All About Color MFPs

Multifunction printers, called MFPs, are equipment that is required in almost every home... With the help of such devices, you can print photos, abstracts and coursework, colorful presentations and copies of documents. In the professional industry, the application is even wider: photo salons and office complexes cannot do without such equipment. Particularly in demand are color MFPs, which will be discussed.

Explanation of the abbreviation MFP - multifunctional device. In the case of printing equipment, this is a multifunctional printer that combines the following properties:

• printer;
• scanner;
• copy machine;
• fax.

The presence of a scanner allows you to transfer texts and images from paper media to a PC or laptop. In digital form, photographs, paintings and drawings are finalized or sent over the Internet. As for printing, in different models of the MFP it is presented in its own way: some printers are sold with photo studio printing, others offer simpler technology with lower image quality.

For offices, they can also choose b / w devices, but now color MFPs are more popular on the hardware market. Color images are important even in official documents such as resumes, portfolios, reports with illustrations and graphs.

There are many types of printers. The very first of them - matrix - was invented in 1964 in Japan. However, it makes no sense to consider it: matrix devices print only b / w images and text, now they are used only in the banking sector. But in offices and homes, three other types are used: LED, inkjet and laser units.

Inexpensive devices in which an image or text is applied with printheads. The picture is transferred to the paper pointwise by mixing 4 basic dyes. Liquid paint is used, which allows you to achieve a bright image: the dyes are mixed with each other and form new shades. But there are also disadvantages:

• relatively slow printing;
• the ink is smeared immediately after printing, it needs to be allowed to dry;
• the ink cartridges are expensive;
• If you do not use the printer for a long time, the ink on the head will dry out and you will have to clean it.

There is nothing you can do about slow printing, but other problems can be solved. To reduce the cost of replacing cartridges, many owners install CISS - continuous ink supply system. This is an additional unit that consists of several containers. From them, tubes go directly to the print head, through which the dye is supplied.

What are the advantages of CISS:

• you can independently select ink, therefore, save on their purchase (maximum savings - 70 times);
• less risk of dye drying on the head;
• you can print continuously without wasting time changing cartridges.

For the home, most often buy A4 inkjet printers. They are inexpensive. And also it is the inkjet models that most often become mini-MFPs: compact devices that fit easily on a computer desk. However, when buying, it is still worth checking the dimensions, because they also produce large units for photo printing in professional conditions.

Laser devices are more versatile than inkjet devices. Advantages:

• high speed;
• clear text printing;
• drawing images on any paper, film;
• the dye is not smudged, is not afraid of water;
• cheaper to maintain.

Savings and other benefits are achieved due to new printing technology. Liquid dyes are not used in laser models. Instead, toner is taken - a dry dye powder. It is fixed on the paper by the pressure of a special drum and heating, which is achieved by the action of a laser.

Although laser printers are cheaper to maintain, since they do not require the purchase of expensive original cartridges, the equipment itself costs more when buying. Another drawback is that the picture is not as bright and voluminous as that of inkjet printers.

LED MFPs - a new word in modern printing. Their principle is similar to the action of laser technology, only instead of one beam, whole streams are used, which are obtained due to the activation of many LEDs. As a result, printing becomes faster, 40 pages per minute is the standard figure for these models. But we must not forget about the price, and it is several times higher than that of inkjet devices.

Consider the top 3 printers so far. The rating includes both budget versions with economical consumables, and more expensive variations.

A medium-price laser printer (cost 17-19 thousand rubles). A reliable manufacturer, printing technology allows you to use the device both at home and in the office. MFP M180n will provide fast printing of documents, presentations and reports, cope with colorful images. The kit already includes branded cartridges, so you can connect the unit and start using it immediately after purchase.

There are other features as well.

1. Automatic shutdown system... In the event of prolonged inactivity, the printer turns itself off. This saves energy even when the worker or owner forgets about the technology.
2. Possibility of autonomous work... The device can perform all its functions without being connected to a PC or laptop. A convenient display is built into the top panel, with the help of which control is carried out.
3. Transfer files wirelessly from any device... Smartphone owners can install a dedicated app and send images and documents to the printer through it. A convenient solution for small offices, where not all employees work on a PC, some only use tablets or phones.

Although most of the functions are useful specifically for the office, due to its small size, the model is also suitable for home use.

This model is much cheaper: although the average price is 14.5 thousand rubles, in some hardware stores the device is offered for 12-13 thousand rubles. The manufacturer, like HP, is time-tested. The L3150 is an inkjet printer that comes preinstalled with CISS. Thanks to the continuous supply system, the cost of consumables is significantly reduced, and the resource reserve increases. The manufacturer claims that the initial set of ink (there is a set of containers in the kit) will be enough for 7500 color documents or 4500 b / w sheets.

Any print format - up to A4. Thanks to inkjet technology, the output is vivid. You can print photos, presentations. Other advantages include several characteristics.

• Print directly from your smartphone without connecting to a Wi-Fi network. Even without using a router, you can transfer pictures and documentation from your phone. And if you install an additional application, you can monitor the status of printing and the level of ink in the containers.
• Different refills for different ink containers. This simple option avoids improper threading, which often results in dirty prints for non-professionals. Physically it will not work to mix up the capacities.
• Reliable protection against leaking containers. Even if they are turned upside down, the Ink Lock system will keep the contents from spilling.

Another inkjet printer with built-in CISS option. The cost, taking into account the functionality, is pleasantly surprising - from 10 to 12 thousand rubles. It is recommended to buy for home: the print quality is excellent, the color rendition is excellent, but due to the inkjet technology the speed is lame. Bulky documents in offices will be difficult to print.

Like many other modern printers, Canon PIXMA G3411 equipped with containers at the front of the case. The walls of the containers are translucent, so the owner can monitor the ink level without even looking at the technical specifications of the device. This arrangement of containers also reduces the risk of airborne contamination and extends the service life of the equipment.

Canon knows how important bright, detailed images are. Printing here is further enhanced by hybrid ink technology. It provides the maximum variety of shades.

There are other pluses as well.

1. Three containers of color ink and 2 containers of black dye included. Enough for 6000 color or 7000 b / w documents.
2. Printing of documentation from cloud storages and smartphones.

If printing is scheduled overnight, the owner can activate the silent function. At the same time, the performance drops, but the equipment practically does not make any sounds when the head moves.

Refilling the printer is very convenient and you don't need to use original ink. Consumables will cost a penny if you choose a budget dye option. Non-original ink is not inferior in quality to branded ink, the only difference is the manufacturer.

Before buying an MFP, you need to decide on a few nuances that will facilitate the choice.

1. Features of printing - it is supposed to print images or text. If you want vibrant images, look for quality inkjet printers. Laser and LED are suitable for text.
2. The use of technology - for a printing house, office or home. Typographic version - LED technology, office - laser, for home use - inkjet. When it comes to photo printing, both inkjet and laser units are suitable.
3. Buyer's budget. The higher it is, the more premium models are available.
4. Provided area for the device... Professional models may require several square meters, home printers have enough space on the table measuring 50x70 cm.

It is recommended to pay attention to the brand. Good manufacturers are HP, Epson, Canon. They have a wide service support service in Russia, and the devices themselves rarely fail. But if you need a device with cheap consumables, you can give up the brand in order to purchase a model with a built-in CISS. This will allow you not to buy expensive original cartridges.

If you plan to work with images, you should pay attention to DPI, or resolution. The higher it is, the more detailed the picture will be.

If you are looking for a home model, you can refuse many additional functions. Autonomous work without connecting to a computer, fax, wireless connection are optional additions.

For a video overview of the Epson EP-806AR 6-color MFP, see below.