This process occurs on all four drums – for cyan, magenta, yellow and black – to make up the final colour image. A positively charged sheet of paper is passed over the drum, and the toner is transferred. This is attracted to the discharged areas drawn by the laser and repelled by the negatively charged background. Negatively charged toner is then released on to the surface of the drum. A laser then “draws” an image of the page to be printed onto the surface of the drum, discharging the areas it hits. Laser printers work by negatively charging a light-sensitive surface called an optical photoconductor (OPC) drum. Also, because the ink takes a second or two to dry, they might be slower still when duplex (double-sided) printing. Printers with higher resolutions – measured in dots per inch (dpi) – can place more dots on the page.Īs their print heads usually need to move about to cover the page, inkjet printers tend to be slower than lasers. Inkjets create prints by placing thousands of tiny dots over every inch of the page. How to choose the best printer for you What’s the difference between laser and inkjet printers? Best home office colour laser printer: HP Color LaserJet Pro M255dw.Best office MFP for high-speed printing: HP OfficeJet Pro 9022e.

Best inkjet printer for low running costs: Epson EcoTank ET-2850.Best budget ink-tank printer: Epson EcoTank ET-1810.READ NEXT: The best printer deals this month Look below and you’ll find guidance on everything from the different types of printer to the major functions and features, to help you work out what you need and what you’re not prepared to pay the extra for. These recommendations come from hours of rigorous hands-on testing, so we know what we’re talking about. That’s why we’ve pulled together a new roundup covering the best printers from the leading brands, so you’ll know which model will be the best fit for your specific needs. Yet a printer remains essential, whether for business or the home. Is it best to go with an inkjet or laser printer? Cartridges or refillable tanks? Do you need a multifunction printer (MFP) that also scans and copies, or are you after something that just prints? When similar-looking printers cost anywhere between £30 and £300, how much do you need to spend? The problem with definitively choosing the best printer on the market is that there are so many things to consider.

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